Page 16 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands
P. 16
14 INTRODUCING THE NE THERLANDS
A Week in the South
• Arriving Start in Haarlem,
easily accessed from
Amsterdam’s Schiphol
airport.
• Transport Most of this
itinerary can be completed
using local trains and buses,
but a car will give added
flexibility. The Kinderdijk
windmills are only accessible
by car or bicycle.
Day 1: Haarlem A row of windmills at Kinderdijk in Dordrecht
Explore the centre of Haarlem
(pp186–7), one of the country’s Day 4: Delft with its fancily dressed porters.
prettiest towns, with a cluster Delft (pp230–33) is a charming Be sure to drop by St Janskerk
of old and distinguished little town with an especially (p242), a distinguished Gothic
buildings framing the fine Grote Markt (main square), structure with a breathtakingly
expansive Grote Markt. Be with the Stadhuis at one end beautiful set of stainedglass
sure to visit the Grote Kerk and the splendid Nieuwe Kerk windows dating from the late
(p188), a huge and imposing (p232) at the other. Explore the 16th century.
structure with a magnificent town’s network of narrow lanes
nave. Afterwards, admire the and visit both the Oude Kerk Day 7: Dordrecht
potpourri collections displayed (p232) and the Stedelijk Spend the morning exploring
at the Teylers Museum (p189) Museum Het Prinsenhof (p232), Dordrecht (p244), an ancient
and then head over to the where a hired assassin port that nudges up against
town’s key attraction – the murdered the heroic William of one of the busiest waterways
outstanding Frans Hals Orange – the bullet holes can in the world. Highlights here
Museum (pp190–91), which still be seen in the wall. include the ornate and rather
features the paintings of fanciful Grote Kerk (p244)
Golden Age artist Frans Hals. Day 5: Rotterdam and the Huis Simon van Gijn
Enjoy the big city feel of (p244), with its period rooms
Day 2: Leiden and Keukenhof Rotterdam (pp234–41), a and magnificent Brussels
Start the day by strolling pulsating metropolis of lively tapestries. Venturing out of
through the lovely old streets bars, great restaurants and a Dordecht, cycle or drive over to
of Leiden (pp218–19), where a bustling street life. Take a detour the Kinderdijk (p245), where no
maze of cobbled lanes to see the modernist archi fewer than 19 vintage windmills
conceals a string of excellent tecture of the famous cube line up along a canal, looking
attractions. These include houses or Kubus-Paalwoningen proudly out over the
the Rijksmuseum van (p235), stroll along the old city surrounding polders.
Oudheden (p221), which harbour of Delfshaven (p236)
houses an outstanding and take a trip up the Euromast
ancient Egyptian collection, (p236) for the panoramic view.
ranging from mummies to Finish the day at the outstand
temples. Look out also for the ing Museum Boijmans Van
sterling Gothic architecture of Beuningen (pp238–9), which
St Pieterskerk (p221), the houses an internationally
handsome Korenbeursgrug famous collection of Dutch art.
(p219) and Leiden’s much
praised botanical gardens, the Day 6: Gouda
Hortus Botanicus (p220). In Enjoy the small town
the afternoon, catch the bus atmosphere of Gouda (pp242–3)
or drive out of Leiden to the with its cobbled streets, slender
nearby Keukenhof (p217), the canals and handsome main
largest flower garden in the square, the Grote Markt, where
world, famed for its tulips. you can admire the magnificent
Stadhuis (p243). Try to visit
Day 3: The Hague on a Thursday morning in
Pick a day from the city itinerary the summertime to enjoy the Colourful buildings in the pretty town
on p12. town’s famous cheese market of Haarlem
For practical information on travelling around the Netherlands, see pp432–49
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