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Table of Contents - Netherlands[click the links below to see photographs of these places] |
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Page 1 - The Schiphol Hotel Our trip lasted about ten days, starting and ending at the Schiphol international airport in Amsterdam. In those ten days, we had managed to cover most of The Netherlands, though time was short. A two and a half week trip will certainly be enough. We spent our first night in an incredible hotel just outside of Amsterdam: The Schiphol Hotel, of the Van Der Valk hotel chain. The hotel is rather expensive, but is definitely worth its price: Large rooms, an amazing breakfast and fantastic view. There isn't much to do in the hotel area, but if your flight arrives or departs at night, it is a great opportunity for you to spend a night in it. The hotel's phone number is:(0252)675335. Fax:(0252)686978. Address:Rijksweg A4 Nr.3,2132 MA Hoofddorp. Page 2 - The Flower Area From there, we traveled toward Den Haag, through the Flower Area, first on the N201, onto the N208, followed by the A44. If you are coming in the flower season (Spring), you are highly recommended to take the roads near the shores. These roads pass through some arranged flower gardens and many flower fields by the side of the roads. Among them the gardens are: the Frans Roozen Garden, and the Keukenhof Garden. Page 3 - The Flower Area Keep in mind that the gardens are only open a couple of months a year. Make sure you know whether you're coming in those dates. It would be a pity if you came in vain. The opening dates and hours change from year to year. In the Spring, the fields throughout the area, in those gardens and outside them, are filled with tulips, daffodils, and other flowers. If you are coming on a different season, and you're in a rush, you can ride the A4 (E19) straight to Den Haag. Page 5 - Sea Life On the boardwalk, there is a sea-life zoo/museum called Sea Life. An hour and a half should definitely cover the place. It's a nice place, which mainly holds aquariums of different sizes, which contains sharks, sea horses, sea stars, and other special fish. At the end of the track there is a nice souvenir shop filled with plastic fish and stuff like that, which is worth a peek. If you come by this area, you might consider going in. Opening hours are 10:00 to 18:00, and in the Summer 10:00 to 21:00. Admission fees are charged. Page 6 - The Madurodam From Scheveningen we went on to Den Haag. We didn't stay very long in the city. We went straight to the main attraction, of the city in particular, and Holland in general: the Madurodam. It is, of-course, an experience you must not miss! It is a sort of a miniature Holland, built in great details, from famous Dutch buildings and towers, to the impressive colorful fields, street markets, airport, bridges and even ships. Page 7 - The Madurodam We recommend that you arrive at the place early in your tour of The Netherlands, since in that manner you can actually see a miniatured version of it, and choose where you wish to visit later on, in reality. Earmark the place 3-4 hours for a fascinating tour of the place. Very highly recommended. Page 8 - The Madurodam The opening hours vary according to the seasons of the year. If you come in the Summer, when it is open late, you are recommended to arrive at the place approximately two hours before sundown, and so when it darkens, you'll have the privilege of seeing all the little lights turned on - the Madurodam at night. Telephone for inquiries: 31(0)70 355 3900. It is very recommended to buy a pamphlet, as you enter. Though it is a little overpriced, it is still worth it. In it, you'll find photographs of all the buildings, and a short, thorough explanation about them. It is comfortable to walk around while reading the pamphlet, to gain a more realistic perspective of The Netherlands. While we visited the Madurodam a Chinese Ice sculpture exhibition was hosted there. We went in. It was beautiful but we couldn't stay there more than 10 minutes. It was freezing cold in there. Page 9 - The southern dam area From Den Haag, we went on a one day trip to the dam area in the south. Through the N57 road, to the Haringvlietdam dam and on to the Oosterscheldam dam. This impressive dams were built to keep the sea apart from the river water flowing from the mainland. These dams create huge inland lakes, that are allowed to spilled over to sea from time to time. These dams are also important for flooding avoidance, they prevent large sea waves from reaching the shores of Holland. Page 10 - The Delta Expo Near the last dam, there is an interesting place called The Water World (which includes entrance to the Delta Expo). Keep in mind that its a long walk inside, and anyway, earmark the place at least four hours of your time. The place provides a unique and picturesque description of the naval past and present of The