Story by Estela Gonzalez📍Amsterdam
There are many magical places around the world. Among them is the Netherlands. The Netherlands is full of picturesque spots, enlightening the Dutch inhabitant’s day. There’s always a perspective you may have missed in a place where you’ve already been, and that simple encounter with newfound beauty can really make one’s day. Regardless of if you live in the capital, Rotterdam, or the many other towns that this country has, chances are you’ll find many common things in all of them. The architecture we find in Holland is beloved and preserved and that gives an appreciable sense of community — one that feels devoted to the arts and creating a good space for others.
One of the things that I was most curious about when I first came here was finding that almost all houses with decorations in the windows had their decoration facing the street rather than their own rooms. Decoration in houses is normally seen as a tool one can use to make their space better. But when you wander through the streets here, you can always find that many houses (if not all) have their decorations facing the street. Most streets are quite similar, but these can really be distinguished because of their window decor. To me, it’s like magic. Dutch neighbourhoods are full of personality. You never know what you’ll find in the next window.
Living in such a magical place makes me wonder if one of our main focuses this year should be trying to relive what we love in the places we’ve missed the most. Clearly, we’ve felt the lack of people and activities and we’re all starting to feel the necessity of doing those things we haven’t been able to do during this time under lockdown. Often, that implies that we feel the necessity of going out to explore and discover, reliving experiences in places we love and gathering with people we’ve missed. Therefore, we should all plan some fun trips and activities — doing them as soon as we can during this year!
There’re many hidden spots I’ve discovered throughout the Netherlands, but these ones will never disappoint you. They radiate personality and vibrant vibes!
Amsterdamse Bos:
The construction of this forest started around 1934. It is inspired by the typical English landscapes where fun activities were at the center of design. Normally, Dutch parks were arranged where one could simply have a nice walk around. The fact that you could relax, do activities, and have a nice walk at this British style park was revolutionary at the time. The architects from the Amsterdam School, a Dutch movement that arose around 1910, decided to take that inspiration and create a forest that was breathless and utilitarian as well.
Amsterdamse bos is three times bigger than Central Park and is well-known across the Netherlands. It has many activities such as summer theatre programmes and sports. Going there for a walk guarantees an amazing time. It offers perfect spots for people to relax and think about their future and objectives, something we all kind of need after 2020.
Ouderkerk aan de Amstel:
Located in the south west area of Amsterdam, this small town is one of my favourite places around the city. I’ve been able to find a mystic and quiet environment really typical of Dutch villages. It has a new part and a historic centre, which is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen so far here. Spending a nice morning in this town is definitely a must. And if it’s sunny, you can enjoy the warmth of the sun sitting next to the river with your cup of coffee.
Delft:
If you love Amsterdam but prefer a quieter place where you can enjoy the same vibe, then you should really visit Delft.
Delft is a lovely little city near The Hague with a vibrant artistic scene and beautiful walks that have existed since the 13th century. Like most historic places, this city suffered a great fire and an explosion that caused terrible damage to the population and architecture. This is also remembered because it took away one of the most brilliant pupils of Rembrandt as well as almost all his art works: Carel Fabritius.
Nowadays, Delft is one of the most vibrant cities in the Netherlands, and it really should be visited (and revisited) many times since it always offers something new to discover. My personal advice before visiting it would be to dig a bit into its history and art since you can even find the burial of Johannes Vermeer in this city.
Weesp:
Weesp is located in North Holland and it’s pretty easy to get there from Amsterdam by the frequently running busses and trains. This municipality is one of my favourite places I’ve discovered so far since I’ve moved here. Despite being so close to the south of Amsterdam, which normally is seen as an industrial and office area, it’s a really traditional Dutch city. Especially in Summer, there’s an incredible vibe, full of cafés and benches near the river. This place is magical also because of the peace you can find throughout.
Furthermore, Holland’s chocolate factories are pretty famous. A funny anecdote is that, even though it may sound impossible, when riding from Amsterdam to Weesp by bike, it’s common to be surrounded by the chocolaty smell. This has happened to me already many times: The first time was when I was riding to Zaanse Schans, another incredible spot to visit, although also pretty well-known. This made my ride even more special (although it’s also pretty common to find it mixed with the smell of farms).
I strongly encourage people in the Netherlands, and those ones who are planning to visit, to explore these places. I can assure you will be pleasantly surprised. We all need some inspiration sometimes, and sharing the genuine inspiration we gather from places such as these ones is a beautiful social phenomenon to participate in. Let’s all try to find more magic in our days.
Join the Unfound community here ❤
