The best of Netherlands time 24: Beyond Tulips and Windmills

September 16, 2023 0 Comment OanaAlexandra

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The best of Netherlands time 24: Beyond Tulips and Windmills

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A map of Netherlands

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Informations

With possessions abroad in the Caribbean, the Netherlands is a nation in northwest Europe. The Netherlands is made up of twelve provinces, bordering Belgium and Germany to the south and north, respectively, as well as the North Sea coast. In the Caribbean, it shares a border with France on the divided island of Saint Martin. Its marine borders are shared by Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom. When to go: Because the North Sea influences the temperature (the Netherlands having a marine climate), the weather is never extremely cold or hot.

Language: The official languages are Dutch,with West Frisian as a secondary official language.

Currency: Euro

Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant= 15 EUR, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=65 EUR

You can find more information about the visa here.

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Things to do

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

Located in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum (Dutch: [ˈrɛiksmyˌzeːjʏm]) is the country’s national museum devoted to Dutch art and history. The museum is situated near the Concertgebouw, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and the Van Gogh Museum in the Amsterdam South borough’s Museum Square. Established on November 19, 1798, in The Hague, the Rijksmuseum relocated to Amsterdam in 1808, initially occupying the Royal Palace before moving into the Trippenhuis.[1] Pierre Cuypers designed the present main edifice, which debuted in 1885. Queen Beatrix reopened the main building on April 13, 2013, following a €375 million, ten-year refurbishment.With a record 2.2 million and 2.47 million visitors in 2013 and 2014, it was the most visited museum in the Netherlands. In addition, it is the nation’s biggest museum of art. Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer are among the treasures among the 8,000 art and historical artifacts from the museum’s 1 million-item collection, which spans the years 1200–2000. The Asian pavilion of the museum features a limited collection of Asian artifacts.

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Van Gogh Museum

Located in Amsterdam South’s Museum Square, between the Concertgebouw, the Rijksmuseum, and the Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gogh Museum (pronounced [vɑŋˈɣɔx mʏˌzeːjʏm]) is a Dutch art museum devoted to the paintings of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries.Gerrit Rietveld and Kisho Kurokawa designed the museum’s structures, which opened on June 2, 1973. The museum has the world’s biggest collection of Van Gogh’s drawings and paintings. With 2.3 million visitors in 2017, the museum ranked as the most visited in the Netherlands and the 23rd most frequented art museum globally. The Meet Vincent Van Gogh Experience, a technology-driven “immersive exhibition” on Van Gogh’s life and works, was introduced by the Van Gogh Museum in 2019 and has since traveled throughout the world.

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Anne Frank Haus

In the Netherlands, the Anne Frank Huis is a memorial and a biography museum devoted to the Jewish diaries of Anne Frank throughout the war. The property is located in the heart of Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, near Westerkerk, on the banks of the Prinsengracht canal. During the Second World War, Anne Frank hid from Nazi persecution along with her family and four other people in rooms hidden behind houses on a canal in the seventeenth century, which were known as Anexa Secretă (in the Netherlands, Achterhuis). Though Anne Frank did not survive the war, her wartime journal was published in 1947. The Anne Frank Foundation was founded in 1957 to safeguard the building from developers who planned to demolish it.

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Keukenhof

One of the biggest flower gardens in the world, Keukenhof (pronounced [ˈkøːkə(n)ˌɦɔf]; lit. “Kitchen garden”) is located in the Dutch town of Lisse and is also referred to as the Garden of Europe.The official website states that Keukenhof Park is 32 hectares (79 acres) in size and that every year, some 7 million flower bulbs are planted in the grounds.Keukenhof is well-known for its tulips, but it also has a large variety of other flowers, such as irises, hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, and carnations.Keukenhof is situated in the “Dune and Bulb Region” (Duin-en Bollenstreek) of the South Holland province, southwest of Amsterdam and south of Haarlem. It is reachable by bus from Schiphol and the train stations in Haarlem and Leiden. Keukenhof is available to the public for a world-famous eight-week tulip display from mid-March to mid-May, with peak viewing occurring near mid-April, depending on growth season weather, which changes annually, even though its grounds are open year-round for private events and festivals. Keukenhof saw 1.5 million visitors in 2019, or 26,000 individuals every day. In contrast, the Efteling attracts 14,000 people daily on average, while the Rijksmuseum receives 8,000.

