Netherlands Travel Guide

When you think of the Netherlands the image of wooden shoes, tulips and windmills might come to mind. Throw in a picture of a little boy holding a finger next to a dyke and the cliche is complete. For all that is known about Holland - Amsterdam's Red Light district, the flatness, the canals, the tallest people in the world - there are also mysteries to be discovered. How does a country that is below sea level exist? Where did all those bikes come from? Why do the Dutch people speak better English than native speakers? These are the questions you can answer while visiting a country that oozes hipness.

What to do

Of course you'll want to visit Amsterdam, which combines world-class museums and stunning architecture with all those coffeeshops you've heard about as well as the infamous Red Light District. The Rijksmuseum is the finest in the country, but the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House often have longer lines.

Rotterdam has an all-new city center, but it can be fascinating as well, since it can give you a much better look at the real Dutch culture. They've got an enormous harbor, museums, and even coffeeshops, but only a tiny fraction of the amount of tourists that Amsterdam has, and that can make it worthwhile by itself.

Getting there

Book a flight into Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (code: AMS) and see what all the fuss is about. Fares tend to be quite low from everywhere due to the heavy competition. The city is also easily reached by rail so it's an excellent stop for Eurail Pass holders as well.

Where to stay

There are more hotels in the Netherlands than you can shake a stick at, and prices can be reasonable. But there are also loads of hostels in the Netherlands, most of those being in Amsterdam itself. Summers are crowded, but otherwise you shouldn't have much problem finding a room.

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