Hotel Waikiki

Useful phone numbers

by ealgisi

The most common European emergency number 112 (following Directive 2002/22/EC: Universal Service Directive) and also standard on GSM mobile phones. 112 is used in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom in addition to their other emergency numbers.

Here are some useful phone numbers that you might need while in Netherlands:

Formerly 06-11
Police (non-urgent): 0900-8844

The gardens of Keukenhof

by csordila

In spring you have to visit the popular Dutch attraction, the tulip fields Keukenhof located just about 20 km from Noordwijk near Lisse.
In a huge park under the trees you can admire the world’s largest flower exhibition with its millions of blossoming tulips, narcissi, hyacinth and many other plants since 1949.
It is recomended to arrive in the early hours, because the vast parking lot is quickly filled.
There is an original windmill in the park donated by the Dutch-American ship company in 1957, today it serves as lookout tower. A walk in the park takes about 5 hours.
The newest attraction is a one hour trip on almost silent old boats driven by electric engines around the the blossoming tulip fields.

Note: In the end of April each year there is also a One Day "Bloemencorso" through the streets of the bulb-growing region. It starts in Noordwijk and ends in Haarlem, where the spectacular decorations are kept on display for another day.

Open: only for two months, mid-March to mid-May daily from 8am – 7.30pm
Entrance fee: € 13.50, boat trip € 7.50, parking fee € 6
The easiest way to Keukenhof is by car, the route is well signposted.
Public transport from Vuurtorenplein by bus no.59 to Lisse, change bus no.55 and get off at Eikenlaan.

NOORDWIJK AAN ZEE

by pieter_jan_v

"Tribute to the REM Eiland (REM Island)"

"The REM Eiland history"

Noordwijk aan Zee does not end at the sandy beach. The REM eiland is a famous seamark constructed in 1964.

In 1963 Newspaperowner Hordijk announced the construction and the start of a commercial TV station at sea outside the territorial borders of the Netherlands, financial backed by shipbuilder Verolme, construction company owner Heerema and banker Texeira de Mattos. The Reclame Exploitatie Maatschappij (REM) needed 9 million guilders to start the construction at Cork (Ireland) and the transport and construct it all to a location at sea just outside the terrotorial borders of the Netherlands at Noordwijk aan Zee.

From August 15, 1964 TV Noordzee aired shows like Mr Ed, the Saint, the Invisible Man and Danger Man via channel 11.

At December 17 of the same year the Dutch Navy and Water Police invaded the island and stopped the transmissions.

In the 70s the Dutch Water Authorities took over the island for sea research activities.

In 2006 the island will be taken apart.

More REM Eiland pictures.