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Efteling

In Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands, there is an amusement park with a fantasy theme called Efteling (pronounced [ˈɛftəlɪŋ] in Dutch).Ancient myths and stories, fairy tales, fables, and folklore are all represented in the attractions. May 31, 1952, marked the park’s opening.It developed into a full-scale theme park from a nature park featuring a playground and a Fairytale Forest. In addition to its extensive selection of amusement attractions, which today include six roller coasters and four dark rides, it also appeals to both adults and children with its cultural, romantic, and nostalgic themes.It is among the oldest theme parks worldwide and the biggest in the Netherlands.It was built three years before the initial Disneyland park in America and is twice as big. The park receives practically 5 million visitors a year.

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Kubushaus

The concept of “living as an urban roof”—high density housing with adequate ground level space because its primary goal is to maximize the space inside—is the foundation of the Cube Houses (Dutch: kubuswoningen), a collection of avant-garde homes designed by architect Piet Blom and constructed in Helmond and Rotterdam, Netherlands. Blom placed the cube of a typical home corner on a hexagon-shaped pylon and tipped it upward. His plan depicts a town inside a city, with each house standing in for a tree and the entire complex as a forest. Optimizing the space as a house to better distribute the rooms within is the basic concept of cube houses all over the world.

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museum Rembrandthuis

Located in a former home on the Jodenbreestraat in the heart of Amsterdam, the Rembrandt House Museum (Dutch: Museum Het Rembrandthuis) is a museum. The Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn lived in the house from 1639 to 1658. He also had his workshop and art store there. Constructed in 1606, the house underwent renovations circa 1627, most likely with Jacob van Campen’s direction. After that, it received a new facade with a triangular pediment and an additional level. On January 5, 1639, Rembrandt paid 13,000 guilders for it. In 1658, following his bankruptcy, it was put up for auction and brought in 11,000 guilders. It served as a home for the ensuing centuries and underwent multiple renovations.

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Mauritshuis

The Royal Picture Gallery is housed in the Mauritshuis, an aristocratic palace in The Hague, Netherlands, that was constructed between 1633 and 1644. It has been a museum since 1822. The world’s only collection of exceptional 17th-century Dutch masterworks from both the north and the south. The Girl with a Pearl Earring, one of Jan Vermeer’s most well-known paintings, is on exhibit.

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Markthalle

Completed in 2014, The Markthal is a market hall located in Rotterdam. It is located in the heart of the city, next to the Hoogstraat and Coolsingel town hall. It is in the latter location that Rotterdam was founded. A contemporary ceiling mural and antiques from Rotterdam’s past startle guests.

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Oude Kerk

Amsterdam’s newest art institute (opened in 2012) and oldest structure is the Oude Kerk, also known as the Old Church. Established about 1213, the structure was dedicated by the Utrecht bishop in 1306, with Saint Nicolas serving as its patron saint. It became and still is a Calvinist church following the Reformation in 1578. It is located in De Wallen, which is currently the primary red-light district of Amsterdam. The Oudekerksplein is the square that encircles the church. A wooden chapel had been built on the site of the present-day Oude Kerk by 1213. A stone church that was dedicated in 1306, eventually, took the place of this building.

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Erasmusbrücke

Constructed between 1986 and 1996, the Erasmusbrug (also known as the “Erasmus Bridge”) is a cable-stayed and bascule bridge. It connects the north and south of Rotterdam, the second-largest city in the Netherlands, by crossing the Nieuwe Maas near the city center. In 1992, the bridge was renamed in honor of Erasmus of Rotterdam, a well-known Christian Renaissance intellectual. The Erasmus Bridge, which is featured in the city’s official logo, is Rotterdam’s most significant landmark.Ben van Berkel designed and built the 802-meter (2,631-foot) bridge over the New Meuse in 1996. The cable-stayed bridge segment is known as “The Swan” because of its single 139-meter (456-foot) asymmetrical pale blue pylon with a noticeable horizontal base.

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Kasteel de Haar

In the Dutch village of Haarzuilens, close to Utrecht, is the vast castle complex known as Kasteel de Haar. The current buildings are mostly the result of the early modern and medieval ruins’ reconstruction, which was overseen by architects Pierre and Joseph Cuypers Attachment and completed between 1892 and 1912 under the ownership of then-owner Baron Étienne Van Zuylen Van Nyevelt van de Haar and his wife Hélène de Rothschild.

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Hoge Veluwe

A nature park in the province of Gelderland, the Netherlands is called De Hoge Veluwe National Park. In De Hoge Veluwe, the distribution of forest and heath regions is typically variable. Large sand dunes can also be seen in the nature park’s northern region. In the west, there is still a solitary juniper stand. De Hoge Veluwe is one of Central Europe’s most frequented heath landscapes, drawing in over 500,000 tourists annually. Even though the nature park has places where stonechats and nightjars can breed, the high volume of visitors makes the ecosystem unsuitable for species that are easily disturbed.

