Netherlands |
| Tuesday, 03 June 2008 00:00 |
 Even though it takes up very little space on the world map the Netherlands are a popular stop on the European tourist trail, and justly so. It is easy to travel and distances are quite short, so you won’t waste much time on the road. For a round trip plan in at least 10 days and simply circle the country. Start in Amsterdam, the capital, legendary for its nonchalant, liberal attitude, friendly locals and fantastic art scene. The architecture is distinctly Dutch, with narrow brick houses lining canals (called Grachten), the markets are colourful and focused on flowers and cheese. Just strolling along the water is a cultural experience, but there’s much more to see. Nobody should leave Amsterdam without having been to the Rijksmuseum (the national gallery), where you can see Rembrandt’s Nightwatch (the original) as well as self portrait of Van Gogh and thousands of other works. The other most frequented museum does not draw its magic from the great masters of the past, but from an astonishing little girl and her horrifying story. Anne Frank lived in a house on Prinsengracht street and this very house has been restored to what it looked like when she wrote about life in hiding. The lower part of the house has exhibitions on Jewish life during WWII and the Shoah. From Amsterdam start your round trip through the country. Going west you will get to the sea and soon to Rotterdam, Europe’s biggest port. Rotterdam is great for shopping and nightlife, but does not quite reach the charm of Amsterdam. But just a few minutes south of here you will reach Delft, a small town with lots of water, fulfilling all the stereotypes of a charming little village. Sights include the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), built in 1496, and the Oostport (East Gate) for which construction started around 1400. Going south visit The Hague, the administrational centre of the country. Apart from the Dutch government this is also the seat of the world’s major international justice institutions: the International Court of Justice, housed in the Peace Palace, the International Criminal Court, and Europol are just a few, so this is a really bad place to commit a crime. Sight include the Binnenhof with the medieval Knight’s Hall, and the royal palace (Palais Noordeinde) where the Queen has her offices. Continuing south you will get to Limburg Province. Here you can climb the Vaalsberg, the highest point in the country. The Dutch fondly call it a mountain, even though it is only 322 m (1060 ft) high, but considering the rest of the country is flat as a pancake you can sort of understand where they get the idea. In Limburg you should visit Maastricht, yet another seat of numerous international organisations. The town is situated on the banks of the Maas River and has a charming old centre. If you have time left to go north visit Groningen, a tranquil and picturesque harbour town with great boutiques and friendly cafes. |
Travelguide Netherlands
Amsterdam Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country and is very popular with tourists particularly those who are looking......more |