Amsterdam Canals, Aerial view, The Netherlands by Swimmerguy269

The Lonely Planet says “other places as old as Amsterdam have evocative beauty and come in a variety of sizes: Edam, Haarlem, Delft and Deventer to name just some of the smaller delights. Moving up the league tables in size, there’s the canal towns of Leiden, Haarlem and Utrecht. And Rotterdam is a modernist feast all its own.” But if you want to narrow it down even further, here are the top 5 highlights of the Netherlands.

Rijksmuseum

Art lovers will be thrilled to view the vast collection of pieces by Dutch masters presented in this clean, contemporary space in Amsterdam. There’s heavy emphasis on the historical side, too, with works dating from the Middle Ages onward. Aside from native art, there’s the chance to explore influential pieces from other areas including Europe and Asia.

Library in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands by erich2448

The building itself is steeped in history, initially opening its doors in 1885. The Rijksmuseum was originally born elsewhere in 1800, but when it shifted to the current location, The Netherlands Museum for History and Art moved in to share the same space. The latest project has seen the building modernised, but also becoming truer to the original design by Cuypers, earning the renovations the name ‘Continuing with Cuypers’.

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank is unarguably one of the most important figures in the Netherlands’ history, and her legacy and spirit are kept alive at the Anne Frank Museum in central Amsterdam. The House was saved by campaigners who set up a trust to preserve the building and its history. Rather than being led round by a guide, you pick up a guidebook on entry and are allowed the freedom to discover at your own pace.

Anne Frank House, Amsterdam by Ed and Eddie

You can view Anne’s original diary and the tragically empty secret annex – symbolically left stripped of the objects that were seized and sent to Germany during the war. It’s worth booking in advance to avoid queuing – and leave the camera in your bag as photography in Anne Frank House is banned. Bear in mind the visit can be emotionally charged and may be unsuitable for certain individuals.

Van Gogh Museum

As well as housing the largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh anywhere in the world, the museum hosts exhibitions on various aspects of 19th-century art. When it comes to the artist the place is named for, the Van Gogh Museum’s collection comprises over 200 original masterworks as well as a comprehensive selection of 700 letters and 400 drawings. You’ll also have the opportunity to check out the artist’s own personal collection of Japanese prints.

A visit to the Van Gogh Museum provides the chance to gain insight into the artist’s personality and discover his inspirations and motivation. Historical information enables visitors to chart Van Gogh’s artistic development chronologically, witnessing first-hand how his style evolved over time. Alongside the permanent collection, the museum is holding an Anniversary Exhibition – ‘Van Gogh at Work’ running until 2014, marking the conclusion of eight years of extensive research into the artist’s methodology.

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Kent Wang

Heineken Experience

For something rather different, visit Amsterdam’s Heineken Experience to discover the lore, legend, science and technology behind the well-loved lager. A self-guided tour takes around 1 ½ hours, during which there’s plenty of opportunity to talk to experts. The state-of-the-art exhibition also has many interactive, sensory, and hands-on features. The Experience commences with an introduction to the history of the brand and the family who founded the brewery.

Heineken Experience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Anne Hornyak

You’ll move on to learn about the raw materials and discover how the brewing process in the Brew Room, and see how horse-drawn carts transport the barrels in the Stable Yard. There’s the chance to try your hand at pulling a pint and bottle your own beer, as well as taking part in an interactive DJing challenge and going on a ‘Brew Ride’. If it’s all left you thirsty for more, hit the Tasting Room or the World Bar, where you can sample the very stuff you’ve been learning about. Don’t forget to stock up in the shop before you leave.

Apenheul Primate Park

The Park opened in 1971 with the revolutionary concept of allowing humans to walk amongst freely-roaming primates and interact with them. The monkeys are friendly and have a calm disposition, and are used to young children. On arrival, you’re provided with a ‘monkey-proof bag’ to keep your valuables and food safely out of reach of mischievous hands, although it’s fine to keep camera equipment on your person.