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Muiderslot

Built approximately in 1285 and repaired in 1370, the medieval fortress known as the Muiderslot is located in the northern Dutch town of Muiden. Since 1878, it has been a branch of the Rijksmuseum. In 1895, the first restoration got underway, and in 1955, the second. In the latter case, the surrounding area was likewise brought back to its 17th-century state. The most current repair, which included the vegetable garden and the fortress, started in 1999.

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Madame Tussauds

The Netherlands’ capital, Amsterdam, is home to the Madame Tussauds Amsterdam wax museum. It is situated next to Amsterdam’s Royal Palace on Dam Square in the city center. Established in 1970, it was the first Madame Tussauds to open in mainland Europe and the first overseas location of the British company. Madame Tussauds Amsterdam’s collection includes wax figurines of well-known celebrities from a variety of genres, including the Golden Age of Dutch history, music, sports, and movies.A.J. Joling, a Dutch architect, created the Um 1800 style building that now houses Madame Tussauds Amsterdam. It was built between 1914 and 1917. It was the second Peek & Cloppenburg store in the Netherlands to open on April 11, 1917. After eighty-four years, the structure was recognized as a rijksmonument.

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Teylers Museum

In Haarlem, the Netherlands, there is a museum dedicated to art, science, and natural history called Teylers Museum (pronounced [ˈtɛilərs myˈzeːjʏm]). Teylers Museum was established in 1778 as a hub for modern science and art. The neoclassical Oval Room (1784), the museum’s historic center, was constructed behind Pieter Teyler van der Hulst’s (1702–1778) home, known as the Fundatiehuis (Foundation House). Scottish-born Pieter Teyler was a prosperous cloth merchant and banker who left his fortune to promote science, art, and religion. He adhered to the Scottish Enlightenment and was a Mennonite.

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Mill facilities in Kinderdijk-Elshout

In the province of South Holland, Kinderdijk is a tiny town in the Netherlands that is situated roughly 15 kilometers southeast of Rotterdam. Situated on the Nederwaard polder and in the Alblasserwaard lowland, the area is part of the Molenlanden municipality. The town is surrounded by the Lek and Noord rivers on two sides, which combine to form the Nieuwen Maas in the northwest. Notable features of the area are its mills, which were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997.

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Giethoorn

In the province of Overijssel in northeastern Holland, the town of Giethoorn is primarily car-free. It is well-known for its boat-filled waterways, centuries-old thatched homes, and walking and cycling pathways. The area is bordered by Weerribben-Wieden National Park, a swampy area that was formerly a well-liked peat and reed mining region. The Museumboerderij ‘t Olde Maat Uus, a museum farm that narrates the history of the area, is located next to the park.

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zaanse schans

In the Netherlands, Zaanse Schans (pronounced [ˈzaːnsə ˈsxɑns] in Dutch) is a neighborhood in Zaandam, next to Zaandijk. Its collection of old windmills and wooden cottages, which were moved here from the larger area north of Amsterdam for preservation, are its most well-known features. Using lowboy trailers, historic structures from all across the Zaanstreek region were moved to Zaanse Schans between 1961 and 1974.Two of the windmills in Zaanse Schans are not included in the relocated structures because they are still standing on the original location where they were built. Located south of the neighborhood is the Zaans Museum, which was founded in 1994 close to the original Zaanse Schans windmill. Due to its architectural-historical and landscape significance, this architectural reserve for Zaanse timber construction is a protected village scene.

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Zaandam

The main train station is located in Zaandam, which is close to Amsterdam, Netherlands.It is located where the Zaandam–Enkhuizen and Den Helder–Amsterdam railways converge.On November 1, 1869, Zaandam’s first station opened for business.This station was classified as an SS Hoogezand.Access to the platforms and a ticket office were located in the large central part of this building.This center segment was where the two lowest sections of the construction were situated.The station was adjacent to a different structure, and the exterior included a big clock.The Hembrug closed when the Hemtunnel opened in 1983.With its characteristic red roof, the station was entirely reconstructed.At ground level, the station features two island platforms.A south entrance was also opened in 1996.In addition, there were a few tiny stores and a tunnel leading to the town’s shopping center.

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Activities in the Netherlands include golf, cycling, glass boat tours, the Hague Market, the Jordaan neighborhood, and riding the city’s Museum Boat. The Dutch National Museum, the Amsterdam Historical Museum, Koninklijk Paleis, the Royal Palace—Barltolotti House—NEMO Museum, and the Bijbels Museum are among the attractions.

