Holland is the best country! (Netherlands)

Member Name: mizzy

Product:	Netherlands
Date:	26/04/09 (88 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly, english speaking

Disadvantages: Dont be late!

The Netherlands or Holland has to be one of my favourite countries that Ive visited so far.

Its next to Belgium and Germany, with one side of it a great coastline with some lovely beach towns.

They speak Dutch, which Im learning at Uni at the moment as an elective. Im on a first so far, though theres an exam tomorow!

My partner is Dutch, so thats one reason why I have visited it twice. The first time was a bit overwhelming as I didnt speak any dutch, and although everyone can speak english, they dont always want to.

The second time I went it was loads better as I could speak more dutch and understand a lot more than before. I could join in with conversations, and everyone I met was impressed!

I have been to Amsterdam for a weekend, its a lovely town with some sinister sides like the large red light district and a huge amount of coffee shops. Coffee shops are legal places to smoke cannabis or get magic mushrooms. Its frowned upon to smoke cannabis walking around, you wouldnt want your kids smelling that if you lived there!

I have also been to Rotterdam briefly, which I didnt like. Its like a scarier version of London, the buildings are all 70s concrete and theres a large number of gangsta looking people watching you menacingly.

The town of Delft is very pretty and well worth a visit, its near the Hague and not that long a trip from Amsterdam airport.

A place that I want to visit in the future is Scheivenigen which is a beach town near the Hague. It looks very pretty in photos and sort of like an up market Brighton.

Theres a really low crime rate, I know that a lot of people in villages can leave their doors open over night and it doesnt matter. Obviously dont do this in the larger towns.

Dutch people are always friendly and welcoming. However they dont do fashionably late, always be on time if invited round for dinner or anything. The trains and buses are always on time, and the people working on them are very friendly and helpful.
Keep out of the ways of trams, bikes have right of way, but pedestrians have no chance.
Learn to ride a bike, its a major form of transport, and as the land is so flat its a great way to keep fit and to get around. Most bikes dont have gears, and some dont even have brakes, just peddle backwards.
Dutch people might seem like they are very rude but they are just direct and speak their mind, they dont really do subtlty!

If you do go to Holland try and learn a few words of Dutch like thankyou - Dank u or dank je wel. Please - alstublieft. tasty - lekker. Can I have the bill - Mag ik de rekening.

Good luck in your Dutch learning!

Summary: great country