Family Holidays: The Netherlands family holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Why

Most people seem to travel to the Netherlands only to go to Amsterdam (see elsewhere on this website) and that is a pity as there is so much else to see here. It is a country which shouldn’t really exist – half of it lies beneath or at sea level and its history is of reclaimed land, battles with the sea, battles on the sea and living off the sea. It is a unique place and full of unique landscape; miles of dunes and unspoilt beaches, canals and waterways, flat fields stretching into the distance punctuated only by the occasional windmill. The towns are full of character and history and the people (all of whom seem to speak exceptional English) are very welcoming.

Do

Visit Delft, a lovely city, famous of course for its delicate blue and white porcelain, but also a place of pretty gabled buildings, historic churches and waterways. A delightful place to base yourselves outside the madness of Amsterdam.

Rent bikes at Hoge Veluwe, a large and scenic National Park, Southeast of Amsterdam. Chase your children around between the various art galleries and scenic spots; there is an underground natural history museum and the world famous Kroller – Muller museum which houses a large number of Van Goghs.

Surprisingly Maastricht is one of the nicest places in the Netherlands, famously mainly for the many edicts that come from there, it is a cosmopolitan town squished into a corner between Belgium and Germany and seeming to exemplify the best of all three places. It is one of the oldest towns in the country and full of little bridges, fast flowing rivers, ancient churches and cafes. Take your children there to brush up on their language lessons.

Eat

Dutch food is mainly of the plain, filling variety; meat, fish, potatoes, pancakes, stews. Brits will feel right at home, there is also though, as legacy to its colonial past, the best Indonesian food outside of Asia. The beer is rightly famous, coffee is excellent and your children will be pleased to hear that nothing rivals a hot chocolate here.