Netherlands Vacations

Amsterdam is not the only place to visit in the Netherlands, but it is a good example of the country’s attitudes towards a good life, and it showcases a bunch of the cool architecture and vibrant culture to be found.

A serene masterpiece of engineering, Amsterdam’s canals traverse the city. Known as the ‘Venice of the North’, there are over a hundred kilometres of canals, which flow under 1500 bridges, lined with traditional canal houses. You’d be wise to spend time here taking long strolls through narrow side streets filled with cafes, or take a canal cruise for a unique perspective.

The museums of Amsterdam get very busy. To avoid a long lineup, consider reserving ahead of time to get in at your booking time.

The Netherlands has a thriving art scene and locals celebrate the masters who hail from their shores. Rembrandt’s House has been meticulously reconstructed with furniture, art, and objects from that period, as well as a collection of etchings. It’s incredible to walk through the personal spaces of one of the world’s master painters.

Rijksmuseum is the nation’s foremost art gallery with 8000 exhibits featuring masterpieces from Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Gogh. And the Van Gogh Museum artfully tells the story of its namesake’s life and style through his changing works. His museum includes works from contemporaries like Gaugin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet, and Bernard. The Stedelijk Museum for Contemporary Art has pieces from Chagall, Kadinsky, and Andy Warhol.

Amsterdam is also home to Anne Frank House, which is located directly on a canal. This is the home where Anne and her Jewish family were hidden from Nazi persecution. Visiting the house is a sobering and moving experience.

And of course there is the Red Light District. De Wallen is one of the oldest parts of the city where sex workers pose and dance and offer their services in red-lit windows. You can visit the Condomerie, a condom shop selling a vast array of prophylactics, and the Sex Museum, the Erotic Museum, and the Museum of Prostitution, all detailing this history and ins-and-outs of the industry. For anyone 18 and older who is interested, cannabis and hashish are legally sold in cafes in Amsterdam as they’re decriminalized for personal use. You can go into a cafe and look at a menu to see lists of strains with various levels of potency and effects.

The weather is fairly tempered in the Netherlands, and never gets too hot or cold, as the climate is influenced by the North Sea on its long northwest coast. To that end, there are many amazing things to see and do in the Netherlands in whatever season you visit. Just remember to bring a sweater and an umbrella.

Beauty itself seems to be a cultural component of this forward-thinking nation. 

Tulips, which are native, fill fields across the country. In April and May, the country is painted with them in all colours. Make sure you make it to Lisse, outside Amsterdam where the meticulously designed gardens of Keukenhof will dazzle your natural creative spirit. Keukenhof Gardens were once a hunting ground in the 15th century. With brooks, ponds, and greenhouses on over 32 hectares, this is the world’s largest flower garden. Besides tulips, you’ll also see narcissus, daffodils, hyacinths, and bluebells.

Other dramatic outdoor adventures await you in the national parks. Schiermonnikoog National Park was given national park status in 1989. Located in the province of Friesland, on one of six Dutch Wadden Islands, the park hosts a variety of landscapes including beaches, dunes, tidal flats, and salt marshes. There are 300 bird species here and 90 different types of orchids. 

The surreal beauty of Hoge Veluwe National Park in Gelderland is home to red deer, roe deer, wild sheep, badgers, fox, and wild boar. Go for a hike here or head out on a rented bicycle and explore its intricate network of paths. Oosterscheldge National Park in Zeeland is 370 square kilometres and the biggest park in the Netherlands. On the North Sea, it offers fishing and sailing, and scuba diving – where you can see the spectacular life under the sea.

Vondelpark in Amsterdam is the green lung in the heart of the city. Once a private park for the wealthy, since 1953 it has been a park enjoyed by locals and visitors.

Julius Caesar’s Roman Empire ruled over local tribes here, and they flourished. Then Saxon and Frank invasions lasted a while until the Charlemagne Empire took over. When Charlemagne died in the 9th century the Low Countries territory was divided into small states controlled by dukes and counts.

The area became prosperous and in the 13th and 14th centuries castles, cathedrals and monasteries were built and it was then that Amsterdam emerged as a leading city known for its hard workers and prosperous trading.

Protestantism arrived and so did the Reformation. Philip II, son of Charles V of Spain was determined to topple the Reformation. William of Orange, a count of Holland, then led a revolt and united Dutch nobles in a fight for control. The Spanish Netherlands became the United Provinces and a ‘Golden Age’ began and lasted for nearly 75 years, when the United East India Company explored the world and it became an important maritime player. The French invaded and fought a war from 1672-78 before the Dutch were plunged into the Spanish War of Succession (1701-13). The House of Orange emerged and once Napoleon was defeated in 1815, the provinces in the north and south were united under their standard.

The Netherlands remained neutral in the First World War but Nazi Germany invaded in 1940. One-hundred thousand Jews were murdered. A fierce underground movement was born of these massacres which created obstacles for the enemy and protected families in danger, including the family of Anne Frank. The brave resistance eventually helped with the liberation of the Netherlands.

Today the Netherlands, after working towards these ends, is a peaceful and liberal nation whose citizens have pushed for change ahead of the curve on social issues over many decades – its progressive social welfare system is testament to that humanized dedication.

The cuisine of the Netherlands is characterized by being hearty and comforting. As a result of the country’s coastline, seafood is often on restaurant menus and is always served fresh. Fried soles, oysters, mussels from Zeeland, and herring are all particular favourites. When the Dutch colonized the East Indies, they brought back recipes and traditions – so today you will also find high quality Indonesian food across the country. 

Dishes include herring served raw with onions and pickles, and sometimes on a bun.

Poffertjes are similar to pancakes, but traditionally sweeter and thicker and are usually served with butter and sugar, this is a favourite local snack, and stroopwafels are light cookies with syrup on the inside. Bitterballen are deep-fried balls of meat and spice served with mustard, and stew (stampot) is a very traditional meal, containing meat, potatoes and other vegetables. There are different kinds of stampot, with sauerkraut, smoked sausage or fried bacon with apples.

Cheese is a major cultural element of Dutch food. The country makes nearly a quarter million tons of cheese annually and exports it to 130 countries. Gouda and Edam are popular and often served with mustard and bread. Don’t miss out on the patat, thick cut fries served on the street with various sauces – try the traditional patatje oorlog, with peanut sauce, onions, and mayonnaise.

Rijsttafel is an Indonesian rice dish that arrived on the Netherlands doorstep in the 17th century. It’s a grand meal made from small flavourful dishes than are all eaten with rice. Erwtensoep is a thick split pea soup usually served in cold months, accompanied by a bacon sandwich on rye.

Broodjes are small buttered rolls made with ham, cheese, or beef.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, and count dessert as a main, you’ll want to eat a Dutch apple pie with whipping cream – the thick buttery crust and lattice or crumb toppings gives the treat its authenticity. Dutch licorice, drop, is also a very popular chew.

Popular beers in the Netherlands are Heineken, Grolsh and Amstel, the Apostelhoeve and Slavante vineyards produce excellent wines, and the Dutch Jenever is a straight spirit thought of as a precursor to gin, with a fiery taste.

The drinking age is 16 for beer and wine, and 18 for spirits.