Netherlands; How the dams were built, how areas of the sea were conquered, etc... Page 11 - The Delta Expo The (priced) ticket provides you with a cruise in the Christiaan B ship - a forty minute cruise in which you will be provided with an explanation about the entire area. Further more, it includes an audio-visual display about sea and water (The Water Pavilion). Take care not to get wet in there! The walk through this display is in the dark, and every now and again there are sudden bursts of water. Other than that, you can see a dolphin act every hour. More in the area; a water themed amusement park for children where you can see water operated machines, and tread in the little pools. Additionally, the ticket includes entrance to the Delta Expo - a closed museum with explanations and sketches of the building of the dams, and of the conquering of the sea areas. The place is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. On November through March it is open only on Wednesday to Sunday. Admission fees are charged. Page 12 - The village of Kinderdijk Our next destination, after the dam area, was the village Kinderdijk. Through the A58 Highway, we followed the directions to the city of Dordrecht, passed it, and continued further north to the village. The directions in the area are somewhat problematic, but it is definitely worth the effort. There, you'll find 19 beautiful windmills, scattered among the fields and water canals. The sight is magical, and we highly recommend you go there. Page 13 - The village of Kinderdijk The admission is free of charge. If you wish, you can visit one of the windmills from the inside (for an admission fee). Since the area itself is open, and walking in it is free of charge, you can arrive there late, as the other attractions close. Even though the windmill closes its gates to those who wish to tour it from the inside by 17:00, we have established that the best use of time would be to arrive there at 19:00 (in the summer, while there is light of course). Page 14 - The village of Kinderdijk Kinderdijk is peaceful and calm, and if you possess a bicycle, this place is ideal for riding it. If you don't, park your car in the wide open lot, and begin your tour by foot. Do not miss! You can also rent a bicycle there. Page 15 - The town of Delft Our next destination was the town of Delft, famous for its blue china. The town is located between Rotterdam and Den Haag. If you wish, you can take a long tour to one of the many porcelain factories located in the outskirts of the town. We had settled for a walk on the main pedestrian-only street in the center of the town. There too, you will be able to find china, and even see sketch artists and sculptors, sitting and working. The pedestrian-only street is colorful, filled with little stores, which mainly sell porcelain work. Near the town center, and right next to the pedestrian-only street, there is a large parking lot. It is recommended to park your car there. Across the street, there is a tourist office, where you can obtain information about the place. Next to the parking lot, there is the new Church of Delft - Nieuwe-Kerk. Admission fees are charged, for those interested to enter. Generally, the town is very sweet, and is worth a visit. Page 16 - The town of Delft Another town in the region is Gouda. You can reach it through the A20 or A12 highway. This town is also worth a visit. It is a picturesque and lovely town, with many stores and restaurants in it. A highly recommended restaurant is an Italian restaurant called Roma, which lies in the main pedestrian-only street. It is a little restaurant, the service is very courteous, and the food is authentic and magnificent. A delicious experience. If you enter Gouda, we recommend you get in. The pictures on this page are actually from Delft. We visited Gouda only at night. Page 17 - The Efteling From there, we went on to the amazing amusement park; the Efteling. The are great signs directing you to this park from most places. If you come from the area of Delft, you can drive through the A13 (E19) highway up to Rotterdam, from which you can board the A16 (E19) highway. From it, continue westward to the A59, where you will find good directions to the place. This park is filled among others with wonderful vegetation and flowers everywhere. Page 18 - The Efteling The Efteling is without a doubt one of the main attractions The Netherlands has to offer. It is a huge, fascinating amusement park, enjoyable for both children and adults. The park is divide into different theme areas, all legendary. These pictures are from the fairy tales area of the park. They all move, speak, and sing. Page 19 - The Efteling You can find everything there; from scary roller-coasters, to theater shows and automatic puppet displays (which don't include standing upside-down, or cause hurling and disorientation...). Above is a peacock irritated by a passing dove. Page 20 - The