Golden lion tamarin at Apenheul, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, making a well known gesture with its middle finger / Photo by linda

Apenheul is home to over thirty species of primate from gigantic gorillas to tiny tamarinds. Although the animals will inevitably come up close, you are strongly discouraged from attempting to pick them up or pet them – and forbidden from feeding them ‘human’ food. New for 2013 is the renovated Orangu-tang area with play areas suited to both monkeys and children.

Based in London, Sarah Thompson loves writing about a variety of lifestyle topics including fashion, beauty, health and travel. A season traveller herself, Sarah shares tips about how to get the best value for money on holiday using currency travel cards. You can read more of Sarah’s articles in a wide variety of blogs and websites. Sarah is also a lover of brogues, vintage dresses and trips to Paris – and the occasional glass of red wine.

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Amsterdam

We were strangers to the Dutch way of life but we developed a sixth sense for avoiding the tram and the bicycles quickly enough. We had to because there were thousands of cyclists in the city. We hid from the hustling and bustling at the van Gogh museum where security was tight, but the paintings are beautiful. The depressed artist, whose work was not appreciated in his own lifetime, had painted some daring and bold paintings for us to look at. In his lifetime he had painted about 2000 artworks and at the museum there were more than 200 of his paintings on display.

Amsterdam bikes, The Netherlands by redjar

The other part of the day was spent wandering along the canal through cafes, the sex museum and picturesque shops. Everywhere we went there was an exotic smell of hash or weed. In the afternoon we went to the Anne Frank house where she wrote her famous diary while she and her family were hiding from the Nazi’s. Behind a bookcase there was a secret door, where the family hid from the Germans. In the two floors and the attic she and seven others lived for two years before they were betrayed. We went back to the swift caravan to get some rest for the second day and second destination. We took the train to Utrecht which is only a half an hour journey.

Utrecht

Utrecht felt like the living, beating heart of Holland. The city was built around the old Dom tower. We climbed up the tower to have a view over the city. We saw lots of cellars, terraces and cafes along the canal. There are also a lot of modern houses and a large and modern shopping centre where we spend the whole morning shopping.

Utrecht Dom Cathedral Tower, The Netherlands by Pepijntje

Gouda

From Utrecht we took the train to another tourist hotspot: Gouda. This small city with its gorgeous old city square is world famous for their production of cheese. They sell many varieties at the Gouda market place, which is dominated by a beautiful 15^th century Gothic town hall. With a belly full of cheese and dutch frieten, and with some lovely experiences of the country, unfortunately we had to go back to catch our boat again. Although we’ll definitely visit the Netherlands again!

Gouda Cheese Market in a city of Gouda, The Netherlands by Johi

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Frank van de Velde

In addition to its scenic 17th Century canals, relaxed coffee shops and notorious red-light district, it’s packed with landmarks, historical sites and museums. Nicknamed “Mokum” or “Safe Haven”, Amsterdam has a broad range of officially recognised buildings and institutions, as well as surplus, charming oddities.

Certainly one of the first ports of call is the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of paintings and drawings by the Dutch artist (who was born in Zundert, which is about 80 miles from Amsterdam). It is the most-visited museum in the country and one of the most popular in the world, which is bittersweet considering the sad life of Van Gogh, who died at 37 without receiving recognition for his paintings.

The “Achterhuis” in Amsterdam is the preserved hiding place where wartime diarist Anne Frank and her family hid from German soldiers in World War II. It exhibits the life and times of the young writer and artist, and is dedicated to all forms of persecution and discrimination. Whether or not you have come across Anne Frank’s diary from 1945, the museum is a deeply humbling place to visit.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Minke Wagenaar

Near Anne Frank House is the stately Prinsengracht or Prince’s Canal (named after the 16th Century Dutch Prince of Orange). It is the longest canal in the city and is home to a number of historical sites including the Noordekerk or Northern Church, the bustling Noordermarkt (Northern Market, which is lined with restaurants and shops) and the Westerkerk (Western Church), which is the tallest church in Amsterdam.

Packed with things to see and do – from midnight mass to saucy cabaret – Amsterdam is one of Europe’s premier tourist cities, and well worth the visit.

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