The Netherlands has so many fascinating cities that it’s tempting to ignore the verdant countryside. However, this isn’t just any countryside: this is The Netherlands, where two-thirds of the land is below sea level and the vast green fields are framed and dissected by canals. The three villages of Volendam, Edam, and Marken are less than 45 minutes from Amsterdam by bus, and visitors will find ... Read Full Article
Devouring European Cities and Cuisine Viking-Style
Onboard Viking Odin, I left the Port of Amsterdam and cruised north to the fishing village of Volendam. I was lucky enough to have the experience thanks to Viking River Cruise, who had invited EuropeUpClose.com on a three-day mini cruise after the christening of their new longships. My cruise companions and I would visit Volendam, Kinderdijk (Holland’s famous windmill area), and Rotterdam. Each ... Read Full Article
Not So Racey Rotterdam
It’s fair to say that sibling rivalry is usually the dynamic found in any county’s two most populous cities. One hogs the limelight with its trinkets and bells, while the other sits in the shadow and gets on with its day. If Amsterdam is the flashy older brother, Rotterdam remains Holland’s ‘can do’ city, a gentle, aesthetically edgy younger sibling that too often flies under the radar, ... Read Full Article
Relax at the Hotel Chateau St Gerlach in Maastricht, Netherlands
Located just 5 miles from the Maastricht rail station, the Hotel Chateau St Gerlach is a unique estate set in the Ingendael Wildlife Reserve. This former monastery was founded in 1201 and burned down in 1581. The baroque castle that you see today dates from 1713. Hotelier Camille Oostwegel bought the ruins of Château St. Gerlach for 1 Dutch Gulden and then proceeded to spend 26 million ... Read Full Article
Recommended Amsterdam Hotels and Hostels
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Amsterdam, then you basically have to choose between being in the middle of the madness or being slightly removed from it. Ever since Holland decriminalized the sale and use of marijuana, this place has become a pilgrimage spot for any young rebel worth his/her weight in booze and intoxicants. Visitors and locals alike tend to party real hard in the ... Read Full Article
The Netherlands Tourist Information
Introduction to The Netherlands The Netherlands is one of the smaller countries of continental Europe, but the largest of three countries comprising “Benelux” (the others being Belgium and Luxembourg). Much of the country is below sea level and the country’s lands have been reclaimed using complex waterworks projects (canals) over the years. The Dutch are known for their relaxed ... Read Full Article
Red Light, Green Light … Amsterdam is Going Green
Amsterdam has long been known as a pioneering city, now Amsterdam is going green. Four hundred years ago, it was a leader in religious tolerance and global commerce and now it’s the front runner in the world’s next challenge “Climate Change”. Among Amsterdam's 17th century town houses and winding canals, green changes are popping up all over the city. On major shopping avenues in the center of the ... Read Full Article
Utrecht – Cultural Gem of The Netherlands
'God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands', the old saying goes. Unique, idiosyncratic, functional and pretty - no more is the gloriously enchanting lifestyle of the Dutch on display than in the cosy cultural hub of Utrecht. Located just one hour by train from the hash cafes and hedonism of Amsterdam, Utrecht is modest and leafy, where folk cycle on neat ... Read Full Article
Top Tips for The Hague, Netherlands
Let’s start by clearing out the confusion. Amsterdam is the official capital of the Netherlands, but The Hague (Den Haag or ‘s-Gravenage in Dutch) is the seat of the country’s government, located in a castle complex called the Binnenhof . It is one of the few countries where the capital and the government seat are not co-located. The Hague often hides in the shadow of its more cosmopolitan ... Read Full Article
Maastricht – the Netherlands’ Oldest City
Maastricht is located in that tiny bit of land stretching out to the south of the Netherlands, a narrow strip of land in between Belgium and Germany. And the vestiges of a Roman city beginning here as early as 50 B.C. shows Maastricht to be the oldest city in the Netherlands. Because of its strategic location it has been contested land over the years, but the medieval city center shows ... Read Full Article