Known the world over for its liberal policies, the Dutch
are non-the-less practical and sensible. English is widely
spoken and visitors are always welcome to come and experience
some of the Netherlands’ more distinct characteristic
icons; windmills, clogs, tulips, dykes and canals, diary
products and cannabis ‘coffee’ shops.
Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most
charming cities, covered in canals and unusual architecture.
Bicycles are the most practical way to explore the delightful
lanes of this largely unchanged ancient city. It is however
a cosmopolitan cultural melting pot, where tourist sometimes
outnumber locals. It has some fantastic museums (Van Gogh
and Rejks), the famous Anne Frank house and several lovely
churches. There’s certainly more to the city than
the red light district and coffee shops.
The Hague is the seat of the Royalty
and government, including stately mansions, palatial embassies
and prestigious art galleries. Delft is
a tiny, over visited, but quaint town famous for its pottery.
Rotterdam is the world’s busiest
port, very much The Netherlands’ modern, working class
city, with unusual architecture and a vibrant atmosphere.
Once an important commercial centre, Haarlem
retains its ancient charm and is sleepy by comparison. The
Keukenhof, south of Haarlem, is the world's
largest garden. It attracts a staggering 800,000 people
during its eight-week season each year.
Maastricht, in the extreme south, is
the country’s oldest significant settlement, dating
from Roman times. Remains of the old fortifications are
well preserved and add to the city’s appeal.
Exploring the Netherlands’ countryside is a little
difficult, much of it is reclaimed and beneath sea level,
making the entire country relatively flat and criss-crossed
by canals and dykes.
Schiphol airport, near Amsterdam, is the country’s
only long-haul airport and receives most of the traffic.
Rail and bus networks are extensive, and ferries sail for
the UK daily.
The Dutch are incredibly tolerant and laid-back when dealing
with the hordes who pour in for dirty weekends. Anything
goes in this country, making it popular too with the gay
community. The locals have developed a really efficient,
first class tourism infrastructure to take advantage of
their ‘permissive’ drawcard, but accommodation
in Amsterdam comes at a premium in the summer.
