Top Netherlands hotels
Red Light District Amsterdam
23 Reviews In the summer this place is heaving with tourists and where there are lots of tourists there are lots of undesirables such as heroin junkies, aggressive beggars, pickpockets and some real ugly looking...
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Dom church and tower Utrecht
1 Review Again a picture of the Domkerk. This church is the biggest in the Netherlands. It was seriously damaged by a hurricane a long time ago and now the tower is no loger linked to the rest of the...
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Coffee Shops Amsterdam
30 Reviews I must say I didn't feel trapped by any coffeeshop I visited, and my goal was to visit as many coffeeshops as I could in two weeks. I got to 33, some of them more than once. I have to say that I...
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Tricks & Scams Amsterdam
20 Reviews I've been to Amsterdam the past week and like every tourist I wanted to bring some tulip bulbs. In Bloemenmarkt (on Singel between Muntplein and Koningsplein) I saw many shops selling big quantities...
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Canal Boat Tours Amsterdam
13 Reviews You can throw things if you want, but I think the canal cruises you get by Centraal station are a disappointment. Especially the ones on closed boats where you sit crammed in with 30 other tourists,...
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Eating and Drinking Amsterdam
26 Reviews These places are everywhere, you can see them all over because they have the same menus and the same signs. Avoid them!!! The food might appear cheap, but really, you get less than what you pay for....
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Main Streets Amsterdam
12 Reviews Perhaps con men is bit harsh, but these people were very annoying. As we stepped off of the train in Amsterdam central, we were bombarded by people trying to 'help' us find a hotel/transportation,...
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Wooden Shoes Amsterdam
11 Reviews I think every tourist to Amsterdam gets trapped in one of these! Very kitschy, but good for a laugh nonetheless. There are a number of these in front of souvenir shops around the city. Get to...
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Souvenirs Amsterdam
9 Reviews I used to work in a souvenir shop on Damrak (the street just off central station) so let me share you a bit on one of the tricks those guys have. In many of these shops there is a display full of...
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Anne Frank House Amsterdam
11 Reviews Anna Frank House is one of the most famous attractions in Amsterdam and because of this the place is one of the crowded places. Sometimes the line is so big you can see people stand from the house to...
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Other Museums Amsterdam
23 Reviews Entrance: 15 euros (in 2010) What you get: A lot of Heineken advertising, a childish attraction in which you are a virtual bottle, and three beers along the "experience". As a souvenir you can keep...
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Diamonds Amsterdam
4 Reviews You will be able to go into so-called diamond factory tours to see the processing of diamonds in Amsterdam. The one I went to was around Van Gogh Museum area. I wouldn't say they are scams, but it...
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Transportation Amsterdam
14 Reviews Beware if you want to travel by bus or trams, the system is a rip off, one has to put the pre paid tkt next to the detector each time your on and off the tram or bus , if you forget once , your tkt is...
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The police care very tough in incorrect parking infringements. The 'wheel-clamp' and 'tow-away' are rigidly enforced. Just follow the rules and you won't go wrong. Don't try bribery whatever you do.Just take it on the chin - or wallet !The pic shows a safe one.Upcoming Video Clip will show result of error.
When you have a car it is worth to stay in the hotels around Amsterdam. For example Spaarnwoude resort hotel is 20 min from Amsterdam but you do not pay triple price for accomodation, do not pay 40 Euro for parking and stay in the quiet ecologic area.
Proverbs are usually not exclusive to one country or language.But here are some that reflect Dutch culture or that are used often in daily communication. Beloofd = beloofdPromise is debtWat een boer niet kent dat vreet hij nietWhat the farmer doesn't know, he won't eatWie voor een dubbeltje geboren is wordt nooit een kwartjeWhoever is born a dime will never become a quarterGoedkoop is duurkoopCheap will turn out to be expensiveVoor een dubbeltje op de eerste rang willen zittenWanting to sit first rank for almost nothing- The official Dutch dictionary is Van Dale. First published in 1864, and latest edition 2005.
OK....so you are invited for midmorning coffee or midafternoon tea in a Dutch home. You will get a cup and saucer (preferably flowered china of ancient and unknown origin) and a spoon which was bought as a souvenir in some holiday country.Coffee or tea is poured, a biscuit is offered.... take the biscuit! It's the only thing you will get to eat. After everyone's served, the lid goes on the biscuit tin. If you're lucky you might get another one on the second round of tea and coffee.Sept. 2007: the wife of our crown prince, the Argentinian Princess Maxima, noted this very fact in one of her speeches this week.- If you are used to a more filling morning coffee or tea, eat something before or after you leave.
