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Attractions
in Holland
Keukenhof "Flower Garden" (25 KM) (www.keukenhof.nl)
In the spring Keukenhof is naturally The flower attraction of
Holland.
In the 32 ha park millions of bulb flowers bloom in all colors of
the rainbow for eight weeks. Keukenhof is situated between Amsterdam
and The Hague, Haarlem and Leiden.
From
Amsterdam, take the A4 toward The Hague, exit N207 toward Lisse.
From
The Hague, take the A44 toward Amsterdam, exit N208 toward Lisse;
or on the A4, exit N207. As you near the park, signs are posted
giving clear directions to Keukenhof.
Madurodam
- Den Haag (60
KM) (www.madurodam.nl)
Among many other attractions, miniature city Madurodam boasts
the canal houses of Amsterdam, the Alkmaar cheese market and parts
of the Delta Works, all replicated in minute detail on a 1:25 scale.
Watch
windmills turn, ships sail and modern trains traverse the city on
the world's largest miniature railway
Dolfinarium
Hardewijk
(80
KM)
(www.dolfinarium.nl)
Dolfinarium Harderwijk is the largest
marine animal park in Europe.
There's a lot to do here. Those impressive and fantastically funny
dolphin and sea lion performances for example. And you have to see
the walrus show - you'll have a whale of a time there. The playground
and the beach are brilliant too. Or visit the Lagune. Don't miss
the 3-D spectacle. Experience a truly adventurous show with real
pirates. A Delightful Dolfinarium Day is not only great fun, but
also full of excitement and things to learn about. In short, there
are plenty of good reasons for taking the family to Dolfinarium
Harderwijk to enjoy a delightful day at the Dolfinarium.
Efteling
(100 KM) (www.efteling.nl)
Efteling is one of the leading family attraction parks in Europe.
Each year, some three million people visit the World of Wonders
in Kaatsheuvel, in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant. They step
into an enchanting adventure, right away from reality.
Efteling presents fairytales, attractions, entertainment and events
in a relaxing green park covering 72 hectares. Fairytales are alternated
with exciting thrill-rides and enchanting journeys of discovery
through the different Realms. Entertainment on paths and in squares
is a gay characteristic of the entire park. Efteling has been attracting
visitors of all ages from at home and abroad since 1952. The wide
range of activities, and the way they are presented by Efteling,
have led to major international awards. For example, Efteling received
the Applause Award for the best park in the world, and the Pomme
d'Or, the highest tourist sector award in Europe.
Marken
(20
KM)
Volendam (35 KM)
Zaanse Schans (35 KM)
Attractions
in Amserdam
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Van
Gogh Museum (www.VanGoghMuseum.nl)
Paulus Potterstraat,7
The Van Gogh Museum is located on the Museumplein in Amsterdam, between
the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum. The entrance to the Van
Gogh Museum is at Paulus Potterstraat, number 7. The museum can be
reached with trams 2 and 5 and 20 from Central Station. The museum
is easily accessible for the disabled. All floors can be reached by
lift; wheelchairs and buggies are available free of charge.
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Rijksmuseum
(www.RijksMuseum.nl)
Rijksmuseum is the country's premier art museum and an easy place
to overdose on old masters. The museum contains Amsterdam's greatest
art and historical collections . As well as works by Rembrandt, Vermeer,
Hals and Steen, there are dollhouses, delftware, Asiatic art, changing
displays of prints and drawings and special travelling exhibitions.
The museum is far too big to absorb in one visit- it pays to be selective
and you can return as often as you like for free if you invest a Museumjaarkaart,
or Museum Card.
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Stedelijk
museum
(www.stedelijk.nl)
The Stedelijk Museum is one of Europe's most
important museums for modern and contemporary art. It is a dynamic
museum that closely follows developments in art, particularly those
of the second half of the 20th century, with a comprehensive exhibition
programme. The collection of paintings and sculptures, drawings, prints,
photography, graphic design, applied arts and new media is world-renowned.
The
Museum is known for its trend-setting and discussion-provoking exhibitions:
both large retrospectives of famous modern and contemporary artists
and smaller presentations of, for instance, young artists. At the
same time, a changing selection from the permanent collection is to
be seen in various arrangements.
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Anne Frankhuis (www.AnneFrank.nl)
Anne Frank was one of the Jewish victims of Nazi persecution during
the second world war. After Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands in
1940, increasingly severe anti-Jewish measures began here as well.
