The Netherlands from another point of view

We all have vague notions about the Netherlands, this peculiar liberal (libertine?) country by the cold shores of the North Sea. For some of us, these notions have turned into true preconceptions: what is the Netherlands, after all? A colourful, but somehow debauched rich Western European country, with its notorious Amsterdam (with the Sex Museum, Red Light District and sex-shops every three or four buildings). Today, I plan to show you The Netherlands from another point of view.

Basically, the Netherlands is culturally divided by an imaginary line that separates the “progressive” North from the conservative, traditionalistic South. Generally, the country is marked by contrasts and contradictions. So if the libertine lifestyle is not your option, don’t write Holland off your list just yet! You might find there is more to it than meets the eye.

Here are some destinations that will give you a glimpse of another Holland altogether:

The Hoge Veluwe National Park is a must-see whenever you come to bask in the natural beauty of Holland. It is one of the largest, most beautiful natural reserves, comprising extended forests, sand dunes and heathlands. Most of the park is inaccessible by car, but the good news is you can take a bike and go most anywhere. This is also one of the places where you can have a rendezvous with Vincent van Gogh (or well, with his art at least), as the Kröller-Müller Museum, with its extended collection of paintings by the Dutch artist, is hosted within the very park.

The hometown of the famous Flemish painter Vermeer, Delft is a paradise lost in time, with its old Dutch architecture featuring colourful medieval houses, its countless canals and the traditional Delft Blue pottery (or Delftware) it is associated with. A university city, it is also “home” (or “workplace”) to some 16.000 students enrolled in one of the three major universities in town.

Waddeneilanden (or The West Frisian Islands) are a beautiful chain of islands in the North Sea. They are one of the most beautiful (unknown) destinations in the Netherlands (or just outside), accessible by ferry.

Hoping we have succeeded in showing The Netherlands from another point of view, I hope you will join me again soon, as we discover more about this wide world of trips.