The Netherlands: More Than Just Amsterdam. Part I
This year we were fortunate enough to spend quite some time traveling around the Netherlands. Talking to friends and acquaintances about our travels, we have noticed that people associate the country with Amsterdam, with its bustling, crowded streets, coffee shops on every corner, flower markets with colorful tulips and herring sandwich shops. They also wondered how we could spend so much time in such a small country. This inspired us to make an attempt to show different sides of Holland and make a list of places worth visiting to get to know it better.
The Beach of The Hague
It has become a tradition for us to start and end each trip with a visit to The Hague beach. If you like walking as much as we do, you will definitely appreciate the one-hour walk from the station to the beach. This takes you to 11 kilometers of beach with a number of nice restaurants along the coast. We suggest you work up an appetite by walking barefoot on the golden sand and enjoying a delicious salmon filet at one of the restaurants on the pier, overlooking the North Sea with futuristic wind turbines on the horizon.
Skyscrapers of Rotterdam
If you like modern architecture, you should spend at least half a day walking around Rotterdam. After World War II, a new spatial infrastructure was started. The heart of Rotterdam was almost completely destroyed in 1940. The historical part was considered irreparable, which was the starting point for filling the center with modern architecture. Some of the cultural heritage survived and was restored after the war. For example, the Koningshaven Bridge, or De Hef as the locals call it, built in 1878, was badly damaged by bombing and, despite the authorities' attempts to demolish it, the locals stood it up and fully restored it by 2017. The bridge is still a symbol of this port city and blends in perfectly with the skyscrapers built next to it.
Flight in a balloon
In the warmer months, many companies organise balloon flights all over the country. It is not the cheapest pleasure (we spent 240 euros per person), but you will enjoy the vivid impressions of an hour's flight and the romance of the moment, plus lots of picturesque shots to look back on cold winter evenings.
Two-storey canals of Utrecht
What makes this city stand out is its centuries-old two-tiered canals, which you won't find anywhere else. The lower tier is now occupied by numerous restaurants where you can enjoy food and beverages at water level. During daylight hours (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) we also recommend visiting the local market where farmers sell fresh cheeses, pastries, vegetables and fish. The city is also named the most bike-friendly cities in the world.
Vast expanses of Texel Island
If you are fortunate enough to be in the Netherlands in the summer and have a few days to spare, we recommend a trip to the Northern Netherlands, the Texel Island. A third of the island, including the coastline, is a nature reserve. And this is a perfect example of how man can enjoy nature not by destroying it, but creating and multiplying its riches. The best way to explore the island is to start at the lighthouse and walk along the white sandy beach towards the harbor, where you can enjoy the solitude, unspoilt nature and cool splashes of the North Sea. And at the end of the walk, enjoy a delicious salmon pancake at a roadside café. Trust us, even though it takes a good 4 hours each way to get to the island, you will not regret the time spent just to get to these sandy shores.
Delft from an aerial view
It is one of the most cozy and beautiful towns in Holland, situated between Rotterdam and The Hague. The Dutch painter Jan Vermeer was born here and spent most of his life here. To get a feel for the atmosphere of the city, we recommend you go up to the viewing platform of the highest church in the city (the New Church). It offers a magnificent view of the architecture without the hustle and bustle of the city.
