Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

12  INTRODUCING THE NE THERLANDS

Two Days in
Amsterdam
Known as home to Anne
Frank and Van Gogh,
Amsterdam is brimming
with sights and beautiful
canals to explore.
• Arriving Schiphol Airport
is a 20-minute train journey
from the city centre.
Amsterdam also has good
train connections with the
rest of Europe.

Brightly lit houses overlook the canal in the Jordaan, Amsterdam
Day 1
Morning Begin the tour in Dam features a fabulous collection of Two Days in
Square, a bustling open space Dutch paintings, most notably The Hague
at the heart of the city, and visit the wonderful Rembrandts.
the National Monument (p90), Then, proceed to the superb An important political
an evocative war memorial Van Gogh Museum (pp130–31), centre since the 13th
erected in 1956. Then, pop into devoted to the greatest of all century, The Hague is
the Nieuwe Kerk (p90), one of Dutch painters. After all this a fascinating city with
Amsterdam’s most beautiful art, take a break at a local café aristocratic charm.
Gothic buildings. Stop next at or go for a stroll amid the • Arriving The Hague has
the imposing Koninklijk Paleis greenery of the neighbouring good train connections with
(pp92–3), built in the 17th Vondelpark (p124). the rest of the Netherlands.
century as the Stadhuis (Town The nearest airport is
Hall) when the city was at its Afternoon After lunch, visit the Rotterdam, 21 km (13 miles)
richest. Afterwards, detour south city’s third major museum, the away, while Schiphol airport
to the Begijnhof (p91), a set of Stedelijk Museum (pp132–3), is 48 km (30 miles) away.
pretty medieval almshouses whose excellent collection of
grouped around a small green. contemporary art is housed in
a lavishly refur bished gallery. Or,
Afternoon Take a stroll along if museum fatigue is setting in, Day 1
the Singel, the first of the four venture out of the tourist zone Morning Stroll the streets of
canals that make up the to explore the maze-like streets The Hague (pp222–3), pausing
Grachtengordel (p99), or of the Jordaan (pp110–111), or on Lange Vijverberg for a
“girdle of canals”. With a string rest your legs on a canal boat panoramic view of the
of hump-backed bridges trip (p117). Binnenhof (p224), a long and
spanning olive-green canals, elegant series of high-gabled
this is Amsterdam at its most buildings that now house the
beautiful. Pop into the Dutch parliament. Venture into
Museum van Loon (p119) for the Binnenhof and take a
an insight into the life and guided tour of the Ridderzaal
times of the Dutch merchant (p224), the Hall of the Knights,
elite, and then head for which dates back to the 13th
Westerkerk (p114), with its century. Continue onto the
soaring spire and cavernous Mauritshuis (pp226–7), an out-
interior. From there, slip along standing art gallery with a
the street to the city’s most wonderful collection of Dutch
popular attraction, the Anne paintings, including several
Frank Huis (pp112–13). exquisite paintings by
Johannes Vermeer.
Day 2
Morning Dedicate this day Afternoon Visit the Museum
to explorimg some of the Bredius (p224) to enjoy a
city’s best museums. Expect connoisseur’s collection of
to spend at least a couple of Dutch art. Wander along the
hours at the Rijksmuseum tree-lined Lange Voorhout,
(pp126–9), Amsterdam’s A sculpture in the Begijnhof, a tranquil which is framed by handsome
principal art museum, which space away from the bustle of the city old mansions, one of which,
For practical information on travelling around the Netherlands, see pp432–49

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