Active in the Netherlands

Amsterdam
Rotterdam
Utrecht
The Hague
Groningen
Eindhoven
Arnhem
Maastricht

Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the coolest cities in Europe. Beautiful, hip, and laid back, with lots to do, lots to see, many pubs, food from all over the world and friendly people. A visit to this very beautiful city is sometimes like taking a walk in the 17th century, as the center of Amsterdam has a lot of charming architecture dating from this period. It’s an excellent city to tour on foot or bicycle. However, while Amsterdam may boast a lot of 17th century architecture, that's about all that's old fashioned about the place.

In summer one of the best places to go for a relaxing afternoon is the Vondelpark. It is a great park, right in the center of things and very lively. With a bit of luck you can catch a (free) outdoor concert. There are also a few trendy places in the park where you can sit and have a beer, such as the Blauwe Theehuis.

If you like to watch people strolling by, a perfect place is the Leidseplein (you can get to most places with the Tram - the Circle Line gets you to the most busy place and is handy to get on and off as the mood takes you). The Leidseplein(=square) is bustling with activity and terraces in summertime. Another nice square is the Rembrandtplein - nice cafe's and again terraces.

Amsterdam was originally built on the shores of the saltwater Zuiderzee, but as a result of centuries of land-reclamation projects the city now borders the freshwater of IJsselmeer.

The center of Amsterdam is shaped like a horseshoe, surrounded by four famous canals called the Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. These are best to walk along if you want to see the city’s beautiful gabled houses.

There are lots of interesting small shops for browsing and bigger shopping centers. Clusters of shops can be found in the pedestrianised passages and even in the old post office, which is right behind the central Dam Square (on which you can find the Dam Palace).

And then, of course, there is the world famous (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) Red Light District, which consists of several canals and the side streets between them, south of Central Station and east of Damrak. They are known as 'De Wallen' (the walls) in Dutch, because the canals were once part of the city defenses (walls and moats). Despite the area's reputation, prostitution itself is limited to certain streets, mainly side streets and alleys, and while there are many adult shops and peep show bars, the whole area has a heavy police presence, and many security cameras.

In addition, it is still a residential district, with many bars and restaurants as well as historic buildings and museums; this is, after all the oldest part of the city. An example of the old blending in with the new is the gothic Oude Kerk churchon the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, the oldest in Amsterdam, which is now surrounded by window prostitution. The Red Light District is certainly worth a visit for the brave and adventurous.

Amsterdam has several excellent museums and two of the best are next to each other. The Van Gogh Museum is a must for anyone interested in the artist’s work. It house’s some of his most famous masterpieces beginning with his time in Holland to the period of his death in France. On the same square is the 250-room Rijksmuseum, which contains among its treasures a handful of exquisite Vermeers and one of the best Rembrandt collections in the world. "The Night Watch" is exhibited in the Hall of Honor and is most definitely a "work of art". Astonishing is only a portion of the original painting which had to be cut down to fit its intended spot in the city’s old town hall. There is a copy of an uncut version of the painting hanging in the room just before the Hall of Honor.

The excellent Stedelijk Museum displays contemporary art including traveling exhibits from other countries. Museum Amstelkring also known as "Our Lord in the Attic" is set in a 17th-century merchant house. It contains a secret Catholic church on the top floor. The house has its original furnishings giving a good idea of what life at that time was like. [Note: the Stedelijk is currently closed for renovations - February 2004]