Book your perfect vacation!

Vacations: We are happy that we have the opportunity to work with the most famous companies in the world, we always order our vacations from these companies and we have never been disappointed: Check 24, Trivago, Trafalgar, TravelUp, Insight Vacations, Explorer Fernreisen.

Where to stay

Hotels, bed & breakfasts, and guesthouses, regardless of location—in the center of town, close to a lake, or amid natural surroundings. We were able to identify the top companies providing the best hotels: Booking.com, Trip.com, TravelUp, esky, Hoteltopia, Millennium Hotels and Explorer Fernreisen.

The Netherlands has some of the best places to eat and drink, including charming cafés, gorgeous bistros, and amazing fine dining located throughout towns like Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague. For something a little wilder, Amsterdam and Rotterdam are well-known across the globe for their exciting and dynamic nightlife, which includes hipster concept bars, nightclubs that draw well-known international DJs, and quaint pubs by the canal. While it’s permissible to drink wine and beer at 16, you have to be older than 18 to drink spirits.

What to eat

Sate: Think of it as a unique twist on ketchup or mayonnaise. Stamppot: This is a mashed potato and root vegetable meal. The smoked sausage known as rookworst is Dutch. Kibbeling / LekkerbekjeThis is fish and chips, but without the chips, in the Dutch style. Hachee: Meat, fish, or fowl, along with vegetables, are simmered in a thick sauce with laurel leaves, vinegar, and cloves.

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Netherlands’ New Haring Split pea soup is called erwtensoep. Bitterballen are seasoned balls of finely chopped veal or beef that have been mixed with spices. Soup with brown beans Huzarensalade a Russian salad variation that includes pickles, eggs, potatoes, vinegar, and mayonnaise.

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Poffertjes are little pancakes that are typically served with melted butter and powdered sugar after being baked in an iron skillet. One type of classic pancake is called a pannenkoeken. Oliebollen, or donuts from Holland Stroopwafel, Appeltaart

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Restaurants

The Netherlands is famed for its rich, substantial cuisine, which is centered around the prosperous dairy and farming communities. As such, don’t expect to discover too many spicy or unique meals there. A variety of strong cheeses, mouthwatering breads, and amazing desserts like waffles, yogurts, and pancakes are among the highlights of Dutch dining.

The Netherlands is home to a diverse range of local restaurants, but there has also been a discernible rise in the appeal of international cuisine in recent years, particularly Indonesian food. For an excellent example, try the Blue Pepper Restaurant (Nassaukade 366), which serves a range of West Javanese-style meals as well as some modern twists on traditional recipes. Tipping is still usual, and 10 percent is considered a decent tip, even though most hotels and restaurants add a 15 percent service charge to your bill.

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The Netherlands boasts a wide variety of local eateries, but there has also been a noticeable increase in foreign food in recent years, with Indonesian food growing in popularity. Try the Blue Pepper Restaurant (Nassaukade 366) in Amsterdam for a great example; they provide a variety of meals in the West Javanese style as well as some contemporary takes on classic recipes. Although most hotels and restaurants add a 15 percent service charge to your bill, tipping is still customary, and 10 percent is thought to be a generous tip.

travel Tips

Making reservations in advance can help you avoid stress, particularly if you’re visiting Amsterdam between June and August, when things get busy. In the Netherlands, requesting water might be difficult. Only if you know what to ask for will you be able to receive free water; else, you will be charged. If you’re a woman and you need to use the restroom, carry cash with you because public restrooms in many Dutch cities are free for males only.

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Nowadays, it’s common for the most well-known museums to need reservations with a time window. The Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Anne Frank House were among them. Tipping is Not Required, But It’s Nice Here, the weather is erratic. Carrying a raincoat is a crucial travel advice for the Netherlands. Mid-April is the ideal time to visit the Netherlands if you love tulips and want to witness the stunning flower blooming. To save money, try to obtain a museum card.

Book your tours!

Tours: If you do not go by car and need to know more information about the tours, and things to see, we recommend these companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!

Viator, Get Your Guide, Tiqets, City Sightseeing, Sesame, Sightseeing Pass, Contiki, Riviera Travel, CityPass: the best activities in town!

