Month: January 2021

What Are Must-See Attractions In Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is one of the most diverse and culture-rich cities in the world. Although Amsterdam is only small, this city is still bursting with plenty of museums and galleries to explore, whilst also boasting wonderful canal walks and outside spaces to unwind and relax in too. Famous for its liberal attitudes, Amsterdam attracts millions of tourists from all over the globe each year. Here are some of the must-see attractions in Amsterdam.

Rijksmuseum

This museum is a great place to start your trip. Here you can discover everything you need to know about Dutch history, dating back from 1200 to the present day. Along with original works by Vermeer and Rembrandt, this museum also hosts regular one-off exhibitions too, so there is always something new to see and enjoy.

Anne Frank House

The story of Anne Frank and her diary is famous throughout the world, and here at the Anne Frank House, visitors have the opportunity to see the main house belonging to Otto Frank, where the Frank family hid with two other families in the annex. Here you can also read extracts from Anne’s original diary and see personal objects that once belonged to the Frank family. The Anne Frank House also acts as an educational resource, making it the perfect place to visit for all ages.

Van Gogh Museum

Vincent Van Gogh is famous for his Post-Impressionist landscapes, portraits and self-portraits, and the Van Gogh Museum houses many of his most famous works. Along with paintings, here visitors can also enjoy reading Van Gogh’s letters which give a unique glimpse into the man behind the art.

For those who love Dutch art, current modern artist and designer Max Lang-Orsini have an exciting and emotive collection of artwork which can be viewed via his online portfolio for those looking to explore how Dutch art has evolved since Van Gogh.

Dam Square

As one of the most central points of Amsterdam, Dam Square provides a focal meeting point and is home to some of Amsterdam’s most notable and famous buildings.

Built during the 13th Century, here you can enjoy views of the Koninklijk Palace, also known as the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk, which often hosts a variety of exhibitions, along with the Dam Square monument, which commemorates those who perished during World War II. Dam Square is also a great place to shop for souvenirs and relax in one of its traditional bars and cafes.

Vondelpark

Named after the poet Vondel and opened to the public in 1865, the Vondelpark is the biggest park of its kind in Amsterdam and boasts over 10 million visitors a year. Located close to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, this park is the perfect place to unwind and relax. Aside from its natural beauty, the Vondelpark also hosts concerts and open-air theatre performances in the summer months and has a restaurant, pavilion and a children’s playground, making it the ideal place to enjoy with all the family.

What Should I Not Miss When Visiting The Netherlands?

Talking of tourism, the Netherlands is a country that offers great eye-catching sites that are very ambient and quite breath-taking. Popular for its beautiful flower gardens and the windmills, there are so many other hidden gems that you may not be aware of.

Here is a list of places and things you do not want to miss out when touring this amazing country.

Keukenhof Gardens

Also known as the Garden of Europe, the Keukenhof is found in the town of Lisse. The garden holds approximately 7 million flower bulbs every year. This spectacular site tops our list of must-go places in the Netherlands.

A wonderful and magnificent site to see if you ask me. The Keukenhof gardens simply show you the beauty of mother nature with a wide range of flowers from tulips to daffodils, hyacinths, narcissi among many more. Something for all lovers of mother-nature,

The West Frisian Islands

Located in the North Sea off the Dutch coast along the edge of the Wadden sea. There are a total of 14 islands, but here are the main ones.

• Texel (Den Burg)- largest

• Vlieland (Oost Vlieland)-second largest

• Terschelling (West-Terschelling, Midsland)-third largest

• Ameland (Nes, Hollum)-fourth-largest

• Schiermonnikoog (Schiermonnikoog)-fifth largest.

While chilling at these islands, get to catch the dazzling sunset view from the beach club along the sand as you interact with the magnificent people of the Netherlands while sipping your cocktails.

Wander along the fine relaxing beaches on the mudflats or even take a bike with you and cycle along the cool shores.

WONDR Experience

This is a truly immersive experience awaits here. The WONDR is a playground sprinkled with confetti that is full of colour sensations. The place is very vibrant and full of energy and is most certainly suitable for every age.

