"the Netherlands - my country on my way" Top 5 Page for this destination Netherlands by vtveen

Netherlands Travel Guide: 31,855 reviews and 86,661 photos

Between Schagen and Callantsoog - Netherlands

The main picture is typical for the Netherlands ........

.... on my way.

These tulip fields are somewhere between Schagen and Callantsoog in the Top of North Holland on a bike trip. That is the way we like to do it. We visited the mills in Kinderdijk in bad weather on a day it was raining cats and dogs and the wind was howling along the mills. And so on ... on my way.

Visiting my country on that way you don't see many tourists, even on the most well-known touristy sites in the Netherlands.

And that is what I want to do with my tips about the Netherlands, just showing you unknown places, beautiful scenery, old villages, remoted areas (yes they are in the Netherlands), out-of-the-way castles and so on.

But you have to be patient, because I will only add tips about places, where I have been myself with my own experience.

The Netherlands on my way !!!

'Nederland':
This little settlement should be the ultimate destination for foreigners visiting my country. Nothing 'cooler' than saying, "I have visited Nederland".

Things to do

Kootwijkerzand: sandbox on the Veluwe

The best way - in my opinion - to see the Netherlands is to walk or bike around. So in 'the things to do' chapter I will record all kinds of 'walk' and 'bike' tips in several parts of the country.

Tips:

Drenthe
'Borger' - walk or bike along the Dutch Dolmens
Flevoland
'Noordoostpolder' - autotour to the tulips in the polder
Friesland
Bolsward - on foot
Bolsward < > Bolsward, bicycle trip
Leeuwarden - Nassau/city walk
Oudemirdum - walking through ‘hilly’ Gaasterland
Gelderland
'Groenlo' - walking in a fortified city
'Kootwijkerzand' - hiking over drifting sand
'Ooijpolder' - biketour through fascinating Dutch landscape
'Zaltbommel' - more than 'gutter ghosts'
Groningen
'Groningen' - city walk
'De Marne'- biking through rural countryside
Limburg
'De Meinweg' - biketour through an unknown national park
'De Groote Peel' - walking along wetlands
Noord-Brabant
'Heusden' - walking through a lively and lovely fortress
Noord-Holland
'Broek in Waterland' - walking in an authentic and picturesque village
'Haarlem' - walking along almshouses
'Laren' - a different way of shopping
'Marken' - loop walk to the lighthouse
'Schagen' - very typical Dutch bike trip
'Texel' - made for biking
Overijssel
'Delden'- walk around Castle Twickel
'Dwarsgracht'- bike or boat trip along canals
'Nijverdal' - walking over the Sallandse Heuvelrug
'Vollenhove' - cycling along 'wieden' and 'weiden'
Zuid-Holland
'Gouda' - walking through the history
`Noordwijkerhout' - biking along blooming bulbs

Things to see

Blokzijl: 17th century houses

The Netherlands has a great and rich history. Everywhere in my country you will come across examples: varying from villages from the middle ages, through castles till industrial monuments.
I will add tips about these spots in the 'off the beaten path' chapter.

