Pronounced Nederland in Dutch, but often incorrectly referred to as Holland, the Netherlands is regarded as the most densely populated and urbanized nations on earth. It is for the most part a man-made affair, of which half of more lies below sea level, is woven with pretty canals and church spires, red light districts and coffee shops in its capital city – Amsterdam. Netherlands is truly a treat to travelers with its sugary white beaches, pristine towns, villages and farmlands, visionary architecture to phenomenal nightlife, tulips candlelit cafés and tantalizing caramel-filled stroop-waffles (caramel-syrup-filled waffles with ice cream). But unfortunately, most travelers only visit Amsterdam, and only for a few days consequently missing out on the divine pleasures the Netherlands has to offer.
A fully developed residential neighborhood in Amsterdam, Ijburg is mainly built on artificial islands and hence offers a spectacular backdrop for ice skating. You can skate on the 400 meter outdoor track and rent out blades if you don’t have your own.
Travel advice:
Distance from capital: Located in capital and 15 minutes away from city center by tram car
Travel expense: €55 by taxi from Amsterdam airport and €7-€10 by train.
Clothing: Regular clothing but warm clothing recommended.
Distance from capital: Under 115 km
If you’ve always desired to take the plunge, we mean by way of skydiving or already are a pro jumper, Parachutecentrum Texel will provide you with the ultimate jump experience. Set within one of the most beautiful locations in the Netherlands, on one of the 5 Wadden islands Texel, you can either choose to solo jump,, tandem jump, and even take two-day, one-week and two-week courses in line with your travel plans.
Travel advice:
Cost: Starting at €39.50 for sightseeing flights per person, fly yourself starting at €100, and €209 for tandem flying
Travel duration: 30 minutes by ferry from Den Helder train station (1 hour and 15 minutes from Amsterdam).
Distance from the capital: Under 100 km
If you’d like to ski in the Alps, but are in the Netherlands, SnowWorld Zoetermeer is as close as you can get to the real deal. First opened in December 20016, SnowWorld Zoetermeer today is home tom 10 ski lifts, two slopes, one that stretches 160 meters, and other 210 meters geared towards more advanced skiers and snowboarders. Off the slopes, there’s even an auditorium for meetings, ultra-modern fitness, wellness and beauty centre, and a sprawling restaurant that serves fondue among other tantalizing items.
Travel advice:
Cost: Starting at € 34.95 for family ski pass (for 2 adults and 1 child under 12 years)
Travel time: 1 hour 8 minutes by bus, 1 hour 4 minutes by train, 38 minutes by taxi
Travel cost: €11 by bus, €9 - €16 by bus, €120 - €150 by taxi
Clothing: You can wear what you like, but warm clothes are best suited for this activity. In order to save costs of rental, it is advisable to carry along skiing/snowboarding gloves, skis, snowboards, boots, poles and helmets.
You can enjoy the enjoy the indoor slopes as long as your pass is valid, and also enjoy other sites in Zoetermeer such as Kinderboerderij De Balijhoeve, Balijbos Zoetermeer - A landscaped forest, the 225 acre Westerpark Zoetermeer, Bowling & Recreation Center Westerpark, and water attractions in Dutch Water Dreams.
Distance from Amsterdam: 215 km
If you’d like to spend some time in the midst of magnificent buildings and culture, the oldest city of the Netherlands – Maastricht is where you should be headed. This city is renowned for its multicultural atmosphere myriad shopping options, spectacular cathedrals and cobblestoned town center.
Travel advice:
Travel duration: 2.5 hours
Travel by: Bus (€ 29)
Distance from Amsterdam: 60 km
Tucked away in the Scheveningen district of The Hague, Madurodam is a miniature park an tourist attraction that houses several 1:25 scale models of Dutch historical sites, landmarks and large developments. It is open from 11am – 5pm daily and is a great place to discover what made the Netherlands so popular in such a short period of time.
Travel advice:
Travel duration: 45 minutes by taxi, 1 hour 10 minutes by train
Travel by: Taxi (€140 - €170), Train (€11 - €15)
Distance from Rotterdam: 25 km
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage in the Netherlands in 1997, the windmills of Kinderdijk are the best example of water management in a single location in the world. These pumping stations drain the excess water Alblasserwaard into the river Lek via the Elshout sluices consequently discharging the water into the sea. A total of 19 well preserved windmills were erected way back in the 1600’s and are set within a spectacular backdrop of the village of Kinderdijk.
Travel advice:
Travel time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Travel by: Train (€10 - €16), Bus (€13 - €18)
There are several guided day tours to Kinderdijk for both half and full day trips departing from Amsterdam.
Scheveningen is one of the main beaches of the Netherlands, and is flourished with restaurants, walking routes and is a treat for shopping buffs. It is renowned for its pier that is complete with an event complex fitted with a platform for bungee jumping. Beyond the Scheveningen beach lies a well vast city center, making it easy to enjoy both a beach and city tour.
If you’re in Amsterdam and looking to soak up some rays and don’t want to go too far, Strand Zuid beach is a great choice. Spread across 6,600 square feet of sugary sand, Strand Zuid aka the urban city beach is where you can relax in any one of the several hammocks, play a game of volleyball or cheer your kids on in a variety of activities.
Located just 25 kilometers away from the bustling city of Amsterdam, the Bloemendaal beach is surrounded by ancient sand dunes that are great for walking and cycling. This area is at its best in the spring and summer and has a lot to offer from world class diners to several activities including wind surfing, beach volleyball, land sailing, kite flying and horse riding.
With more than 200 stores, the Alexandrium shopping center is definitely one of the largest malls in the Netherlands and is visited by millions of shoppers each year. The mall combines three interconnecting areas and even contains a second area that houses a plethora of designer retail outlets.
