What’s on in the Netherlands
Rotterdam
The Hague
Before we start, a minor caveat. We’re a worldly bunch here at Eurostar, so we’re aware that some people may visit Amsterdam seeking little more than smoke-filled cafés and insalubrious establishments that advertise their wares with red lights and beckoning fingers. We shan’t be going into such things here though.
If, on the other hand, you fancy something a little more wholesome and, dare we say it, a little less clichéd, read on.
For a start Amsterdam’s got plenty of cultural delights to recommend it, not least in terms of its museums. Indeed, Amsterdam is home to more museums per km2 than any other city in Europe, so it’s likely you’ll stumble across some fascinating collection of curiosities almost every time you step outside.
Just a few to look out for are the Van Gogh museum, which boasts some of the artist’s and his contemporaries’ greatest works; the hands-on NEMO science centre, an educational attraction that’s ideal for exciting the molecules of any kid; Anne Frank House, former home of the famed diarist, where she documented her experiences over more than two years during the Second World War; and the Stedelijk Museum, one of Europe’s foremost museums for modern and contemporary art.
As for culinary delights to compliment all that culture, the Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen offers a taste of Dutch nouvelle cuisine across nine different intimate rooms, while at Restaurant De Kas you can indulge in a little green gastronomy. Its small but perfectly formed menu offers a taste of the day’s pickings fresh from the kitchen’s greenhouses and nearby farmland, so it’s all about local, seasonal fare. Don’t expect asparagus in winter or pears in May.
Then once you’ve had your fill, it’s time for a leisurely trip along an Amsterdam canal. With the Sloepdelen electric boat hire scheme you can pick up a sturdy sloop and relax along the winding waterways. Alternatively, if it’s a little wild nightlife you’re after, the Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein are the places to go, both offering a variety of cafés, bars, pubs and clubs, each with its own unique atmosphere.
The largest port in Europe, the second busiest port in the World, and home to the headquarters of various multinational companies, Rotterdam possesses a bustling, industrial feel which is somewhat at odds with the laid back air of the country’s capital. Indeed, there is something of a rivalry between the two cities, reflected in the phrase, “Amsterdam has it, Rotterdam doesn’t need it”.
Don’t let that put you off though. Whatever “it” may be, Rotterdam seems to be doing fine without, as you’ll quickly be able to tell from its abundance of museums, restaurants and innovative architecture.
Starting with some slightly out-there architecture, Rotterdam is home to the famous Cube Houses, or Kijk-Kubus. These unusual abodes were designed by Piet Blom, who tilted the cube of a conventional house by 45 degrees and rested it on a hexagon shaped pylon, creating a truly mind bending sight that rather puts one in mind of living inside one of Escher’s optical illusion paintings. Not necessarily to everyone’s tastes of course, but certainly worth a look.
The Netherlands Architecture Institute meanwhile is home to one of the world’s largest architectural collections. Across five rooms you can see up to fifteen exhibitions demonstrating a variety of historical and contemporary styles, before retiring to the cosy museum café to compare columns and cantilevers.
For a more varied exhibition experience, the Kunsthal Rotterdam plays host to around 25 different expositions every year, ranging from traditional art to modern design and photography. Railz Miniworld on the other hand is somewhat more niche, boasting the World’s largest indoor model railroad layout of Holland. It’s certainly worth a visit, and we’re not just saying that because we’re a bunch of train loving geeks. Honest.
Then after all that cultural sustenance you’re bound to be hungry for a bite to eat. For a cool modern dining experience head to Stroom, housed in a former power station in the beating heart of the city’s audiovisual and film industry. Or for a more relaxed dining experience, perhaps with a loved one, you can’t go wrong with Restaurant 70, which offers stylish, contemporary French/Mediterranean dishes at reasonable prices.
If Amsterdam is the face of the Netherlands, presenting a relaxed, friendly visage to the world, and Rotterdam is its heart, beating a steady, industrious rhythm to keep the country ticking, then surely The Hague is the brain.
While Amsterdam is the country’s capital, as laid out in the constitution, the Netherlands’ third largest city acts as the seat of government. It’s home to the Staten Generaal (Dutch Parliament), all foreign embassies and government ministries, the Raad der Nederlanden (Supreme Court), the Raad van State (Council of State), various international legal organisations too numerous to list here, as well as the country’s monarch, Queen Beatrix.
As you can imagine this means it’s not short of the odd impressive edifice here and there. The Binnenhof for one is the “inner court”, a complex of buildings where the daily business of government actually takes place. This imposing collection of structures dates back to the 13th century and sits on the banks of the Hofvijer, an artificial lake dug around 1350. At night the Binnenhof is beautifully lit up, and casts an enchanting reflection in the surface of the water.
However, before you go off regarding The Hague as little more than a political hotbed, do think again. Of course politicians, civil servants and diplomats can sometimes seem rather stuffy and studious, but it’s always the quiet ones you have to watch. And in this instance the many foreign residents working in the aforementioned foreign embassies lend The Hague a positively cosmopolitan air, with a variety of exotic bars, restaurants, shops and events dotted throughout the city.
What’s more The Hague is also home to two beach resorts. Scheveningen towards the north-western part of The Hague attracts tourists and many of the city’s young people, while Kijkduin in the south-west is significantly smaller and is more popular with locals.
On the other hand, if you’re heading to The Hague during the colder months, or you simply aren’t much of a beach bum, you might prefer to sample some of the city’s numerous museums. There are over 30 throughout the city, from the Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery and its collection of 17th century Dutch masterpieces, to the Madurodam miniature city, where the Netherlands’ most famous landmarks are replicated on a scale of 1:25.
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