If time permits take a look a Rembrandt’s house near the Waterlooplein (the artist lived there 1639-1657). And the church where he is buried at the Westerkerk, (you’ll walk passed it on the way to The Anne Frank House). Have a look for the crown on top of the church given to Amsterdam by Maximilian I in 1489 and you can also climb the spire for a great view of the city. There are also a number of other Rembrandt-related sites: the 13th-century Oudekerk (Amsterdam’s oldest church), where Rembrandt’s wife Saskia is buried. The 15th-century Waag (weigh station) where Rembrandt painted "The Anatomy Lesson" (it now houses the Jewish Historical Museum) and the Zuiderkerk (South Church) where he painted "The Night Watch".
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Rotterdam
This large and modern port city has risen phoenixlike from the ashes of World War II. In 1940 the Germans bombed the city to force a fast surrender of the Netherlands. Most demolition was actually done in the process of rebuilding the city to modern standards. Only three large buildings in the center have survived miraculously: the city hall, the St. Laurence church and the White House.
Today Rotterdam is the most modern city in The Netherlands, with the high rising towers of company buildings in the center. Some people think it became a playground for architects trying their theories and thus making Rotterdam one giant wind tunnel, but you can really feel things are happening here if you are interested in architecture. For quite some time it is the place to be for a perfect night out. Though Rotown has decent, though small acts and is well-known internationally, The Thalialounge is the place to see and be seen in a groovy club atmosphere, and De Doelen is a wonderful venue for classical music. Clubs like Now&Wow, Off Corso and Baja Beach Club are very popular in The Netherlands. Rotterdam has become nightlife city number one, taking over this position from Amsterdam.

Symbol of Rotterdam is the Euromast Space Tower, 605ft/184m tall that had to be extended several times to keep its leading position as highest building of the Meuse city. From this tower with its revolving sit-down elevator you have an excellent view over the city and the surrounding industrial harbour landscape. The harbour, one of the busiest in the world, is a draw in itself and still the largest one if you count by pure volume.

A city like this can’t do without Museums. A collection of painting, sculpture and design worth seeing is displayed at the Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum. A day in Rotterdam is sufficient for most, but you can also spend several days if you want to see it all. The Dutch institutes of photography and of architecture are located right near the center, and there are lots of galleries. In February there is always the International Film Festival and every other year there is a photo biennale. The Kunsthal, designed by the famous architect Rem Koolhaas, has changing exhibitions on all sorts of expressions of art and culture.

The people, though claiming to be one of the friendliest of Holland, tend to somewhat distrust foreigners. In 2004 the city laws to forbid people from poorer families to settle in the city came to be, when all other recources were depleted to stop poverty from becoming ever more popular. It is therefore no surprise Rotterdam was also the home of the right wing politician Pim Fortuyn, who became the first victim ever of political assassination in The Netherlands when he was killed on May 6th, 2002. There is a statue you can visit, which still regularly has flowers put underneath it.

Because Rotterdam is very near Brussels and The Hague and because it is a huge port, it has a huge expat community which has settled in this only Dutch metropole. Actually, near to 60% of the population is either non-Dutch or Dutch born abroad (allochtonen, in Dutch). The problem most of the expat community encounters is the bureaucratic way the municipality and government handles licenses, legal documentation etc. If you want to live in Rotterdam or The Netherlands be sure to learn the language as fast as you can, because there is a tendency of being less tolerant in The Netherlands. The Dutch can get very annoyed if you have lived there for a few years and still don't talk Dutch. For the expat community in Rotterdam there is website with all kinds of tips & tricks to get used to the Rotterdam way of life www.yourrotterdam.com. Furthermore you can always contact the municipality for information about living in Rotterdam. Most of the hassle above can be ignored by European Union citizens though, as they are exempt of most of the paperwork asked from other foreigners.

Come to Rotterdam for the architecture, the museums, the nightlife, a refreshing boattrip on the Meuse or just some shopping.
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Utrecht
At first sight, you may not see the charm of Utrecht. Arriving by train or car, you'll probably think that it is just one of those cities taken over by big companies. Can you be more wrong? Utrecht, Netherlands' most centrally located city, has so many faces that it will leave you flabbergasted. The city canals cleave the centre and contribute to the specific character of the inner town. Along the canals, you'll find packed terraces in the summertime (or brown cafes filled with people grown numb with cold in the wintertime).

The shopping heart beats throughout the city and especially at Hoog Catharijne, the biggest indoor shopping centre. Nearby is the museumquarter, a collective of six impressive museums. When you don't know where to start, just go to the 'Domplein'(Domsquare), take a deep breath and climb the 465 steps of the Netherlands' highest churchtower and observe Utrecht's hustle and bustle.
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Be sure to visit the Maliesingel as this is the most beautiful place ever seen. Many many 30's houses there with great views, people who live there are blessed.

