Sights in The Netherlands
-
A
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is one of Amsterdam’s must-sees. Opened in 1973 to house the collection of Vincent’s younger brother Theo, it consists of about 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Vincent and his friends and contemporaries, such as Gauguin, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec and Bernard. Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 and had a short but astonishingly productive life. Through his paintings, the museum chronicles his journey from Holland, where his work was dark and sombre, to Paris, where, under the influence of the impressionists, he discovered vivid colour. From there he moved to Arles, where he was incredibly productive, often completing a canvas every day. Astoundingly Van…
reviewed
-
B
Anne Frank Huis
The Anne Frank Huis is the Western Canal Belt’s ubersight, drawing almost a million visitors annually. With its reconstruction of Anne’s melancholy bedroom and her actual diary – sitting alone in its glass case, filled with sunnily optimistic writing tempered by quiet despair – it’s a powerful experience. The focus of the museum is the achterhuis (rear house), also known as the secret annexe, a dark and airless space where the Franks and others observed complete silence during the daytimes, outgrew their clothes, pasted photos of Hollywood stars on the walls and read Dickens, before being mysteriously betrayed and sent to their deaths. The house stays open later…
reviewed
-
C
House of Bols
The House of Bols is a jenever (Dutch gin) museum run by the Bols distillery. The hour-long, self-guided tour includes a confusing sniff test, a company history and a cocktail made by one of the bartenders who train at the academy upstairs. You must be aged 18 or over to visit.
reviewed
-
D
Vondelpark
As vital to Amsterdam as Rembrandt, canals and coffeeshops, on a sunny day there’s no place better than the Vondelpark. As people from all walks of life descend on this sprawling equivalent to New York’s Central Park, a party atmosphere ensues. Some kick back by reading a book, others hook up with friends to share a spliff or cradle a beer at one of the cafes, while others trade songs on beat-up guitars. The Vondelpark offers an abundance of ponds, lawns, gardens and winding footpaths that encourage visitors to get out and explore. For bicycle rentals, the outlet of MacBike at Weteringschans is relatively close to the park’s main entrance.
reviewed
-
E
Begijnhof
This enclosed former convent dates from the early 14th century. It’s a surreal oasis of peace, with tiny houses and postage-stamp gardens around a well-kept courtyard. The Beguines were a Catholic order of unmarried or widowed women who cared for the elderly and lived a religious life without taking monastic vows. The last true Beguines died in the 1970s. Contained within the hof (courtyard) is the charming Begijnhof Kapel, a ‘clandestine’ chapel where the Beguines were forced to worship after their Gothic church was taken away by the Calvinists. Go through the dogleg entrance to find marble columns, wooden pews, paintings and stained-glass windows commemorating the…
reviewed
-
F
Waag
The very grand, multiturreted Waag (Weigh House) dates from 1488, when it was part of the city’s fortifications. It looked more like a castle in those days, fronted by a moatlike canal and built into the old city walls. From the 17th century onwards it was the main weigh house. The surgeons guild, which occupied the upper floor, commissioned Rembrandt’s famous The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp (displayed in the Mauritshuis museum in Den Haag). The masons’ guild was based in the tower facing the Zeedijk; note the superfine brickwork. Public executions took place at the Waag, but more recently it served as a fire station and a vault for the city’s archives. A bar-restaurant…
reviewed
-
G
Heineken Experience
The district’s other draw is the Heineken Experience. On the site of the company’s old brewery, the newly renovated attraction let’s you take a self-guided tour that’s tantamount to brew-worship. Learn the history of the Heineken family, watch Heinie commercials from around the world, visit the horse stables and make your own music video. In the Experience’s crowning glory – a multimedia exhibit where you actually ‘become’ a beer – you’ll get shaken up, sprayed with water and subjected to heat. Afterward you get to down a couple of cold ones (though we should point out the suds are dismissed as ‘old man’s beer’ by many locals, while being sold at a premium abroad).…
reviewed
-
H
Museumplein
Museumplein was laid out to host the World Exhibition in 1883, but gained its lasting title only when the Rijksmuseum was opened two years later. One of many facelifts raised a triangle of turf at the southern end, dubbed the ‘ass’s ear’ for its shape; it’s now a popular spot for sun worshippers. There’s a large supermarket, Albert Heijn, concealed below. For as long as anyone can remember, the square has been used for concerts, special events and political demonstrations. At other times it’s a relaxing place to hang out, play hacky-sack, skateboard (ramp provided), toss a frisbee or enjoy a picnic. In winter the long concrete pond is transformed into a festive skating…
reviewed
-
I
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
This is a delight for kids, who will be filled with wonderment when they realise there is absolutely no difference between the wax David Beckham and the real thing. The place is kind of a bellwether of who’s hot in Holland, be it Tiësto (a DJ), Ali B (a rapper) or Princess Maxima. And you can decide for yourself whether Prince Willem-Alexander looks fit to rule or not. Buying tickets online will save you a few euros and get you into the fast-track queue.
