Netherlands Secrets – just a stone’s throw away
I will be honest with you right away: There is a relatively high chance that you already know some of these places because they are far too beautiful to be a secret – but I have to recommend them anyway.
Let’s start with the first place you shouldn’t miss: Callantsoog. The seaside village, which only has about 2,000 inhabitants, is situated in North Holland. From Amsterdam, it takes you approximately 1 ½ hour to get there.
So if you’re in the Netherlands’ capital and during your stay, you feel like the sunny weather is better for the beach than for a city tour, it is the perfect destination for a spontaneous day trip. Callantsoog’s city square, Dorpsplein, is located right behind the dunes and is surrounded by small shops and several cafes and restaurants. During the summer months, there are a few small events and markets, too. Also found here is the ‘Museumboerderij Tante Jaantje’, a typical West Frisian farmhouse. It is still in its original style, showing the way of life as well as working tools from around 1900, and is only open to visitors during July and August. The best attraction however is the stunning beach. You can walk along the coast for hours, or maybe hire a horse at the nearby riding school. If you feel like that’s enough activity for a day, you can sit down at the ‘Strandpaviljoen De Toko’ with a ‘Heineken’ beer and enjoy the gorgeous view, or try out some tasty regional specialities like ‘Frikandel’ or ‘Pannekoeken’. If you want to go even further north, you can head to Den Helder and take the ferry to Texel, with over 13,000inhabitants it is the most populated of the West Frisian Islands. It has an interesting military history, being involved in battles during the First and Third Anglo-Dutch War as well as the First World War. Several picturesque villages, such as Den Burg and De Koog, are situated on the island and offer a calm atmosphere and charming shops.
The island is ideal for cycling tours as one third is a protected nature reserve with fascinating wildlife. Another town not far off the beaten track is Breda, only 30 minutes by train from Rotterdam in the south. Charles II of England lived here during a few of his years in exile after being defeated by Oliver Cromwell in 1651. The delightful city contains many old buildings like the Castle of Breda, which was where the British and French peace talks to end the Austrian War of Succession took place from 1746 to 1748.
Other interesting sights are the Grote Kerk (Large Church), the Begijnhof (Beguinage) and the harbour. Maybe take some time to stroll around the city centre, enjoying the charm of small shops, or sit down in one of the numerous cafes around the Grote Markt (city square). The Park Valkenberg has a quiet ambience perfect for a relaxing stroll. Oh, and don’t be confused if you visit Breda on the first weekend of September and see thousands of Redheads running around in the same T-Shirt – the annual Redhead Day takes place during that time. The festival is a chance for natural red-haired people from all over the world to meet up and features workshops and shows. It is free and everybody can attend, whether you have red hair or just want to enjoy watching creative art and performances...well and interesting people, I suppose.
Last but not least, a suggestion for the foodies: In the summer months, there is a traditional cheese market in Alkmaar, only 40 minutes by train from Amsterdam. The well-known spectacle attracts locals and tourists every Friday mid-morning and is actually a demonstration, where you can’t buy any cheese but just watch. For everybody who is starting to think I must have completely lost my mind now: No, I am not recommending driving there only to food watch; in fact, there are many stalls around the event where you can buy and try as much cheese as you want to, in all varieties and shapes. As Lawrence Block said, “Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” Happy exploring everybody!