The Frank family tried to escape by going into hiding. On July 1942,
Otto Frank, Edith Frank-Hollander and their daughters Margot and Anne
hid in this building on the Prinsengracht. They where later joined
by Mr. and Mrs Daan, their sun Peter and Mr. Dussel. The building
consists of two parts: a front house and a back anex. Otto Frank's
business was located in the front house. The uppermost floors of the
back anexe became the hiding place. After more than two years the
group was betrayed and deported. Anne and Margot died of typhes in
Bergen-Belsen in March 1945, only a few weeks before this concentration
camp was liberated. Otto Frank, the only member of the group to survive,
returned after the war.
During the hiding period Anne Frank kept a diary. In it she described
daily life in the back anexe, the isolation and the fear of discovery.
Anne's diary survived the war: after the betrayal it was found by
Miep Gies, one of the helpers. When it was confirmed that Anne would
not be returning, Miep gave the manuscripts to Otto Frank. In 1947
the first Dutch edition appeared. Since then the diary has been published
in more then 55 languages.
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KIT
Kindermuseum
(www.kit.nl/kindermuseum)
Tropenmuseum, Linnaeusstraat 2
KIT Kindermuseum makes exhibitions for children aged from six to twelve,
within the objectives of KIT Tropenmuseum and KIT as a whole, and
has done so for 25 years. The Kindermuseum continually seeks new and
improved forms to bring contemporary non-Western cultures to life
for every one of its visitors. The Kindermuseum's method, whereby
children bring the exhibition to life under expert guidance, and the
high quality of the museum as a whole, make it unique in Europe, and
perhaps in the world. It is this quality that the Kindermuseum sees
as the basis of its existence. It is founded on very thorough preparatory
research and the continuous discussion of all elements of the work.
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De
Nieuwe Kerk (www.nieuwekerk.nl)
De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam is famous for its much talked-about exhibitions.
With close to 500,000 visitors per year, the church is one of the
most attended exhibition locations in the Netherlands. The large-scale
exhibitions on treasuresfrom other countries, cultures and religions
are a household term to many people.
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Canal
Houses
Old canal houses are very popular in Amsterdam. Some of these narrow
buildings are 500 years old. They lean at very odd angles, adding
a certain charm to the city. Once taxes were assessed by the size
of the frontage, forcing the thrifty Dutch to build their homes very
narrow. Some canal houses are barely wider than the front door! Amsterdam
now has strict regulations prohibiting new construction in the historic
area (practically the whole central city). So ongoing renovations
keep the houses livable. Restored canal houses can be worth millions
of dollars.
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Vondelpark
The largest park of the city, close to the Leidseplein and the big
museums and by far the most popular with visitors and locals alike,
especially during summer and on sunny winterdays. As you would expect,
the park is always alive with skaters, joggers and all sorts of street
performers. In the summer the Vondelpark open air theater stages regular
performances.
There are several bars in the park, all of course with their own outside
terrace, and Vertigo also offers good food at reasonable prices. All
in all a very pleasant place to spend a lazy sunny afternoon.
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The
Waterloo-square
The name "Waterlooplein", which translates as "Waterloo
Square", was used for the first time in 1880, when the city filled
in two canals, the "Leprozengracht" and the "Houtgracht", forming
a new square.
The original outdoor market dates from 1893 when the mostly Jewish
market, then located on and around the "Jodenbreestraat"with other
stalls on surrounding streets, was forced by the government to move
on to Waterloo Square itself. The forced move aroused some strong
feelings.
After World War II the streets surrounding Waterloo Square were empty
and deserted. The1950's marked a new time of improving prosperity
in Holland. People began to look for affordable furniture and other
houshold items. This rebirth of the Waterloo Square Flea Market continued
into the 1960's and 70's with increased American tourism, and rapidly
changing social times. Amsterdam was a magnet for hippies and their
flowerpower movement. They made "Waterlooplein"one of their main gathering
places, and the market began to offer psychedelic clothing and other
items of the times along with more and more antiques and collectibles.
In 1977 the "Waterlooplein" market was forced to temporarily relocate
to permit construction of a new Townhall at Waterloo Square on the
"Rapenburgerstraat". This caused an uproar among the market's merchants,
but nonetheless the market was moved with the promise that it could
return to new and improved quarters when the Town hall construction
was completed. The present location of the Waterloo Square Flea Market
is, as promised, located behind Amsterdam's Town Hall and is limited
to 300 stalls offering an incredible variety of items from rare books
to American blue jeans. The market is open six days a week, being
closed on Sunday.
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Madame
Tussaud
Madame Tussaud's Amsterdam Dam 20, 1012 NP Amsterdam Phone:
31-020-523-0623
The glory of Holland's Golden Age, is the focus of this unique wax
museum. Moving wax figures depict a historical journey through Holland.
The special effects help to create a vivid impression of life in Holland.
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