Efteling More there: A lake you can sail on, a scary region, a water region, bull's-eye stands, and many more rides and facilities. Many impressive moving displays are present. It is recommended to arrive early, as the place is opened, since you'll probably want to stay there all day long, until closing time. Pick a time when the park is not swamped with visitors. Page 21 - The Efteling As you enter, you'll be given maps, which will help you know your way around the park. A small train runs throughout the park, which helps you reach the ends of the park more easily (free of charge). Some of the figures are actually garbage cans which ask you deposit thrash in them, and thank you afterwards, such is the man with the cannon above. Page 22 - The Efteling In the park you can find many fast-food restaurants, candy and drinks stands, lawns and gardens, and benches on which you can relax every now and then. Other than that, of-course, there are stores and interesting souvenir shops. Each area has it's unique souvenir shops and fast food stands. Some of the rides are inside large buildings and they take you on a wonderful ride of a magical place. One amazing feature of these rides, is that not only different rooms have different looks, sounds and music, but that different rooms have different smells too! Page 23 - The Efteling It is recommended to arrive during mid-week, and so you will not encounter very long lines to each ride. The opening hours vary from season to season. Admission fees are charged. Telephone for inquiries: 31(0)416288111. E-mail: evenementen@efteling.nl, Url: www.efteling.nl. It is a must-visit location! Do not miss under any circumstances! Page 24 - The monkey park: Apenheul From this area we traveled to the outskirts of Apeldoorn, westward through the A59 highway, on to the N50 toward Nijmegen, from which to the A73, immediately followed by the A50, driving north until Apeldoorn, where you should find directions to the amazing monkey park: Apenheul. Admission fees are charged. Telephone for inquiries: 055-3575757. Web site: www.apenheul.nl. Page 25 - The monkey park: Apenheul For the animal lovers among you it is simply one of its kind experience ! We highly recommend this visit to the park. It is an enormous park, in which you can stroll all day long, sit in coffee shops, sail on the lake, or throw a picnic on one of the lawns or one of the benches found in the midst of flowery bushes. Page 26 - The monkey park: Apenheul Once inside the park, follow the directions to the monkey park itself. Plan your stay at the monkey park to be about three hours. Around the monkey park (in the big park) you can stroll for a whole day, or not at all (and go directly to the monkey park) - it all depends on your desires and the amount of time you have available. Page 27 - The monkey park: Apenheul As you enter the monkey park, you will receive a large bag, with a lock, in which you'll have to put all your possessions, you'll also be given the option of storing your belongings in a locker. All this, so that the monkeys won't snatch your wallet and other valuables... really, they can do that. After the preparations, you will finally be able to enter the monkey area. It is a very large area, marked with a trail that leads you through many kinds of monkeys, small ponds, and every now and again you'll see other animals such as roosters, goats, etc... Page 28 - The monkey park: Apenheul The most interesting part of the park is right near the entrance - there, the monkeys run around freely. They are little and gentle monkeys, extremely sweet and friendly, which will climb on you gracefully, and jump away indifferently. We watched them for a long time, simply charmed. Some of the monkeys of the park are behind bars, whilst others run around freely. Thus, the visit to the park is highly recommended. Page 29 - Paleis Het Loo From the monkey park, we drove to Paleis Het Loo, the palace of William the Third. When we arrived, the palace was under refurbishment, so we weren't able to see a large portion of it. The palace is near the grounds of De Hoge Veluwe and Apeldoorn. Around the palace are stables and gardens, trimmed in interesting shapes. For those fond of palaces, it is an amiable place to visit. Admission fees are charged. Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00, closed on Mondays. Page 30 - National Park - De Hoge Veluwe From the palace we drove to the national park - De Hoge Veluwe, which is near the palace. Westward through the N344 road, up to the A1 (E30) highway, and southward on the N304 green road. The park is teeming with attractions. Earmark at least a few hours to the place. In the park there are bicycle lots, from which you can take a bicycle, and use them freely to tour the enormous park, or you can tour it by car. We recommend you take the bicycle tour at the end, since at approximately 17:00 most of the attractions of the park close down (the park itself is still open), and many people leave the area. If you do so, you will be able to obtain a bicycle easily, and if you'll be quiet enough, and the park will be empty enough, you'll be able to spot the wild animals strolling around the park freely, as they leave their hideouts in the early evenings. We saw rabbits, reindeers, etc... Page 31 - National Park - De Hoge Veluwe As you enter the park (admission fees are charged), remember to ask for a small map of the area, which will help you tour it with greater ease. It is recommended to ride as directed, along the bicycle paths (not on the road), which go right through the forest. The paths are beautiful and magical - a recommended experience for all. Page 32 - Kroller-Muller museum - De Hoge Veluwe More in De Hoge Veluwe - the Kroller-Muller Museum - a fascinating site It is a small, enchanting museum, filled with Van Gogh's work, little by Picasso, Sezan, Braque, Monet, Renoir, etc... The museum is highly recommended. Other than that, you can also find a cafeteria, and a promising book store. Outside the museum, is an interesting and recommended statue garden. More in the park: visitor center, bird-observation spot, a hunting booth, etc... The park is open from 8 AM in the Spring-Summer, and from 9 AM the rest of the year - until sundown. Closed on Mondays. Admission fees are charged. Page 33 - Arnhem From there, we traveled on to Arnhem. We took the A50 highway, up until the junction with A12 (E35). Inside the city itself there are no interesting attractions, but around it are some fascinating museums and parks, on which we will elaborate soon. Page 34 - The hotel: Best westerr De Plasmolen If you are looking for a good hotel in the area, we highly recommend a charming hotel, right next to the city of Nijmegen (south of Arnhem, through the A325 highway, A15, A50, A73, E31). The hotel is called Best Western De Plasmolen, and it is inside the town of Plasmolen, just south of Nijmegen. It is a beautiful hotel, overlooking an artificial lake, with a fountain, filled with many ducks and swans always hungry for bread. It is located in a quiet area, it has a wide and comfortable driveway, and a special parking lot for the hotel guests. Ask for a room facing the lake, it is quite an experience. The rooms are pleasant, rather standard, but the view of the lake makes it all worthwhile. Its prices are relatively low - we were there in the Spring, and we paid a laughable price - but you had better make sure - the rate may be increased during other seasons. Although there isn't much to do in the hotel area, the distance from Arnhem is minor, and the hotel is definitely worth the drive. The hotel's restaurant (for dinner) is very expensive, so take that into consideration, and if you want to spend as little as possible, eat before you arrive at the hotel. But if you are looking for a treat, the restaurant (also overlooking the lake) is without a doubt superb (and indeed, accordingly priced). Should you decide to eat there, you are recommended to book in advance, so that you won't come in vain. Telephone: 024-6961444 Fax: 024-6962271 Address: Rijnsweg 170, 6586 Abplasmolen. Page 35 - The Burgers Zoo In the Arnhem area, there is the Burgers Zoo (excellent directions to it). It is an interesting and tremendous zoo, which you can tour between two hours, and an entire day. We recommend to devote it about three hours of your time. Page 36 - The Burgers Zoo In the zoo, there are many kinds of animals, from different climates. There is a special part dedicated entirely to animals of tropical nature, another for those of desert nature, another for sealife creatures, and more. You can also find there coffee shops, and souvenir shops. Opening hours: 9:00 to 19:00. Admission fees are charged. Page 37 - Nederlands Openluchtmuseum From the zoo we traveled on to the Open Dutch Museum (Nederlands Openluchtmuseum), through the A12 (E35) highway. Directions are excellent. Page 38 - Nederlands Openluchtmuseum It is kind of a large exhibition of how life were in the past in The Netherlands. An enormous open ground, in which there is an authentic farm, flower gardens, a condiment growing farm, houses, windmills, workshops, a place for cheese making, bakeries, lakes and animals. A charming and highly recommended place. Page 39 - Nederlands Openluchtmuseum Keep in mind that it is a long walk in there. Don't forget to buy at least two train tickets at the box-office. Little carts drive you from station to station around this enormous park. Page 40 - Nederlands Openluchtmuseum Despite the carts, there is much to walk - between the booths, and without the carts it is very hard to manage. They simply shorten your walk distance. Earmak about three hours to the place. In the entrance you'll find a nice cafeteria, and throughout the park itself you'll find a bakery designed as though from the past (one of the exhibition booths), in which you can buy various