A royal journey: a trip through the Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the Netherlands. The historical old city and the extensive network of canals in particular attract more than seven million tourists every year. The historical waterways were created in the 17th century when more and more people settled in Amsterdam because of its flourishing economy, making it necessary to extend the city in response. The newly created canals served several functions at the same time: firstly, they were used to drain water away from the urban areas, which had been marshland up to that time, and, secondly, the waterways ensured that goods could be transported and people had access to food supplies in the city. UNESCO announced that the canal system in Amsterdam was part of its World Cultural Heritage portfolio in 2010. Those looking to learn more about the historical background to the waterways should be sure to visit the Grachtenhuis (Museum of the Canals) on the Herengracht canal. By the way: With more than 1,200 bridges, Amsterdam has about three times more bridges than Venice and is therefore also described as the “Venice of the North”.

Another major historical place of interest is located about one-and-a-half hours south of Amsterdam: the windmills of Kinderdijk. They were built in 1740 to pump the water away and enable farmers to use the surrounding land for agriculture. The 19 windmills form part of an extensive water management system in the Netherlands that prevents flooding. Without this system, more than one quarter of the country’s surface area would be inundated and at least 60 percent of the Netherlands would be threatened by high water levels. Some of the windmills are open to visitors, while others are used as private homes. Visitors can explore the picturesque backdrop of the province in the Netherlands with the largest number of windmills by bicycle or from the water, on board a sightseeing boat.

Nijmegen also attracts many visitors every year because it is the oldest town in the Netherlands. The Romans established the settlement known as Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum on the grounds of the Valkhof Park, a small forest area at the edge of the centre of the town, in the year 104 BC. The town of Nijmegen grew from this over the centuries. It even formed part of the Lower German Limes, the border between the Teutons and the Romans, at certain times. The town’s history can be best discovered during a guided tour of the town or at the exhibitions in the “de Bastei Museum”. Those who prefer to discover the culinary side of Nijmegen should definitely visit the oldest pub in town: “in de Blaauwe Hand”. Hospitality in a warm and cosy atmosphere has been the order of the day here since 1542.

The port city of Rotterdam has a special strong appeal, particularly for globetrotters and city lovers, and thanks to its imposing skyline, it is also known as “Manhattan on the Maas”. It is true that the city’s architecture has been strongly shaped by American influences, because there have been shipping links between Rotterdam and New York since the 19th century. The most famous pier in Rotterdam is the centrally located Wilhelminakade. This is also where the cruise terminal, which has been completely renovated, is located – ships sailing on the former Holland-America route used to arrive and depart from here. The only original building that has survived from those days is the Hotel New York. It was originally used as the headquarters for the shipping links between the Netherlands and the USA but is now a hotel and a restaurant, providing a magnificent view of the buildings on the skyline, which have an average height of 150 metres.

Rotterdam is also home to the largest port in Europe. It handled almost 470 million tonnes of goods in 2021. The port site, which covers an area of more than twelve hectares, has about 130 landing stages for the ocean-going and inland waterway vessels and can best be explored from the water. Various water bus lines and water taxis take visitors alongside the cruise liners and container vessels in the Port of Rotterdam. The World Port Days, which are celebrated every year in September and offer many special attractions, are a particular highlight, too.

Thanks to its global connections, the Port of Rotterdam is also a central hub and an important business site for many international companies. The logistics specialist Rhenus also has its own terminals at the Port of Rotterdam and handles general cargo, bulk materials, mixed consignments, heavy-duty goods as well as project loads and containers there. Rhenus also offers trimodal transport services from Rotterdam and takes charge of any customs formalities that arise, if necessary.