Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
Though I have been in Netherlands for quite sometime now,I've just gone around like a typical tourist.Its both a pity and a shame for me but most of it was lack of good company and to a lessser extent to the kinda money I make here,though the latter is somekind of excuse to hide the former.But as i said,I've been around quite  a  many places and have seen almost everything I learnt that was to be seen and I've enjoyed everyday of my outings.The Best thing about Netherlands is its small size,so you can travel from the North to the South in some 4 hours and still have enough energy for a return trip,coz the climate is very fine(unless ofcourse by now you are fed up of the incessant rains which some people brand as dull weather) when the sun's out.The best time to be here is April-July.And I bet you shall have the time of your life.I give here a map of this magnificient country and then start talking about the attractions who ought not to be missed.I shall write it as an essay coz I want you to read it all.

As you see Belgium and Germany  are showing themselves off coz they are close neighbors to this cute small country.Just the way we have a quad of our Metros back in India, Delhi- Bombay- Madras-Calcutta,we have a quad of Amsterdam-Utrecht-Hague-Rotterdam here in Netherlands.Its another case that Indian cities are much bigger and wilder than here.

To start your journey here would be to go to Keukenhof-World famous Tulip Gardens.Ask potential visitors to Holland what they most want to see,and many will respond with a single word: tulips.Keukenhof, a 80-acrepark that once served as the kitchen garden for a royal estate, has been delighting springtime visitors since 1949, when Holland's bulb growers decided that they needed display fields where they could show off the true beauty of their flowers to maximum advantage. It proved to be a good idea. That first season, a quarter of a million visitors came, and by 1994 the number of annual visitors had grown to 900,000 (two-thirds of them from outside Holland). It's impossible not to be delighted by this breathtaking rainbow display of six million tulips, narcissus, hyacinths, and other flowering bulbs. Tulips (almost 1,000 varieties) comprise one-half of the total plantings, ranging from pale white to the almost black "Queen ofNight," and including the lily-leaf tulip, with its pointed leaves and special ringed-leaf and double-edged varieties.
A historic windmill and chiming carillon add to the typically Dutch appeal,and there is a children's play area as well. If you are taking public transport,then you can travel by train,take a Rail-Idee,a special train card to visit Keukenhof,which includes your trainfare to Leiden(see towards the west coast,just above Hague),the nearest station,and the special buses to Keukenhof.Frankly,its quite festive in spring time and you'd simply remember it for your lifetime.So you already have a trip to the most exotic though not esoteric gardens of the world and come back saying "I'm impressed" ;-)

Your next stop should be Amsterdam,though many people don't really like it coz of its notoriety in better-not-mentioned subjects,I'm quite sure that its the most liveliest city in Netherlands,so ought to be there more than once.An aerial view of Amsterdam canals is one of the most soothing cites you'd always remember(if you are spending that much money),but its better to take a canal tour which goes through the so-many-how-many canals in Netherlands.
The beautiful canal houses,Damrak, and this city of Museums has so much to offer that you should miss everybit of it when you are away.For people with interest in literature,they have a great opportunity of going to Anne-Frank's house,for animal lovers,Amsterdam's Artis(Zoo) is a cute li'l  place. Rijksmuseum,Madam Tussad et al are just tits-bits of the many attractions this city invites you with open hands.Amsterdam CS is reachable from every nook and corner of the country by train.

We come later to Rotterdam,the largest port in the world.And when I say Largest,I mean it.My whole life,I haven't seen such big liners like the ones I saw in Rotterdam.Once you are there you outta take a Spido tour(a liner company),go atop the Euromast(the highest point in Netherlands),go and play at Laser-Zone.
Ofcourse marines could go to Marines museum,or just walk through modern Weena with huge glass buildings.Being a big city,you just have to ask how to get there and you 'll have an answer.

