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10 most popular tourist sites in Netherlands
9 July 2023
travel
matthieu
The Netherlands is known for its flat idyllic landscapes, canals, tulip fields and windmills. The ‘Netherlands’ literally means ‘lowland countries’. Only about 50% of the land in Netherlands exceeds one meter above sea level affected by its lowlands and flat geography. At the same time, the Netherlands is a bicycle kingdom. The Dutch nurture flowers with their magical hands and the Dutch flowers decorate the life of the Dutch, who together create a fascinating beauty. The weather in the Netherlands is humid with more rain and snow in autumn and winter. The Dutch have a famous saying: “God created the earth, but it’s the Dutch who made the Netherlands.”
1. Keukenhof Garden
In Dutch, Keukenhof means the Kitchen garden, named after the herbs and vegetables needed to grow the aristocratic kitchen in the 15th century. It is also known as the Garden of Europe and located near Lisse. It is the largest garden in the world with 33 hectares.
The variety, quantity, quality and arrangement of tulips in the Keukenhof Park are the best in the world. There are tulip, daffodils, hyacinths, and various bulbous flowers in the park. There are more than 6 million kinds of flowers in the garden with many rare varieties. The annual opening time is 8 weeks. The specific opening hours are determined by the gardeners according to the temperature and flowering period of the year. Usually, the time ranges from late March to mid-May. There are also many related activities, including workshops such as gardening and flower arrangement, exhibitions on various topics and so on.
2. Van Gogh Museum
It’s the museums that fans of Van Gogh must visit. The total number of collections is up to 1/4 of all Van Gogh’s works. The Van Gogh Museum of Art displays paintings of Van Gogh in various periods from the early “Potato Eaters” and “Sunflowers” to the late “Yellow House”, “Bedroom” and “Wheat Field Ravens”, and “Bumper Harvest”. These works have made visitors deeply understand the master’s creative process. In addition to exhibiting more than 200 paintings and sketches, the museum also has Van Gogh’s 750 letters and other collections. If you have a purposeful visit, you must search on the official website to make sure that the work is in the museum before going to the art gallery.
3. National Museum
The National Museum of the Netherlands is the largest museum in the Netherlands and was opened to the public in 1885. The museum is known for its collection of works in the Dutch “Golden Age”. There are works of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals and other famous Dutch masters. Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” is regarded as the representative piece of the collection. “Jewish Bride” is also a must-see art. The museum also features other collections such as ceramics, glass art and silverware.
4. Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is the place of occurrence where the story of the 20th century best-selling book <The Diary of Anne>. It’s also the old secret place where the Jewish girl Anne Frank was hiding. Her family were killed by the Nazis during World War II in addition to his father. Anne’s diary recorded her two-year refuge life in detail. Today, this refuge has become a famous anti-fascist and anti-racist museum. The “Anne Diary” was later published in Amsterdam and it caused a sensation. The layout of the residence remains as it is in the book. When you entering the house, you can walk into the dark door behind the bookshelf and climbed up the narrow staircase. Then you will see a small room. Its window is covered with thick paper, which was used to eliminate the suspicion of outsiders about the existence of the darkroom. It still makes people feel the suffocation of isolation. The manuscript of “Anne Diary” and the daily necessities of the year are also exhibited in the residence. The paragraph in the diary on the wall expressed the pain, loneliness, fear and expectation of the 13-year-old girl. “I hope that after I die, I can still live.” Anne’s longing for life is deeply shocking everyone’s heart.
5. Dam Square
In Dutch, the name “Dam” always reminds of the dam built on the Amstel in the thirteenth century and is also the origin of the city. This square has always been a symbol of the city’s strength for a long time. It is Amsterdam’s main square both in the past and at present, and it has always been a place where people will always come and go, so it’s an ideal place to date. Next to the square is the new church Nieuwe Kerk built in the fifteenth century, which is also a must-see. The church is typical of Gothic style and has been renovated many times over the centuries. The coronation ceremony of successive national monarchs was held here. In this majestic and dignified decoration, you must pay special attention to the 1648 Baroque preaching platform and organ. In the summer, the square is full of warm family with baby carriages, free-spirited musicians, small traders who shuttle between them.
6. Vondelpark
In the late 1960s, it was the favorite place for hippies. Now, everyone likes to take a leisurely stroll in this largest park in Amsterdam. It’s especially known for its quietness and peace. You can reach here in a few steps from the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum.
This green space has been stretching for dozens of hectares, it attracts many local residents to relax here in every season. In the park, the runners run briskly along the winding path; the bike rider do the morning exercise; the pulley enthusiasts concentrate on practicing difficult movements. Everyone enjoys the good times in this well-kept park. If the weather is fine, you can relax on the lawn after visiting the nearby museum, or have a romantic picnic. In the summer, there will be an open air concert. Next to the park is the Dutch riding school (Hollandsche Manege), which is also worth a visit.
7. Heineken Experience Hall
The hall was Heineken’s beer factory before 1988 and it became a museum. It shows visitors the history and brewing process of beer. The exhibition area includes a mini brewery, a product bar, a ‘horse trip’ and a 4D ‘wine brewery’ experience pavilion. It takes about one and a half hours to finish the tour. After the tour, you can taste the free beer with the green bracelet that you received when you enter the museum. Of course, in addition to the introduction and display of traditional brewing materials, equipment and processes, various bottle designs in the past 100 years, multimedia space to demonstrate the winemaking process, there are also various multimedia interactions and games. For example, you can take a photo when putting your head into a brewing can, or take an interesting interactive photo with a friend.
8. Jordaan
If you want to really feel Amsterdam, you must take a stroll around the Jordaan area. It’s picturesque. You can stroll here, enjoy the canal scenery, and see the old buildings and historical sites around, all of which are relaxing and enjoyable. There are many restaurants, coffee shops and shops here. You can easily turn to another street if there are too many people on your street because there are a lot of streets.
9. Madurodam
The famous Madurodam is the perfect place to learn about the unique elegance of the Netherlands. It is a miniature city of only 18,000 square meters, with 66,000 residents with the height less than 10 centimeters living here. At a glance, you will see a quaint old town, lively and interesting beaches and parks, busy ports, and colorful flower fields, all of which make people feel enter the “little country” of childhood dreams. Every famous landscape, figure, tree, etc. in the Netherlands is miniature here at a ratio of 1:25. The city is divided into three theme areas: urban, water and innovative islands. It is not only a playground for children, but also a garden for the adults to find innocence and happiness.
10. Royal Palace of Amsterdam
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam used to be the town hall, and today it is only used for official reception. There are still many precious treasures of the golden age. It’s built in the 17th century by the famous architect Jacob Van Campen. The palace is classic and solemn. On the roof of the royal palace stands a statue of peace with olive branches, next to it are the two statues of sage and justice. This majestic building is a symbol of the city’s prosperity. Napoleon proposed it as the Dutch royal palace in 1808. At this time, he succeeded in helping his younger brother Louis being the king of the Netherlands.
Don’t forget that you need a pocket wifi to stay connected for your trip and for sharing your great experience in Netherlands. Wifi is important for searching the information and looking for the road via Google Maps.
