Dutch’s the way to go

Picturesque environs and a mix of history and culture make Holland a tourist’s delight,
writes Sneh Wadhwaney

THERE is something for everyone in Holland. Be it culture, history, architecture, art, beaches, nature or shopping. Holland epitomises the term free spirit. Unfortunately, when tourists travel to Holland, they rarely get to experience all of it. One tends to go to Amsterdam and begin and end the journey there.

However, there is much more to see and do in Holland. Travelling in Holland is easy because of well-connected and efficient train systems. The number of cycles on the streets surprises one the most. All of Holland has cycle tracks making it fairly safe for cyclists.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second largest city of Holland. It has on offer the Euromast, Holland’s answer to London Eye, a tall narrow structure from where one can see the view of all of Rotterdam. It also boasts of the spectacularly built cubic houses in the middle of the city, a very happening shopping and nightlife scene and lots of museums.

Just a few miles from Rotterdam is the beautiful cobbled street town of Delft. The centre of Delft is a delightful place to walk and spend time in cafes surrounded by rich architecture. Delft is famous for its blue pottery and there are a number of curio shops selling souvenirs. Make sure to take a river cruise down the canals to discover the city. The guides speak in English and Dutch.

The capital city of Holland, the Hague, keeps bustling with activity all the time. One can start with Parliament, situated in the middle of a lake. From there take a walk down the cobbled streets for some window shopping which boasts of stores of popular fashion designers. The museum, Panorama Mesdag, boasts of exceptional works of art. On the weekend if it is sunny head straight for the beach. It seems like the entire city is going to the beach.

Amsterdam is the heart of Holland. The energy of Amsterdam hits you the moment you reach the railway station. One must plan to spend at least three to four days in Amsterdam. Dam Square is the most important landmark surrounded by the Queens’s palace on one side and cafes and shops on the other. To shop, there is the famous long shopping street called Kelvinstraat. On the other side is the red light district full of tattoo shops, coffee bars (which sell marijuana cakes, cookies and smoke pot) sex shops, sex shows and prostitutes behind windows.

There are number of museums in the museumplein, a must visit for museum lovers. The Rijksmuseum houses the famous Nightwatch by Rembrandt, the Vincent Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank Huis (House) tells the story of the life of Anne Frank and Rembrandt House. Enjoy the cafés and the nightlife scene in another famous square Leidesplein which reminds one of Covent Garden in London.

Maastricht is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Amsterdam. A city of great historical significance where countries of the European Union signed a treaty to form the EU. The city is situated on the border of Holland virtually overlooking Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Visit the famous caves while on the river cruise and have a look at the various species of bats. Enjoy strolling down the alleys and streets of Maastricht’s centre with expensive shops and delightful architecture. The old buildings, especially the Basilica, standing tall in the centre are superb. Cross the bridge and walk on the other side towards the oval-shaped dome, which is the Bonnefanten Museum.

Texel is an island part of the Frisian Islands. Getting to Texel is, however, easier as it is closest to the Holland mainland. To get to Texel, take the train from Amsterdam to Den Helder enjoying the beautiful sceneries of windmills and canals. From Den Helder, take a ferry to Texel, which leaves every hour.

Texel is a tiny island, a fantastic place to be discovered by cycle. A lot of travellers come to Texel to enjoy the beaches and bird sanctuaries. The greenery and quiet of Texel is the opposite of all other cities of Holland. There is a long strip of beautiful coastline all around Texel.

Holland has lot of other places of tourist attraction like Haarlem, Leiden, Edam, Gouda, (famous for cheese) Volendam, which are all easy day trips from Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Go cheese tasting in Gouda, cycle all over the country, enjoy the pubs and cafes, visit the national parks that sprawl all over the country, enjoy the museums and shop till you drop.

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