 Drenthe |
Flevoland |
Friesland |
Frisian Islands |
| Groningen |
Guelders |
Limburg |
North Brabant |
| North Holland |
Overijssel |
South Holland |
Utrecht |
| Zealand |
Holland is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Although some people misname Holland as Netherlands, Holland is located in the west part of Netherlands and there are many differences between the two. If you ever visit Holland, you will never forget the authenticity of the place couple with the ‘Dutch-touch’, until the day you die. What is certain after a visit to Holland is that its’ beauty and affectionate Dutch people will make you long for many more visits.
Geographically, Holland can be divided into two pieces; North and South. The best transportation for exploring the country depends on the area. For example, if you are to fully explore the city of Amsterdam, the capital of Holland, it is best to hire a bicycle. If you are not in to cycling and still wish to cover the entire city in a day, use boats as there are many waterways that go through beautiful parts of the city.
Have you ever read the diary of Anne Frank? If you have, you’d most certainly need to see her house, now converted in to a popular museum, in Amsterdam. Anne Frank and her family lived in this house for two years before they were caught and deported to a concentration camp. Unfortunately, she died weeks before the camp was liberated. Van Gogh Museum is another ‘must-go-to’ place; any tourist to Holland should visit. The materials produced by this master (drawings, letters, and drawings) can be found in the museum giving you a taste of history and the talents that run in Dutch blood. Among the masterpieces found in the museum are the ever famous ‘Sunflowers series’ and ‘Potato Eaters’.
If you are planning to visit Holland during the months of March to May, you will get to see something very special. Holland is well known for its Tulips of mid-March and mid-May. Although you may not think this as a ‘must see’ attraction, you will only understand the marvel of this wondrous art of nature only after witnessing it ! Visit Keukenof Gardens, where Tulips are arranged in a tourist friendly manner.
If you are in Amsterdam, you should definitely hit the beaches; at least for a sneak peak. The beaches of Blijburg and Amsterdam West are best for water sports lovers and sand castle artists. In additional to that, there are many cafes and restaurants such as Bulldog, Paradiso, and Jimmy Woo in the surrounding area that facilitates socialising with a touch of class.
Amsterdam’s Red-light District is an area as popular as the Amsterdam city. Having been started with the intention of comforting sailors that lodged in the area after long voyages, this part of the city has its’ specialties of entertaining guests in all possible ways. Although red-light district is not known for its’ scenic beauty, many tourists find pleasure in this part of the city due to a different type of attraction.
Traveling within the cities and towns is easy. You need not hire taxis or trouble yourself with public transportation. There are many single trails connecting almost every town of Holland. If you’ve got plenty of time in hand, simply hire a bicycle and ride along as everyone else does!
If you return from Holland without sampling their exquisite varieties of cheese, you will have missed an experience of a life time. Cheese has been in production in Holland for more than 1600 years and they stand for an essential part of the Dutch tradition. The different types of cheese are available in various sizes (sometimes the size of a wagon wheel) throughout the country. Alkmaar is the cheese town of Holland and you will find all varieties of cheese such as Gouda, Leiden, and Edam. The traditional cheese market is held every Friday, between the first Fridays of February to first Friday of September, annually.
Moving away from the capital city, it is worthwhile to pay at least, a brief visit to Rotterdam, for its’ scenic elegance only owes second place to Amsterdam. The city was destroyed by Germans in the Second World War, but it managed to revive soon after the war was over. Rotterdam can also be interpreted as the most modern city of Netherlands and the playground of modern architecture. You could simply catch a train every 10-15 minutes that runs between the two cities with a journey of one hour that will get you to the destination, quite comfortably.
