Netherlands Travel

King's Day is probably one of the most popular and flamboyant celebrations in the Netherlands. Every year on April 27 (or the day before if it falls on a Sunday), the Dutch celebrate their King Willem-Alexander's birthday as a national holiday with a lot of music, dancing, flea markets, and fun fairs all over the country. If you happen to be in the Netherlands, you can’t miss this event!

Being the largest exporter of flowers globally and accounting for two-thirds of the world's total floral sales, the Netherlands is aptly dubbed as the ‘Land of Flowers.’ Therefore, it goes without saying, that spring is the most beautiful time in the Netherlands. When the bulbs start blooming in the endless array of flower fields, the entire country transforms into a vast ocean of flowers. It starts in mid-March with cherry blossoms, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths. And as the famous tulips blossom in mid-April, the whole country gets ready for the biggest spring festival named ‘Bloemencorso (Flower Parade) Bollenstreek (Bulb Region)!’

Near the village of Wierum is an old shipwreck from the second world war times that emerges from the sea only during low tides. This wreck symbolizes a crucial part of the Wadden Sea's cultural history - the struggle for territory between man and nature that occurred here from the Middle Ages to the present. It first appeared close to the Schoorsterhoofd, in the west but eventually started to wander towards Wierum and ended up becoming trapped in the mud. Ever since it’s been here getting gradually affected by the ebb and flow gradually but steadily affecting the praam.

Schokland, the first Dutch site on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites, located in the current province of Flevoland, was a peninsula in the Netherlands since prehistoric times. But since it was primarily a soft peatland, it suffered greatly from the frequent floods from the Zuiderzee which was an inland sea in the northern part of the Netherlands that existed from approximately the beginning of the late Middle Ages. In the 15th century, the Zuiderzee crept into a part of the land of Schokland and cut it off from the mainland converting it into an island. Post that inhabitants again occupied it. However due to continued flooding of the sea, the residents had to leave the island regularly, and it had to be permanently evacuated in 1859.

There is an inherent fascination with things that are outside the norm for many people. The widespread appeal of the Guinness Book of World Records is living proof of this. Therefore, for something to be the tallest, largest, oldest, greatest, or tiniest is a great thing for business. As a result, a few locations claim or market themselves to be "smallest” in the Netherlands which is driven by the local merchants and the chamber of commerce supporting them. And then naturally, it also means, there will always be an element of ambiguity in these kinds of claims. Today I’m going to talk about two such “smallest” settlements in the Netherlands. Let the journey begin!

Before we begin our story today, let me ask you a “Did you know?” question. Did you know that there are Stonehenges in the Netherlands? And that they are older than the English Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids? And that too not just 1, but 54? If not, this article is for you. In this article, I’m going to demystify the prehistoric Hunebedden (meaning giant beds in Dutch) for you. So without further delay, let me share with you the intriguing story of the Hunebedden or Dolmens of the Netherlands.

If Gregory Peck got lost trying to find the bathroom just next to his bedroom on his first visit to Kasteel de Haar in 1960, you know there must be something special about this castle. To be honest, most apartments in central Amsterdam are smaller than the average bathroom in this medieval castle. And with ornate furnishings across the rooms, corridors, and bathrooms, it’s easy to imagine that it may have been quite tedious for him to find the switch of the light, especially in the dark!

Dolfinarium Harderwijk in the Netherlands is the largest marine mammal park in Europe that interactively brings humans and nature closer together. Here, you can see charming bottlenose dolphins, naughty porpoises, enormous walruses, roaring sea lions, and stumbling seals performing up close in a variety of shows. You can even get to pet some sharks and rays! It also features 4 fantastic playgrounds and the magnificent water park ‘Waterpret.’ Today, around 600,000 people visit Dolfinarium every year.

A Dutch visual artist, philosopher, and landscape architect (who liked to call himself ‘Ecotect’) Louis Guillaume Le Roy (1924–2012) is credited with coining the term ‘Eco-cathedral.’ The name is made up of two elements, ‘Eco’ standing for the natural world, and ‘Cathedral’ for the culture. He intended this to convey the idea that culture and environment should coexist. They are interdependent; their relationship is symbiotic.

The lush countryside immediately north of Amsterdam is known as Waterland. Waterland is both land and water, as its name implies. With thousands of little canals, brooks, rivers, and lakes, this landscape is almost entirely covered by water. It's known as "Amsterdam's wet back garden." This rural area boasts a scenery that is genuinely representative of the Dutch landscape: it is flat, abundant with historic "polders" (reclaimed land tracts), lush green pastures, twisting dikes, and functional windmills. In a nutshell, Waterland is the Netherlands, and it's only a short distance from the hectic metropolis. Nevertheless, this area is absolutely distinct from Amsterdam. It is a place where "the clock ticks more slowly," as we like to say in the Netherlands!

