Historic Monuments in the Netherlands
It would be unfair to sum up the culturally rich and diverse Netherlands with tulip fields and cheese only. The Netherlands abounds in historical monuments, which are regarded as witnesses of Dutch history and are recognised by UNESCO as world heritage. Here are a few fine examples:
- The Anne Frank House: located in Amsterdam, on the banks of the Prinsengracht, this museum dedicated to the Jewish writer of the Second World War Anne Frank is the most visited museum in the capital ;
- The Oude Kerk or Old Church in the red light district of Amsterdam is one of the oldest religious buildings. Its construction dates back to around 1300 ;
- The Kijk-Kubus or the cubic house designed by Piet Blom in 1982 is a set of innovative houses, built in the form of an inclined cube ;
- Dam Square is the main square of the Dutch capital, located 5 minutes from the Damrak, connecting the Dam and Amsterdam Central Station ;
- Kasteel Radboud or Radboud Castle, dating back to 1288, is an important tourist attraction in the town of Medemblik, with a collection of objects on the history of the building ;
- Erasmusbrug or Erasmus Bridge named after the philosopher Erasmus, linking the northern and southern halves of Rotterdam ;
Other Dutch sites are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including :
- Schokland and surroundings
- Amsterdam's line of defence
- The network of mills in Kinderdijk-Elshout
- The historic area of Willemstad
- Amsterdam city centre and port
- D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station
- The Schröder house in Rietveld
And that's not all! There are many other monuments that will introduce you to the cultural and architectural heritage of Holland, such as the King's Palace, the Coin Tower, Delft Stadhuis, Weigh house, Waag, St. John's Cathedral...
So don't forget your camera to memorize every moment of your relaxing trip to the Netherlands!
Museums in the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has more than a thousand museums, the vast majority of which are located in Amsterdam, divided into categories : national museum, art, history, entertainment, architecture, science and children's museum.
- The Van Gogh Museum: dedicated to Vincent van Gogh, this museum located in Amsterdam offers an impressive number of works by the Dutch painter.
- The Rijksmuseum: housing a selection of works on the Art and History of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the present day, it is the largest museum in the country ;
- The Stedelijk Museum: a few kilometres from the Rijksmuseum you will find the Stedelijk, a foundation for modern and contemporary art, founded in 1895, with more than 3,000 works of art ;
- The Teylers Museum: it is the oldest museum in the Netherlands and one of the few museums in the world with a collection of works of art, natural history and science ;
- The Mauritshuis or House of Mauritius: this extraordinary museum built in 1640 and located in The Hague houses a selection of works devoted to 17th century art, including Vermeer's famous work, La Jeune Fille à la perle ;
- The Centraal Museum in Utrecht: located in the centre of Utrecht, this is the largest collection of furniture by the Dutch designer and cabinetmaker Rietveld, with exhibitions devoted to the history of the city of Utrecht and other works by Dick Bruna.
- Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Mondrian, Bosh... These names appeared during the Dutch Golden Century and have forever marked the history of art.
Events in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has experienced and continues to experience a very important cultural and artistic development. This can be seen in the many festivals held throughout the year, including the Tweetakt theatre festival in Utrecht, the Pinkpop festival, the flower parade, North Sea jazz festival in Rotterdam, the Rotterdam film festival, and many others.
To make sure you don't miss anything during your stay in the Netherlands, here are the main events in the country :
January |
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March |
Amsterdam Art Week: a variety of cultural events are organised in the capital for a whole week in March. |
April |
National Museum Weekend in Amsterdam, where access to the national museums is free for the public. This coincides more precisely with the 3rd weekend in April. |
May |
Dutch Liberation Day: celebrated on May 5th by the entire Dutch people. Herring Festivities in the Netherlands: If you're a fishing enthusiast, then get ready to celebrate the start of the herring fishing season in the Netherlands during the month of May. |
June |
National Windmill Day in the Netherlands: to celebrate this great symbol of the Kingdom. On this day the windmills go into action and open their wings to the public. World Roots Festival in Amsterdam: a cultural event that welcomes non-Western artists from all over the world. |
August |
The Amsterdam Parade held in the Martin Luther King Park, home to a variety of fairground attractions and artistic performances. Grachten festival in Amsterdam: a free musical event open to the public to vibrate to the rhythms of classical music |
September |
Amsterdam Flower Festival: celebrated on the first Saturday in September with a parade of flower floats, covering the distance between Aalsmeer and Amsterdam. Jordaan Festival in Amsterdam: during the month of September, the most famous district in the Netherlands organizes magnificent artistic events. |
November |
Amsterdam St. Nicholas Tour: parades are held throughout the capital to celebrate the coming of the famous Saint, riding his white horse around the city. The Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival: during the month of November, the festival invites documentary film enthusiasts. |
December |
St. Nicholas' Day in the Netherlands: celebrated on 5 December, it is, in a way, the equivalent of Christmas. |
National parks and natural sites in the Netherlands
Although the kingdom is small in size, it still promises nature lovers, peace and quiet and beautiful views an exceptional journey.alme et des beaux panoramas un voyage exceptionnel.