Shopping

Shopping is a respectable past time in the Netherlands, where there are many noteworthy retail locations. Modern shops and designer stores can be found in many towns and cities, situated in scenic settings and ancient buildings. In comparison to other major European cities, expect to encounter a few more alternative and specialized shops, as the Dutch do appreciate their boutiques with unusual and artsy items to admire, even though they are not exactly the greatest consumers of commercial fashion. Shopping is a great way to discover the nation, and some of the most well-liked souvenirs include local goods like cheese (especially Edam and Gouda) and flowers (tulips and daffodils).

Amsterdam’s Singel to Prinses Gracht retail district is the most well-known in the Netherlands and a haven for high-end fashion and accessories, as well as popular high street apparel, jewelry, and lots of those specialized, arty boutiques. This is definitely a place to shop until you drop, and compared to the massive malls that typically rule other parts of the world, the gorgeous location makes it a breath of fresh air.

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The Netherlands offers several well-known flower markets, especially in Amsterdam and Utrecht, which draw a lot of floral professionals and window shoppers looking for something authentically Dutch. Flowers are one of the most prized goods from the Netherlands, from bouquets to bulbs. The town of Gouda is a must-visit for lovers of traditional Dutch cheese; it is devoted entirely to the rich, creamy cheese and offers an opportunity to discover its history and manufacturing process. The traditional cheese market of the Netherlands, located in Alkmaar and open every Friday from mid-April to mid-September, is another excellent spot to purchase Dutch cheese.

Decorative Delftware is another popular gift from the Netherlands. These distinctive blue and white hand-painted ornaments and tiles portray images from Dutch history as well as everyday living. Not only may Delftware tiles be used as wall decorations, but they can also be available in almost every gift shop across the nation as trivets or cheeseboards.

Getting Around

The Netherlands boasts a remarkably advanced and seamless rail system that links all towns, cities, and tourist destinations, with relatively affordable travel. With bus lines and timetables arranged to correspond with rail arrivals and departures, major routes often run at 30-minute intervals, making travel planning simple and in keeping with Dutch culture. Arriva and Syntus service certain regional lines, while NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen serves the country’s rail network. With a tram network that is fully encircled by numbers and color codes, Amsterdam is incredibly easy to navigate.

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The majority of Dutch cities and towns lack a reliable bus system, while trains and trams are typically more affordable and faster. Similarly, for longer travels, most important towns and cities can be reached by coach, thanks to firms like Interliner.

While boat travel can be a fun and stress-free way to get around the Netherlands, it’s not necessarily the most affordable or efficient method to commute between or within big towns. The primary ferry company, Teso, offers tickets for exploring the Wadden or Frisian Islands, and reservations can be made online. There are many big, private companies that offer canal and river cruises around the Netherlands.

Book your transport!

when it comes to buses, Busbud is the best choice.

when I want to travel by train, I choose Omio.

Rent a car!

Here you can find the best offers to rent the right car for you, as well as parking right in the airport: esky, Explorer, Centauro and intui.travel.

Getting Here

The airport at Amsterdam’s Schiphol is one of the busiest and least expensive entry points into Europe from North America, so it’s usually easy to locate a convenient, reasonably priced trip. Although many more airlines fly via London and other European hubs and are frequently less expensive as a result, KLM and Delta Airlines are the only carriers offering direct, nonstop flights from the USA.

The largest and busiest airport in the Netherlands is frequently ranked among the best in the world and is among the most modern and well-managed air hubs in all of Europe. Due to its size and advantageous location on the continent, Schiphol is the go-to airport for connections to the US, Europe, and other countries. Airlines such as KLM, Air America, and British Airways have many daily flights to the US and the UK.

Within Schiphol, you’ll find a casino, wellness center, lounges, and its very own museum, the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol, which houses contemporary art collections from the main Rijksmuseum with rotating exhibits every six months from Dutch masters. Schiphol is home to over 100 shops, the vast majority of which are tax-free, as well as a plethora of restaurants and cafés.

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The single-terminal Eindhoven Airport is located outside of the city center and, despite its modest size, is quite active. Shopping choices are limited at this airport, which sees over two million passengers annually and is still expanding. However, it serves the North Brabant (Noord-Brabant) area of the Netherlands with regular flights to several European cities, including London, Dublin, Milan, Rome, Porto, Prague, and Budapest.

The airport is conveniently located just off the A2 motorway, and there are frequent buses every 15 minutes that travel to and from the city center. Additionally, there’s a taxi rank right outside the arrivals area, and trains go to Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam in the southwest from Eindhoven Central Station.

Book tour Flights!

If you have not found your desired flight, or you simply want more flight options to find the best and cheapest, we will help you with the best flight plans, where you will definitely find what you are looking for. With just one click you will find the cheapest flights to a wonderful destination!