Socials would term it as the most instagrammable place to visit, well simply because of the tons of pictures that you get to share while here. Did you know that this is Amsterdam’s first artistic playground for adults? Swing in the colourful jungle, smile in the confetti shower, sing in the

Karaoke booths, play in the ball pit as well as get to swim in a marshmallow pool.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, the crowd is limited to 15 participants. All health and safety measures are, however, applied. The experience is also designed for adults; therefore, children under 10 years of age are not allowed for safety purposes.

Canal Tour

We could not leave this one out of the list, since it is certainly attractive while you tour through the streets of the cities in the Netherlands. One of which you will attest to be absolutely an experience of its own.

The trips are accompanied by a very informative tour guide that takes you through the towns’ history as you cruise through. The world-famous Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, the Heineken Experience, and the Royal Theater Carre could be some of the route’s drop-off points.

From romantic candlelight cruises to cheese and wine tours during the Amsterdam light festival in winter are some of the best experiences for couples. Dinner cruises, cocktail cruises and the famous pizza cruises aim to satisfy your culinary cravings. Enjoy the delicious Dutch pancakes from the pancake boats that allow sightseeing as you gobble up the stacks of pancakes.

Gouda

Talking of the best cheese, have you heard of the famous ‘Goudse Kaas’, a Dutch cheese from Gouda made from cow’s milk? It is one of the most popular cheeses worldwide. Be sure not to miss some of the famous Gouda cheese cauliflower soup, cheese puffs, and of course the Gouda cheese pastries.

There you have it, start planning your next trip to the Netherlands and enjoy these and many more.

Best Cycling Months in The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, cyclists ride their bikes all year round since it is a vital means of transport. People in the Netherlands use the bicycle to go to school, visit the shop, and work. However, when the weather is favourable, a lot of cyclists enjoy recreational cycling. In the Netherlands, you get good things from every season.

Because of that, you need to take your bicycle and have fun if you are in the Netherlands when the weather is excellent. Like any other coastal country in Europe, Netherlands has both cold winter and warm summers with rainfall all through.

If you have to pick the months to take out your bike, mid-April to October is the best. You can avoid big crowds if you try cycling during spring. Though the chance of having good weather in spring is half, you get the best of the Netherlands.

April To May

The weather pattern in April is unpredictable. It is vital to carry warm cloth and the right rain gear when you visit the Netherlands at the start of April. However, as the month nears the end, the weather changes to warm, making it suitable for cyclists. In May, the temperature rises, attracting many tourists. In places like gardens and museums can get crowded. Thus, there are several spots in the Netherlands that are rarely busy for cyclists.

A cyclist can enjoy free movement in areas like the world heritage coastline, scenic fisherman’s village, and De Hoge Veluwe National Park. According to Max Lang-Orsini, you can visit the Van Gogh museum after a long ride since art is significant for relaxing.

June To July

People in the Netherlands are happy as there are fewer winds, and the sun gets warm. It is excellent to visit the Netherlands in June since the holidays have not yet started and the weather is good. Because of that, roads and museums will not be busy cycling all day. You should be ready to be packed with other travellers when you visit the Netherlands in July.

This period is better for a cyclist since most tourists will be in the city while visiting Dutch znature and some of the exciting sights. There is no bothering from tourists when you take a ride on the road, hence enjoying your group’s time.

August To September

There are a lot of activities that take place in August. Most of the biggest festivals in the Netherlands during the month happen outside the big cities hence creating the right interaction environment when cycling. If you like riding when relatively warm, September is the month. Although the summer holidays are done, in the Netherlands, September remains warm.

In terms of freedom, there are almost no crowds in the cities and other catchy areas in September, hence a great ride.

October

At the beginning of the month, the weather is still suitable for riding. As the month nears the end, the chance of rain is high, making many people want to spend time indoors. If you like chilly weather while bike riding, you can have the best time at the end of this month with minimal disturbance.

Parting Words

As described, there are plenty of activities that you can do while in the Netherlands other than bike riding. Therefore, have fun in your stay to create beautiful memories of your cycling days in the Netherlands.