Things to do in the Netherlands: Tips from the Corporate Housing Factory Team

Here at Corporate Housing Factory, we pride ourselves on top-notch service delivered by a knowledgeable and dedicated team. But it isn't just serviced apartments that we can help with. We also have great suggestions on what there is to see and do in the Netherlands.

So that we can share that knowledge with you, we have put together a list of our "must do's" for expats in the Netherlands.

Typically Dutch

You might feel a bit touristy in the process, but here are some of our favourite "typically Dutch" activities that you shouldn't miss—you are in the Netherlands, after all!

• Stroll Along the Amsterdam Canals: With more than 100 kilometres of canals and about 1,500 bridges, a stroll along the canals of Amsterdam is the perfect way to see some of the city.
• Enjoy Drinks in a Brown Cafe: The Dutch have a special word for an informal social gathering typically enjoyed with small snacks and alcohol. That word? Borrel. So why not go for a borrel yourself. Our recommendation? Try Café Hoppe or Café Papeneiland in Amsterdam - one of the oldest typical brown cafes in town.
• Eat Haring and/or Freshly Baked Stroopwafels: You probably won't want to pair these two together in one bite, but both can be found at the Albert Cuyp Market in Amsterdam.
• Visit Zaanse Schans: Kinderdijk might be famous for its windmills, but Zaanse Schans has them too, plus you'll get to see what a traditional Dutch village used to look like.
• Explore Volendam: This small fishing town is the place to go to have your picture taken in traditional Dutch clothing.
• Spend the Day at Keukenhof: Open only one month per year, this is the place to be for flower lovers. And yes, it really is as beautiful as the pictures make it seem.

Enjoy the Dutch Nature

It's not without reason that the Dutch landscape is and was a popular choice of painters. The country may be flat, but Dutch nature is anything but boring. Here are some Corporate Housing Factory favourite activities:

• Boating at Loosdrecht
• A boat or cycle ride past the enchanting towns along the River Vecht
• A visit to one of the Dutch Islands (Waddeneilanden); Texel is a good one to start with
• Sailing on the lakes in Friesland
• A day spent lounging at one of the popular beach bars (Woodstock69 in Bloemendaal, Mango’s Beach Bar in Zandvoort, Timboektoe at Wijk aan Zee, Indigo in Scheveningen)

 

A Day in the City

We love our Dutch cities and we highly recommend you spend some time getting to know them as well. Some of our favourite highlights include:

• Amsterdam: Have your photo taken with the I amsterdam letters or say hello to the animals at the city zoo, Artis.
• Utrecht: Spend a day enjoying its medieval centre and canals. Climb to the top of the Dom Tower, if you dare.
• Alkmaar: Visit a Dutch cheese shop and taste as many of the cheeses you can manage or visit the cheese market.
• Deventer: Step into your favourite Dickens' novel at the annual Dickens Festival.
• Maastricht: Relax in the city and eat some vlaai while you are there.
• Rotterdam: Indulge on Witte de Withstraat in Rotterdam; this trendy street is known for its restaurants, bars, cafes, and unique shops.
  

Visit a Dutch Museum

We could write a whole article on the many museums that you could and should see in the Netherlands. But let's start with these top favourites:

• The Rijksmuseum
• The Van Gogh Museum (Tip from the Corporate Housing Team: You can also visit the Van Gogh Village in Nuenen. This is the very place where Vincent van Gogh lived for part of his life and painted his famous painting, The Potato Eaters.
• The Amsterdam City Archives
• Museum van Loon
• The Museum of Bags and Purses

 

Which of the tips from the Corporate Housing Factory team did you enjoy the most? What would you add to our list?