THE NETHERLANDS (HOLLAND) TRAVEL, HOTEL, HOLIDAY & ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

Try a canal boat holiday this year for the ultimate in relaxation There is probably nothing more relaxing and romantic than a canal boat holiday and there are many excellent destinations to choose from, perfect for couples heading off on their own or families... read more

Eight Ways To Vacation In Holland by KEITH VALENTINE

You will learn about eight places you can go to see some of them right here. Find out about some of the cities, towns and villages that you'll see when you're on vacation in Holland, a small European country, part of The Netherlands, bordering Germany and Belgium, a little larger than the State of Maryland.

In Amsterdam you can take one of 110 glass-topped cruise boats along some of the 165 canals and see the world's narrowest house - only one metre wide; or visit Coster Diamonds to see how these jewels are cut and polished; walk across a few of the 1,281 bridges in the city; drop by the Anne Frank House, or take in the Rijksmuseum and feast on Rembrandt's masterpieces including the "Nightwatch". If you prefer tulips instead, impose on the Bulb Fields in the "Garden of Europe" at Keukenhof, the world's largest flower garden. Indubitably a sight to behold! Certainly a must-see when on vacation in Holland.

• How about wildlife and nature trails? - A short drive will take you to Holland's largest park: de Hoge Veluwe, 5,500 hectares of woodland, heathland, lakes and driftsand; and breeze into the Kröller-Müller Museum, which houses some of Van Gogh's most famous works.
• Something cheesy? - See how the famous "Edamer" cheese, as it is known, is made in the village of Edam. It has a very mild taste, slightly salty or nutty and almost no smell when compared to other cheeses. It also has a significantly lower fat content than many other traditional cheeses.
• Why not check out the Zaanse Schans? - A delightful old hamlet on the banks of the River Zaan, with characteristic green wooden houses, charming stylized gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen's workshops, historic windmills, engaging little shops and discover the art of clog making too when you're on vacation in Holland.
• Palatial settings? - Hang around the 17th century Het Loo, previously a royal palace with its formal gardens, at Apeldoorn. In the 18th century, William III's baroque garden was swept away for a landscape park in the English taste.
• Always wondered how ornaments are made? - Frequent the pottery factory in Delft. Delftware is a blue and white pottery, part of the "tin glaze" style, in which tin-based white glaze is first applied, then metal oxide decoration and finally a lead-based clear glaze overcoat to make the surface glossy.
• Want to see a village where life has hardly changed over the last 400 years? - Visit Staphorst, famous for many of its residents wearing traditional dutch clothing. It also happens to be one of the most religious villages of the Netherlands.

Vacations to Amsterdam offer many opportunities for fun and relaxation, which include over a hundred annual festivals and conventions, a rich collection of art galleries and historical museums, and an eclectic club scene around the red-light quarter of the central district. With so much to do, millions are drawn to Amsterdam each year. This makes it easy for tourists to find hotels in Amsterdam at great prices even among the picturesque, 16th-century canals of the central district. Those looking for long-term holiday rentals will likewise not be disappointed.

Enjoy the Culture of Downtown Amsterdam
Whether it's dining at the elegant Breitner restaurant or taking in an after-dinner performance at the Compagnie Theatre, every event can be arrived at in luxury from hotels in the canal district. This is where the majority of the city's attractions can be found. Nearest the river Amstel is the red-light district, famous with tourists for its up-scale hash bars. 

Just south is Dam Square and one of the city's most magnificent pieces of architecture, the Royal Palace. Built in the 17th century, this palace is open to visitors and features a huge map of the world on the marble floor of the main hallway. The National Monument stands on the opposite side of Dam Square and is flanked by one of Amsterdam's premier shopping boutiques, De Bijenkorf.  Nieuwmarkt Square is located to the east, in the middle of Chinatown, and it is a popular venue for outdoor festivals. Here can be found many open-air cafés and weekend markets for antiques, books and organic produce. To the west of Dam Square is an important landmark and museum for all tourists to visit, the Anne Frank House.

It has been restored to the conditions present when Anne and several others used the hidden rooms to avoid Nazi persecution, and there are rotating exhibits on discrimination and persecution.

A number of venues dedicated to the performing arts, from the opera and symphony orchestra to popular music and cabaret, are available throughout the historic district. The city hall and Muziektheatre, which serves as the city's opera house, are combined into one building, which is locally referred to as the Stopera. It is located between the river Amstel and a monument to Jewish victims of WWII, and it hosts performances of the National Ballet, the Holland Symphony Orchestra, and the Netherlands Opera. 

Luxurious vacations to Amsterdam are Available at Economy Prices!
No matter what section of the city is preferred for accommodation, it is entirely possible to find cheap hotels and holiday rentals. Cheap flights to Amsterdam are also available from a number of booking agencies. Find out why Amsterdam is rated as one of the world's best travel destinations. 

AMSTERDAM BED & BREAKFASTS / SMALL HOTELS / BOUTIQUE HOTELS