pastries. We recommend the special raisin rolls. Additionally, you can buy various types of special cheese (in the cheese booth). Page 41 - Nederlands Openluchtmuseum If you are coming with children, it is advisable to visit a small square, next to the bakery, where you'll find funny stilts, a tricycle, a unicycle, and other laughable "vehicles", which you can use freely. Further more, you can enter a windmill, and the colorful village houses, which are furnished and seem very real, and surrounded by donkeys, horses, roosters and ducks. Highly recommended. Admission fees are charged. Opening hours: 9:30 to 17:00. In the Summer: Saturdays and Sundays - from 10:00. Page 42 - Utrecht - Haug Catharijne From there, we headed on to the city of Utrecht, through the A12 (E35) highway. We came in for a short visit to the Haug Catharijne mall and train station - very unnecessary, and there is no point in even entering the city. We were told that this is one of the largest shopping centers in Holland. If this is true then you should shop elsewhere. Notice the huge bicycle parking lot above. Page 43 - The road to Edam From there we proceeded to the beautiful fishermen's town of Edam. Through the A2 (E35) highway, A10; up until A7 (E22) and N244. Page 44 - The town of Edam In the town we stayed in a cute little hotel called Hotel de Fortuna. The hotel is very sweet, some of its cabins face the picturesque water canals. Ask for such a room, or one that overlooks the garden, but don't be tempted to stay in the rooms above the hotel restaurant. The biggest disadvantage of this hotel is the parking. You can't park inside the town, and so you'll have to park your vehicle in the free of charge parking lot at the town entrance. Even though the walk to the hotel is only five minutes long, a walk with your luggage is far from ideal. You can unload your baggage at the hotel, and then park your car. If you wish to eat at the hotel restaurant, you'll have to book about three days in advance (!!!). It is a very expensive and very popular French restaurant. We didn't get to eat there. Page 45 - The town of Edam Between the hotel's cabins, you'll find a lovely garden with a little pond, lots of flowers, chairs, benches and tables. The garden is filled with beautiful chubby cats, and we even found a turtle there. The rate is not cheap, and it is of-course up to you... Telephone: 0299-371671 Fax: 0299-371469 Address: Fam. Dehker, Spuistraat 3, NL-1135 Av Edam. Page 46 - The town of Edam The town itself, Edam, is a small, magical place, a town grooved with water canals, nurtured and teeming with flowers and vegetation. It has a relaxing quiet that you won't find anywhere else. It has very few restaurants, and we do not recommended entering it just for eating. Stroll the streets for a short while in the afternoon or early in the morning. You can find there some special cheese stores, selling wax coated cheese, which you can take home with you. Page 47 - The Afsluitdijk dam From Edam, we continued toward the Afsluitdijk dam, through the N247 road, which connects to the A7 (E22) highway. The dam is actually a prolongation of the highway. It has no amazing attractions, but it has a nice view, and an observation spot that requires immense courage to climb to it, due to the intense winds. Page 48 - The city of Leeuwarden After crossing the dam, you'll arrive at the Freesland district. We drove to the city of Leeuwarden, through the A31 highway. It is a lovely city, and there is no point in entering it unless you are interested in shopping. The main pedestrian-only street, which is crossed by a wide water canal, is teeming with stores, which offer a large spectrum of prices: from bargain stores for housing equipment, through clothes, to electricity stores and large boutiques. It's nice to walk around there, since all the stores are concentrated in one place, one next to the other. We arrived on a Sunday, and there were an amusement park, processions and parades in town. An enjoyable experience undoubtedly. You can find in the area some small coffee shops, fast food places, and many restaurants. Recommended for shoppers. Page 49 - The village of Giethoorn From Leeuwarden we drove to the magical village of Giethoorn, which is without a doubt a remarkable experience. Page 50 - The village of Giethoorn Giethoorn is a tiny city, with no approach available for cars for a simple reason: it has no roads. Park nearby, and tour it by foot. For the brave amongst you, it is recommended to rent a small engine boat, and do the tour through the canals. The boats function as the main transportation method in this town, and so, instead of roads you'll find water canals, which lead straight to the picturesque houses, the fields and the cow herds. Page 51 - The village of Giethoorn One to two and a half hours should definitely suffice. If you rent a boat, you are recommended to equip yourself with a small map, because you could get