Zeeland & Zuid Holland People & Culture

You have to go see the burcht ofcourse, it's the old city-center and where our mayor offered his body to the starving townspeople when the spanish invaded the city. You should also go to the Pieterskerk because (not many people know this) this is the church from where the Pilgrimfathers left for America :)

Although now more of a tourist attraction than anything else, it is still fun to watch this "play" of how things used to be. On the main square, in front of the city hall, you will find many piles of cheese (they are quite huge) and the farmer/producer next to his pile trying to sell it. Then there is a negotiation phase in which an offer is made and then almost immediately refused. There is a ritual that involves slapping each others hand while this is happening. The buyer will then leave and come back after a while, then there is a new negotiation and then the buyer agrees the price, but says he wants the people to try the cheese first. He then carves a bit out and asks people to try it. If they say it is good, he will buy the lot. When that is done, a horse-driven carriage will come up and the cheese is loaded onto it and it leaves...

for people who would like to experience smoking some of the local produce but do not want the crowds found in Amsterdam, this is the place to go, you can find many coffee shops here

Sluis is well known for their tourism as from the hairdressers. A lot of belgian people go to Sluis (near Belgium) to buy medicines because they are cheaper and you can get different once without prescriptions. Also little pub's on each corner. There are also a lot of boutiques, but nothing special.

Scheveningen Beach! beautiful beach which also belongs to the City The Hague. A awesome, long filled with little shops boardwalk. A new improved pier, where you can bungee jump. The beach is awesome, specialy the location "{ het zwarte pad", there all the young and middle young trendy people come and are many beachparties. Also a big casino movie theathre is there to find, on the other side! And ofcourse not to forget, you can eat everywhere, and many party places till early in the morning! Scheveningen is best reachable with the Tram from The Hague, its about 15 to 20 min (in summer time). You also can go with teh car, but count on a traffic jam! You always can check www.scheveningen.nl

My home town .The place where i'm born and raised .. Good for culture and shopping . Watch out for Pick pockets .

This little town has a lot of history so culture people come and visit Groede

Oude Haven in Rotterdam, fun for culture, eating and dancing.

This city has it all! Whether you go shopping in the city or go clubbing, success is guaranteed!

Shopping
In the city center you can find everything you need: perfume, household supplies, groceries, clothing, shoes and lots more. The different parts of Rotterdam have their own style like 'de Koopgoot' and 'de Lijnbaan'.

Restaurants
Everywhere you look, you see places you can crash for food. The multi-cultural cuisine is in Rotterdam not an unfamiliar concept and you get to choose whether you want to dine casual or in a fancy restaurant. MacDonalds, KFC and BK are at almost every corner, for the fancy restaurants you need to look a bit further. Italian food is also available: Pizza, Pasta, Lasagna? Sure, at the 'Coolsingel' you can find 50% of these cathegory restaurants. Next to those, you have shoarma places for a delicious döner kebab and Surinam restaurants for spicy food. Not to forget the Chinese Restaurants. In Rotterdam's China town you find multi-sided Asian food while in the center you can find 'Wok2Go' for take-out or a small dinner.

Cinema
After having spent an enormous time in the center, you can enjoy a nice piece of work of the actors in Hollywood. At Pathe Schouwburgplein you have a big range of films to watch.

Night Life
Off Corso, Maassilo, The Thalia Lounge, Club Vie. Just a small grab of the tremendously much places you can go to, to shake the stress away or to meet with friends. Cocktailbars are in the overflow to lounge with a Mai Tai in your possession and friends on your side. Bars and pubs are also integrated in Rotterdam: Stadhuisplein, Schouwburgplein and in the side ways of Beursplein. You are supplied with more than enough spots to have a get2gether.

Casino
Money in overflow? Or in need? Or wanna have the Las Vegas feeling? Holland Casino Rotterdam, among others, is the place to hang out.

There is a great squattin culture in rotterdam i found a great one on shannons island.

shipping centre but my memories are of a great music festival in the park
great bands for a low price

downtown The Hague A day just shopping downtown in The Hague! Don't be fooled by that 1 long street you only see! There are many more little side streets (not as many as A'dam) but still enough! In those little side streets you can find many fun stores. Like in the "schoolstraat" from Funky clothes, music store, to an Irish pub at the end. (and many little stores between that) Also not to forget, The places to be, like "het plein", Grote markt buitenhof for example, for your drinks after shopping!! And stay there till 2am, after that there are some midnight clubs! So def worthy to come and visit this place also! If you know someone from this area, even better! Have fun!

Go there during the Pentecostal break (be sure to book in advance), to arrive in the middle of Renesse Tour... A Dutch/German version of the spring break with a large dancing crowd and music all night long!

