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What I love most about the Netherlands

sue sinko

Are you missing travel? Ok, let’s not dwell on the fact that Covid has trumped (I know, not a great choice of words!) all our travel plans. But indulge me a bit. I’m going to reminisce and share my love for and connection to - the Netherlands.

I’ve been to the Netherlands twice and I’m pretty certain I’ll go back again, at least once more or more than once. It holds a special place in my heart. It's a little hard to explain but I love how I feel when I’m there - it’s kind of a comfortable feeling - the atmosphere, the people, the lifestyle. I really think I could live there.  

The Netherlands is in north western Europe and borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest. Its name means low-lying land. Basically, they built a country on a swamp. It’s indeed low-lying and remarkably flat.  Nearly ⅓ of the Netherlands lies below sea level. How is that even possible? 

Enough geography - now onto all the great things about this country and why I think you should visit it - at least once.

What do I love most about the Netherlands?

This list in no particular order.

1. The canals 

Of course, we all know that Amsterdam is famous for its canals but did you know that they’re found all over the Netherlands as well? They're  in the smallest of villages and the largest of towns. They’re so picturesque and romantic and delightful. The Brouwersgracht and  Prinsengracht canals, are amongst the most beautiful in Amsterdam.

2. Bike culture

Everyone, and I mean everyone, has at least one bike in the Netherlands. It’s such an easy and efficient way to get around.  Most of the country is flat, so it’s easy enough to cycle pretty much everywhere. Bike paths are as prolific as roads. There is a continuous network of cycle paths, clearly signposted, well maintained and well lit, with road/cycle path junctions that often give priority to cyclists. This makes cycling itself convenient, pleasant, and safe. The Dutch lack a reliance on cars. I love that! They rely on walking, bikes and trains as their preferred modes of transport. What I found so intriguing is that even though the Dutch commute each day on their bikes, they also love going on cycling weekends in the countryside. I loved biking my way around Amsterdam. I felt so accomplished and Dutch!

I was also lucky enough to go on a cycling weekend in the Twente region in eastern Netherlands. What a great way to spend a weekend - I highly recommend it!

3. Amsterdam 

The country’s largest city is famous for its canals, beautiful houses, 'coffee' shops and Red Light District, but there's so much more to this beautiful city. Thanks to its diminutive size and myriad museums, Amsterdam is reckoned to have more culture per capita than any other city on Earth. How could you not appreciate that? 

Amsterdam is a great walking city. You can spend days wandering its beautiful streets and getting lost in its charm. Some of my favourite things I recommend include:

4. The plethora of and love for art

The Dutch take great pride in their cultural heritage. Dutch art is well renowned. The Dutch painters are amongst the world’s greatest.  Among the most revered are Rembrandt van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer and Piet Mondrian.  

My favourite art museums are:

    • Rijksmuseum - most noted for its collection of works by the great 17th Century masters (especially Rembrandt), is a Dutch national museum dedicated to the arts and history. It's located at the Museum Square in Oud-Soud. It has on display 8000 objects of art and history, from their total collection of one million objects from the years 1200–2000, among which are some masterpieces like Rembrandt’s 'De Nachtwacht' (Night Watch), several paintings by Vermeer, van Dyck and Jan Steen. I was totally in awe when I saw De Nachtwacht for the very first time. 

    • Van Gogh Museum and the Kroller-Muller in Otterlo (Veluwe) are renowned for their collection of paintings by van Gogh. I highly recommend you visit at least one of these two art museums. 

    • Stedelijk Museum - recognised for its collection of contemporary paintings. I was lucky to see The Oasis of Matisse exhibit, when I was there. It was the largest exhibition of Henri Matisse (1869-1954) in the Netherlands ever. I entered an exuberant world of colour and discovered masterpieces by Matisse, alongside works by his contemporaries from the Stedelijk Museum’s permanent collection. 

5. Quaint Towns and Villages

Each town or village I visited is as pretty or prettier and as charming or more charming than the last.

I love:

De Rijp - a picturesque village about a 30 minute drive north of Amsterdam. De Rijp was famous for its herring industry. Today it is known for its characteristic beautifully restored 17th century houses. Centuries of history are still evident in the unique town hall with its weighing scales and Jan van der Heyden fire pump, the great Gothic church with its 23 stained glass windows, picturesque farms and half-wooden townhouse. 