The Hague
The city center is pretty, with quite a few nice government buildings , stately mansions (many owned by ambassadors and or embassies) good museums (Mauritshuis, Panorama Mesdag) of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, nor the cosy little canals of smaller Dutch towns. On a beautiful day it is especially worthwhile, because the beach resort of Scheveningen (hard to pronounce) is actually part of the city. With its Pier and Casino it is one of the most fancy beach resorts of the Netherlands.

The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch) is also the seat of several international organizations, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), all associated with the United Nations. These give a constant international presence to The Hague.
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Groningen
Groningen-city is the northernmost big city of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province that's also called Groningen. You'll find quite a charming city here, although the historic centre area was rather scarred both in the second World War and in the various rebuilding processes that followed.
The Grote Markt is the dazzling heart of the centre area. Nowhere in town you'll find so many pavement terraces, inviting you for a drink and a pleasant chat from early spring to late autumn. The Martini Church, with its famous Martinitower, dates from the 12th century but most of what you see now is from the 16th century. Another big attraction in Groningen is the Groningen Museum (by Mendini), a spectacular example of modern architecture with a fine collection of 17th century paintings.

One of the best things of Groningen is its nightlife. The city being an important university town, the many Dutch and international students guarantee that there is always something going on. And you'll find lots of pubs, cafes and small (student) restaurants in the centre area. Check out [Eating Out] and [Bars & Cafes].

Groningen is also a host for several festivals for music, art, film and theatre, like Noorderzon, Noorderslag, Eurosonic, International Film Festival Rotterdam in Groningen, Atelierroute and Swingin' Groningen.
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Eindhoven
As the largest city in the south of the Netherlands, Eindhoven offers a wide spectrum of facilities in the areas of shopping, nightlife and performing arts. Eindhoven has grown spectacular with the expansion of multinational corporation Philips. They started producing light bulbs in a factory that still exists today and now hosts a museum. In recent years the city has also provided the backdrop for sports events like cycling's ProTour time trial. Most popular and famous sporting event still is the football club PSV Eindhoven, known for its successes in the past and contend for the future. You're welcome to enjoy a match in the attractive Philips Stadion. After a match, or just after a day of shopping, you can visit one of the enourmous choice of pubs, bars or discos in the city. For visitors who want to break their journey, there is more than enough choice of hotel accommodation. In brief, Eindhoven is a city where plenty of things are happening.
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Arnhem
Arnhem (pop. 135 000) called the “Garden City on the Rhine ” is better known to World War II veterans as the city of A Bridge Too Far (British paratroopers tried and failed to gain a foothold across the Rhine there). A unique thing in this so-called Garden city are the trolley busses; they use electricity-wires instead of benzine and are thus very environment-friendly.
While in town see the Dutch Open Air Museum—a collection of buildings and costumes from throughout the Netherlands and take a look at Burger's Zoo as well. This petting zoo is located on the same street as Arnhem's most famous Museums.

Arnhem rates a half-day visit when you want to enjoy the sights near the center but add more time if you want to see the Airborne Museum in nearby Grote Hartensteyn or medieval Doorwerth Castle. Art lovers will want to visit Otterloo and its collection of van Goghs at the Kroller Muller Museum. When you're planning to stay the night in Arnhem it's real good fun to stroll the lively squares, especially the Hotspots full of bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants and big disco's.
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Maastricht
Maastricht is located in the south of the Netherlands, close to Liege and Aachen. It has a more southern, relaxed atmosphere than other parts of The Netherlands, and attracts many international tourists not only for its rich history (founded by the Romans) but also for its beauty. The city center is split in two by the river Maas, with the train station located in the smaller part of the center.
The history of Maastricht goes back to c. 50 B.C., when the Romans built a settlement by the main road, near a ford in the river. This makes Maastricht the oldest city of the Netherlands. The city's name is derived from the Latin 'Mosae Trajectum', the site where the river Maas could be crossed. This settlement grew to become a walled castellum, which was abandoned towards the end of the fourth century A.D. Maastricht had its first outer walls built in 1229. Before long the town was felt to be too cramped, and at the beginning of the 14th century construction work on a new series of walls was commenced. The city was important strategically, and had to withstand many attacks during its history.