To discover the coastline surrounded by dunes (yes, dunes!) go to the Wadden Islands, real natural wonders to explore, located in the northern part of the Netherlands. Composed of 8 islands, 5 of which are inhabited, they are the ideal destination for people in search of calm and serenity.
The Netherlands also has other breathtaking natural landscapes and national parks. These include the :
- Hoge Veluwe National Park, which is one of the largest parks in the Netherlands. It is built on 5,400 hectares of nature and covers 5% of the Veluwe nature area. There is a charge for access to the park.
- Veluwezoom, which is also a national nature reserve, was created in 1930 in the province of Gelderland and covers an area of 5,000 hectares.
- Duinen van Texel National Park covers 4,300 ha and includes the dunes of Texel's west coast and a variety of plant and bird species.
- Schiermonnikoog National Park was created in 1989 in the province of Friesland. It is the first park in the Netherlands built of dunes, salt marshes, lakes and mudflats. It offers an astonishing landscape.
- Lauwersmeer National Park, a unique 6,000 hectare nature reserve on the borders of the provinces of Friesland and Groningen.
- Biesbosch National Park, crossed by large rivers and streams, this 9,000 hectare park is one of the few tidal freshwater areas in Europe.
Zoos and amusement parks
Thrill seekers will not be disappointed! The Netherlands abounds in amusement parks, offering a variety of entertainment and rides that are sure to shake you up! Between theme parks and classic merry-go-rounds, you're sure to find something to suit your taste:
- The Arsenal (pirates)
- Efteling (fairy tales)
- Walibi
- Hellendoorn
- Slaghren
- Drievliet
- Duinrell
If you would rather go out and meet the animals, the Netherlands is home to a number of zoos and water parks that will not leave you indifferent. One such zoo is the GaiaZOO in Kerkrade, in the Dutch province of Limburg, which has been voted several times the most beautiful zoo in the Benelux. A place not to be missed under any circumstances!
Nightlife: a festive atmosphere not to be missed!
Festive and trendy nights are what the Netherlands is famous for!
In addition to the many clubs where you can dance to the rhythms of techno, electro, rock, jazzy music..., the country also offers you a 100% Dutch experience in its various brown cafés (wooden bars inside), over a well-deserved drink.
Another peculiarity of the Dutch land: Coffee-shops, establishments where mainly cannabis is served, but above all no alcohol!
Some nightclubs in the Netherlands
- Bitterzoet: a stone's throw from the Centraal station.
- Phone: +31 20 421 2318 - Address: Spuistraat 2 HS, 1012 TS - Amsterdam
- Dansen Bij Jansen (very popular for students): Phone: +31 20 620 1779 - Address: Handboogstraat 11 /HS, 1012 XM Amsterdam
- De Nieuwe Anita: Frederik Hendrikstraat 111, 1052 HN Amsterdam
Quelques restaurants aux Pays-Bas Some restaurants in the Netherlands
- Omelegg - City Centre : Nieuwebrugsteeg 24, 1012 AH Amsterdam
- Gartine : Taksteeg 7, 1012 PB Amsterdam
- Omelegg - City Centre : Nieuwebrugsteeg 24, 1012 AH Amsterdam
- Gartine : Taksteeg 7, 1012 PB Amsterdam
Comparez et réservez les meilleures offres pour visiter Pays-Bas - ENG
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