Many travellers to the Netherlands never venture beyond Amsterdam. Its a shame, because the Netherlands is actually a really amazing country, with a lot to offer off the beaten path. And the best part about that? Gorgeous locations which are non-touristy and not overcrowded! In fact, less than 1 hour from Amsterdam are a number of local gems that you rarely hear about. So keep what I’m about to tell you a secret…
UTRECHT – Just a 25 minute train ride from Amsterdam, this gem of a city is similar to Amsterdam with its large network of canals, however is untainted by over-tourism and remains quintessentially Dutch. Utrecht is where locals live and work, and go about their daily lives. It embodies the European cafe culture and one of the cutest and best cafes I found was Hop & Stork. They are a great chocolatier and patisserie in the heart of Utrecht and their hot chocolate is simply amazing. They have great shopping along the canals here as well, and are one of the only cities to have wharfs along the canals, where you can dine outside and enjoy a drink in the evenings right on the water. This is extremely popular with locals in the summer months, and I highly recommend you join in the fun. The locals here are warm and welcoming, and this city was voted one of the Happiest Places in the World by BBC Travel a few years ago. Even if you only do a day trip, its definitely worth a visit!
DELFT – A popular spot for river cruisers, and less than an hour from Amsterdam, this quaint town is known for its Royal Delft, Delft Blue pottery and earthenware. It is also home of the famous painter, Johanees Vermeer who famously painted the Girl with the Pearl Earring. There are many quaint little shops highlighting these things and it is tempting to pick up some Royal Delft on the way out.
An important historical site is the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). This is the burial place of William of Orange, and the royals from the House of Orange-Naussau have been buried here ever since. The interior of the church is lovely, and you are able to walk up the tower for a lovey view of Delft.
Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention the cheese shops! There is a particularly great one there, called Henri Willig. It is a huge shop with many products on display where you can sample a large variety of cheese, crackers and stroop waffles. The staff are great, and it is truly an experience. They feature Gouda, which comes in a variety of interesting flavours such as red pesto, pumpkin, lavender, herb and garlic, smoked, truffle, cumin, honey thyme...amongst others. This is a gem not to be missed!
Also, amazing brunch/lunch spot! You absolutely have to go to Kek. Fresh smoothies, home-made baked goods, inventive meals….this place is an experience all on its own! Portions are large though….so you might want to share!
ROTTERDAM – This city is unlike most European cities. It was entirely levelled during the bombings in World War II and has had to rebuild itself from the ground up. It is very modern. High rises, new bridges, great infrastructure system, it looks like it could easily be any city in North America. But its not. It is essentially Dutch. Efficient, understated, friendly, it is one of those cities that you bond with instantly. The few historical buildings that survived the bombs have been immaculately maintained. Rotterdam feels trendy and geared towards locals. As a mainly work-focused city, there are less historical elements to visit, however there are still some really cool things to see here:
Cube Houses – These are just as the name suggests – houses in the shape of cubes on top of pillars. They form a very interesting pattern and rate amongst some of the most unique architecture I have ever seen. Luckily there is a museum you can visit that is actually inside of one, so you can take a look around and see what it might be like to live there. Not sure if living there would be for me, but the residents who do live there love it, and these rarely come up for sale.
Market Hall – The size of a football field, this large permanent Market is a great place to find a variety of good and crafty shops for your browsing delight. On Tuesdays, there is also another local farmer’s market in the mornings, outside of the main market, so be sure to stop by and see what the locals are offering.
The Hot Tug – Looking for a completely out of the box and interesting experience? Then you should try the Hot Tug! This is a small floating boat which actually converts to a hot tub! Filled with water and a wood burning stove to keep the water warm, float down Rotterdam’s canals in style while keeping warm! Pricing includes up to 3 bottles of alcohol and the tug can fit up to 8 people. However, you could keep it more romantic and just have 2. At any rate, this is an experience you will never forget!
Witte de Withstraat in the Cool District – Yes, there is actually a district in Rotterdam called the “Cool District”. It contains the city’s best variety of pubs, cocktail bars and nightclubs. And it honestly is cool to visit! Its very trendy and great to grab a bite here before heading for some drinks. My personal favourite was this really trendy cocktail bar called Spikizi (sounds like Speakeasy when said aloud). Great room and fun Dutch board games, if you can figure out how to play them!
SCHIEDAM – This is a suburb of Rotterdam and about 15 minutes outside of the Rotterdam centre. This area is quaint, has beautiful small canals, and is home to the world’s largest Windmills. These windmills were used to make the spirit, Jenever, which is basically the Dutch version of Gin. They still produce Jenever today, and you can visit the Jenever Museum for a tasting. I had never ever heard of this spirit before being in this area, and I highly recommend you give it a try.
The Netherlands is a country with friendly people, where English is prevalent, cheese is abundant and there is beauty around every corner. Its storybook feel makes it seem magical, and there is a lot to discover. As a Travel Advisor, I can recommend the best things to do and places to stay, so Contact Me today to start planning!
