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Netherlands Travel Guide
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 | Zaanse Schans   |  | |
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 |  on August 28, 2005 |
This area on the river Zaan has typical Zaan houses, windmills and buidlings. In some of the windmills you can still buy their products - I really like the mustard mill. All the houses are built from wood and coated in tar. Stone houses would have sunk into the peat earth. Here is also the very first "Albert Heijn" shop which dates from 1887 - nowadays there is an AH in almost every village in the country. There is also a cheese making factory and a great pancake restuarant- My favourite pancake is always apple and bacon and then topped with syrup. While wandering around you are often breathin in the heavy sweet smell of cocoa from the chocolate factories along the Zaan.
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| 'Dwarsgracht'- bike or boat trip | | |
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 |  on February 6, 2006 |
The little settlement of Dwarsgracht is a real alternative for the famous, but very touristy, town of Giethoorn. Although just 3 km's away it is a complete different world. The same canal(s), small bridges, boats and thatched roof houses. But in Dwarsgracht you will hardly see any tourist. There is just one café restaurant ('De Otterskooi') and this is an ideal starting point for either a boat trip with a so called 'whispering boat' or for a bike tour along the canals and lakes. At 'De Otterskooi' you can rent them both. Or just walk along the main canal through the village and enjoy the views over the water, the houses, the flowers, the birds and further away waving reed. Dwarsgracht is signposted from Giethoorn and you have to follow a narrow, sometimes winding road. |
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| De Rijp | | |
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| on August 28, 2005 |
This beautiful little town in North Holland is a gem. It was once on Schermer Island in the Zuiderzee. Many of its buildings date back to the 17th century. It was then that the town flourished - that was mainly due to the whaling. It is the birthplace of Jan Adriaansz. Leeghwater whoinvented a system that used windmills to drain a lake after a "ring canal" had been built around it. This meant that is was quite easy to pump dry deeper and larger lakes and getting the first areas of reclaimed land. "In 't Houten Huis" shows the history of Schermer island and also has an exhibition about Leeghwater. |
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| Frans Hals Museum | | |
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| on June 27, 2004 |
The museum is housed in a 17th century building which is in the centre of the historic area of the city of Haarlem. This is where the Dutch Golden Age started to floourish. The Frans Hals Museum shows the art of that period. There are 11 paintings by Frans Hals and wonderful paintings by Ruiddael, Jan Steen (I love his paintings) Van Goyen and many others. The wonderful paintings hang between oak tables, and cabinets full of silver and porcelain. It really is a wonderful museum. |
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| Kinderdijk | | |
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| on May 8, 2005 |
Kinderdijk with its 19 windmills is a World heritage site and protected area. The 19 windmills were used to drain the Alblasserwaard in the past/ It is were the Noord and Lek rivers join. As the land settled new “Boezems” (drainage pools) and mills were needed to span the height difference as the land settled. It is not far from our home and we often go as there are several lovely walks through the area. It is beautiful in all seasons although you do really need warm clothing on the colder days as the wind can really howl here. I remember so well first seeing them on one of my first visits to The Netherlands - the waters were frozen and there were so many people skating – it was just like a painting from one of the “old masters” It does get very busy in the tourist season and parking at weekends is sometimes difficult. Parking very near the mills is limited and it is nearly always busy – try to go in the week when it can be a little less crowded. At the parking area near the mills is a little cafe and gift shop. There are several restaurants along the road through the village. Be careful walking along the road through the village as it does get very busy with traffic. |
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| Noordoostpolder - auto tour to the tulips | | |
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| on April 11, 2008 |
The Netherlands is famous for its tulips and other bulbs. Everybody knows the Keukenhof and the so called 'Bloembollenstreek' in the western part of our country between Haarlem and Leiden. But there is a complete other way to see these wonderful flowers. In one of our polders, the 'Noordoostpolder' is the biggest area with tulips in the Netherlands. Late April/early May there are lots of activities around the flowering time of the tulips. Everywhere along the road you can buy some fresh tulips for a couple of euro's. We made the signposted car tour along the 'Bollenroute'; this is 100 km long route through the Noordoostpolder, which shows us a lot of tulip fields. Besides it is more or less amazing if you realise the fact that you are driving on the bottom of a former sea. Along the route are a lot of interesting sites to make a stop, among them: - an information centre and show garden with hundreds of tulip species; - a huge orchid garden; - a garden where you can pick your own tulips (http://www.tulpenpluktuin.nl/ For directions and a map see the website. |
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| Kootwijkerzand - drifting sand | | |
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| on October 6, 2005 |
