One of the things that I love about living in the Netherlands is the fact that it is such a short drive to other countries. The Netherlands is a hop, skip and a jump away from different cultures waiting to be discovered.New experiences waiting to be had. I had spent most of my life living on a big island before I moved here, so it’s something I had never had.
Trips Over the Border
These days I can be in Germany on my bike in ten minutes. We’re a short car trip away from Belgium, and motoring a little further brings us into France or Luxembourg.
We have made some great trips over the years I have been living here. Weekends enjoying the peace of the Ardennes, the bustle of Brussels and the beauty of Bruges. A city break in Paris and a Christmas at Euro Disney. Holidays to Legoland Germany, a day trip to Movie World and the magical atmosphere and Glühwein of the Christmas markets in Aachen and Dusseldorf. We also celebrated an unexpectedly snowy birthday in Monschau in the German Eifel.
Wonderful experiences almost on our doorstep and all wildly different to the landscape and culture of the Netherlands.
Smaller Scale Country
Growing up in a country where it took us five hours to get to my grandparents (okay, three if my dad was driving the whole way), the Netherlands is a nice change. It feels that everything is close at hand – even ‘foreign’ countries.
Of course, in the UK you can reach Wales and Scotland by car, but both are still a long drive from the south of England (and I confess I have never actually been to Scotland).
For the Americans living here in the Netherlands, I can imagine the feeling that everything is very close by must be stronger still!
Dutch Coastline
I also love the fact that whilst other cultures are within easy reach to the south and east, there are also miles (or kilometers I should say) of coastline to visit, with some truly unique regions to experience.
Hopping to the Dutch islands (see my post about Texel) made me feel like I really was taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life in the Randstad, even within the confines of a day trip. Whilst on Texel I had to keep reminding myself that I was still on Dutch soil; it felt like we had gone ‘abroad’. I felt the same way during a recent trip to Callantsoog, though the influx of Germans did help it feel like we were abroad!
Big ‘Cities’
And then of course there are the big cities. These provide a cultural feast for hungry visitors: Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague and surrounding places such as Delft and Gouda.
The west of the Netherlands is a contrast to the east and north, where culture and language differences reign.
Final Words
The Netherlands may be small, but we all know it’s not size that matters. For me this little Dutch nation really is a majestic gateway to amazing travel and cultural experiences. And to boot it harbours its own fair share of gems to visit!
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