Netherlands

Traveling through the
Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is known for many things: tulips, stroopwafels, unapologetically direct communication and bicycles – hordes of them, everywhere! More than 60% of the population is living 5 meters below sea level, yet somehow they are the 6th happiest country in the world. Traveling around the Netherlands is something else.

At the very top of Western Europe, just below Scandinavia lies the Netherlands. A kingdom whose territory is in fact submerged for one-third under water. Thanks to an ingenious system of pumps, dams, dikes and sand dunes the land was reclaimed over the years and is now home to roughly 17 million inhabitants.

The Netherlands has cultivated a strong image as a beacon of liberalism and tolerance. It was in fact one of the first countries to legalize LGBT marriages (in 2001) and the personal use of recreational drugs has been decriminalized (as is clear from the abundance of coffee shops dotted around the country).

In the streets, you will hear Dutch spoken, and the population will refer to themselves as being “Dutch”. One’s mind is spoken clearly, which to a non-native might come across as a bit rude. Fear not, no offense was meant this is simply a cultural quirk.

Holland vs. Netherlands

There are 12 provinces in the Netherlands two of which are respectively North – and South Holland. The Netherlands, therefore, is not Holland, though it is often referred to as such colloquially both by locals and tourists. Within the provinces of North- and South Holland lie the three largest cities of the Netherlands: Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.

Traveling in the Netherlands

Travel in the Netherlands is relatively easy thanks to the well-developed highways and the small size of the territory. From the very northern part of the country (Friesland or the Frisian Islands) to the capital Amsterdam takes around 1h44 minutes by car, add another two hours on to that and you are already at the border with Belgium.

Public transport covers the majority of the country. Amsterdam is easily reachable from France (Paris) or Belgium (Brussels, Antwerp) via high-speed train (Thalys). Getting around the Netherlands can also easily be done by train. Use Amsterdam as a basis and explore around Amsterdam or take weekend trips from Amsterdam using the train or the bicycle.

There are a few airports in the Netherlands: Amsterdam Schiphol, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Groningen, and Eindhoven. The first being the largest of the country. Direct high-speed trains run between Belgium and Amsterdam Schiphol.

Tulip fields in the Netherlands

One of the things the Netherlands is famous for is its flowers, in particular the beautiful array of tulips. Fields of tulips grow in abundance throughout the Netherlands during late spring (End of March to mid-May) creating seas of bright multicolored patches as far as the eye can see.

The tulip fields around Lisse (South-Holland province) have become quite a sensation these last years, with flocks of tourists and hungry photographers descending down in droves. Lesser known are the tulip fields in Flevoland and Noordwijkerhout (near Leiden).