Located in the heart of Amsterdam in Dam Square, De Bijenkorf is an upscale shopping market that is a combination of a chain of high end department stores. The first thing that appeals to shoppers is its majestic structure that includes big brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Gucci. The shopping center also features a dedicated travel department, where you can buy luxury suitcases and a wide range of travel accessories.
Conceived in the early 19th century, the Passage in the Hague is basically a shopping street that is popular among both American and European tourists. It has been revamped lately to showcase a high glass ceiling that is a great example of an open design. Regarded as the oldest shopping center in the Netherlands, the Passage is home to several exclusive retail outlets and is a much visit when you’re in the city.
This is an upscale dining place Located in the 5 star Okura Hotel. A place where you can take your date for a romantic dinner or take your colleagues for a cozy night in the corner of the restaurant having grand views of the capital of Netherlands. Luxury imported wines are one of the many specialties of Ciel Bleu along with authentic french food.
• Address: Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, 1072 LH Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Telephone: +31 20 678 7111
Soused herring
A type of fish that is eaten raw with some pickles. This tastes salty and has a very strong taste. These can be found in food stalls by the streets. They will first remove the head and the bones of the fish before you can eat it in peace. After taste might not be very satisfying. Try having a lemon immediately after the raw fish.
Stroopwafels
Two small circular shaped pancakes that are made crispy and glued together with brown sugar syrup and a touch of cinnamon powder. Each bite will make you crave for more if you are a sugar bee.
Poffertjes
Another form of pancake which is slightly larger than a ping pong ball. These “pancake balls” are buttered and sugared before they are ready to be served. Some restaurants add whipped cream and cherry sauce to give your sweet tooth a memorable taste.
Distance from Zanzibar city: 50km
A small restaurant by the roadside, Will's Pancakehouse is often found to be full with people. They provide one of the finest local pancakes as described in the "Local Delicacies" section: Poffertjes. Have a look at their website to find the menu and prices.
• Distance from city center: 10 minutes – 3 kilometers
Located near Leidseplein in Amsterdam, Club Up is a rather expansive nightclub that is spread across two storeys. The club features exclusive artists daily and has a laid back lounge vibe. Patrons of the club include everyone from young and old to artsy hipsters. With a capacity of 300 guests, Club Up in inarguably the place to be if you’re looking for an open minded and expressive atmosphere.
"Alcohol, weed, sex workers" sum up the red light districts in Amsterdam and what is unbelievable is that these are all legal in Netherlands. As you walk by the streets of the red light districts, you will see women standing behind tall glass windows posing like dolls just for the next visitor to go in. Such scenes are sad to see in a different perspective, but this is what attracts the tourist. Many of them go there to see how it looks and feels like without doing any "wrongdoings".
Good to know:
• Weed costs from 5 - 11 Euros
• Weed can be categorized as "giggly", "sleep inducer", "sleep blocker" etc
• They are sold in "Coffee Shops"
• Beer is available in vending machines
• Distance – 11 minutes – 3.3 kilometers
Studio 80 in Amsterdam is possibly the best hangout for hipsters and gay fashionistas in the city. The club features a dimly lit interior and features techno as its music of choice. Although Studio 80 is geared towards serious techno heads, it is an open minded atmosphere so you won’t be lost in the crowd.
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Guatemala, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Macao, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Marianas, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Santa Lucia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, St, Vincent e Granadine, Taiwan, Timor Est, Trinidad e Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Vanatu, Venezuela.
Nationals with Visa on Arrival facilities – N/A
Nationalities with a travel ban to Netherlands – N/A
Banned substances / drugs in the country – Unlike some other countries, the Netherlands has a tolerant approach towards drugs especially soft drugs. You can walk into a coffee shop and choose from a vast array of soft drugs including cannabis in all its forms such as hashish and marijuana and magic mushrooms. But just like most countries hard drugs are strictly prohibited and this list includes cocaine, LSD, morphine and heroin.
Rules regarding prostitution – Prostitution is legal yet regulated in the Netherlands, but the legal age must be adhered to which is 21 years of age for sex workers. There are many types of prostitution in the country including escorts at home or on the street, club or private house or a window.
Alcohol rules – In the Netherlands, it is illegal to serve alcohol to those under 18 years of age. Bars and cafes for most of the week can stay open until 01:00 and until 03:00 at the weekend, but special bars aka ‘nachtcafés’ (night cafés) can stay open until 04:00 during the week and 05:00 at the weekend.
Not abiding by the rules can lead to fines or jail time in more serious cases.
All travelers to the Netherlands should be up to date on routine vaccinations such as hepatitis A&B, rabies and practice good health habits while in the country. These include keeping away from animals, selecting safe transportation and reducing your exposure to germs.
The Netherlands enjoys a diverse culture, and while the official language of the country s Dutch, 90 percent of the entire population have good command over the English language, 70 percent of German, 29 percent of French and 5 percent of Spanish. When it comes to religion, the Netherlands is predominantly a Christian society, but other faiths are practiced in the country including 5 percent Muslims and 0.6 percent Hinduism. The national dish of the Netherlands is herring with chopped raw onions and pickles, and the country consumes roughly 2 million kilograms every year, translating to 5 fish per person.
Home to 17 million people, the population of the Netherlands makes up for 0.25 of the total world population with 90 percent being urban, and with a median age of 42.9 years. Claimed to be the first country to legalize same sex marriages, 70 percent of bacon originates from the Netherlands. Adding to this, the Dutch are considered to be the tallest people in the world and even gin was first originally designed for medicinal purposes was conceived in the Netherlands.