The centre of the city is especially attractive, due to its wealth of historic buildings; some 1450 monuments are protected by law. Care is taken that both new and renovated buildings maintain the period atmosphere of their surroundings. Because of its heritage value, the whole of Maastricht city centre has been declared a 'protected area'.

Visit the main square (Vrijthof) or the Market, and admire the beautiful Basilica of Saint Servatius, Basilica of Our Beloved Lady, O.L. Vrouweplein or the famous 'St. Pietersberg' caves, which are the result of centuries of excavation of marl, a building stone, resulting in an enormous labyrinth of more than 20,000 passages. Visit the VVV tourist office for guided tours - even tours by boat through these enormous caves are possible.

Of course, there are many opportunities to just relax, shop in one of many small streets with nice tourist shops and little pubs. No other Dutch city has so many bars per square kilometer!
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Dutch Museums in English

Amsterdam
Tropenmuseum »
KIT Tropenmuseum
Amsterdams Historisch Museum »
Amsterdams Historisch Museum - Amsterdam Historical Museum
De Nieuwe Kerk »
De Nieuwe Kerk – The New Church
Museum Het Rembrandthuis »
Museum Het Rembrandthuis / The Rembrandt House
Joods Historisch Museum »
Joods Historisch Museum/Jewish Historical Museum
Van Gogh Museum »
Van Gogh Museum
Stedelijk Museum CS »
Stedelijk Museum CS Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum »
Rijksmuseum
Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam »
Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum –Netherlands Maritime Museum Amsterdam
Anne Frank Huis »
Anne Frank Huis /Anne Frank House

Amstelveen
Cobra Museum voor Moderne Kunst Amstelveen »
Cobra Museum for Modern Art

Rotterdam
Wereldmuseum Rotterdam »
Wereldmuseum / World Arts Museum
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen »
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Maritiem Museum Rotterdam »
Maritiem Museum Rotterdam / Maritime Museum Rotterdam
Kunsthal Rotterdam »
Kunsthal Rotterdam
Nederlands Architectuurinstituut (NAi) »
NAI Nederlands Architectuur Instituut/Dutch Institute for Architecture

The Hague
Haags Historisch Museum »
Haags Historisch Museum / The Hague Historical Museum
Museum Mesdag »
Museum Mesdag
Mauritshuis »
Mauritshuis
Museon »
Museon
Escher in het Paleis »
Escher in het Paleis / Escher in the Palace
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag »
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag / Gemeentemuseum The Hague

Tilburg
De Pont

Utrecht
Centraal Museum »
Centraal Museum
Museum Catharijneconvent »
Museum Catharijneconvent
Nationaal Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement »
Nationaal Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement / National Museum from Musical Clock to Street Organ

Arnhem
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum »
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum / Dutch Open-Airmuseum

Delft
Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof »
Museum Het Prinsenhof

Dordrecht
Dordrechts Museum »
Dordrechts Museum

Eindhoven
Van Abbemuseum »
Van Abbemuseum

Enschede
Rijksmuseum Twenthe »
Rijksmuseum Twenthe

Gouda
MuseumgoudA »
Museum Catharina Gasthuis

Groningen
Groninger Museum »
Groninger Museum

Haarlem
Frans Halsmuseum »
Frans Hals Museum & Verweyhal + Vleeshal
Teylers Museum »
Teylers Museum

's-HERTOGENBOSCH »
Noordbrabants Museum »
Noordbrabants Museum / North Brabants Museum

Leiden
Museum Volkenkunde »
Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde/ The National Museum of Ethnology
Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal »
Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal / Lakenhal, the Municipal Museum of Leiden
Naturalis - Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum »
Naturalis/ The National Museum of Natural History
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden »
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden/ National Museum of Antiquities

Maastricht
Bonnefantenmuseum »
Bonnefantenmuseum / Bonnefanten Museum Maastricht

Nijmegen
Museum Het Valkhof »
Museum Het Valkhof

Otterlo
Kröller-Müller Museum »
Kröller-Müller Museum