Though it is off the beaten track, the stylish setting of this restaurant (in the former municipal greenhouses of Amsterdam) and its fine contemporary Continental cooking make it well worth seeking out. The menu changes daily, but runs to dishes such as eel in herb sauce and grilled North Sea sole.
CONTACT OUR TRAVEL EXPERTS (800) 375-4685 | (630) 734-4610
Traveling the World in Search
of Truly Enchanting Places
Netherlands
Overview
From Andrew Harper
Thanks to its seafaring and colonial past, Holland is now a vibrant cultural melting pot. Most visitors will spend a few days in Amsterdam, strolling along canals lined with merchant houses and admiring the Vermeers in the Rijksmuseum. Outside of the city, the country abounds with castles, cobblestoned villages, lighthouses and flower farms. Many tourists visit the Netherlands just to witness the astonishing views over the bulb fields. The season begins in March with crocuses, followed by daffodils and yellow narcissi. Hyacinths and tulips bloom from April to mid-May. Aalsmeer, close to Amsterdam, is the home of the world’s biggest flower auction. The spectacular Bollenstreek Flower Parade is held at the end of April every year.
CLIMATE: Expect mild winters and cool summers with showers. Spring (tulip time) is the most beautiful season.
TIME: Six hours ahead of New York (EST).
CURRENCY: Euro (€). Fluctuating rate valued at €1.30 = US$1.00 as of October 2012.
U.S. EMBASSY: The Hague, Tel. (70) 310-2209. There is also a consulate in Amsterdam, Tel. (20) 575-5309.
DIRECT DIAL CODES: To phone hotels and restaurants in Holland, dial 011 (international access) + 31 (Netherlands code) + city code and local numbers in listings.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport (valid for three months beyond end of stay). Visit www.travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, www.cdc.gov
GENERAL INFORMATION: Visit www.holland.com before your trip.
Hotels
All recommended hotels in Netherlands
 |
Canal HouseIntimate, completely renovated 23-room boutique hotel within three 17th-century merchant’s houses bordering Keizersgracht canal on the edge of city’s inviting Jordaan district. |
||
 |
ConservatoriumWelcoming 130-room hotel in restored 19th-century stone-and-brick structure adjacent to Museum Square, close to chic shops and lovely park. |
||
 |
Hotel De L'EuropeLandmark hotel on the Amstel River. The 111 rooms and suites now include 23 suites in the new Dutch Masters Wing. |
||
 |
Hotel Seven One SevenNine-suite guesthouse on the tree- lined Prinsengracht canal, near the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and Spiegelstraat antiques quarter. |
||
 |
InterContinental Amstel AmsterdamRevitalized 79-room 19th-century palace hotel set along the quiet banks of the Amstel River near cultural center and shopping districts. |
 |
De NederlandenTranquil 17th-Century auberge on the banks of the Vecht River in the village of Vreeland, 15 minutes from Amsterdam and Utrecht. |
 |
Kasteel WittemMedieval castle-hotel (a listed national monument) surrounded by 300-year-old gardens. Twelve stately lodgings (book a tower suite), brasserie for local cuisine, outdoor dining terrace overlooking garden and moat. |
 |
Hotel Des Indes, A Luxury Collection HotelGrand 92-room Old World hotel on a tree-lined square near embassies, the royal palace, government buildings and the city’s finest shops. |
 |
Manoir ‘InterScaldes’Renowned 12-room gourmet retreat in a 1920s manor house on a peninsula between two estuaries in Zeeland, 45 minutes north of Antwerp. Preferred ground-floor rooms open onto hedge-screened terraces. |
Dining
All recommended restaurants in Amsterdam
FIFTEEN AMSTERDAM
The Amsterdam outpost of well-known British chef Jamie Oliver is a lively, modern brasserie with a mostly Mediterranean-inspired menu. A young, friendly atmosphere prevails, and the food is excellent, including dishes such as mussel risotto, roasted leg of venison with buttered broad beans, and dark chocolate tart.
Jollemanhof 9
Amsterdam
1019 GW
Netherlands
See map: Google Maps
US$55
RESTAURANT GREETJE
This welcoming spot near the Montelbaan Tower serves traditional Dutch cooking in a relaxed setting with sturdy wooden tables, plank floors and old-fashioned wallpaper. Owner René Loven’s mission is to offer the sort of comfort food that his mother made for him as a child. Start with the smoked minced mackerel with homemade mayonnaise and shallots, or a grilled sandwich of Frisian sugar bread with layers of duck liver terrine and a garnish of homemade apple syrup, and then try hearty main courses such as pork chops with Dutch mustard and cumin-scented sauerkraut-garnished mashed potatoes; or slow-baked cod with a crust of chopped parsley, mashed potatoes mixed with yellow carrot, and a white wine sauce with raw-milk butter. You’ll find an excellent sampler of Dutch cheeses, or conclude your meal with a licorice-flavored crème brûlée with homemade licorice ice cream. Friendly service adds to the pleasure of a meal.
Peperstraat 23-25
Amsterdam
1011 TJ
Netherlands
See map: Google Maps
US$60
RESTAURANT VERMEER
Open fires, a dramatic checkerboard floor and a palette of cream and gold create a suitably refined setting for chef Chris Naylor’s French/ Continental cuisine. Signature dishes include ravioli of veal sweetbreads with crayfish, and pheasant with walnuts, cèpes and Oloroso cream. Closed Sundays.
Prins Hendrikkade 59
Amsterdam
1012
Netherlands
See map: Google Maps
US$85
TEMPO DOELOE
Indonesian cuisine is Holland’s favorite foreign cooking, a reflection of the fact that the islands were Dutch colonies for many centuries. For the uninitiated, the best introduction is a rijsttafel (rice table), which is a sampler buffet of many individual dishes, including gadon dari sapi (beef in a gentle, coriander-flavored coconut sauce), ajam roedjak (chicken in a spicy chili-coconut sauce) and sambal goreng oedang (baby prawns with Indonesian spices).
Utrechtsestraat 75
Amsterdam
1017
Netherlands
See map: Google Maps
US$50
From the Member Community
Related Netherlands Articles
Newsletter Sign Up
- Private Beach St. John, Antigua - one of many beautiful entries in our photo contest: http://t.co/hhLnnudBAR ... 22 hours ago
Enter your email to receive our free newsletter.
Any favorites for a river cruise in Holland for the Spring of the year?
Hello,
We would steer you towards a cruise with the Harper-recommended, 45-cabin River Cloud II, sister ship to the original River Could. This elegant ship will cruise in the Netherlands and Belgium in April and May over the following dates:
April 14 - 21
April 21 - 25
April 28 - May 5
May 5 - 12
May 16 - 22
For more specific information about the itineraries and life on board the ship, please contact the Travel Office at (800) 375-4685, (630) 734-4610 or reservations@andrewharper.com.
Best Regards,
The Travel OfficeTravel Office2010-02-05 12:47:15