A traveller hardly needs an ‘excuse’ to travel, but it is nice to have one anyway. Mine was soon-to-expire air miles. So my wife and I planned a visit to The Netherlands. Our friend, Martin, invited us, and the tulip season (which lasts only four weeks a year) gave us a compelling reason to go.
Tulips everywhere Holland is the largest flower exporter in the world, and certainly has a reputation to hold in the field of horticulture. The tulip bulb has bloomed in the Dutch landscape for four centuries, and attracts millions of visitors each spring. Vast fields of tulips, narcissi, hyacinths and crocuses create an exceptional spectacle of colour. Keukenhof in Lisse is arguably the most beautiful spring garden in the world and receives over a million visitors every year. It boasts of six million bulbs in bloom during the two months it is opened for. Just 20 kms from Amsterdam, it is considered one of the most photogenic tourist spots in the world. The gardens are indeed one of the prettiest in the world not just for flowers, but the sculptures, layout, water bodies, gazebos, glass houses, restaurant, and last but not the least— birds and swans.
Sea-facing charms Almost 40 per cent of the land area of Holland lies beneath sea level. That explains why the Dutch have a rich tradition of battling the rising sea water. The country has hundreds of kilometers of strong dykes to protect against the North Sea. Nature also lends a hand in the form of many dunes along the sea. We started our five day trip with Nordwijk, a cute little town on the sea side. Cafes, restaurants, shops lining the ocean front with elegant places to stay add to the charm of this place. The sunset was soothing, and happened nearly at 9pm!
Windmill story The windmills not only present the most unique feature of the Dutch landscape, but also play a major role in the water management system of the country. We were lucky to visit the interiors of a windmill on ‘Windmill Day’. It is the only day in the year when windmills are open for tourists to visit. Windmills were traditionally used to grind corn and protect against flooding, but over the years, many of them have been turned into museums, restaurants and even homes! We visited one which is still functional for water management as well serving as a home for a retired couple living in the countryside, not far from Amsterdam. The family memorabilia, old furniture, traditional heating and plumbing systems—still functioning perfectly — were a treat to see. There used to be about 9,000 mills all over the country powered by water or by wind, but now there are about 1,600 which are preserved as inheritance.
Say cheese The Dutch are second to none when it comes to preserving their traditions and handicrafts. One example is the The Alkmaar Cheese Market. Alkmaar is close to Amsterdam, and is a historical city like most others in Holland. Tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world visit Alkmaar for the unique spectacle of its Friday Cheese Market. The bright yellow cheese ‘cakes’ all over the church front, along with hauling cheese carriers have been there since 1622. The market takes place on Waagplien, with a majestic cathedral in the background, a canal on one side, shops and restaurants all around; it was my favourite spot of the trip. Traditionally clothed men and women were a really special sight — some busy with business, while others were keeping the crowds in good humour. The stalls around the courtyard sell a large variety of cheese which one can buy alongside other traditional Dutch crafts, including the famous wooden shoes.The bell rings at the stroke of 10, often done by a visitor, and business starts, the same way as centuries ago, with large manual weighing scales, shouting prices, bargaining claps. It felt like a stage drama in modern Europe, but was, in fact, real commerce preserved through the ages. By 12.30pm, all the business was done and the square was cleared to make way for cafe seating.
Within minutes life slid back to normal, with the tourists enjoying sumptuous international cuisine, quaint shops, cobbled streets and cute cafes.
Writer is CEO of The Furniture Republic who loves to double up his business travels as opportunities for world exploration