Here's a long list of what to do in Rotterdam which was my hometown for 8 years.
-Motel Mozaïque: is a nice multi-discipline festival to go to in april.
-Worm: is a great location to see experimental music concerts and the building is special for it's totally recycled interior.
-the Urban Espresso Bar: has the best coffee and downstairs a very nice gallery also in the surrounding streets, you can find original shops and on thursdays the market
-Go see de Jeff Wall sculpture at the: Kop van Zuid, if you want to cross the river in an alternative way (then simply by bike over the Erasmus bridge) you van take a watertaxi.
-Visit the International Filmfestival Rotterdam in the beginning of februari!
-Go with the pancakeboat across the river Maas while eating pancakes
-Go with archiguides to learn and see about the architecture in Rotterdam
-Off-Corso, if you want to dance
-visit the parks (especially the not so famous parks, but the surprising bit of green): -Slotvijver
-Berg en Broekpark
-Park Rozenburg
and the Famous parks: -Kralingse Bos
-Museumpark
-Euromast park
and the specialty search by bike (in Rotterdam Zuid) the: Brienenoord Island, it's diffficult to find but special and there's a great skyline view of the city.
-Well the musea and gallerys speak for themselves but also visit the: van Nelle factory and the Sonneveld house or Chabot museum if you are interested in architecture
Then go for a coffee at cafe Dudok (also architecture by dudok)
-in September the Rotterdamse Kunsten festival (R-festival) and the World of Witte de With
-And every 2 years the DEAF festival (ElectronicArt) and more festivals: Poetry international / Metropolis (for free, pop music) / Dunya (for free, world music) / the day of Romantic music.
-For energetic people: bike through harbour sites such as
Schiehaven+Parhaven (then take the Maastunnel which a happening on it's own) to Maashaven+Rijnhaven/ Nassauhaven+Persoonshaven/Entrepotdok/Heijplaat+Pernis...but you have to like old industry views and buildings for that because it's beauty in a different way.
- In summer beside the Erasmus bridge they always have the Beach at the Maas (they create a beach there)

The boulevard, with it's many restaurants, bars en clubs and it's pier is worth going to. You're immediately on the beautiful North Sea beach. Scheveningen has also a casino were you can juggle with your money. There is also a theatre called "Fortis Circus theater", here you can go see a musical (in dutch though). But if you're a musical fan and planning to see big musicals like Tarzan as much as possible this is were you should go.

Look out for the cow theme try to take a picture of the moving cow bin on a bike! Stay on a river boat check out the walk of fame check out the cool buildings

Great little city, Love the admosphere, love the fish and of course, great tourist attraction called the arsenaal.

Here's a long list of what to do in Rotterdam which was my hometown for 8 years.
-Motel Mozaïque: is a nice multi-discipline festival to go to in april.
-Worm: is a great location to see experimental music concerts and the building is special for it's totally recycled interior.
-the Urban Espresso Bar: has the best coffee and downstairs a very nice gallery also in the surrounding streets, you can find original shops and on thursdays the market
-Go see de Jeff Wall sculpture at the: Kop van Zuid, if you want to cross the river in an alternative way (then simply by bike over the Erasmus bridge) you van take a watertaxi.
-Visit the International Filmfestival Rotterdam in the beginning of februari!
-Go with the pancakeboat across the river Maas while eating pancakes
-Go with archiguides to learn and see about the architecture in Rotterdam
-Off-Corso, if you want to dance
-visit the parks (especially the not so famous parks, but the surprising bit of green): -Slotvijver
-Berg en Broekpark
-Park Rozenburg
and the Famous parks: -Kralingse Bos
-Museumpark
-Euromast park
and the specialty search by bike (in Rotterdam Zuid) the: Brienenoord Island, it's diffficult to find but special and there's a great skyline view of the city.
-Well the musea and gallerys speak for themselves but also visit the: van Nelle factory and the Sonneveld house or Chabot museum if you are interested in architecture
Then go for a coffee at cafe Dudok (also architecture by dudok)
-in September the Rotterdamse Kunsten festival (R-festival) and the World of Witte de With
-And every 2 years the DEAF festival (ElectronicArt) and more festivals: Poetry international / Metropolis (for free, pop music) / Dunya (for free, world music) / the day of Romantic music.
-For energetic people: bike through harbour sites such as
Schiehaven+Parhaven (then take the Maastunnel which a happening on it's own) to Maashaven+Rijnhaven/ Nassauhaven+Persoonshaven/Entrepotdok/Heijplaat+Pernis...but you have to like old industry views and buildings for that because it's beauty in a different way.
- In summer beside the Erasmus bridge they always have the Beach at the Maas (they create a beach there)

to enjoy the best fish or sea mussels, you must visit restaurant De Schelde. Tip: insite its not that great, but the garden is fine.

It's a tiny place, with good sand-dune-hiking opportunities, a pub and a great Chinese restaurant!

nice quiet spot.. nice coffee shop.. relaxing while stoned

Noordwijkerhout is a small, quaint village just over an hour from Amsterdam. There is not much to do here though once you've took in the scenery from the countryside.

about an hr or so from amsterdam, this is a small town offering shops on a busy high street. Not overly exciting.

Gouda, ville des Pays-Bas, est la ville du fromage (le célèbre "gouda"). Charmante petite ville avec plein de magasins et restaurants.

Lieden is one hour on the train to Amsterdam which is far too long