AALSMEER IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS “THE FLOWER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD”: On a recent trip to Amsterdam we visited the FloraHolland Auction Centre in Aalsmeer (Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer). FloraHolland is the largest flower auction centre in the world and they handle about 60% of the international trade in plants and flowers. Their Aalsmeer site is […]
Volendam – A Quaint Village in North Holland
VOLENDAM – A CHARMING AND PICTURESQUE FISHERMEN’S VILLAGE: Volendam is a quaint village in North Holland that is well known for its old fishing boats, bustling waterfront and the traditional Dutch costumes that a handful of residents still wear. This charming and picturesque town was once an artists’ retreat and Picasso and Renoir both spent […]
Koningsdag 2015 – King’s Day in Amsterdam
KONINGSDAG OR KING’S DAY IS THE OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY OF THE KING OF NETHERLANDS: Since 1949, the Dutch have been celebrating Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day (or Queensday) on April 30th. All that changed on April 30, 2013 when King Willem-Alexander became the first male monarch since 1890. Koninginnedag becomes Koningsdag and is celebrated on King Willem-Alexander’s birthday […]
Queen’s Day in Amsterdam – Koninginnedag is now Koningsdag
Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day is the Official Birthday of the Queen of Netherlands: Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day (or Queensday) on April 30th is a national holiday in the Netherlands. On this day the entire country celebrates the official birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands. Queen Beatrix’s birthday is actually on January 31st and April 30th […]
How to Claim Your VAT Refund at Schiphol Airport
Allow Time If You’re Claiming Your VAT Tax Refund at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: Although, we did all our shopping in Italy, Amsterdam was our final port of exit from the EU and this was where we had to have our VAT refund processed. This was good as it gave us the opportunity to check out […]
Amsterdam Tours for Cruise Passengers
Amsterdam Tours: Worry-free Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers: The Port of Amsterdam is a very popular stop for ocean cruises and the Amsterdam Cruise Terminal is also the starting point for hundreds of European river cruises. If your cruise to Amsterdam or river cruise from Amsterdam includes some free time in this historic city, Viator […]
Edam – Better Known for its Edam Cheese
There is More to Edam Than Its Famous Edam Cheese: Edam is a city in the province of Noord-Holland that is famous for its cheese of the same name. Long before many of us would step on the shores of the city of Edam, the round ball of Edam cheese, coated in red paraffin wax, […]
Noordwijk – A Floral Seaside Resort
Noordwijk Has Beaches, Bulb Fields and a Space Centre: Noordwijk markets itself as a floral seaside resort. The town is blessed with 13 km of coastline and beautiful dune-backed beaches and being in the Duin-en Bollenstreek (Dune and Bulb Region), its sandy soil and coastal dunes make the area an ideal location for bulb cultivation. […]
Bloembollenstreek – The Bulb Fields of Holland
Bloembollenstreek – The Bulb Fields of Holland is a 30 km Stretch From Haarlem to Leiden: The Netherlands is famous for its tulips and other bulbous flowers like the daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, irises and lilies. In a 30 km area stretching from Haarlem to Leiden is Holland’s Bloembollenstreek or Bollenstreek (bulb district), the most important […]
Gouda – Famous for its Gouda Cheese
Gouda is Famous the World Over for its Gouda Cheese: The name Gouda conjures images of bright yellow wheels of this Dutch cheese that is a common sight throughout the Netherlands. But more than just cheese, this typical Dutch city in the province of South Holland has plenty of history, old buildings and pretty canals […]
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