PEAKLIFE

A new experience at every corner of Holland

With the picturesque cities and streets, tranquil canals, colourful tulips, world-famous cheese, amusement parks, Holland has everything else that you can think of! Tourism continues to be a significant contributing element to Holland’s economy.

Amsterdam & Much More…

Many do not realise how quick and easy it is to visit interesting regions and cities in the Dutch country that include the cities of Zaandam and The Hague, the village of Kaatsheuvel and many other regions beyond Amsterdam. Travellers can visit the city of Rotterdam and indulge in a food safari, exploring all the culinary delights that it has to offer. It has a dynamic food scene catering to every taste, trend, and price range. Restaurant owners here aim at inspiring diners with delicious dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients supporting local suppliers.

No exploration of Rotterdam’s food scene would be complete without a visit to Witte de Withstraat, the city’s artistic hub stretching from Museumpark to the Maritime Museum. The galleries, theatres, and boutiques are interspersed with stylish cafés, including Cafe De Witte Aap and Bazar, a long-standing favourite, lit up in the exotic colours of a Middle Eastern souk.

Natural Beauty in Spring

If you’re visiting Holland in Spring, be sure to visit Keukenhof, where you will experience the gorgeous views of blooming Dutch tulips and other flowers for which Holland is famous. Keukenhof is the most famous and largest flower park in the world. Here, more than seven million flower bulbs spread over acres of land are planted every year. Gardens and four pavilions show a fantastic collection of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, carnations, irises, lilies, and many other flowers.

Ancient Dutch

For those who want to delve deeper into Dutch history, the 250-year-old windmill park of ZaanseSchans is the perfectly-fascinating open-air museum. To witness an accurate impression of life in Holland in the 17th and 18th centuries, a visit to the ZaanseSchans is a must. Travellers can also visit the windmills of Kinderdijk and Schiedam (each an hour and a half’s drive from Amsterdam), Molen de Adriaan (a 30-minute drive from Amsterdam), or Molen de Valk, a 50-minute drive from the Dutch capital.

You must also pay a visit to Efteling in Kaatsheuvel, a fantasy-themed amusement park that is extremely popular among Indians. It is open all year around and makes for a perfect tourist attraction for the whole family. Another attraction is Madurodam, less than an hour from Amsterdam and in a safe and secure environment. It offers all Dutch icons at a glance – the canal houses, the cheese market, windmills, the Peace Palace, Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House and much more. Interestingly, among all nationalities visiting Madurodam, Indians hold the majority.

An architect’s haven

Holland is home to many architectural gems that have enriched the landscape. Thanks to the creative and innovative input of Dutch architects, one can encounter a unique and beautiful construction almost anywhere in the city. The city exudes a perfect blend of traditional and classic style with high-tech and modern features in its architecture. EYE Amsterdam is the only museum in the Netherlands that is exclusively dedicated to film and moving images, and exhibits film as art, entertainment, cultural heritage, and a conveyer of information. The Cube Houses in Rotterdam were designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom in the late ’70s at the request of the city’s planners. Interestingly, the Cube Houses even form a pedestrian bridge across one of the busiest roads into the city centre. Another architectural delight, Maastoren, is the highest tower in Holland.

You can also visit Het Binnenhof in The Hague, which has been the centre of politics in the Netherlands since 1446. The place consists of a large group of historical buildings. Ridderzaal, an impressive monument of Gothic architecture that has beautiful, large windows with stained glass was built in the 13th century. The visitor’s centre of Het Binnenhof allows one to take a guided tour through the Ridderzaal.

India & Holland

For a long time, Indians have also been combining the Netherlands with the rest of Europe in their travel itineraries. NBTC aims to encourage Indian travellers to explore the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam that will enrich their experience in the Dutch country. Amsterdam has traditionally also been considered as a base by many Indian visitors to travel further in Europe. However, when a country has so much to offer, from fun-filled amusement parks to miniature cities and traditional Dutch cheese-making farms, the right positioning will help attract more long-stay guests that have many an experience awaiting them.

The Indian market continues to be one of the most important contributors of international visitors into the Netherlands and the numbers continue to rise. The country recorded a growth of 31 per cent in visitor arrivals from India in 2017, attaining a remarkable surge over the previous year.

The Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC) has confirmed recording 67,000 visitors from India until May 2018, and aims to achieve even greater numbers. NBTC is expecting 2018 to record a double-digit growth. Direct connections from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru by Jet Airways, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines beginning operations between Mumbai and Amsterdam offer an even bigger opportunity for more Indian travellers to visit the Netherlands.

To further strengthen its presence, Netherlands Tourism Office India is undertaking a number of marketing initiatives, some of which are Joint co-op advertising with travel agents like Yatra.com and Mercury Travels, Roadshows and one-on-one B2B meetings, Training of agents in Tier-I and Tier-II cities, Presence and promotions across social media and Digital marketing, Advertising in consumer publications and working closely with Jet Airways, KLM, as well as embassies, ambassadors, consul generals, etc., through joint initiatives.

Amsterdam has always been considered the backbone of tourism in Holland, with its network of historic canals, beautiful museums, and pleasant ambience. That said, it’s not all that Holland has to offer. It is a beautiful, charming country that attracts visitors from India and beyond, all year round. It has a host of less-visited cities and towns that are worth a stop.