Surprisingly dutch

In Twente, there’s something for everybody. Dozens of estates, country houses and water mills are hidden in the green countryside. Cyclists and walkers are well-served in Twente and can safely make use of an extensive road network. But you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery from an oldtimer car or Solex self-drive tour during a tailor-made rallye. Taste the amazing food from local producers en route.

Forests, heaths, sand drifts, pools and lakes: nature in Drenthe is wonderfully versatile. The oldest remains of settlements in The Netherlands were found in this province: the mysterious ‘hunebed’ (dolmen). They were built 5,000 years ago from huge boulders from the Ice Age. It must have taken enormous manpower to build the structures. The three national parks "Drents Friese Wold", "Dwingelderveld" and the "Wieden-Weerribben" are perfect for long hikes, kayakking or bike rides. Additionally outside the parks you will find beautiful places to fully immerse yourself in Dutch nature. Even Vincent van Gogh got inspired by the landscape, which he captured in paintings, drawings and watercolors.

In Zeeland, there’s always a beach nearby – after all, this province has more than 600 km of coastline. Year in, year out they have been top-rated for being clean and offering you shelter and space in the dunes and on the dikes for long carefree days in the sun and sea. The products and dishes in Zeeland are like the landscape: unique, varied and connected to the sea. Oysters, mussels, lobster, marsh samphire and sea lavender are eaten right out of the water here. If you want to know learn more about the largest flood protection system in the world than the Delta Works are definitely worth a visit. This imposing project, also referred to as one of the seven wonders of the world, illustrates how the Dutch deal with water.

Friesland is a water paradise! Nowhere else in Europe will you find such an extensive network of interconnected lakes, canals, ditches, ponds and rivers. It is not the only thing that makes the province so unique. Leeuwarden, the provincial capital of Friesland, with its canals, monuments and shopping streets is one of the Netherlands' best kept secrets. You should also visit the picturesque Eleven Cities or board the ferry to the Wadden Islands. Lonely Planet had good reasons for putting the province of Friesland number 3 on its list of hidden gems in Europe!

Discover the Veluwe and its beautiful nature reserves, famous museums such as the Kröller-Müller and Het Loo palace, pleasant towns, excellent restaurants and many zoos and animal parks. From four-wheel driving to tandem cycling or crossbow shooting or even a helicopter dropping, the Veluwe will never cease to delight you. The national park “Hoge Veluwe” is one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands. Occupying an area of 13,750 acres, this huge park is the largest continuous nature reserve in the country and is notable for its diversity of scenery, which includes everything from dense forests to high sand dunes.

Limburg has no fewer than 10 Michelin star restaurants. The fertile soil produces tasteful vegetables, fruit and meat. There are beer breweries and vineyards. Limburg is also famous for its asparagus or ‘white gold’, a true spring delicacy that you should really try. Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in Holland, as you will quickly discover when strolling through the historic inner city. Churches, city walls, monumental merchant houses and vibrant squares merge seamlessly with a comprehensive and varied range of eclectic shops. Explore the extensive underground tunnel system and in a whirl of stories, they take you back to times of foreign occupation, sieges, and people forced to hide underground.