Off to Hague then,which houses a very cute miniature park,called Madurodam,and if you are clever,you should start here,coz here is where they have miniaturised models(By Gosh,they look real in photographs) of almost all attractions in Netherlands.
So you get to see everything at the same time.They have a great beach in Scheveningen and you can also see the Sea-Life center at the beach,it would be a day of fun if you have sun ;-).Easily approachable,there is a Rail-Idee for this destination to save some money for you.In any case you need to buy Strippen-Kaarts and keep them handy,which can be bought at all train-stations and can be used in Trams,Buses,Metros,and within zone trains.The latter is a bit complex,so if you are there for onloy a short time,better take train tickets to travel in train.

Utrecht is the last in the quad,and what I have seen of it are some good Indian restaurants ;-) and Dom Tower.When I went there first,I was anticipating something like our Qutab Minar in Delhi.Without comparison,they are both remarkable,though its a pity ,Qutab Minar is no more open to public,after a disastrous tragedy.There is a guided tour to the top of the tower and you have the chance of actually ringing bells which can resound your ears.

From atop the Tower,you can take great snaps and if you are not far-sighted like me,can even see Amsterdam canals from there.And if you take a scope,you can have a gala time.Reaching there shouldn't be a problem at all,and the biggest thing and the most important is that Dutch are very fluent in Engish though they take it as a foreign language in school,gave me complex quite a few times.

From the big cities,we move to attractions now;-)

Efteling is 'the' Amusement Park of the Dutch and its quite a place to be,From the Python Roller Coster to the dream Arabic Palace,one day is not too much to make it through the entire place.In my opinion ,the best time to start for there is whenever you wake up ;-).De Efteling is sensational, romantic and exciting.The nearest station is 's-Hertogenbosch,and its almost impossible for the Dutch themselves to pronounce it,so lovingly they call it Den Bosch.There would be train connections avaliable from across the country and a Rail-Idee is available.

Zaanse Schans  is an open-air museum offers a fascinating glimpse of life in a traditional Dutch village.
There are windmills, wooden houses, old-fashioned shops and warehouses, all decorated in the customary green color with orange roofs.Don't miss the special shows on shoe and cheese making for these are so typically Dutch.Wear orange when you go there and you shall have a special treatment;-)The nearest station is Koog-Zaandijk (near Zaanstad as you see it on the map)and there are train connections from everywhere,its only 15 minutes or even less from Amsterdam,and then a 10 minutes walk which would be easy if you follow the well-highlited signs.

And if you are more interested in Cheese (say Kaas in Dutch),you can visit the Cheese Museum in Alkmaar ,in summers ,rather spring,they have a big market in the City Square which is worth a visit.Nearest Station is Alkmaar,and you should go and take a walk in the lively City Center.

Burger's Zoo (Burger stands for Citizens in English,doesn't actually mean that Dutch citizens are burgers ;-)) at Arnhem is the largest zoo in Netherlands.Its a fantastic outing place if you are inclined towards nature flora and fauna.Its a very quiet place close to Germany and even has a pair of Indian Elephants ;-).Nearest  station is ....,you got it right Arnhem itself and a Rail-Idee is available,so you have a good deal.You should plan to spend an entire day over here and then dream about Pink Flamingos in the night ;-)

Europe's largest marine animal park 'Dol'f'inarium' at Harderwijk is much more than just a dolphinarium.Apart from the enchanting and spell-bounding Dolphin show there is a 3-D film show,a simulator to take you through an underwater experience and a lot more for the entire family.And don't miss the Walruses show too.This sure would be a great experience for all marine-life enthusiasts.Nearest station is Harderwijk and from there you can take the special Boulevard Express, Mini-Bus right away to the Dolfinarium which stands majestically next to the harbour.Harderwijk is on the railway track between Amersfoort and Zwolle as on the map and is easily approachable from all places in Netherlands.

And as I said,its a pity that I haven't seen most of Netherlands,I hope I shall have some friends visiting me for longer durations and we could see more.To leave you with a panacea at last ,this

is the symol for VVV(pronounce Fee-Fee-Fee),the Dutch Tourist Board and you can never miss it with their road-signs just about everywhere.Just barge in and these friendly people would have much more to tell you.Happy vacationing,and hope you come back,to this page and also to Netherlands.
Tot Ziens!!