Tips:
Drenthe
'Assen': Drents Museum
'Havelte': dolmen and chamadron
Friesland
'Franeker': Eise Eisinga Planetarium
'Joure': Douwe Egberts ‘vlecke’
'Lemmer': Woudagemaal
'Mildam': ecocathedral
'Sloten': the smallest of the 11 Frisian cities
Gelderland
'Apeldoorn': royal town
'Apeldoorn': royal view over the palace gardens
'Apeldoorn': Queen’s Day Attack Monument
'Arnhem': winter in the Open Air Museum
'Bronkhorst': (one of the) smallest CITIES in my country
'Elburg': walk through a fortified city
'Elburg': Zwaluwenburg and A.Vogel Tuinen
''s Heerenberg': inside and outside Huis Bergh
'Klein Amsterdam': the other Amsterdam
'Loenen': highest waterfall of the country
'Middachten Castle': romantic Christmas feeling
'Nijbroek' and its old church
'Staverden': just strolling around the castle
'Voorst': Verborgen Tuinen (Hidden Gardens)
'Vorden': Wildenborch: thousands of winter aconites
Groningen
'Bourtange': back into the year of 1742
'Lutjegast': Abel Tasman village
'Niehove': perfect 'wierde' village
'Ter Apel': impressive monastery
Limburg
'Eijsden': most southern town
'Griendtsveen": an unique peat village
'Houthem': St. Gerlachus Church
'Neer': Friedesse Water Mill
'Roermond': impressive Roman Cathedral
'Vaalserberg': highest point of the Netherlands (+ 322,5 metres)
'Valkenburg': Christmas Market
Noord-Brabant
'Lierop': impressive dome-church
'Oploo': water and windmill
'Willemstad': fortress on the waterfront
'Woudrichem': authentic fortress town with a ‘blemish’
Noord-Holland
'Alkmaar'; inevitable cheese market
'Alkmaar': Wildemanshofje, quite different from the cheese market
'Weesp': a stone's throw from Amsterdam
Overijssel
'Blokzijl': (old) harbour city
'Hasselt': see the rare Snake's Head flowers
'Kampen': visit a cigar factory
Utrecht
'Amersfoort': seen from the water
Zeeland
'Tholen': Our Lady Church, most remarkable
Zuid-Holland
'Kinderdijk': on a stormy day
'Leerdam': glass city
'Nieuwerkerk a/d IJssel': lowest point of the Netherlands (- 6,76 metres)

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:fantastic country with unexpected gems and scenery

Intro Updated Jun 10, 2013
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Reviews (99)

Elburg: Zwaluwenburg and A.Vogel Tuinen. Off The Beaten Path (50)

When visiting Elburg I highly recommend a side trip to the ‘Zwaluwenburg’. This is a castle/mansion located nearby the... more travel advice

Heusden - cannon on the fortifications - Netherlands

Heusden - lively and lovely fortress Things to Do (27)

Heusden, along the river Maas is dates back to the 13th century when it started with the construction of the... more travel advice

Leeuwarden - Nassau/city walk Things to Do (27)

First we intended to do just the Nassau walk, but it turned out this walk offers a limited number of Nassau-sights. And... more travel advice

Ecocathedral / Ecokathedraal - Netherlands

Mildam - Ecocathedral Off The Beaten Path (50)

An ecocathedral can be defined as a stacked structure of residual materials from pavers, such as paving stones, clinker... more travel advice

Hotels (11)
See All Paleis Stadhouderlijk Hof - royal style
Restaurants (10)
See All Theehuis en Rozentuin ‘De Stamroos’

Local Customs (1)
Queensday – lot of traditions
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Comments (27)

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hunterV Nov 11, 2011 at 6:02 AM

Hi, Jaap! You have presented a very nice story about your beautiful country! Thanks! Long live the Netherlands!~
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pieter_jan_v May 6, 2010 at 9:01 AM

Jaap, Ik has gisteren juist de entreeprijs voor Vreeburg-Schagen aangepast. Wat is er mis aan 4.00 Euro? PJ
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abi_maha Dec 21, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Your latest tip reminded me of my visit to Muiderslot! :)
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Pijlmans May 24, 2009 at 12:57 AM

Great tips...I still have to see a lot of my own country...Especially the Hunebedden! Cheers, Dennis
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mvtouring Apr 5, 2009 at 12:44 PM

Fantastic page which is definately going to help me plan our holiday. thanks ;-)
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Irinna May 11, 2008 at 1:57 AM

These blooming fields look really fantastic! Greetings Irina
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jcarolj May 11, 2008 at 1:06 AM

smeerling teehuis looks amazing -tables in nice grasses.
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angiebabe Apr 26, 2008 at 6:44 AM

Very interesting page, as usual top quality tips and pics!Beautiful Kinderdijk pic!Thx4 the hi yest, did see&rate yr new tulip tip yest too.having a gd weekend i hope!
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ranger49 Jan 26, 2008 at 11:20 AM

Very interesting Tip about the dolmens. What a fascinating period of history this is.
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hindu1936 Oct 1, 2007 at 6:43 AM

Thank you for your detailed tips, good directions, and nice photos.