🇳🇱 Netherlands

Hej! I share an extract of my experience of visiting vibrant Netherlands. I was there in the spring of 2025. Below are some notes on what I tasted, saw and listened to.
Important: I only share my own experience and recommend the things I personally tried and liked. Therefore, everything written below is extremely subjective, and also does not cover all the wonderful local attributes and places ☺️.

🗺 Places: Amsterdam, Haarlem.

🏛 Top sights visited:

1. Amsterdam
   • Damrak Street (Damrak)
   • Dam Square (De Dam)
   • Spui Square (Spui)
   • The Begijnhof (Begijnhof)
   • Singel Canal (Singel)
   • The Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt)
   • Muntplein Square (Muntplein)
   • Kloveniersburgwal Canal (Kloveniersburgwal)
   • Dutch National Museum (Rijksmuseum)
   • The Red Light District (De Wallen)
2. Haarlem
   • Grote Markt (De Grote Markt)
   • Windmill de Adriaan (De Adriaan)
   • Gravestenenbrug (Gravestenenbrug)
   • Teylers Hofje (Teylershofje)
   • Amsterdamse Port (Amsterdamse Poort)
   • Koepelgevangenis (Koepelgevangenis)

🎧 Local musicians:

• 🇳🇱 André Hazes (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇳🇱 De Poema’s (band). Genre: pop
• 🇳🇱 Twarres (band). Genre: pop
• 🇳🇱 Van Dik Hout (band). Genre: pop
• 🇳🇱 Antoon (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇳🇱 Volumia! (band). Genre: pop
• 🇳🇱 Suzan & Freek (duo). Genre: pop
• 🇳🇱 Kris Kross Amsterdam (DJ band). Genre: house
• 🇺🇳 Armin van Buuren (DJ). Genre: trance
• 🇺🇳 Tiësto (DJ). Genre: house
• 🇺🇳 Ferry Corsten (DJ). Genre: trance
• 🇺🇳 Martin Garrix (DJ). Genre: big room
• 🇺🇳 Oliver Heldens (DJ). Genre: future house
• 🇺🇳 Don Diablo (DJ). Genre: future house
• 🇺🇳 Tchami (DJ). Genre: future house
• 🇺🇳 Hardwell (DJ). Genre: big room
• 🇺🇳 R3hab (DJ). Genre: electro house
• 🇺🇳 Fedde le Grand (DJ). Genre: electro house
• 🇺🇳 Nicky Romero (DJ). Genre: progressive house
• 🇺🇳 Sander van Doorn (DJ). Genre: progressive house
• 🇺🇳 Ruben de Ronde (DJ). Genre: trance
• 🇺🇳 Eelke Klejn (DJ). Genre: progressive house
• 🇺🇳 W&W (DJ duo). Genre: big room
• 🇺🇳 Vicetone (DJ duo). Genre: electro house
• 🇺🇳 Richard Durand (DJ). Genre: trance
• 🇺🇳 Joe Stone (DJ). Genre: deep house
• 🇺🇳 Sharon del Adel (singer). Genre: trance
• 🇺🇳 Kensington (band). Genre: rock

🎚️ Contribution to EDM:

• Gabber. Originated: early 1990s
• Hardstyle. Originated: late 1990s
• Uplifting Trance. Originated: mid-1990s
• Dutch House. Originated: late 2000s
• Dubstyle. Originated: late 2000s
• Big Room. Originated: late 2000s
• Jungle Terror. Originated: early 2010s
• Future Bounce. Originated: mid-2010s

🥘 Local food & drinks:

• Dutch Cheese (Nederlandse Kaas)
  • Gouda (Goudse Kaas)
  • Edam (Edam)
  • Maasdam (Maasdamer)
• Bitterballen (Bitterballen)
• Stroopwafel (Stroopwafel)
• Soused Herring (Hollandse Nieuwe)
• Kibbeling (Kibbeling)
• Poffertjes (Poffertjes)
• Jenever (Brands: “Bols Zeer Oude”)

🎬 Local movies:

• The Wild City (De Wilde Stad). Year: 2018. Genre: documentary
• Borgman (Borgman). Year: 2013. Genre: psy thriller
• The Judgement (De Veroordeling). Year: 2020. Genre: thriller
• The Columnist (De Kuthoer). Year: 2019. Genre: black comedy
• Neem me Mee (Neem me Mee). Year: 2023. Genre: comedy
• Brimstone (Brimstone). Year: 2016. Genre: thriller
• Father and Daughter (Vader en Dochter). Year: 2000. Genre: animation / short
• Daylight (Daglicht). Year: 2013. Genre: thriller

🪔 Authentic artifacts:

• Authentic Principle: Gezelligheid (Gezelligheid)
• The Skating Tradition (Het Schaatsen)
• The Cycling Tradition (Het Fietsen)
• Dutch Windmills (Windmolens)
• Dutch Canals & Polders (Kanalen & Polders)
• Delftware (Delfts Blauw)
• Authentic Garb: Dutch Bonnet & Klomps (Nederlandse Bonnet & Klompen)
• The Culture of Frisians (Friezen / Fräisen)
• The Heritage of the Dutch Republic (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden)
  • Dutch Golden Age Paintings (Nederlandse Schilderkunst in de Gouden Eeuw)
  • Dutch Baroque Architecture (Nederlandse Barokarchitectuur)

💐 National flower: [historically] Tulip (Tulp) & [officially] Daisy (Madeliefje)

🦉 Local wisdom: “Gooi nooit oude schoenen weg voordat je nieuwe hebt” / “Don’t throw away your old shoes until you have got new ones” — Dutch proverb

👨‍🎓 The oldest university: Leiden University (Universiteit Leiden), Leiden, est. 1575.