We tripppppping: The Netherlands Travel Review
By Arthur Ogden
People:
The Dutch are, as expected and portrayed by stereotypes, some of the kindest. Because a lot of major cities like Utrecht are filled with college students from abroad, almost everyone under fifty speaks English, making for an easy transition for first-time travelers. It is nice to have a translator though, because those who are advanced in age don’t mess around. For example, I never would have known that two women we shared a table with had been making fun of our voices to our faces if it was not for my Dutch-speaking friend.
Food:
This may not be true for all Dutch citizens, but the friends we were staying with loved to eat. It may have been all the walking but it seemed that every couple hours we were once again sitting in a restaurant eating Bitterballen (which are fried balls of thick meat stew, and delicious). We didn’t try many of the Netherlands' famous foods beyond Stroopwafels and Dutch Frites (thick-cut fries), which are also delicious, especially with mayo which I’d never tried until our trip. Now I’ve completely rejected ketchup in its presence. But the food we got was most often very good, and mostly consisted of meats and cheeses, which always go well together.
Art Scene:
While the Netherlands has some lovely museums, their art scene isn’t as diverse or widespread as in some other countries. Their paintings from across history are wonders of influence and style, but out on the streets, you don't see such a prevalence of dance, theater or music as you would in the US. Nevertheless, I heavily recommend the Van Gogh museum, having such beautiful works of art and information about Van Gogh’s life. We weren’t able to visit the Rijksmuseum, but it’s equally a sight to behold, with pieces like The Night Watch and The Milkmaid.
Overall: The Netherlands is a smooth transition from the US in terms of language, as well as being highly navigable. It’s very train-centric as far as transportation, so it’s easy to get around from place to place. The cities are quaint with beautiful architecture, and the countryside is lovely even in the rain (which we experienced a lot). Most areas are walkable, and while the food wasn’t particularly extraordinary, it was consistently enjoyable. After seeing the giant miffy statue in Utrecht, or the billions of sheep on the countryside, I think the Netherlands has to be a recommendation from me.