While it's well known that Amsterdam, the lively capital city filled with canals and coffee shops, is frequently the first (and, let's face it, sometimes the only) stop for tourists in the Netherlands, there are a plethora of other, less-visited locations throughout the nation that are equally as worthwhile. Travelers will be surprised by how diversified the Netherlands' landscapes are for such a small nation.

Summers in the Netherlands can be a genuine celebration with the sun, sea, beach, festivals, music, overnight stays, lovely pavement cafés, delectable food, and fine wine! The longest day of the year, or the Summer Solstice, which occurs on June 21, marks the beginning of summer, according to the astronomical calendar. June, July, and August are regarded as the summer months by meteorologists. As a result of its maritime climate, which is influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the Netherlands experiences a variety of weather conditions throughout the summer, including a few hot days with temperatures considerably over the 25-degree threshold.

Durga Puja, also known by the names Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a major annual ten-day Hindu festival that is celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, and the nation of Bangladesh during the month of Ashwin on the Indian calendar (which falls between September and October on the Gregorian calendar), to commemorate the victory of the Hindu Goddess Durga (who is regarded as ‘Adi Shakti,’ the primordial cosmic energy) against the shape-shifting demon Mahishasura after a ten-day war.

Since before the advent of Christ, the Dutch have been associated with cheese. Researchers have uncovered pieces of cheese-making machinery that date back to 200 BC. Due to the Netherlands' lush environment, which was ideal for cattle rearing, cheese-making had become an integral part of Dutch culture by the Middle Ages. Markets for cheese grew briskly, and communities with weighing privileges were able to construct ‘Weigh Houses’ and enjoyed unique status.

The UNESCO World Heritage Windmills of Kinderdijk shine like bright beacons against the dark evening skies during Illumination Week (which happens every year around the first or second week of September), when they literally shine a spotlight on each of the nineteen mills. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for photographers looking for truly unique photographs. This year it will even be the 50th edition. During this week you can follow various workshops, visit windmills and go on a boat tour.

The Dutch Dunes are ever-changing landscapes as a result of the water and the wind's ongoing effect, extending for hundreds of miles and comprising lakes, woods, and hills that contribute significantly to the Dutch environment. The dunes are home to a diverse array of wild flora and fauna. The dunes provide an essential barrier against the occasionally untamed and rising North Sea because nearly a third of the nation is below sea level. In addition to storm surge protection, these exceptional habitats can deliver a number of amazing experiences right from swimming in the natural freshwater lakes, to a peaceful trek appreciating wildflowers and unusual fauna to biking across rolling hills and conquering windswept vantage points that give breathtaking views in a flat country like the Netherlands.

Being a maritime country with a 450 km coastline, the Netherlands is famous for its beautiful beaches. Since the Netherlands has a lesser number of sunny days in the year, with the arrival of the summer, beachgoers, wildlife lovers, and watersports enthusiasts visit the splendid Dutch coastal towns to enjoy some fresh air on the beach, have a drink at a beach club, take a stroll down the promenade or through the dunes, watch the seagulls steal french fries from a scared couple, or ride the giant waves on a windy day!

Located in Limburg, the southernmost province of the Netherlands, Valkenburg, a marlstone hamlet nestled amid moss-green hills in the heart of the 'Heuvelland' nature reserve, is the country's oldest tourist destination and one of the few places in the country with actual mountains. It has been a landmark for nearly 130 years with its undulating terrain and picturesque surroundings, as well as its two major attractions - the famed castle ruins and marlstone caves. Even though just the remains of Castle Valkenburg exist, it is nonetheless worth a visit because it is the country's only castle built on a hill and therefore offers a panoramic view of the city from its broken ramparts.

In the gorgeous wetlands around Dordrecht, 25 kilometers east of Rotterdam, stands nineteen historic windmills, constructed between 1738 and 1740. The windmills of Kinderdijk were built to pump water out of the low-lying Alblasserwaard polder situated at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers, thereby preventing floods in the region. Today, they symbolize centuries-old Dutch engineering for water management. In 1997, they were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Windmills of Kinderdijk are one of the most photographed places in the Netherlands.