So you're at the home of a Dutch family at about 18 hrs which is dinner time. You get a plate of vegs, potatoes, meat and gravy. To your horror you see everyone pick up their fork, move it to their right hand and start mashing up the food on their plate. This is called PRAKKEN. Within a blink of an eye the food is eaten. Don't follow example! You are right to be horrified.When VT had it's contest of best VT pages, judged by leading American travel journalists, this tip was singled out as a favourite!For all the winning pages (including this Netherlands page), see here. Just eat the way you want. Food should be enjoyed. If the food doesn't arrive at the table mashed already (like our stamppot, a bubble 'n squeak kind of dish), then just eat it like you're used to.As a Dutchie I am ashamed to admit that I do mash up my last potato with some extra gravy :-)))
The Netherlands is a small country, so the longest trip you can make is about 300 km. if you go from south to north.Roads are good, so are the cars. Many of them. Which means that especially in the west of the country (Randstad = triangle Rotterdam-Amsterdam-Utrecht) you will find yourself in traffic jams from 7-9:30 in the morning and 16.30-18.30 in the evening. If possible avoid the rush hour.If you have a mobile phone, send an SMS to 969 (KPN) stating: FILE (followed by the moterway number for example A15)...thus: FILE A15 will give you the traffic jams (FILE in Dutch) on the A15.Just FILE will give you all traffic jams. An alternative is public transport: train, bus, metro.See my transportation tips.And specifically the scheduler of all public transportation across the country here. (Including translation)
I was just emailing with Kiwi (Pam) when this expression came up that seems to be quite unknown in English. In Dutch, if you are baffled by something, your pants drop.You would say: 'that makes my pants drop'.Or even: 'good thing I was sitting down or my pants would've dropped !' Don't look surprised if you hear that: daar zakt m'n broek van af (that makes my pants drop). It's not rude. Just an expression. Why should there be an alternative? It's a perfectly good expression.I'm not sure I should post a photo with this tip. Let me just mull over that...
amsterdam is meant to *** with you. if you are traveling during the summer season, make sure to be prepared for the incredible confusion that resides within this beautiful and unique environment. for starters they give you all the drugs you could want or need. second they make the street names impossible to pronounce as if you were planning on speaking dutch anyway. then to make matters more difficult, they throw in cannals and make the streets and canals circular and windy. ohhh wait it gets better just as though you didnt have it hard enough, keep the sun out until almost midnight. yea it was a crazy time take an oppritunity to truly appriciate amsterdam as an experiment that could teach the world tolerance, and social maturity. just be aware of the scams and bad yet overpriced weed. there are a lot of people who would love to take advantage of stoned travelers. also make sure to...
The expression Dutch Treat is well known. It refers to the proverbial scringyness of the Dutch which in a way is true. We seem to have a lot of savings bank accounts. But the Dutch also give a lot to charity. Partly through their taxes but also through the many charities to support national and international causes.The Dutch give 1.2% of their bruto year income to charity. If you are a member of a church, the rule of thumb is that you donate 2% of your bruto income to the church. In addition probably to whatever you give to other charities.Charity is even a scientific study in The Netherlands. At the Universities of Amsterdam and Tilburg there the Social Science faculties run a special programme. Very interesting stuff. What if you don't have money to donate? Do voluntary work. Even with a government that takes care of so many social causes, there are still many, even locally, that are...
Will you folks please tell me what the big fuss is about? I know many people love this city and keep coming here over and over again. Well, not me..So they do have the manmade caves and they are pretty nice, but there are much more interesting ones in Maastricht, which is just "around the corner". Actually, everything in Valkenberg will look gray in the shade of beautiful Maastricht. And why did I have to change 3 restaurants before I finally got waiter's attention? Maybe you should strat working for tips again instead of fixed salaries you'd be running to your customers like a chicken without head! Actually, this is the first time I got so disappointed visiting a Dutch city. Of course there is always Dronten but at least they are not calling themselves a tourism attraction
Seven Bridges Hotel Amsterdam
4 Reviews and 488 Opinions We almost stayed here. Looked like a charming hotel, although we didn’t see the rooms. It’s in a...
The Manhattan Hotel Rotterdam Rotterdam
6 Reviews and 138 Opinions Right opposite Rotterdam Centraal train station on Weena, is the imposing 5 star Westin hotel. It...
Novotel Maastricht Maastricht
4 Reviews and 178 Opinions It's great to see and witness that the hotel has a heated outdoor swimming pool, which you can use...
Reviews and photos of Netherlands attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Netherlands sightseeing.
Q: A couple of years since I've been back. Nothing stays the same. So, is the old strippenkaart system finally over? I can read...
A: chippenkaartenmarken ;-)
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