This part of the Veluwe has an unique scenery with the biggest drifting sands area of Europe. Surrounded by forests and just close to the very small village of Kootwijk, it is one of the most remote parts of the Netherlands. Therefore it is such a pity that tourist facilities, like camping sites and holiday parks are coming closer and closer to this unique spot. The only way to explore “Kootwijkerzand” is to walk. Personally we prefer to stroll around without using paths. It is such an amazing landscape, sometimes the sand is almost white, other parts are covered by moss or small pines. And always the sand is drifting in the wind and the landscape is constantly changing. Sometimes it seems to be a little Sahara, specially when temperatures in the sun reach 50 degrees Celsius !! If you don’t like to walk, just find a nice spot on one of the hills (they are called a ‘fort’) and just sit down and look around, see the living skies and enjoy this beautiful scenery. Kootwijk is within easy reach of the highway between Amersfoort and Apeldoorn. In the village turn left on the (only) junction; follow “Kerkendelweg” and turn right into “Houtzagersweg”. At the end of the sealed road is a car park. Go through a small gate and walk for about 500 metres straight on. Suddenly you will reach this huge sandbox. Stroll around, but just take care you don’t get lost and can not find your way out !! (on the road between Kootwijk and Harskamp is a car park with a short sign posted track, but we don’t like that part too much, because it is ‘overcrowded’). Directions: www.viamichelin.com |
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| Oranjeroute - bike tour around Apeldoorn | | |
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| on May 5, 2006 |
Apeldoorn has a strong bond with the house of Orange (Oranje). So it is not strange at all to find a bike tour called 'Oranjeroute', starting in Apeldoorn. This route is a mixture between some royal (Oranje) highlights in the city with perhaps some of the most scenic areas around the city on the Veluwe. We could pick up the route 75 metres from our home, but for visitors the best starting point may be the station. In front of the station starts the 'Stationsstraat', just enter this street and soon you will see on of the hexagonal signs 'ORANJE route'. The only thing you have to do (besides 'some' pedalling on your bike) is to follow these signs and after 35 km's you will return on your starting point. It will take 2½ hours biking, but there are a lot of benches along the route and you also can stop for a drink in Assel or Hoog Soeren. Although we know the area very well, we noticed again how hilly the Veluwe is. If you are not an experienced biker this trip will be rather challenging. The highlights along the route: - Oranjepark*: a real city park - Grote Kerk*: the church of the royal family, if they are staying in Apeldoorn - Statue of Queen Wilhelmina*: just in front of the church - Loolaan: one of Apeldoorn’s most beautiful avenue’s - De Naald*: an obelisk in honour of the engagement of Queen Wilhelmina and Duke Hendrik - Man with Two Hats*: monument to mark the liberation of the Netherlands - Palace Het Loo: just behind De Naald starts a drive way to the palace - Koningin Julianatoren: an amusement park for children - Hoog Soeren*: ‘mountain village’ (make a short detour for your coffee or lunch) - the Veluwe: scenic drive through forests and heath (with some pools) * see tips and on my Apeldoorn page. |
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| De Meinweg - bike tour | | |
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| on October 6, 2005 |
National Park ‘De Meinweg’ is one of the most unknown national parks in the Netherlands. It is situated in the province of Limburg between Roermond and Vlodrop. The landscape is not as flat as in the rest of the country and not as hilly as in parts of South Limburg. All together an ideal area for a bike tour and to enjoy the very varied landscape. With vast forests, heathland and small pools. It is said there should be vipers in the park, but to be honest we didn’t see them. Best place to start your bike tour is the information centre along the road from Roermond to Vlodrop. Here you can also get a free brochure of the bike tour. The tour through the park is 15 km’s long, but you may extend it through the neighbourhood with some rural villages, an old castle (hotel/restaurant) and a water mill. For rental bikes: Elfenmeer Herkenbosch (0475 – 531689) Boshotel Vlodrop (0475 – 534959) Rijwielhuis Piet Daemen (0475 – 401727) Or ask the information centre. See also 'accommodation tip': Vlodrop. If you don’t like biking, you can start for sign posted walks from the information centre to the most beautiful parts of the park, including some of the pools. Directions: www.viamichelin.com |
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| Van Gogh Museum | | |
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| on June 27, 2004 |
This museum houses the world's largest collection of Vicent van Gogh - with more than 200 paintings. Van Gogh relied on financial help from his brother Theo during his career. Theo was an art dealer. When Vicent died in July 1890 his brother owned nearly all his paintings. Theo died just 6 months after his brother and the paintings passed to his widow (Johanna van Gogh-Bonger) and then on to his son Vicent Willam van Gogh (1890-1978). In 1962 the works that were still in the family were bought by the newly established Vicent van Gogh Foundation. Funds for the pruchase were from the Dutch state which also constructed the museum to house the works. The museum opened in 1973, the collection is still growing as works are bought, donated or lent to the museum. On the day we went there was a long queue to visit it by the time the musuem opened at 10.00. |
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More Netherlands Tips
| Overview | General Tips Tips: 666 - Photos: 528 |
| Restaurants Tips: 235 - Photos: 136 | Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 193 - Photos: 117 |
| Things To Do Tips: 1,017 - Photos: 887 | Nightlife Tips: 136 - Photos: 88 |
| Off the Beaten Path Tips: 409 - Photos: 362 | Tourist Traps Tips: 94 - Photos: 53 |
| Warnings or Dangers Tips: 160 - Photos: 89 | Transportation Tips: 313 - Photos: 217 |
| Local Customs Tips: 328 - Photos: 267 | Packing Lists Tips: 80 - Photos: 40 |
| Shopping Tips: 61 - Photos: 53 | Sports Travel Tips: 40 - Photos: 36 |
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