reviewed
-
J
Stedelijk Museum
Built in 1895 to a neo-Renaissance design by AM Weissman, the Stedelijk Museum is the permanent home of the National Museum of Modern Art. The modern classics here are among the world’s most admired, amassed with great skill by postwar curator Willem Sandberg. The permanent collection includes all the blue chips of 19th- and 20th-century painting – Monet, Picasso and Chagall among them – as well as sculptures by Rodin, abstracts by Mondrian and Kandinsky, and much, much more.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Artis
The oldest zoo on the European continent, Artis has an alphabet soup of wildlife: alligators, birds, chimps and so on up to zebras. The layout is full of delightful ponds, statues, and leafy, winding pathways. Themed habitats such as African savannah and tropical rainforest are pretty convincing. For many, the aquarium complex is the highlight, featuring coral reefs, shark tanks and an Amsterdam canal displayed from a fish’s point of view. There’s also a planetarium and a kids’ petting zoo.
reviewed
-
L
Amsterdams Historisch Museum
The fascinating Amsterdams Historisch Museum resides in the former civic orphanage (which was here till 1960). Begin with the large-screen TV showing an aerial view of Amsterdam’s evolution, from tiny settlement on the Amstel to canal-crossed metropolis. Exhibits include religious objects, porcelains, a detailed history of Dutch trading, bicycle use, WWII, gay rights, civic projects and the city’s drug policies.
reviewed
-
M
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
Sponsored by a bulb-growing company, this small, rather clinical exhibit traces the prince of petals from its beginnings in Turkey. Displays cover Tulipmania, bulbs as food in the war years, and present-day scientific methods of growing and harvesting. A highlight is the tulip paintings by 17th-century painter Judith Leijster, a student of Frans Hals. The gift shop is one-stop shopping for all your tulip souvenirs.
reviewed
-
Scheveningen
The long beach at Scheveningen, pronounced – if possible – as s’CHay-fuh-ninger, attracts nine million visitors per year. It’s horribly developed: architects who lost hospital commissions have designed all manner of modern nightmares overlooking the strand. It’s tacky, but you might just find pleasure in the carnival atmosphere.
reviewed
-
N
Nieuwe Kerk
The 14th-century Nieuwe Kerk houses the crypt of the Dutch royal family and the mausoleum of Willem the Silent. There are exhibitions about the House of Orange and the church.
reviewed
-
O
Binnenhof
Adjoining the Mauritshuis, the Binnenhof is surrounded by parliamentary buildings that have long been at the heart of Dutch politics, though parliament now meets in a modern building on the south side.
The central courtyard looks sterile now but was once used for executions. A highlight of the complex is the 13th-century Ridderzaal (Knights' Hall). The Gothic dining hall has been carefully restored.
