THE NETHERLANDS

Most people will know Amsterdam but The Netherlands is so much more than its capital. I was really taken by the cool vibe and funky architecture of Rotterdam, lovely Leiden, and the historic city of Haarlem (a great alternative to Amsterdam that is only 15 minutes by train).

And for that quintessentially Dutch experience, take a bike ride through the tulip fields near Lisse.

bed of brightly coloured tulips at keukenhof gardens
What can be more Dutch than tulips (I snapped these at the Keukenhof Gardens)

NETHERLANDS IN A NUTSHELL

  • Capital: Amsterdam (The Hague is the seat of government)
  • Currency: Euro (EUR)
  • Population: 17 million
  • Official language: Dutch
  • Time zone: UTC+1 

SOLO TRAVEL RATING

  • Solo travel rating: 4 out of 5
  • Risk to women travellers: Low
  • Travel costs: Moderate
  • Recommended for first-time solo travellers: Yes

ALL NETHERLANDS ARTICLES