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| The Netherlands |
| The Netherlands is often seen for just one city, Amsterdam. However, there are several other places that are, in fact, a little more Dutch.
I will spend 1 day in Maastricht, 3 days in Rotterdam, and 3 days in Amsterdam. With a buffer day that makes 8 days in The Netherlands. |
| Maastricht
This area has been inhabited for a long time; this is evident in Stone Age remains that have been found. The Celts lived here at least 500 years before the Romans occupied the area. Saint Servatius was the first bishop of the Netherlands. His crypt can still be visited today. The city remained a Christian Bishopric until the eighth century. During the Middle Ages Maastricht became a city of dual authority under both the Prince-Bishopric of Liege and the Duchy of Brabrant. In 1204 the town received city rights. Then in 1632 the city was taken over by the Spanish. On June 14, 1673 Louis XIV�s troops surrounded the city, many areas were damaged and Maastricht soon surrendered. The French did not leave until 1679, when they had Maastricht was returned to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. During the Belgium Revolution the city was not part of any country. This changed in 1839 with the Treaty of London. Maastricht was designated as part of the Netherlands despite strong Belgian ties. WWII brought a long occupation by the Germans. This was the first Dutch city to be liberated after the war. Most recently Maastricht is known for the Maastricht Treaty that was signed in 1992, this treaty lead to the creation of the Euro. Things to Do: Bonnefantenmuseum- This museum has an eclectic collection that includes archeological artifacts, medieval sculptures, Northern Renaissance paintings, and modern art. Mount Saint Peter Caves- These caves were used as shelters during WWII, but are actually much older. You need a guide to view these. Basilica of Saint Servatius- There are eleventh century crypts and the countries largest bell to check out here. Basilica of Our Beloved Lady- This basilica has the world�s largest collection of relics relating to the Virgin Mary. There are also other saint�s relics here. |
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| Rotterdam
I had a hard time finding a whole lot of information on this city. Rotterdam officially became a city in 1340. Soon a port was built and the city grew, steadily gaining importance. This is where the Netherlands East India Company was based. In 1872 the city was still growing. On May 14, 1440 the Luftwaffe bombed the city; the heart of it was almost destroyed. Over the next fifty years the city rebuilt. Things to Do: Museum Boijmas van Beuninger- This museum holds Van Gogh�s, Rembrandts, Lichtenstein�s, and other masters. Schielandshuls- This museum recounts the history of the city. Monument for the Destroyed City- This monument commemorates the bombing in 1940. Day Trips from Rotterdam: The Hague The Hague was founded in 1248 by William II, Count of Holland and King of Germany. He was in place to become the next Holy Roman Emperor and wanted to live in the area after his coronation. However, this was not to be, he died in battle before he was crowned and the castle he had commissioned was never finished. The Counts of Holland used The Hague as an administrative center. Today it is still the center of government but not the capital. To keep the town small city walls were not allowed until 1500, and then the townspeople decided to use the money for building a town hall instead. That turned out to not be a great idea because during the 80 Years War the Spanish occupied the city. Then in 1806 The Hague was officially given city status. Soon the town began to expand. During WWII a few areas sustained heavy damage from both the allies and the axis powers. After the war the city quickly rebuilt and expanded. Things to Do: Binnenhof- This is the Netherlands Parliament complex. It is possible to take a tour, but they must be guided. Be sure to notice the reflecting pool. Gemeentemuseum- This modern art collection has works by Monet and other local artists. Museum Gevangenpoort- This former prison now houses all you will ever need to know about incarceration and torture. There is even a slide show to further explain the inmates misery. Mauritshuis Museum- This museum has art from the Dutch Golden Age. Be sure to look at the section from the 15th � 17th centuries. Leiden Leiden is one of the oldest cities in Holland. During the 16th and 17th centuries it was an important industrial city. I really couldn�t find much on this. Hortus Botanicus- This is where the first Dutch tulips were grown. Rijks Museum voor Volkenkunde- This is one of the world�s oldest anthropological museums. The collection was amassed from all over the world. Molenmuseum- Climb the steep innards of this working windmill to get a real look at Dutch history. American Pilgrim Museum- Many early immigrants found refuge here before heading to the new world. This is also Leiden�s oldest house. |
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| Amsterdam
Amsterdam was founded as a fishing village in the 13th century. From the 14th century on it flourished on the basis of trade. During the 16th century the people rebelled against Philip II of Spain. This caused the 80 Years War, and eventually led to Dutch independence. The Dutch republic became known for religious tolerance. Many Jews from Spain and Huguenots from France immigrated here. It was the rich migrants from Flanders who made Holland a mercantile power. In the 17th century Amsterdam came into a golden age, for a period it was the richest city in Europe. The population increased dramatically. Around 1700 it leveled off and didn�t change much for two centuries. In fact, the 18th and 19th centuries saw a decline in prosperity. Several wars had taken their toll. In 1815 the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established and things began to improve. The end of the 19th century is said to have been a second golden age due to the industrial revolution and the expansion that went with it. During WWI The Netherlands remained neutral but they did have some food shortages. On May 10, 1940 Germany invaded, taking control in only five days. The government quickly cooperated with the Nazi�s in the persecution of Jews. 80,000 Jews were deported from Amsterdam, about 5,000 survived. After the war the city was rebuilt. Today it is known for its loose sex and drug laws. Things to Do: Rijksmuseum- This is a must see in Amsterdam. Be sure to look at the works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and Steen. There is even a computer room that allows you to make a personalized map of the museum. Also, make a point to visit the section on doll houses. Heineken Museum- Surprisingly there is no beer production here. However, you can drink a lot of it. It is basically an alcohol themed amusement park. You can even become a bottle yourself. Versetzmuseum- This museum chronicles the decimation of the Jewish population during the Holocaust. One interesting display has notes thrown to loved ones on Auschwitz bound trains. Joods Historisch Museum- This history museum traces the history of Dutch Jews. Museum Vrolik- This museum is located in the Amsterdam Medical Center. It�s opened on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2-5. This is a huge collection of preserved human and animal specimens. They range from the normal to the seriously deformed. Amsterdam�s Historisch Museum- This museum tells the fascinating history of Amsterdam. The museum is rich in artifacts but also uses state-of-the-art technologies to bring history to life. Day Trips from Amsterdam: Utrecht Utrecht began as a Roman fortification around 47 A.D. It was a border fortress of the Roman Empire. In the middle of the second century Germanic tribes regularly invaded the area and around 270 the Romans pulled out. From 270-500 very little is known of the area. During the 6th century it came under influence of the Franks. The middle ages brought importance to the town, and then in 1122 Utrecht received city rights. In 1528 it became part of the Holy Roman Empire. This didn�t last long because in 1579 the Union of Utrecht joined the provinces against Spanish rule. This is seen as the beginning of the Dutch republic. However, it wasn�t until 1713 that the Treaty of Utrecht officially released Spanish hold on the city. With the industrial revolution came the railway and Utrecht grew because of its hub status. During WWII Germans held the city. It was freed by the Canadians on May 7, 1945. It has grown since WWII. Things to Do: Domkerk- This church was begun in 1254 and took 250 years to build. Originally it was a Catholic cathedral; it has held protestant services since 1580. Domtoren- This is the highest tower in the Netherlands. Be sure to climb it and take in the view. Slot Zuylen- This is one of Holland�s best examples of a medieval castle. It is located three miles north of the city. The rooms are furnished to show life ranging from the 17th to 19th centuries. Centraal Museum- This museum concentrates its collection on Dutch modern art. However, there are a few historical displays on Utrecht. Notice the Viking longboat that dates from about 1100. |