The North Wing is still home to the Upper Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, in 17th-century splendour. The Lower Chamber used to meet in the ballroom, in the 19th-century wing. It all looks a bit twee and you can see why the politicians were anxious to decamp to the sleek new…
reviewed
-
P
Museum het Rembrandthuis
You almost expect to find the master himself at the Museum het Rembrandthuis, where Rembrandt van Rijn ran the Netherlands’ largest painting studio, only to lose the lot when profligacy set in, enemies swooped and bankruptcy came a-knocking. The museum has almost every etching he made (around 250) and holds etching demonstrations several times daily. Expect to see between 20 and 100 etchings on display, depending on the exhibit. There’s also a mind-boggling collection of Rembrandt’s possessions: seashells, weaponry, Roman busts and military helmets. Ask for the free audio guide at the entrance. You can buy advance tickets online, though it’s not as vital here as at some…
reviewed
-
Q
Huis Marseille
This well-curated photography museum stages large-scale, temporary exhibitions, drawing from its own collection as well as hosting travelling shows. Themes might include portraiture, nature or regional photography, spread out over several floors and a ‘summer house’ behind the main house. Huis Marseille also has a noteworthy building. The name refers to its original owner, a French merchant in 1665, and the original structure has remained largely intact. It retains some antique touches such as the 18th-century fountain in the library, and a painting of Apollo, Minerva and the muses in the garden room.
reviewed
-
R
Schreierstoren
This prominent brick tower dating from around 1480 – the oldest of its kind still standing – was once part of the city’s defences. Its name comes from an old Dutch word for ‘sharp’, for this sharp corner jutted out into the IJ. Tourist literature prefers to call it the ‘wailing tower’ (from schreien, to weep or wail) and claims that sailors’ wives stood here and cried their lungs out when ships set off for distant lands. There’s a fake plaque dedicated to the women inside, in the attractive cafe. Outside a plaque commemorates Henry Hudson’s sailing from here to the New World.
reviewed
-
S
Hortus Botanicus
Established in 1638, the Hortus Botanicus became a repository for tropical seeds and plants brought by Dutch ships from the East and West Indies. From here, coffee, pineapple, cinnamon and palm-oil plants were distributed throughout the world. The 4000-plus species are kept in wonderful structures, including the colonial-era seed house and a three-climate glasshouse. The 300-year-old cycad is possibly the world’s oldest potted plant. The butterfly house is a hit with kids and stoned adults. Guided tours (additional €1) are held at 2pm Sunday year-round.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Hermitage Amsterdam
It has fast become one of the city’s most popular attractions since its 2009 opening. The long-standing ties of Russia and Holland – remember Czar Peter the Great learned shipbuilding here in 1697 – led to this local branch of St Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum. Prestigious exhibits, such as treasures from the Russian palace or masterworks by Matisse and Picasso, change about twice per year, and they’re as well-curated as you’d expect. Come before 11am daily or on Wednesday after 5pm (the museum’s late night) to avoid the lengthiest queues.
reviewed
-
U
Koninklijk Paleis
The Koninklijk Paleis is the official residence of Queen Beatrix, although she actually lives in Den Haag. Built as a grand city hall in 1665, the building later became the palace of Napoleon’s brother, Louis. In a classic slip-up in the new lingo, French-born Louis told his subjects here that he was the ‘rabbit (konijn) of Holland’, whereas he meant ‘king’ (konink). Napoleon dismissed him two years later. The opulent, chandelier- and mural-filled interior sparkles after a major renovation completed in 2009.
reviewed
-
V
Museum Amstelkring
The Museum Amstelkring hides a secret church. Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Dear Lord in the Attic), as it’s known, was a Catholic chapel set up c 1578 after the Calvinists seized power and outlawed other religions. Inside you’ll find the city’s richest collection of Catholic art, a labyrinth of tiled staircases, cubbyhole quarters and the unexpectedly grand worship room itself. The museum is being renovated through to 2011, but remains open to visitors.
reviewed
-
W
Nieuwe Kerk
The Nieuwe Kerk, is a historical stage for Dutch coronations. The 15th-century, late-Gothic basilica is only ‘new’ in relation to the Oude Kerk. A few monumental items dominate the otherwise spartan interior – a magnificent carved oak chancel, a bronze choir screen, a massive organ and enormous stained-glass windows. The building is now used for exhibitions and organ concerts. Opening times and admission fees can vary, depending on what’s going on.
reviewed
-
X
Domkerk
Finished in the 14th century, the cathedral and its tower (Domtoren) are the most striking medieval landmarks in a city that once had 40 cathedrals. In 1674 the North Sea winds reached hurricane force and blew down the cathedral's nave, leaving the tower and transept behind. There is a row of paving stones that mark the extents of the nave - across this extent is the Domkerk, the surviving chancel of the cathedral, with a few tombs within.
reviewed