The Netherlands

[Still Mulling]

Hi All. We are hopping on a ferry in a few weeks time to the Hook of Holland. Going by foot, so will be on public transport on the other side.

Please can we have recommendations for nice places to eat (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and visit in:

- The Hague (Louwman Museum already on the list!)
- Amsterdam
- Haarlem

The cities’ websites, understandably, list the tourist hotspots: we’re seeking recommendations from experience that won’t be overcrowded! (Or at least worth the crowding…)

Also, is there a weekly travel card we could get for a family to avoid having to buy tickets for the train and metro at every journey?

Thanks in advance!

[Jazoli]

Haarlem is really nice, we stayed there a couple of weeks back, just head to the centre/square, there s a really good Italian and Chinese to the right of the big church, and the best ice cream shop ever just a street behind it.

There s also a Korean street food shop to the left of the church, that was very good also (but messy) next to the Irish bar (which is to be avoided)

There is plenty of choice for every budget and taste.

I’m not sure about a travel card, I just used the NL app for trains and you just tap on and off the trams with a card or phone/watch.

[Still Mulling]

Thanks, Jazoli. We’ll also be staying in Haarlem

[Jader1973]

For Amsterdam get a transport card if you want to use the trams / busses etc.

Although we were there 3 weeks ago and pretty much walked everywhere. Jordaan is worth wandering about - it is less touristy than the bits closer in (although I’m told it has changed a lot in the last few years).

NS trains are dead easy - the journey planning website is great and the ticket machine have an English option.

We went out to Zaanse Schans to see the windmills which was nice to do. It’s a train trip from Centraal. Get there early (it gets busy once the bus trips start arriving) and for lunch go to Wolfsend which is on the way back to the station.

Amsterdam is great - we’ve been twice and I’d happily go again.

[Still Mulling]

Lovely. Thanks, Jader

That’s windmills outlined. Has anybody visited tulips and clogs? Each on other family members’ lists.

[oddball1313]

Still Mulling said:

Lovely. Thanks, Jader

That s windmills outlined. Has anybody visited tulips and clogs? Each on other family members lists.

The Windmills are a nice trip out on the Marshes.If you want to go to the tulips at Keukenhof (certainly in spring) you need to pre book

We had breakfast a few times at this great little cafe

https://greenwoods.eu/

[Still Mulling]

Thanks, oddball

[Jader1973]

Still Mulling said:

Lovely. Thanks, Jader

That s windmills outlined. Has anybody visited tulips and clogs? Each on other family members lists.

Tulips were gone by the time we visited (July).

The place with the windmills is a living museum and has a clog workshop: https://www.woodenshoes.nl/

In Amsterdam, each of the main canals has loads of bars / cafes / restaurants dotted along them and a lot have canal side seating.

Try Stroopwafel from Hans Egstorft (very sweet) and if you just want a pre-made sandwiches or baguettes then there are Jumbos dotted about the city (like a Tesco Express).

[Still Mulling]

Great, thank you. Lost building nicely

Has anybody any recommendations for The Hague?

[abzmike]

The Hague is very pleasant to wander round and not as hectic as Amsterdam. Loads of bars and restaurants of all kinds.
The beach at Scheveningen is nice, especially in the evenings for a crawl along the bars. Madurodam sounds cheesy as a model village, but actually worth while visiting.

[Sway]

Loetje (there's a few, from small little restaurants to one on the 'docklands' part of Amsterdam that's much larger and more bougie) - have the steak sambal.

I very rarely order a steak when out. Even less likely to have a sauce.

I will travel a decent distance to go to Loetje for a steak sambal...

They developed their own 'margerine' recipe to ensure it had the animal fats and proteins after their (big brand) supplier started switching to veg fats... If that gives an idea of how seriously they take it!