Amsterdam Holiday & Travel Guide: Amsterdam is the capital of the North Holland region. The city’s reputation has been tarnished somewhat due to its seedy association with the Red Light District and tolerance for controversial practices. However, all of this is simply an acceptance of lifestyle choices that exist in any society which reduces the number of people deemed criminals. These connotations should not detract from an otherwise interesting city, which has drawn comparisons to places such as Venice.

The canals of Amsterdam date back to the 17th Century and there are numerous bridges, narrow streets and islands that are great for exploring. Other attractions here include: the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (now known as Euronext), which is the oldest in the world; the Van Gogh Museum, which houses some art pieces from the famous Dutch painter such as Bedroom in Arles; and the Anne Frank House, purchased by a museum and dedicated to the Jewish girl who documented her hiding when avoiding Nazi persecution. The Rijksmuseum is also a great place to soak up the art and history, containing paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and located in an area of Amsterdam known as Museumplein. Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light district and coffee-shops have also proved popular with tourists as an interesting novelty.

Amsterdam has surprising links to the fashion world, with high-profile modelling agencies, brands and labels being based here which is good news for keen shoppers. Amsterdam also includes several high-end boutiques and department stores.

Amsterdam is full of culture and every type of performance art, from ballet to classical theatre, can be enjoyed here. The nightlife here is lively and diverse, with two main areas Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, which have an array of restaurants, cafes and nightclubs.

Weather: The climate in Amsterdam is mild and damp and not dissimilar to the UK and Ireland. Spring and autumn bring unsettled weather, while summers can see extreme heat.  During winter months, there is cold frosty weather. Rainfall is likely all year round.



Transport: Amsterdam is a popular European destination, and easy to reach by air, sea or land. Amsterdam’s airport Schiphol is conveniently located by the city centre and flights are usually cheap to come by.

Travelling in and around Amsterdam is easy as most attractions are located by the city centre. GVB is the company that provides public transport, and an OV chipcard system has been introduced to allow travel on trams, buses, metros and night buses on a prepaid card until it expires. The Metro trains are great if you’re travelling outside Amsterdam, while canal boats are popular with tourists who like the guides’ tours of the historical attractions. However, the preferred method of Dutch travel is of course by bicycle.

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Netherlands Holiday & Travel Guide: The Netherlands is often referred to as “Holland”, although North and South Holland are actually two of twelve provinces of this North-European country. The North Sea borders this geographically low-lying country (which is where the name derives from; parts of the country lie below sea-level). The culture, people and language here are referred to as Dutch.

The Netherlands is one of the most heavily populated countries in the world and has one of the most tolerant societies; a lot of practices that are illegal in other countries are accepted here.  It has a peaceful environment characterised by windmills dotted around its landscape, and there are numerous dikes and tulip fields in the countryside which create a lovely natural environment so cycling is a popular mode of transport. The Hoge Veluwe National Park is a great place to go to explore the landscape.

Popular destinations here include Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, and The Netherlands is perfect for those who enjoy outdoor pursuits enabling you to soak up the spectacular natural environment. There is a very relaxed and tolerant atmosphere here and The Netherlands is a cultured place with an interesting heritage and traditional architecture. Back to Travel Guides