Netherlands

Netherlands is a beautiful country in the Western Europe which I have been lucky enough to experience. From the bicycles and the canals to the tulips and the windmills, there is so much to see in this beautiful country. I love art and in Netherlands, some of my favorite artists like Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer have lived. As a result, there are a plenty of museums in the country. Amsterdam is the most important city in the Netherlands. From Amsterdam, the first place of my visit has been the Zaanse Schans. It is a beautiful neighborhood which features the historic windmills and houses across the river Zaan. I have been inside the windmills as well to understand their operation. These windmills have actually been used to produce mustard, paint, oil and for cutting logs. Zaans Museum is also present in this neighborhood. The museum features the art and history of this area.

Up next is Volendam, a beautiful Dutch village that I have visited. Volendam is a striking contrast from Amsterdam as it is much greener and peaceful in comparison to Amsterdam and features beautiful houses and a river, and it definitely has one of the best fish and chips that I have ever had. I have been interested in the Dutch Gouda Cheese and its history as well and as a result, I have been to the Cheese Factory in Volendam. The Cheese Factory is an all-in-one museum and cheese shop where a tour of the factory is given, different types of cheese is available for tasting and you can buy the cheese as well. There are many shops in this village as well from where you can buy almost anything. Take a stroll across the village and sit next to the river and enjoy the view.

Close to Volendam is an another beautiful Dutch village known as Marken which is approached by a ferry. Marken is also popular among tourists just like Volendam. The wooden houses of this village are of particular interest to me. The lovely landscape is enough to make you walk and explore more of this beautiful village. Another important place to visit in Marken is the wooden shoe factory. Wooden shoes are known as Clogs in English and Klompen in Dutch, and are typically used by the farmers and gardeners etc., and are a popular souvenir among the tourists. At the factory, a tour of the factory is given and you can buy wooden shoes as well.

However, Amsterdam is still my favorite and museums of Amsterdam have been of particular interest to me. To visit some of my favorite museums, I have been to the Museumplein which is a public space where some of the famous Dutch museums are located. At the Museumplein, I have been to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk. Around the corner is a souvenir shop as well. The Museumplein itself is a large public space where you can sit and enjoy the amazing atmosphere of Amsterdam. Another important historic museum in Amsterdam which is unforgettable is the Anne Frank House. Though not an art museum, it is an important place to visit if you want to know more about the Holocaust and its victims. Anne Frank was a Jewish wartime diarist who wrote a diary while she was hiding in the secret annex, which is now a part of the museum.

After the museums comes the opportunity to explore Amsterdam, you can do that by just walking through the important places of the city and by exploring the streets. The bicycles, canals and the canal houses are bound to make you fall in love with this beautiful city. Dam square is an important square in the city and is absolutely beautiful. Jazz legend Chet Baker died in Amsterdam and Chet Baker fans can witness the history by visiting the Prins Hendrik Hotel. The hotel features Chet Baker memorabilia, the Chet Baker Room and outside the hotel is a beautiful plaque commemorating him. Taking a cruise in Amsterdam is mandatory to explore its canals, therefore I have taken a cruise and it is certainly an amazing experience. The Eye filmmuseum is something that catches your eye during the cruise and you get to see how much of this city has canals.

Next I have been to other important Dutch cities, starting off with Rotterdam. Rotterdam is known for its modern architecture, seaport and it is also known as “Gateway to the world” due to its extensive rail, roads and waterways. Markthal is an important building in Rotterdam notable for its unusual architecture and design. I have been inside the building to visit a large food market and to witness unique artwork inside it. The interior of the building features an artwork by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam. The artwork depicts enlarged fruits, vegetables, seeds, fish, flowers and insects. Furthermore, I have been able to see more of the unique buildings in the city. Euromast is an observation tower in Rotterdam. The view from the top of the tower is absolutely breathtaking and you get to see all the buildings, bridges and waterways. The view of Erasmusbridge is one of the most amazing from up above. After viewing the Erasmusbridge from the Euromast, I have been to the Erasmusbridge myself to see this amazing architectural masterpiece up close.

Close to Rotterdam is an another important Dutch city known as Delft. Delft is a beautiful city which is also a popular tourist destination. The city features a large number of historic buildings and similar to the most of the Netherlands, there are canals in this city as well. I have also experienced TU Delft which is an internationally acclaimed university and then a Delftware workshop. In the workshop, I have seen the manufacturing process of the Delftware and bought some of the Delftware. However, my most memorable experience of Delft is the visit to the market square. It is a beautiful area surrounded by historic buildings and a statue of Hugo Grotius. The cobblestones, people cycling and the pigeons make it a memorable experience. The market square features the city hall and Nieuwe Kerk. The city hall itself is a Renaissance style building which is just opposite to the Nieuwe Kerk, a Protestant Church in the Delft. Located just in front of the church is the statue of Hugo Grotius. Overall, it is a great place to relax and admire the beauty of the surroundings.

Another important Dutch city is The Hague. Its importance lies in it being the seat of the government in the Netherlands. The most important place to visit in The Hague is the Peace Palace, which is the seat of the International Court of Justice. It is a beautiful Palace with lush green lawns. The history and importance of the Peace Palace has made it one of the most visited tourist attractions as well. Afterwards, I have seen the Noordeinde Palace which is one of the Royal Palaces of the Dutch Royal Family and then the foreign embassies. After visiting the Government buildings, the next place that I have been to is a miniature park known as Madurodam. The park features miniature replicas of the famous Dutch buildings and landscapes. My personal favorite miniature replica is the replica of the tulip fields because I have always loved the Dutch Tulips. Overall, Madurodam is an experience which adds a lot to your knowledge of the country.