Culture
If you have some spare time, visit one of the Netherlands many museums, festivals or events. Below you'll find some suggestions, but of course this is just a small part of all there is to see and do. Too much to mention, so the suggestions below are a selection of musea, festivals and events in the four largest cities in the Netherlands: Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.Of course there are a lot more cities worth visiting, for example Leiden, Gouda or Delft. If you want to know more about the things to see and to do in the Netherlands, pay a visit to the VVV Rotterdam tourist information office or to Use-it Rotterdam.
For more information about museums visit the www.museumserver.nl
ROTTERDAM
This city with almost 600,000 inhabitants and home of the world's largest port has a modern centre, with skyscrapers and innovative architecture. Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands.
Museums
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen: Art collections from middle ages to mid 19th century and modern art. Some interesting industrial design artefacts can be seen on the groundfloor. WEDNESDAY IS FOR FREE! Many events on their homepage.
Kunsthal: Changing exhibitions with photography, design, fashion art etc. The Kunsthal was designed by dutch famous architect Rem Koolhaas.
Netherlands Architecture Institute NAI: Past and present developments in architecture and urban design. The institute has one of the largest architectural collections in the world. Little Bookshop when you enter the building with useful books about Dutch architecture and some international architecture.
Nederlandsfotomuseum: the right place to see contemporary photography! It is located on Kop-van-Zuid passing the Erasmusbridge going south and to the right. There is also the Hotel New York in the same street where people boarded on the ships to the new world (New York) buying tickets there at the former Holland America Line!
Festivals and events
International Film Festival Rotterdam / IFFR The International Film Festival Rotterdam is one of the most spectacular cultural events in the Netherlands. During 10 days over 200 films are shown at different cinemas in Rotterdam.Be quick with the tickets, you need to stand in line early enough to get some! Some can be purchased directly on the homepage. Watch out for the Tiger!
Metropolis: Free open-air pop event with national and international acts on three stages.
North Sea Jazz Festival: Approximately 1200 musicians performing jazz and jazz-related music at 15 venues.
World Harbour Festival: Maritime, cultural and educational activities to get to know the Rotterdam harbour. Finishes with big fireworks on the Maas, can be watched from Erasmusbrug / Willemskade and the tribune at theHolland Amerikakade (Wilhelminapier).
Tourist highlight Euromast: The Euromast is a 185 meters tall tower with a rotating elevator called Space Adventure. Great panoramic view of Rotterdam!
AMSTERDAM
This is the capital of the Netherlands, with about 730,000 inhabitants. It's famous for it's many canals.The Amsterdam Hirstorical Museum tells the history of Amsterdam. The museum has a large collection of art and artefacts.
At the Anne Frank House in the centre of Amsterdam you can see the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during World War Two. The original of the diary is on display.
NewMetropolis / NEMO Educational attractions which take you on a journey between fantasy and reality. The building looks like a green ship.
Festivals & events www.iamamsterdam.com
International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam / IDFA: During one week (alternative) films and documentaries are shown, at five different locations.
Uitmarkt Opening of the cultural season. Various artists (music and theatre) present the program for the coming year.
Another Tourist highlight are the Canal tours offered from Lovers: If you want to see Amsterdam from the canals, make a canal cruise on a waterbus. The tour boats leave from Central Station and also from near the Rijksmuseum.
Not in the mood for anything? Hang out at the beautiful Parks and Gardens of Amsterdam The Vondelpark is the place where young people use to hang out on sunny days. Also try out the Botanical gardens!
THE HAGUE
The Hague is called City of Peace and Justice as they host 15 International and European organisations (including the International Court of Justice inside the Peace Palace)and 46 NGO's. The Dutch government and the parliament building are situated in The Hague. Queen Beatrix works in the city palace but lives in a castle called Huis ten Bosch Palace.
All information can be found in English on the portal of the City of The Hague. The city is also famous for the large Scheveningen Beach and Kijkduin resort. The Tourist Information Den Haagis found beside DUDOK Cafe at Hofweg 1 (opposite the entrance to theBinnenhof castle) and is opened from Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The absolutely must-do when coming to The Hague is visiting the miniature world of MADURODAM wheremost of the cities and attractive areas like the Schiphol airport or theMaassluis ecluse can be adored in 1:25. Tram number 9 will get youthere from Den Haag Centraal Station.
M.C. Escher Museum: step into the world of Optical illusion from this famours dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher who applied the techniques of a woodcut and a lithograph.
Mauritshuis 17th century building housing a collection of Dutch and Flemish art. have you seen the film The Girl with the Pearlearring? Well that painting is in here!
Parkpop Open-air music festival during one day, with two stages and a dance-area. Parkpop is the largest free music festival in Europe.
Koninginnenach Party in the centre of the city on the evening and night before Queensday.
UTRECHT This city in the heart of the country is famous for its canals. The city has about 235,000 inhabitants
Museums
National museum "from music clock to steel organ " Automatic musical instruments (15th-20th century) like carillon clocks, music boxes, steel-, fairground-, and dance hall organs are to be found at this museum. The instruments are demonstrated during guided hours.
Universiteitsmuseum Instruments, art objects and educational materials illustrate the development of science throughout the centuries. Important periods from the history of natural science, medical science, zoology, geology and dental surgery are shown.Festivals & events
Dutch Filmfestival At the start of the theatre- and film season, Dutch films and documentaries are shown, during 10 days. U-DanceDance music at the squares of Utrecht centre.
Tourist highlight Dome tower [Dutch: Domtoren] When you walk up the 465 steps, you'll have a great view on the city.
This museum about train history- Spoorwegmuseum - has been a former trainsstation, Maliebaan, you can connect from Utrecht Centraal directly to the platform within the museum! Adults and children welcome.