Are you needing a #Summer holiday but not sure whether to choose a beach destination or a city with culture? The city dwellers of #Amsterdam enjoy a fantastic beach resort, less than 30 minutes away by train. So, don´t rule out a city break in favour of a prime beach destination when you can have both. Amsterdam is a colourful place to visit and the people here are friendly, helpful and welcoming which when planning a holiday to a new destination are really important qualities. The city has a canal running through its centre and each side is lined with rows of ornate buildings that lean in at the top towards the water. They are colourful and have narrow staircases and large windows. Which can be challenging to the locals when they are moving in large items of furniture, a pulley and rope system is still seen on the fronts of many of the buildings – but we are in the flat pack age – thankfully. There are little streets that branch off from this central canal and each one has quaint shops selling coffee and cake, sweets, jewellery and clothing. You can spend several hours just sitting at a canal side café, people watching. There is plenty of places of interest in Amsterdam that might give you respite from the Summer sun. And if you are interested in Art then this city has many museums that houses pieces of art by famous artists. The main draw for art lovers is the house of Vincent Van Gogh that is now a museum and gallery showing his many pieces of art and telling the history of his life. Anne Franks home is also a place to visit. There is nothing better on a warm, sunny day than taking to the water. In Amsterdam you can cruise down the canal on sight seeing barges that give you the opportunity to see all that this city has to offer or you can hire a pedalo and go at your own pace. You are encouraged to cycle in Amsterdam and hiring bikes is very easy to do and the cycle lanes are excellent, this is a good way to see the inner city and find unusual places to enjoy some lunch. Travelling by train from Amsterdam´s central station is a very organised affair and within 30 minutes you could be on the most stunning beach, in the area known as Zandvoort. #Zandvoort aan Zee, simply called Amsterdam´s Beach is a long stretch of golden sand and clear, blue water. It is not just a stretch of beach in the middle of nowhere, the area has pavilions, shops and many cafés and even nightclubs. It is a great place for all the family to enjoy and it never gets too crowded. There is a little museum here called Jutters Museum and it pays homage to beachcombers who used to earn a living by selling the things they found on the beach. The most fascinating finds are messages in bottles that have been washed up from all over the world. Maybe you should send one before you go, it might turn up on Zandvoort beach. For the fast car lover, there is an attraction called Circuit Park Zandvoort which hosts many events and is well worth a visit. The beach is lined by a long promenade where you will find many places to eat and drink, the facilities are excellent and you will not need to bring a picnic to this beach. If you take a short trip further down the coast you will arrive at Bloemendaal aan Zee, which is a sophisticated beach resort with large pavilions that host beach parties. When the music starts the fun-loving beach goers, dance into the small hours to the latest beats from well known disc jockeys that give this beach a real Ibiza vibe. So from the friendly, colourful city of Amsterdam to it´s stunning coast hugging beaches, it´s culture and history, it is a well-rounded, fresh Summer city destination. Created by Margaret Tully
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 07:00:01 +0000
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