The Netherlands: a small country that has it all!

That’s why it is one of HostelsClub top destinations

We know that good things come in little packages and The Netherlands confirm it. Here are just a few inspiration notes to remind you that if you pencil the Netherlands in your travel itinerary you won’t be disappointed.

It’s all about water: Dutch Coast and beaches, canals, windmills and watermills
Dutch have learned through the centuries how to turn a potential threat like the sea, water and floods into a precious resource for the population, for its growth and development: it’s part of their everyday life. You will find something like 1048 windmills and 108 watermills all over Holland! The coastline is dotted by perfect destinations for beach and surf holidays such as Scheveningen and Noordwijk in South Holland, Egmond aan Zee and Zandvoort in North Holland or Domburg in the province of Zeeland. The Frisian Islands, known also as Wadden Islands, are another gift from the North Sea and are ideal for a “Green Holiday” on one of their 5 islands: Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. You can also find many interesting hostels on the Frisian Islands!

Where shall we go clubbing tonight?
If you are into clubbing and dj’s you definitely have heard of Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Afrojack and Nicky Romero. Yes, these are big names of the club/house music industry that hail from The Netherlands and promote a high quality club culture worldwide. Clubs in The Netherlands are indeed among the best, just think about the Trouw, Studio80, Air and Club Up in Amsterdam, Maassilo in Rotterdam and C'est la vie in Maastricht.

Soak up art, history, science and architecture in museums
The cultural offer of Dutch Museums is so amazing it meets the needs of the worst museum-holic! We know, time flies while on holidays but make sure you visit at least one of these must see museums: ARCAM Amsterdam, The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, the Van Gogh Museum, the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis (which showcases the ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring ’) and the Science Center NEMO. If you are traveling to Utrecht with children take them to the see Miffy at the “Dick Bruna House”.

It’s shopping therapy time
Anything, you can buy really anything: you can high street shopping in Leidsestraat, Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk in Amsterdam, retro and vintage shopping in Nieuwemarkt & Pannekoekstraat in Rotterdam, even visit the The Hague Market, with 500 stalls and 25.000 visitors a day or go shopping in car free Utrecht’s Korte Jansstraat and Domstraat for small and alternative little shops.

Travel to the ultimate bike destination
How can you not jump on a bike with 32.000 km of cycling paths awaiting out there? The fact that the Netherlands are the 5th bike friendly country in the world, that road signs are very well organized and that it’s basically just a flat country and you do not need any specific training, are further reasons to go for it. The most popular bike route to try out is the IJsselmeer Tour (Zuiderzee route). Bikes can be rented pretty much everywhere, even at your hostel.

Say cheese and forget about your high cholesterol
The best known types of Dutch cheese are Gouda and Edam but there are more out there to taste: Leerdarmer, Old Alkmaar, Leyden, Texellar-Kollumer just to mention a few…In the towns of Gouda, Alkmaar and Edam you can still attend the local cheese markets; if you are interested in learning something more about the cheese production, in Alkmaar you can stop at the Cheese Museum. If you are looking for a great hostel in Alkmmar, check out Kings Inn City Hostel.

Dutch do design better!
Dutch are very creative: you can see it in the way they dress up, decorate their homes and living spaces or plan buildings. Eindhoven is the cherry on the cake for Dutch design. It boasts Holland’s first Academy of Design and every year it attracts designers and creatives during the DDW (Dutch Design Week). Such a love for design can be spotted also in hostels; check out “Hello I'm Local" Boutique Hostel, a fantastic Harleem design hostel, Hostelle in Amsterdam and Stayokay Soest. They are just great example of design hostels.

What to wear? Skates or traditional clogs?
Dutch love skating: artificial ice-skating rinks are available pretty much everywhere in winter, for instance in Museumplein in Amsterdam. They love it even more when they can skate along canals on natural ice, but only when it’s cold enough unfortunately. A very famous skating event is the Elfstedentocht (11 City Tour) a 200-km skate race which goes through 11 cities, held depending on the year’s weather and on the thickness of the ice. Got cold? Have a shot of kruidenbitter, a typical Dutch liquor.

Flowers, hundred thousands of flowers!
It goes without saying you are in the perfect country to play the game “He loves me, he loves me not" while picking off flower petals. There is even a National Tulip Day, on the 18th of Jan, in Amsterdam on Dam Square: it officially kicks off the season. The blooming season for bulbs starts at the end of March till middle May when tulips, Holland’s icon, give their best. The best place to enjoy the blooming season is Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, visited by more than 100.000 people weekly: get your camera ready! Crocus, daffodils and tulips bulbs can be bought at the world’s famous floating flower market in Amsterdam on the Singel. Looking for a really commercial flower market? On Ascension Day, Holland’s most important flower market takes place in the town of Leeuwarden, with over 30.000 visitors every year.

Found any inspiration with our travel notes about The Netherlands? Download our free Holland desktop meanwhile and stay tuned for more updates.

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