Netherlands
The Netherlands is a charming, compact nation with a rich and fascinating history. Bordering the North Sea, the landscape is adorned with numerous canals and waterways. Also known for its art and history museums, the Netherlands offer an impressive collection of fine art. The masterpieces of celebrated Dutch artists like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Vermeer are showcased at the Van Gogh Museum, Rembrandt House, and Rijksmuseum.
When envisioning the Netherlands, windmills, wooden clogs, cheese, and tulips come to mind. If you visit in spring, the Keukenhof Festival will delight you with a stunning display of colors. For a glimpse into the past, Zaanse Schans features preserved historic windmills, charming greenhouses, and artisanal workshops that highlight traditional customs.
The Netherlands is known as the “flower shop of the world,” but flowers are not by any means their only agricultural product. In fact, they are the largest exporter of agricultural goods in Europe, supplying products such as dairy, eggs, meat, and vegetables to other European countries including Germany, Belgium, and the UK. It may be surprising that such a geographically small country is one of the world leaders in agriculture, but this is due to innovative methods (hydroponics) where produce is grown in greenhouses with far less water and soil than would be required for traditional field farming.
The Netherlands is a wonderful destination for those traveling with children, and there are many family-friendly tour options like cycling on the well-marked paths, visiting an amusement park, or taking a canal cruise. Cities also offer many options to keep children amused, with interactive museums, imaginative playgrounds, and zoos.
The city of Amsterdam is full of many canals, historical sights, great people and pedestrian-friendly streets. They say there are more bikes than people here, so renting a bike is an easy way to get around town.
The Hop on Hop Off Bus provides an alternative way to get around, allowing you to get on and off at any of its stops to see the best sights and attractions.
If you haven't already arrived by cruise, take a canal boat ride for a relaxing way to see the city without having to navigate the streets.
There are many different galleries and museums to suit a range of different interests, but you need to book tickets in advance for most, especially the Anne Frank Museum. This museum is one of the most visited museums in Amsterdam and tickets sell out way in advance.
The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are both located on Museumplein, and near Vondelpark, an open green space which is a popular picnic and hangout spot when the weather is warm. You can only purchase your tickets online or join a guided tour. These also sell out in advance.
The Rijksmuseum is the National Museum of the Netherlands showcasing 800 years of history and art with over 8000 pieces. The Van Gogh Museum is entirely dedicated to the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh.
The Cruise Port Amsterdam is just a stroll away from the historic city center and only about a 20 minute drive from the airport.
The former Heineken Brewery is now a place where visitors can learn about Heineken's history, the art of brewing, and the individuals who contributed to the company's success.
The Bloemenmarkt, located at the southern end of the city center next to the canal ring, is the world’s only floating flower market. It’s touristy but if you are looking to bring home souvenirs, this is the place to go.
The Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, open from mid March to mid May, is a beautiful area surrounded by million’s of flowers including tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, and lilies. It is an ideal place for families and friends to spend some quality time together with fun activities like a maze, petting zoo, playground, and treasure hunt for kids.
Explore the historic sights of Kinderdijk and The Hague.
Highlight’s include:
Dutch Parliament
Visitor's Center of the Peace Palace
The Mauritshuis
The Gemeentemuseum
The Madurodam
Head to the countryside and visit the charming village’s of Volendam, Edam, and Monnickendam.
See the Kathammer windmill, the iconic lighthouse of Marken and take a boat ride on the Volendam Marken Express.
Discover the charming town of Hoorn, located around 45 minute’s from Amsterdam.
Highlight’s include:
Rood Steen
De Waag
Old Harbour
Zuiderzee Museum
Visit nearby Rotterdam, known for its history, art, and architecture.
Highlight’s include:
Oude Haven
Kubic Houses
Market Hall
Maritime Museum
Euromast observation tower
Erasmus Bridge
Delfshaven
Journey to the charming city of Delft.
Highlights include:
Royal Delft Porcelain Factory and Museum
Oude Kerk (Old Church)
Nieuwe Kerk (New Church)
City Hall
Visit Giethoorn, around 1.5 hours from the city center, and discover one of the most picturesque villages of the Netherlands. Giethoorn has many canals and the only way to get around town is by boat or on foot.
