When you think of the Netherlands, certain images surely come to mind: Wooden shoes. Wind mills. Channels. Coffee shops. Cheese. The Red Light District.
Indeed, you can find all these things in Amsterdam, the country’s capital and its most famous city – for good reason: Nestled confidently inside a ring of canals dating back to the seventeenth century , lined with once unique and comfortable row houses. stocked with the exotic spices of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and buzzing with bicycles driving every which way, Amsterdam is a cultural mecca where there is never a dull moment.
The city perfectly represents the open-minded, no-nonsense attitude that characterizes the country as a whole, but it’s a shame that the rest of the Netherlands is often overshadowed by its famously liberal capital .
I moved to the Netherlands from America three years ago, and although I spend most of my time in Amsterdam there is much more to see and do in this small, watery country, it would be really shame to come. here and miss out on these unique destinations, sights and opportunities.
With that in mind, I give you seven things to do and places to see in the Netherlands that aren’t Amsterdam:
Do like the Dutch and enjoy a still uit by train
A still uit, or a little day trip, is the perfect way to get a feel for the country. With an easy-to-navigate rail system throughout the country, traveling in the Netherlands is a breeze – and what better way to see the countryside than by train?
The country’s main rail operator, NS, has many great deals to choose from: You can get a return fare to Maastricht and a night in a hotel for just €50, or plan a day trip to The Hague, including fare of the train and lunch, for €24.
A still uit is a distinct Dutch tradition that falls in line with the concept of gezelligheid. There is no direct English translation, but the word evokes the feeling of coziness that comes from being around close friends and family and a general sense of togetherness. You can travel virtually anywhere in the country in less than five hours, so a day or weekend trip is great, gezellig an alternative to all those tourist traps in Amsterdam.
Take a walking tour of Delft
The medieval city of Delft is only an hour away from Amsterdam, but you will feel that you are entering the past when you take in the old quant city canals, churches and cobblestone streets. Like so many places in the Netherlands, Delft is rich in history – from the painter Vermeer to the classic blue and white pottery, the city also has close associations with the royal family leading back to its founder, William of Orange .
The small town is the perfect destination for anyone with a penchant for history, and visitors can take part in guided walking tours that teach all about Delft’s medieval history, its famous paintings the city had, and the royalty it produced – you can even take a guided tour. beer tour to see (and taste) the city’s best pubs and breweries.
If you’re the type who prefers to do things at your own pace, don’t fret: In addition to guided city walks, visitors can pick up self-guided tour books and maps from the visitor center to explore the city at their own pace.
See Oosterscheldekering dam
The Netherlands has a remarkable history with water. So much of the country has been shaped by man through a carefully constructed network of dams, dams, canals and polders and the battle against the sea is closely rooted in the history and culture of the land, most of which is below sea level.
One of the best examples of man’s battle against water can be seen in the Oosterscheldekering (Eastern Scheldt storm barrier), where from the early 1950s a series of dams were built and barriers to hold back the water and reshape the land.
The area around the Oosterscheldekering, already spread over nine kilometers in length, is now a national park where visitors can enjoy nature, go bird watching, swim or fish. The park is located just south of Rotterdam and includes the Delta Works project, named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It is a must see for anyone interested in architecture or engineering, or if you just want to experience the great will of the sea as it tries to reclaim the land.
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Retrace the steps of the pilgrims in Leiden
Just thirty minutes south of Amsterdam lies the city of Leiden. Home to the oldest university in the Netherlands (Leiden University, dating back to 1575), the city is full of rich history and plenty of things to do and see, including a thousand-year-old citadel that helped the Dutch resist and in the end. defeat in the Spanish during the Eighty Years War.
A little known fact about the city is that the Pilgrim Fathers, the dissidents who took that infamous journey on the Mayflower oh so long ago, she originally sought refuge in Leiden. For almost 12 years the group lived and worked in the city, where they enjoyed greater religious freedom before starting their journey to the new world.
Visitors can see the Leiden Pilgrim Museum and walk the same small alleys and side streets as the Founding Fathers once did. The beautiful Pieterskerk, now deconsecrated, served as the central meeting point for pilgrims, and today sightseers can take in the late Gothic church at any time of the year. Nearby, an immovable plaque marks the place where the pilgrims set sail for the first time.
Wear some orange and celebrate King’s Day
Every April, the whole country of the Netherlands goes orange. This year marks the first King’s Day, or Koningsdag, since 1890; the royal celebration was known as Koninginnedag – Queen’s Day – until Queen Beatrix abdicated last year and the crown passed to her son, King Willem-Alexander.
This year the celebrations will take place on April 26. Revelers wear head-to-toe orange in honor of the royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau, and take part in large-scale celebrations in the streets, on boats, in parks – around the – the whole country. Amsterdam is a popular place to celebrate King’s Day, but it can be overwhelming for anyone who is not comfortable in large crowds.
This year, check out the celebrations in other cities around the Netherlands, such as The Hague, which hosts a very popular city-wide party the night before King’s Day, or Utrecht, where you can find the greater free market (vrijmarkt) in the country. King’s Day is the only day that flea markets and yard sales are allowed to take place, so get ready for lots of interesting finds.
Visit the beautiful Keukenhof gardens
Keukenhof (in Dutch, “Kitchen Garden”) is the largest garden and flower bed in the world. Every spring millions of flowers light up the park and cover an area of 32 hectares. Opening hours depend on the season, but the garden is usually open from mid-March to mid-May. The best time to visit is undoubtedly in April when the tulips are in bloom.
Each year Keukenhof features different floral arrangements and themes, so no two visits are ever the same. In addition to the beautiful landscapes in the park, Keukenhof is located in what is known as the “bulbs and dunes” region of the Netherlands, and the rolling flower fields around the garden are just as beautiful and fun to explore.
For a truly unforgettable experience, rent a bike and take a ride alongside the fields. Here the flowers are grown to be sold at farmers’ markets and in shops around the world, but it feels like the rows and rows of colorful tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are blooming just for you.
Hop around the Wadden Islands
The Frisian Islands, which extend to Germany and Denmark, form the northernmost region of the Netherlands and are a popular holiday spot for locals. With miles of pristine beaches dotted with ancient lighthouses, nature parks and a curious year-round population of seals, these islands are a welcome escape from the bustling metropolitan areas that make up most of -The Netherlands.
Because they can only be reached by ferry, you will have to plan your visit in advance. The islands – Texel, Terschelling, Ameland, Vlieland and Schiermonnikoog – each offer unique activities and opportunities for visitors, and one can “hop” from island to island with ease. When the tide is low it is even possible to walk from one to the other, and be amazed by the changes in the landscape from high to low tide.
About the Author
Lianne Domenic is a blogger and editor for Flipit (www.flipit.com), a global coupon portal that offers valuable coupon codes and financial advice to audiences around the world. She holds an MA in Book and Digital Media Studies and is an avid reader, writer and traveler. Three years ago she moved from Asheville, North Carolina, to her new home in the Netherlands.