Our first full day in the Netherlands turned into a day of two halves. The first half was a visit to the spectacular spring garden at Keukenhof. During the second, we took advantage of our iAmsterdam City Card to visit the flight experience at This is Holland. It’s sort of hard to describe because it comes across as quite dull in writing: groups move through several rooms while watching a film about the history of the Netherlands, which then culminates in a virtual flight over its many landmarks.
The reality is that this was an entertaining way to learn more about the country itself, and all of us were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed the experience.
Regarding the history, much of the country is below sea level. Indeed, the actual translation of the Netherlands is “low land” or “low countries”, and it has spent centuries fighting the “waterwolf” to claim land from the sea and keep its citizens safe from flooding. This has resulted in many incredible feats of engineering, from floating houses to the Oosterscheldekering, a storm surge barrier that the American Society of Civil Engineers named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. I left the theatre with a better understanding of how the Dutch psyche and its landscape have been shaped over the years, which is not something I thought I would say after visiting a tourist attraction.
The flight itself was an immersive experience where you genuinely felt like you were soaring over the landscape, with wind in your hair and the occasional sprinkle of water in your face. There was so much laughter and enjoyment radiating from all of the groups who flew with us. We were in such a good mood upon leaving that we purchased a pack of family photos that showcased the magic of green screens.
After leaving This is Holland, we popped into the building next door, the A’dam Lookout tower. It delivers exactly what it advertises: it is a place from which to you can look out to see the whole of the city before you. Thrill seekers can pay a bit extra to ride the Over the Edge swing that literally propels riders over the edge of the building. We considered it, but it was a hot day and there was a queue. Much better to sit and enjoy a cold drink while watching the world go by.
As afternoon turned into evening, we walked through the narrow, cobbled streets of Jordaan, a beautiful part of old Amsterdam filled with independent shops and cafés. As it was a picture-perfect Saturday, the canals and streets were full of people luxuriating in the weekend. This attitude permeated everything, and it was hard not to get carried away by the charm of the city.
As on Day 1, Google came to my rescue by suggesting a highly rated restaurant in the area called At Letting. I’m not sure what the name is in reference too, but it was another great example of the Dutch melting pot. The owner was a larger-than-life character from the Punjab in northern India who oversaw a menu of Dutch and Indian food. Everything was delicious. There was only one problem: there were too many good things on the menu and not enough time to try them all.
If you have reached the end of this post and have a question about why the country is called the Netherlands, but the tourist attraction is This is Holland, I have an answer for you.
The Netherlands is composed of twelve provinces, with Holland referring to the provinces of North Holland (where Amsterdam is) and South Holland (where The Hague and Rotterdam are located). These areas were the most populous and economically powerful during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, and Holland became a shorthand for the country as a whole, especially for international audiences.
Because there wasn’t much going on in 2020, the government of the Netherlands decided to phase out the use of Holland in its official branding. Their goal was consistency and a better representation of the entire country, not just its most well-known provinces. However, This is Holland was established in 2017 and is independent from the government’s re-branding efforts.
And that is why Holland is now the Netherlands, but I’m afraid I don’t have any clever music to go with it (and for those from my generation, here’s the version you’re probably familiar with).
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE IAMSTERDAM CITY CARD:
We purchased an iAmsterdam City Card upon arrival at Centraal Station, and it includes travel within the city of Amsterdam on its buses, trams, metro, and ferries. Trains out of Amsterdam are not included. Beyond travel, it offers entrance to 70+ museums and activities.
- Understand the rules: The cards can be purchased for different time periods up to five days. The time starts when the card is scanned for the first time. You can only use the card once at each venue.
- Pay for convenience: Part of what you’re paying for with the card is the convenience of just flashing it at entrance gates and on transport. As a result, it makes it very easy to get around the city without needing to think too much or juggle cash and bank cards.
- Take a chance: Beyond convenience, one of the key benefits of the card is that it encourages you to experience things you might not otherwise do. If you don’t like it, you can just leave without feeling like you have to squeeze every Euro out of your entrance fee. Meanwhile, we used it to go to places that we would not have gone to otherwise, like the This is Holland flight experience. It seemed a bit costly at €26.00 per person, but because it was included with the card, we didn’t think twice about going and ended up having a blast.
- Get the app: I downloaded so many apps during this trip, and the iAmsterdam app was one of them. However, it made it easy to see what was included (or not), and to book activities that needed to be booked in advance. (Don’t worry, not many needed to be booked.)
- Is the card worth it?: This is the big question. Although many entrance fees are included with the city card, there is no way to take advantage of it all unless you plan your days with military precision and spend a bare minimum amount of time at each location. Saying that, I checked the cost per person of the city card against the individual costs, and our group came out ahead. It’s really down to the individual traveller to decide, but I would likely get it again when visiting Amsterdam.
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Really enjoyed reading all about your recent trip to the Netherlands. I feel inspired to return there myself in the not-too-distant future. My experience of visiting Amsterdam was always a positive one; the people, in particular, were very welcoming. The history of the Netherlands, and how it was a global superpower at one stage, is fascinating and not all that well known. Looks like you enjoyed some fine weather judging by the blue-hued photos.
Author
I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the Out of Practice series! We got incredibly lucky with the weather, but there is so much to see and do that I think we would have had a fantastic time even if it was raining. I definitely think it’s worth a return trip, but Amsterdam is really struggling with the sheer number of tourists. It may be worth venturing just outside to Haarlem or Utrecht, and I would like to return to see The Hague and Rotterdam at some point; the Kinderdijk just outside of Rotterdam looks magical.
Have known your mom and dad for quite a few years. My husband actually bought his first powered parachute from Dad. I have so enjoyed seeing all of your parents’ photos of their recent adventures. Your blog just adds to the enjoyment. Thank you!!!
Author
You’re very welcome, Colleen! I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying the blog.