The Zaanse Schans is a small Dutch village on the Zaan river 20 km north of Amsterdam, in the neighborhood of Zaandam. It has an open-air museum feel that offers a peek into the Dutch life of the golden ages with its traditional wood houses, vibrant windmills, and workshops. The Zaanse Schans draws in almost a million visitors each year, and it's one of the Netherlands' best-loved destinations. Together with the neighboring city of Zaandam, famous for its wooden Zaan-style houses, it is a must-visit destination when you’re in the Netherlands.

Spring is undoubtedly the most fascinating season in the Netherlands and therefore, the best time for tourists to visit this beautiful country. After dull, grey, and cold winter months, as the sun starts peeping through the clouds, the sky turns blue and the days get longer and warmer, you know spring is in the air. And during these spring months of mid-March to mid-May, being the largest exporter of flowers globally, the whole country transforms into a vast ocean of flowers. It starts with cherry blossoms, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths between mid-March and mid-April, followed by the famous tulips between mid-April and mid-May. This makes it a great time to explore the Dutch countryside.

Clingendael is one of the most beautiful country estates in the Netherlands. The estate, which is located halfway between The Hague and Wassenaar, has a colorful past. Several aristocratic families have resided on the estate since the 16th century, and various garden and landscape architects have contributed to the look and feel of this country estate since the sixteenth century. In the nineteenth century, garden architect Zocher modified the garden's original French design with the popular English landscape style of the time. Later, the garden was transformed into an old Dutch park with the addition of a Japanese garden.

‘De Efteling’ is a one-of-a-kind fantasy-themed amusement park in Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands, with a fairytale ambiance, natural settings, and a variety of thrilling and captivating attractions derived from ancient myths, legends, fairytales, fables, and folklores, making it a perfect short-break destination for children, adult, and families who need a little magic and thrill now and again!

The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), is without a doubt one of the most well-known and renowned artists in the world today. Her remarkable works of art, turbulent life, and unconventional lifestyle made her a global icon and cult figure. She suffered severe agony as a result of a tragic bus accident and had to endure multiple surgeries throughout her life. Her passion for art, her love for her husband, Diego Rivera, and Mexico's indigenous culture gave her the fortitude to persevere.

The National Military Museum at Soest, in the Dutch province of Utrecht, is a defense museum with the largest military collection in the Netherlands. Stichting Koninklijke Defensiemusea (Royal Defense Museums Foundation) oversees it along with the Marine Museum in Den Helder, the Military Police Museum in Buren, and the Marine Museum in Rotterdam. From flying an F-16, driving a tank, or picking up some NATO lingo, the National Military Museum offers a variety of activities for both children and adults.

‘The Diary of a Young Girl,’ popularly known as ‘The Diary of Anne Frank,’ is one of the most well-known books of the twentieth century, that has inspired countless plays and films. Written between 1942 and 1944, it paints a vivid picture of a maturing young woman rising to the challenge when thrust into an incredible situation, and exposes the plight of individuals who suffered at the hands of the Nazis during their occupation of the Netherlands.

During the World War II endgame period of 1944 - 45, significant battles erupted in the Netherlands as the Allies pushed through from the country's south and finally succeeded in liberating the Netherlands from German control. Thousands of troops from the Netherlands and from other countries were martyred. The Netherlands has around 3,900 World War II memorials and cemeteries, the biggest absolute number, and density in Europe. Today I’m going to talk about the 3 most historic World War II memorials in the Netherlands.

Situated in the Southern Dutch province of Limburg near the Belgian border, the city of Thorn, popularly dubbed as 'The White Village,' 'The Tiny White Town,' or 'Het Witte Stadje' in Dutch, is a fascinating place to visit, thanks to its history as an Imperial Abbey ruled by women and the turbulent aftermath of the French invasion in the 18th century. Today I’m going to take you along with me on a ride across the 7 best things to see and do in this beautiful town. Let the journey begin!

The annual Amsterdam Light Festival (ALF) fills the Dutch capital's canals with magnificent works of light art every winter. Designers, architects, and artists from all around the world submit hundreds of concepts each year, out of which 20 to 30 artworks are chosen for display in the festival by a selection committee.

If you plan to stroll incessantly through gorgeous winter landscapes and enchanting Christmas decors, you need to be at Kerststad Valkenburg. Having seen a lot of Christmas Markets around the globe, I can safely proclaim that Valkenburg Christmas Market is hands down the best Christmas Market in the Netherlands and one of the most unique Christmas Markets on the planet. After all, it's not every day that you get to a Christmas Market within a marlstone cave!