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The Netherlands definitely impressed me in more ways than I can probably list during my ten day visit earlier this year. This tiny Western European country is steeped in history, beauty and will ignite your wanderlust as soon as you step out of Amsterdam’s massive Centraal Train Station. The way they pride themselves on being environmentally friendly is admirable. The train systems are probably some of the best I’ve ever used. The people are friendly and the bitterballen are to die for! The Netherlands, meaning “lower countries”, only has about about 50% of its land exceeding one metre above sea level, so its flat geography and rich soils make for some of the world’s best places to grow flowers, vegetables and other produce. Apart from being one of the world’s leading vegetable and flower exporters, The Netherlands is also a country rich in history, the fine arts, quirky architecture, tons of ballsy bicyclists and yes, Amsterdam’s unshakable reputation as a party destination for the masses.
Read more: 10 Amazing Days Exploring The Netherlands
Read more: A Complete City Guide to Amsterdam, Netherlands
During my ten days of travel, I made it my mission to see as much of the country as I possibly could and explore smaller towns during day trips to get a feel of the true Dutch life outside of the touristy hub of Amsterdam. I did spend a total of three days wandering around the capital though and I mean, how could I not? It is one of the most historic and famous cities to visit within Europe. I then made my way to Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, Utrecht, Gouda and Maastricht. Of course, I would’ve loved to experience more of the countryside, but there is only so much you can see in ten days.
Read more: A Day Trip to Haarlem, Netherlands – A Quick City Guide
Read more: How to Spend 24 Hours in Leiden, Netherlands
Read more: 24 Hours in Delft, Netherlands
Visiting The Netherlands in March was both a good and bad choice. The good side was the there were an exceptionally less amount of tourists around, flights were cheap and I got to experience the cities quietly and at my own leisure. The bad side was definitely the weather. There was an abnormal cold snap during my travels, which made the wind pick up speeds and a chill factor I didn’t even know could feel in that country. Despite the weather, I had an amazing time enjoying the scenic streets, the kooky architecture and the cozy restaurants and bakeries, of course.
Read more: 48 Hours in Utrecht, Netherlands
Read more: A City Guide to Maastricht, Netherlands
The Netherlands is a place where time stands still while you stroll along the small quaint streets. People are on their bikes, whizzing by without a care in the world and there’s always the slight scent of weed and stroopwafels wafting through the air.
Here are 25 photos to inspire you to visit The Netherlands.
