Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Alongside its graceful canals and gabled houses, Amsterdam offers such world-class sights as the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Sample shore excursion: Windmills & Edam.

Van Gogh Museum

As well as the bright colours of his palette, Vincent van Gogh is known throughout the world for his productivity, and that's reflected in the 200 paintings and 500 drawings that form part of the permanent exhibition here. In addition to this collection, there are also examples of his Japanese prints and works by the likes of Toulouse-Lautrec that add perspective to Van Gogh's own artistic efforts.

After a major and impressive refurbishment, the enlarged Rietveld building remains the home base for the permanent collection, while the new wing by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa is usually the home to temporary exhibitions that focus on Van Gogh's contemporaries and his influence on other artists. These shows are assembled from both the museum's own extensive archives and private collections. Do yourself a favour and get there early in the morning, though: the queues in the afternoon can get frustratingly long, and the gallery unbearably busy. And it's worth noting that Friday evenings often feature lectures, concerts and films.
Van Gogh Museum details

Address Paulus Potterstraat 7Area Museum Quarter
Transport Tram 2, 3, 5, 12

Telephone 570 5200
Van Gogh Museum website

Open 10am-6pm Mon-Thur, Sat, Sun; 10am-10pm Fri.

Admission €10; €2.50 13s-17s; free under-13s, MK; exhibition prices vary.

Museum of Hermitage St Petersburg

Hermitage Amsterdam is the biggest satellite museum of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. It is located in a beautiful building, ‘Amstelhof’, along the Amstel river. The bountiful collection of well over three million objects in the parent museum guarantee fabulous exhibitions with amazing works of art

Exhibitions at Hermitage Amsterdam

The main exhibition is temporary and changes every 6 months. Hermitage Amsterdam also has two permanent presentations. One illustrates the long relationship between Russia and the Netherlands, the other focuses on the history of the building Amstelhof, which was a home for the elderly for 324 years.

Russian History in Amsterdam

If you’re not planning on visiting St. Petersburg, the Hermitage Amsterdam enables you to drink in some Russian art, history and culture. Take your time to enjoy the fabulous exhibitions of the biggest satellite museum of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is located on the ‘Dam’ (Dam Square) in Amsterdam. It is one of the three palaces still used by the Royal Family.
The Royal Palace in Amsterdam isn’t Queen Beatrix’s place of residence, but she occasionally receives important guests here. You’ll know when, because the Dutch flag will fly over the Palace.

History of the Royal Palace
The 350 year old Palace started as the City Hall of Amsterdam. In 1808 Napoleon Bonaparte transformed it into a Palace, which it has remained ever since. However, when you enter the Palace you can still see the building’s original function.
The Royal Palace is open to public most of the time. Visitors can admire the marble floors, magnificent paintings, delicate sculptures, gigantic chandeliers, plus an annual exhibition.

Royal Palace Museum

The exhibitions and interior design of the Royal Palace are worth a visit. The one-hour tours are strongly recommended, but you must make reservations at least two weeks ahead.

Tropenmuseum Amsterdam
Exciting and unusual objects from around the world are gathered in the ‘Tropenmuseum’. The museum is a mix of ethnography with popular and contemporary art. With a collection of more than 340.000 objects and historical photographs the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam is one of Europe’s leading ethnographic museums.

Welcome in a World of Stories
The Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam has thousands of objects on display in the museum’s nine permanent and a few temporary exhibitions. The objects tell stories of different countries, backgrounds and people. Some stories focus on the journey the object made before it arrived in Amsterdam.

Tropenmuseum Junior

Worlds come together in the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam. Children are also welcome: participate in an interactive exhibition in the Tropenmuseum Junior. The Tropenmuseum is located in one of the finest historic buildings in Amsterdam.

Royal Delft

Royal Delft is the last remaining factory that makes the world famous Delft Blue earthenware. The factory, also known as ‘De Porceleyne Fles’ (The Porcelain Jar), was established in 1653. To this day, it uses centuries-old traditions to make and paint the delftware by hand.
Delft Blue Earthenware Though the production process of Delft Blue hasn’t changed much, the collection of earthenware is surprisingly progressive. Collaborations with designers like Marcel Wanders have produced some eye-catching works that attract international attention.
The beautiful exhibition of modern and old ceramics is partly shown in the historical garden at Royal Delft. You can also see how designers produce the delftware in their workplace.

Paint your own Delft Blue Take a tour at Royal Delft and learn more about the factory, the Delft Blue delftware and the way in which traditions are still applied every day. Follow a workshop and paint your own tile, plate or tableware.

http://www.royaldelft.com/index.asp?lang=2

Practical Informationopen

opening hours

2 Jan 2011 - 26 Mar 2011 Mon - Sat 09:00 - 17:00

26 Mar 2011 - 31 Oct 2011 Mon - Sun 09:00 - 17:00

1 Nov 2011 - 31 Dec 2011 Mon - Sat 09:00 - 17:00

Prices

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children free of charge

adults € 8 , 00

groups of adults minimum group size: 20 persons € 5 , 00

2 Jan 2011 - 26 Mar 2011	Mon - Sat	09:00 - 17:00
26 Mar 2011 - 31 Oct 2011	Mon - Sun	09:00 - 17:00
1 Nov 2011 - 31 Dec 2011	Mon - Sat	09:00 - 17:00

children	free of charge
adults	€ 8 , 00
groups of adults minimum group size: 20 persons	€ 5 , 00

The Mills of Kinderdijk

Your photo album of your trip to Holland isn’t complete without a shot of the windmills at Kinderdijk. The nineteen mills were constructed around 1740 as part of a larger water management system which prevented floods. Now they’re a symbol of Dutch water management.

Great picturesque moments

The mills are lined up in two opposite rows and form a spectacular sight. The unique character of the area was rewarded with a UNESCO recognition in 1997.

In July and August, you can witness how all nineteen mills still operate. During wintertime, you can capture the best picturesque moments here, when families ice-skate along the Kinderdijk.

Unique Dutch sight

If you want to see windmills in Holland, you should visit the mills of Kinderdijk. Situated only 25 kilometers from Rotterdam, the mills provide you with amazing pictures and a good impression on how the millers and their families used to live.

http://www.kiderdijk.com/
These pages are the official Kinderdijk tourist information pages which include the history of the miller and the windmill, plus many unique pictures of Kinderdijk and its surroundings.
Check News and Events for the latest news and things to do in and around the Kinderdijk village. Many of your questions will be answered in the F.A.Q. section of this site but if you've got any questions left don not hesitate to ask the kinderdijk.org team by pressing the e-mail button on the left.

Kinderdijk is a small village at a distance of only 16 kilometers of Rotterdam and a little bit less than 10 kilometers from the cityborder of the oldest city in Holland, Dordrecht.

Never the less is the village unique for it 19 windmills dating from the 1500s.

One of the windmills is opened for visitors during the tourist season, and at most of the days its operational too.

While visiting the windmill, anyone can get a pretty good idea about the functioning of the windmill and the lifestyle back then.

During the 2nd complete week of september the Kinderdijk windmills are lighted at night, which is called mills in floodlight. This attracts many visitors from all over the world,a nd can be recomended to anyone.
We hope to welcome you in the beautiful village of Kinderdijk, the Netherlands very soon!
In the mean time enjoy this website and tell us what you think about it.