Echte Nederlands (or, Typically Dutch)

If you’re living in Europe and you’re not travelling, something's not right.

I'm literally talking planes, trains and automobiles to get anywhere you wanna go.

Map of the Netherlands

The Netherlands has been #blessed with an insane train network which connects the entire country from small village to big city. I only ever took the train in Canada from Montreal to Ottawa (2 and ½ hours) and only if it was on someone else’s dime #employed. 

But here, the first thing I actually did when I arrived in Amsterdam was hop straight on the train to get to Groningen.

The beauty of the Netherlands is also its size – in that you can generally go from North (let’s say Groningen) to South (let’s say the Eindhoven) in 3 hours. Not too shabby considering a plane from Montreal towards Western Canada lands you somewhere in Winnipeg/Saskatoon i.e. places few people recognize.

It’s been really wonderful taking the time to visit around this beautiful country on some short day-trips to see more of what makes the Netherlands what it is - I’m about to go all #travelguide below, so brace yourself:

Rotterdam harbour

Rotterdam – By Design

Rotterdam is a port city and the biggest cargo port in Europe. #knowledgedrop 

The beautiful city was basically decimated during World War II and thus, had to be rebuilt from scratch in some instances. Best believe the Dutch went all out on this endeavour, and now the city displays some of the most interesting architecture in the country.

The city boasts the MarketHall, a locale with apartments, office space and an indoor market underneath. The landmark cube houses are an additional sight to marvel the structural design creativity.

Rotterdam is further a booming metropolis with as much culture diversity as Amsterdam

(#reliablesource, my friends from Rotterdam J)

Rotterdam - MarketHall

Rotterdam - Cube Houses

Utrecht - Street performer

Utrecht – Beauty at the Centre

My reflections on Utrecht is biased, purely because it was actually sunny the day of our visit. As with most modern cities, the architecture is stunning, but Utrecht is all about the well kept-secrets at its heart.

A prime landmark is the old inner-city and its unique canal structure. The Oudegracht canal runs deep through the centre and has a lower level for terraces and sun streaming.

Great weather and the echo of soul warming voices ringing out made for the perfect #lazysunday.

Lorena and I enjoying the Utrecht sunshine!

Utrecht Canals

Utrecht City centre

The Hague (or Den Haag) – Humanity's House

Den Haag is home to many main and official Dutch government offices, international embassies and UN offices. The city has made a name for itself in international law and human rights and hosts the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Humanity House plaque

From a humanitarian perspective, Den Haag has great significance as a locale that upholds the values and rights which ensure that human suffering is acknowledged by the global community.

As most historic cities do, Den Hague features many museums and I had the pleasure of visiting one such – the Humanity House. It’s a coffee shop, a meeting place and venue which exhibits and uncovers the realities of humanity’s struggles.

At the moment, the museum is hosting an interactive exhibit on life as a refugee. In this touching experience, you move through the migration sequence of leaving home and venturing into the unknown and a new life, whether you were ready for it or not.

Loved this exhibit, and at this exact moment so timely to the heightened attention facing refugees not only the Netherlands, but across the world.

Script from Humanity House exhibit

Have I not convinced you to come visit already?!
Know of any other interesting places in the Netherlands/Europe?