Culinary
Friet and mayo: Dutch french fries. The classic topping for fries in the Netherlands is mayo, but you may also find other unique toppings such as peanut sauce or curry ketchup and onions.
Stroopwafel: These delicious cookies consist of a very thin layer of syrup, sugar, butter, and cinnamon, sandwiched between two thin wafers. This sweet treat is traditionally eaten with tea or coffee. To enjoy as locals do, place the stroopwafel on top of your cup, and let it steam for a few minutes so that the syrupy layer softens for a delicious, gooey snack.
Kroket: Similar to the classic French croquette, ingredients such as meat, cheese, or seafood are breaded and deep-fried until they have a golden-brown exterior. Originally served as a side dish, krokets are now a popular snack item.
Bitterballen: A round-shaped version of a kroket, bitterballen are balls of meat encased in a breaded and deep-fried outer layer. Traditionally made with beef, they can also be prepared with chicken, veal, or mushrooms and served alongside mustard for dipping.
Stamppot: This dish comes in several varieties, but the main ingredient is always mashed potatoes. The potatoes are combined with one or several vegetables such as kale, spinach, turnip, or sauerkraut. It is often served with smoked sausage or cooked meat on the side.
Speculaas: These spiced shortbread cookies are traditionally baked on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, celebrated on December 6th. The cookies are often molded into creative shapes such as windmills, snowflakes, floral motifs, or human and animal figures. Although these were originally considered to be Christmas cookies, you can now find them year-round.
Pannenkoek: This is a variety of Dutch pancakes that are somewhere between American pancakes and crêpes in terms of thickness. They are usually eaten for lunch, dinner, or dessert, but rarely for breakfast. Pannenkoek may be served with syrup, sugar apples, and cinnamon for dessert. For a heartier lunch or dinner, bacon and cheese may be added, resulting in a savory variation.
Poffertjes: These small, round, and puffy Dutch pancakes are commonly consumed as a snack. Traditionally, they are topped with melted butter and powdered sugar, and are a staple of most Dutch weddings, birthday parties, and various festive occasions.
Cheese: The Dutch are passionate about cheese – it is a staple of their diet, with each region having its specialty. Here are a few to get familiar with.
Gouda: A semi-hard cheese that has been naturally matured. It’s produced using cows milk and is flattened into a wheel shape. Young Gouda has a sweet, fruity taste, and as it ages it becomes a deeper yellow with a firmer texture and caramel or butterscotch flavor. Gouda pairs well with strong pale beers or a bold wine, such as pinot noir.
Old Amsterdam: A Dutch Gouda-style cheese which is matured at three stages, enhancing its flavor and texture; it is hard and smooth with tiny granular pieces, while flavors are sweet, rich, and nutty. This cheese is great for cooking and can be added to salads, shredded over soups, or used in sandwiches. It pairs well with a full-bodied cabernet or stout beer.
Edam: A semi-hard cheese with a mild, sweet taste. As it matures, its rubbery texture becomes firmer, and the flavor sharper. This cheese is made exclusively in the Netherlands and is one of the most successful cheese exports. It pairs well with dry white wines such as pinot grigio, riesling, Champagne, chardonnay, and shiraz.
Maasdam: A semi-hard cheese similar to the Swiss Emmental. It has a sweet, buttery, and nutty taste. When young, it is often eaten as a snack or used in sandwiches, although it can also be melted in soups or fondues. It pairs well with IPA beers and dry, fruity wines including Gewürztraminer, merlot, and Chianti.
Language
The native language in the Netherlands is Dutch, and you may notice that Dutch has some similarities to German. English is also widely spoken, and approximately 90% of the population is fluent. German is spoken by nearly 71% of the country’s population, followed by French at 29%.
Currency
The local currency in the Netherlands is the euro (EUR). Debit and major credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity
In the Netherlands, the standard voltage is 220-230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. The plugs in the Netherlands are types C and F, which have two small round pins, and L, which has three small round pins. We suggest a multi-adaptor with different plug configurations.
The country code for the Netherlands is +31.
Films with scenes in Netherlands.....
Anne Frank ( many different series)
Diamonds are Forever
Black Book
The Fault in our Stars
Kidnapping Mr.Heineken
The Hitman's Bodyguard
Tulip Fever
Baptiste
Viking
Girl with a Pearl Earing
