Netherlands Travel Tips
The Dutch aren't bogged in their clichés, even though bikes, dykes, windmills and blazing flower fields are pretty much the norm outside the major cities. Do as the locals do - grab a bike and explore. It's a very big small country, and full of salutary surprises.
One of the chief pleasures of the place is its lively contrast between pragmatic liberalism and the buttoned-up just-so primness of a culture founded on Calvinist principles.
Say Cheese!
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, August 2011
One thing you’ll notice as you travel around the Netherlands is all the cows. Peacefully grazing, they are generally a happy bunch because they get to live long, productive lives giving milk for the ...
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Texel: the Other Side of The Netherlands
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, July 2012
Culture, art, and city nightlife are not all there is to The Netherlands .
There are many good reasons to get out of the city and explore the
country more deeply and the island of Texel is one. ...
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The Best Dutch Breweries
Written by Sasha, March 2013
Beer drinking is a connoisseur’s pastime in Belgium and a team sport in Germany, and with The Netherlands squashed in between, Dutch beers are often overlooked. However, alongside the three giant ...
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The Best Small Towns in The Netherlands
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, August 2012
So you’ve had enough of the trams and bicycle packs of Amsterdam and want to see a quieter side of Dutch life. Here are a few suggestions of small towns to visit: 1) Alkmaar In the north of the ...
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The City of Rotterdam
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, October 2012
Rotterdam is The Netherlands second largest city, this is Europe’s biggest port with modern buildings and a lively contemporary feel. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t plenty of history ...
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The City of Utrecht
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, June 2012
Utrecht is The Netherlands ’
fourth largest city, center of the Dutch Catholic church and home to
the largest university in the country, Utrecht University.
The city had its heyday in the early ...
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The Maastricht Caves
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, November 2011
I have to admit that due to my well-developed claustrophobia visiting caves is not high on my list of things to do. Especially not caves as intricate and deep as the Maastricht Caves. Located under ...
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The Netherlands in Winter
Written by Sasha, February 2013
There is plenty to do in The Netherlands
in winter. The climate might not be at its most welcoming but if you’re
lucky the sun will come out, the crowds will have disappeared, and
you’ll have ...
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Things to Do in Delft
Written by Sasha, February 2013
Sitting between Rotterdam and Den Haag in The Netherlands, Delft is a gorgeous old market town, full of gabled houses, a medieval town hall, tree-lined canals, cobbled piazzas, and barnlike churches. ...
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Things to Do in Gouda (Other Than Eat the Famous Cheese)
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, May 2012
Gouda is not just a cheese but a town. In fact, the town and its surrounding farms invented the cheese and ensured its worldwide fame. Of course when you go to Gouda you will want to eat cheese, ...
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Traditional Dutch Cuisine
Written by Sasha, February 2013
The traditional cuisine in The Netherlands is straightforward and hearty. The winter chill is kept at bay with simple dishes such as erwtensoep (pea soup) and stamppot (mashed potatoes cooked with ...
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Train Travel in the Netherlands
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, October 2012
Traveling by train is a great way to get around The Netherlands. Trains are frequent and reliable if not particularly luxurious. Stations in most towns and cities are centrally located and, not ...
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Visit Picturesque Groningen
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, November 2011
Groningen is perhaps not a name that immediately springs to mind when you are thinking of cities in The Netherlands, but this university town in the north might surprise you. There’s been a ...
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Walk of Fame, Rotterdam
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, October 2011
I suppose it had to happen. Europe now has a Walk of Fame in an attempt to match that of Hollywood . And just like the one in LA , this walk in Rotterdam is becoming a popular tourist attraction. ...
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West Frisian Islands and Mud Walking
Written by Philippa Burne, UK, February 2012
Keeping the North Sea from completely swamping the northernmost part of the Netherlands is a series of barrier islands called the West Frisian Islands. They ring the entrance to the inland sea and ...
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