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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For those with a passion for architecture, there is no better day trip from Amsterdam than a trip to Rotterdam. After the city was flattened during World War II, they have worked to rebuild it into a modern mastery of architecture with a wide variety of building structures. Rotterdam houses Europe’s largest port. It is known for its large number of summer festivals and events, including cultural festivals and impressive sporting events such as the Rotterdam Open Judo Championship and the Dutch Open Badminton Championships.

Rotterdam, The Netherlands by Dietmut Teijgeman-Hansen

2. The Hague

Head out to The Hague for history, museums, and judicial courts. Although The Hague is not the capital of the Netherlands, it has the seat for the Dutch government and parliament and is Queen Beatrix’s residence. There are a variety of palaces, museums, and narrow streets to explore. The Hague does not have Amsterdam’s excitement but instead offers expansive coastline and green space as well as quaint shopping.

3. Haarlem

For a smaller, more quaint version of Amsterdam, make your way to Haarlem for the day.. It is known for having one of the most impressive cathedrals in the Netherlands. Haarlem offers culture, historical architecture, and the internationally famous Dutch bulb fields, giving it the nickname the City of Flowers. While you are there, take a small detour to Zandvoort, which has the best beaches and coastal dunes that the Netherlands has to offer.

4. Utrecht

This university town with a charming medieval city center is another great place to visit.  Utrecht is famous for its numerous outdoor cafes and restaurants and one of a kind double-tiered canals. Explore museums, boutique shops, modern architecture, and museums. There are eleven museums in Utrecht that offer a wide range of collections. If you are visiting on a Sunday, take part in their Cultural Sundays with different events and festivals every month. The city is small enough that you can take in everything on foot.

Utrecht, The Netherlands by CeBepuH

5. Bruges, Belgium

Head out of the Netherlands for a day to the neighboring Bruges, Belgium for history, lace factories, churches, Begijnhof, and exquisite shopping. Take a tour and sample the beer at the De Halve Maan brewery, which is known for its traditional Brugse Zot. Dating back to 1546, it is made from hops, malt, and yeast. Their guided tour takes you through the history of the brewery and their production process. Bruges a wide variety of museums that include collections classic fine arts, Flemish primitives, archaeological excavations, furniture, silverware, folklore, contemporary art, and more. There is something here for everyone. Finally, while you’re in Bruges, you can’t forget to pick up some famous Belgian chocolate.

When visiting The Netherlands, why not check out the range of short term apartment rentals available in the main cities. There are a number of Worldwide Accom apartments in Amsterdam for rent to suit any budget.

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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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Mechelen is situated in the “Flemish diamond” area, a densely populated part of Belgium, among the Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent and Louvain (Leuven). Found Artifacts from the period of La Tene, prove settlement already in the Iron Age (400 BC). Later there were Gallic-Romans in Mechelen and after those there were Germans.

In the 8th century, under the influence of Irish missionaries and preachers St. Rumbold, the residents went to Christianity. St. Rumbold’s Cathedral – Gothic cathedral is one of the landmarks of the city, built between 13th to 16th century, and has 97m high tower with two bells. The Cathedral is registered on UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From the 16th century it comes another important landmark of the city, Small and Large Béguinages (Begijnhof), a unique complex of buildings belonging to Beguines, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mechelen is a picturesque town with its typical atmosphere of winding streets, shops and cafes with a strong Belgian coffee or hot chocolate. In the center you will find a market where you can buy sweets. The best place for shopping is the square Ijzerenleen, which was famous in the Middle Ages for its fish market.

Another interesting tourist place in the city of Mechelen is the square Grote Markt, where you can find a statue of Margaret of York, and three current City Hall buildings: the late Gothic Paleis van de Groote Raad from 16th century, Gothic Belfort from 14th century and Lakenhal from 14th century. The square is surrounded by Renaissance buildings from the 16th century, rococo houses from the 18th century, and is dominated by the already mentioned St. Rumbold’s Cathedral.

In Mechelen you can find many other religious buildings, such as the Baroque basilica Basiliek van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Hanswijk and other churches.

Other important buildings in Mechelen are the late-Gothic palace of Margaret of York, which now serves as a theater and the Palace of Margaret of Austria, originally the seat of the High Court, today the Palace of Justice. The beautiful Renaissance palace gardens are now accessible to the public.

In 1835, the first railway on the European continent was built between Brussels and Mechelen.

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