Edam - located just 20 minutes east of de Rijp is famous for its Edam cheese. The town has a picturesque centre that is well worth a visit. The town´s cheese market gradually became its main reason of existence.

Gouda - another ‘cheese town’ is about an hour drive south of Amsterdam. Besides its cheese, it’s also famous for its stroopwafels, candles and its clay pipes. Most of the city is below sea level. It’s very easy to walk around and all the main site, including its 15th century town hall - Stadhuis are in the market square, which is surrounded by a canal. It’s a very charming little city.

Utrecht - an easy 30 minute train trip from Amsterdam. You can hire a bike at Utrecht Train Station and cycle your way through one of the most charming cities in the whole country. As you cycle, you will no doubt come across the impressive Dom Tower, the tallest church tower in the whole of the Netherlands and the reigning symbol of Utrecht. I suggest you climb the 465 steps to the top of the tower to see spectacular views of the city and beyond, and learn about the history of the area to boot. After your Dom Tower experience, I suggest hanging out at one of the many cafes and bars lining the canals and cobblestone streets. Sitting in the compact medieval centre of Utrecht in a canalside cafe, eating appelboll - Utrecht’s best dessert - and people watching is one of life’s great pleasures.

Delft is famous for its ceramic Delft Blue pottery. It’s also known as the birthplace of the famous painter Johannes Vermeer, ("The girl with the Pearl"). It’s a charming canal-ringed town with historical monuments and medieval architecture. Everything in this town feels cute and old with canals running beside every street in town. It’s another must-visit place.

Haarlem retains its medieval character of cobblestone streets and gabled houses. At the historic heart of Haarlem, the Grote Markt is the hub of daily life in Haarlem and just happens to be one of the prettiest city squares in the country. Golden Age portrait painter Frans Hals is one of Haarlem’s most famous sons, and his legacy can be seen all over the city. Nowhere more so than at the Frans Hals museum, a large gallery dedicated to Golden Age art and Hals’ portraiture, and home to the largest collection of Frans Hals portraits in the world.

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and Europe's largest seaport. It’s unlike any other Dutch city. If you love quirky and unique architecture, enjoy a city with a relaxed and welcoming vibe, and of course a harbour or two, then you’ll want to visit Rotterdam. 

Must sees in Rotterdam are:

  • the cube houses - this  bizarre and eccentric housing block was designed by Piet Blom and the cubes are tilted at a 45 degree angle. 

  • Markthal - a stunning covered market hall and apartment complex. The ceiling is so striking, it’s like a fruit and vegetable basket has been thrown in the air. 

top (from left to right) Cube houses in Rotterdam ….. Utrecht view from Dom Tower ….. Edam town centre

middle (from left to right) De Rijp ….. Gouda Cheese ….. Gouda Town Hall …..

bottom (from left to right) Delft blue pottery ….. Haarlem ….. Markthal Rotterdam

6. Windmills

Windmills are an iconic structure that has come to define the Netherlands and is one of the main things people associate with the country. Around 20km to the east of Rotterdam lies the small village of Kinderdjik which is a charming place to visit in its own right. What makes this village an especially magical place however is the many windmills that line the canals here. The 19 windmills stand proudly and have been restored to their original condition and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This truly is a delightful place to visit and the surrounding countryside and network of canals is extremely impressive.

7. The people

The Dutch are known for being straightforward, direct and no-nonsense. They are also cultured, kind and helpful. The people in the pics below are our very favourite Dutchies. They opened up their homes to us and treated us like family.

“Er zullen veel mensen in en uit je leven wandelen, maar alleen echte vrienden laten voetafdrukkenachter in je hart." Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

8. The food

The stroopwafel, bitterballen, cheese, apeltart, appelbol and pickled herring were the standouts for me.

top (from left to right) pickled herring ….. appelbol ….. cheese

bottom (from left to right) bitterballen ….. raw herring ….. stroopwafel …..

Have you been to the Netherlands? I’d love to hear your favourite memories.