Lukas Coevering | Amsterdam is nice, but also visit these three places in the Netherlands
International students should leave Amsterdam more to visit other parts of the Netherlands, columnist Lukas Coevering writes. After all, it’s such a small country that is easily traveled. In this column, he gives three tips on where to go.
As an international student in Amsterdam, I’ve noticed that my peers coming in from abroad don't get out of the city much at all. That is surprising. The Netherlands is the most densely populated country in the EU. There is probably not a place in Europe where you can travel so little and see so much. In fact, to prove it and encourage more internationals to explore the Netherlands, this article will outline three places, no further than an hour away from Amsterdam, that will give you the perfect day-trip adventure.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second most populous city in the Netherlands and looks like the polar opposite of Amsterdam. Having been destroyed during the German invasion in the Second World War, you enter an urban jungle of skyscrapers and concrete right as you leave Central Station. It’s not the prettiest place to live, but it’s certainly interesting to visit.
My ideal day through the city would start with a stroll down Coolsingel. Walking from Stationsplein, you can pass the city hall, one of the few preserved older buildings in the center. From there, you can walk through the city center and towards Museumpark. Here, a garden adorned with modern architecture is surrounded by all kinds of creative institutions that form a Mecca of modernism. My favorites are the Chabot Museum and House Zonneveld, where collections of art and furniture from the 20th century fill two white 1930s modernist villas.
After some appreciation of the arts, you can head west to get some great food in the Stadsdriehoek neighborhood. As you do, exploring the lively Witte de Withstraat and walking along the waterfront to see the Erasmusbrug will give you a real sense of the atmosphere and scale of the city. Once you arrive, you can check out all the classic sights like the famous market hall, the modernist catholic church ‘Het Steiger’, and the cube houses with their funky architecture. However, instead of eating at the overpriced market hall, I would get delicious authentic ramen at ‘Hinoki’ with some Asahi-brand Japanese beer. If you want to try some really nice cocktails at a classy venue, the cocktail bar ‘Jigger’ is the way to go. If beer’s more your thing, ending the night at Locus Publicus is a great option too. Just remember when your last train leaves before you let loose!
Waterland
For most international students, ‘Dutch nature’ is only an abstract concept that has yet to be observed. However, it is certainly there, and it’s literally just north of the ring road of Amsterdam, though perhaps with fewer trees than you may have imagined. Just north of the ring road, you will find Waterland. To bike to the municipality’s main town, called Broek in Waterland (literally meaning pants in water-land), it’ll take you just under 50 minutes from REC. However, many more villages nearby are even closer, so head north and explore those on the way. Here, the trip is about the journey; the destination is less important. Grab your bike, and enjoy the cows, sheep, and goats roaming free among the polders. You can stop by ‘Geitenhouderij Ons Verlangen,’ a little farm vending machine with fresh milk and produce (it’s like FEBO for dairy and meat).
Alternatively, you can go to the cafe ‘Het Schoolhuis’ in Holysloot for a great apple pie with a view of the surrounding fields. After stopping by either or both of those, making it to Broek in Waterland gives you the best options, with a few cafes, an ice cream shop, old wooden Dutch houses, and a beautiful old church to wander through. Everything is lovely in Waterland; pick a route and start riding!
