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Netherlands Vacation Guide
The Netherlands is the land of windmills, prostitutes and legal drugs. At least that’s what you probably already know about the country, but those are just the headline makers: what usually surprises is that this small corner of Europe is overwhelmingly gorgeous.
Yes, capital Amsterdam is a hedonistic playground where you can do things you wouldn’t dream of doing at home, and yes it does have its own sex museum. Amongst the streets of Europe’s most tolerant city, however, are quiet, winding canals, cobbled lanes, gardens of vivid tulips and a regal building full of the works of Van Gogh. So no, it’s not just for party animals and stag nights, though most visitors end up in a coffee shop, or drifting through the red light district at some stage (purely for entertainment value of course – don’t try taking photographs!).
Second city Rotterdam was rebuilt from the bottom up after being left a post World War II pile of rubble. The port town has a fierce rivalry with Amsterdam, one that’s reflected in its rampaging nightlife and anti-Amsterdam branded hardcore techno scene. The 185-meter tower – “Euromast” - offers revolving views over the city’s modern architecture, while you can hunt down that Dutch stereotype in the 18th-century windmill of the only district that survived the attacks, Oude Kerk.
Maastricht – home of the EU treaty – swallows verdant green hills in its aging medieval splendor, and basks in a central European cosmopolitan vibe that sees the average citizen ramble comfortably in several languages. Tiny Haarlam – a mere day trip from Amsterdam – is chock full of café culture, remarkable crumbling buildings and grandiose churches whose spires fill the skyline, while the town of Delft offers similar aging charms alongside its world-renowned blue and white pottery.
Out in the countryside, you can explore the swathes of land reclaimed from the waters of the North Sea, stumble among the cultured parklands and epic art museum of Hoge Veluwe National Park, or explore the natural wanders of Texel Island, a popular local holiday spot. Just don’t pass The Netherlands off as purely hedonistic: this country’s about so much more than cannabis.
Yes, capital Amsterdam is a hedonistic playground where you can do things you wouldn’t dream of doing at home, and yes it does have its own sex museum. Amongst the streets of Europe’s most tolerant city, however, are quiet, winding canals, cobbled lanes, gardens of vivid tulips and a regal building full of the works of Van Gogh. So no, it’s not just for party animals and stag nights, though most visitors end up in a coffee shop, or drifting through the red light district at some stage (purely for entertainment value of course – don’t try taking photographs!).
Second city Rotterdam was rebuilt from the bottom up after being left a post World War II pile of rubble. The port town has a fierce rivalry with Amsterdam, one that’s reflected in its rampaging nightlife and anti-Amsterdam branded hardcore techno scene. The 185-meter tower – “Euromast” - offers revolving views over the city’s modern architecture, while you can hunt down that Dutch stereotype in the 18th-century windmill of the only district that survived the attacks, Oude Kerk.
Maastricht – home of the EU treaty – swallows verdant green hills in its aging medieval splendor, and basks in a central European cosmopolitan vibe that sees the average citizen ramble comfortably in several languages. Tiny Haarlam – a mere day trip from Amsterdam – is chock full of café culture, remarkable crumbling buildings and grandiose churches whose spires fill the skyline, while the town of Delft offers similar aging charms alongside its world-renowned blue and white pottery.
Out in the countryside, you can explore the swathes of land reclaimed from the waters of the North Sea, stumble among the cultured parklands and epic art museum of Hoge Veluwe National Park, or explore the natural wanders of Texel Island, a popular local holiday spot. Just don’t pass The Netherlands off as purely hedonistic: this country’s about so much more than cannabis.