lost pretty easily. Also, be prepared to roll up your sleeve, and remove some vegetation tangled in the boat's propellor. Highly recommended. Page 52 - The Markerwaarddijk dam From Giethoorn, we traveled back through the Markerwaarddijk dam, through the N334 road, N331, N307, A6, and the dam on the N302 highway. Page 53 - The town of Marken From the dam we drove to the beautiful fishermen's town of Marken, through the N302 and N247 (the town is adjacent to Edam, and you can visit it right after Edam). Again, you must park your car outside of town, at a parking lot (parking fees are charged), and walk to it by foot. Page 54 - The town of Marken It is a tiny, sweet town, with green wooden houses, and a lovely harbor. Near the harbor are coffee shops and restaurants. Page 55 - The town of Marken Right at the entrance to the town you'll find two interesting stores: One makes toys and tools out of wood, and the other is a large souvenir shop, whose owner makes wooden clogs, and sells them. You can watch him make the shoes right there, sandpapering and sawing. Local handmade shoes. If you turn your head around, you'll find an infinite amount of finished clogs in all colors and sizes. A short one-hour tour of the town is very recommended. Page 56 - The town of Volendam From Marken, we drove to the adjacent fishermen's town of Volendam. Page 57 - The town of Volendam This town too, is a sweet town, a little more toured, but definitely worth a one-hour visit. Park your car in one of the parking lots in the town, or drive right up to the harbor, and park there. Page 58 - The town of Volendam The town of Volendam has many souvenir shops, restaurants, and of-course a very large and impressive harbor. The town is filled with heavy, man-shaped, spectacular bronze statues, cute pedestrian-only streets, and the scent of the sea. Recommended. Page 59 - A nice view from the way From there, we drove to Amsterdam, which we toured for a relatively short period of time, and we didn't cover much of what the city has to offer. Page 60 - Amsterdam - The Vincent Van Gogh Museum Of-course you can spend even two weeks in Amsterdam without a dull moment - but that's up to you, and the amount of time you decide to allocate to it. We toured the city for two days. We started at the Vincent Van Gogh Museum - you mustn't miss it. It's best to visit it in midweek, and not on Sunday, because then it's very crowded. It's a relatively small museum, categorized by different periods. Recommended to visit. Admission fees are charged. Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00. Right next to it, is the state museum - Rijksmuseum. It is an enormous museum, with the largest collection of art work in The Netherlands. You'll find there the works of Rembrandt, Vermir, and more. Admission fees are charged. Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00. Page 61 - Amsterdam - The Albert Cugpmarkt market If you are fond of shopping, you'll be interested in the big market: Albert Cugpmarkt, open between 10:00 and 17:00. It is a bargain market, where you can find inexpensive clothing, fruit and vegetables, fish, house equipment, etc... In the streets next to the market you will be able to find cheap stores for clothing and shoes. Page 62 - Amsterdam - A cruise on the canals It is very recommended to cruise on the canals. In all parts of the city, you can easily find large stands that offer you such a cruise for a reasonable price. From the boat, you'll be able to see most of Amsterdam without breaking a sweat, without the long walks, and without traffic jams. Page 63 - Amsterdam - A cruise on the canals There are tours in English, which will provide you with an extensive explanation about the city. The tour usually lasts about an hour, and is highly recommended. Page 64 - Amsterdam - The floating flower market Another highly recommended attraction is the floating flower market: Bloemenmarkt, which is open between 9:30 and 17:00. Closed on Sundays. It is a huge market, teeming with thousands of different kinds of flowers. The stores are attached on one side to the land, and float on the canal. Page 65 - Amsterdam - The floating flower market There, you'll be able to find fresh-cut tulips in a wide variety colors, and other kinds of flowers throughout the entire year. The market is colorful and pretty, and a short visit to it is very recommended. Page 66 - Amsterdam This is some of what we had managed to see in Amsterdam. Page 67 - Amsterdam Of-course, we only had a small taste of Amsterdam. The ambiance in Amsterdam is amazing, beautiful old buildings along with modern shops and restaurants. The picture on the right is, believe it or not, a public rest-room for men. We actually saw it in action but decided against photographing the man using Page 68 - Amsterdam From Amsterdam, we returned home, through the adjacent international airport of Schiphol. | |
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