• HOME
  • DESTINATIONS
    • DESTINATIONS A‑Z
    • EUROPE
      • AUSTRIA
      • BELGIUM
      • CZECH REPUBLIC
      • DENMARK
      • FINLAND
      • GERMANY
      • GREECE
      • ICELAND
      • IRELAND
      • ITALY
      • NORWAY
      • RUSSIA
      • THE NETHERLANDS
      • SWEDEN
      • UNITED KINGDOM
    • NORTH AMERICA
      • CANADA
      • USA
  • FILM REVIEWS
    • FILM REVIEWS A‑Z
    • ENGLISH FILMS
    • GERMAN FILMS
    • TV / DVD SERIES
    • BEST OF FILM LISTS
  • FILM PEOPLE
  • ABOUT
    • WORK WITH ME
filmfantravel.com
  • HOME
  • DESTINATIONS
    • DESTINATIONS A‑Z
    • EUROPE
      • AUSTRIA
      • BELGIUM
      • CZECH REPUBLIC
      • DENMARK
      • FINLAND
      • GERMANY
      • GREECE
      • ICELAND
      • IRELAND
      • ITALY
      • NORWAY
      • RUSSIA
      • THE NETHERLANDS
      • SWEDEN
      • UNITED KINGDOM
    • NORTH AMERICA
      • CANADA
      • USA
  • FILM REVIEWS
    • FILM REVIEWS A‑Z
    • ENGLISH FILMS
    • GERMAN FILMS
    • TV / DVD SERIES
    • BEST OF FILM LISTS
  • FILM PEOPLE
  • ABOUT
    • WORK WITH ME
Share
You are reading
The Netherlands Bucket List
Home
THE NETHERLANDS
AMSTERDAM

The Netherlands Bucket List

September 29th, 2017 Sonja AMSTERDAM, DELFT, DESTINATIONS, EUROPE, THE NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands Bucket List
(Last Updated On: 10th October 2018)

Are you planning a trip to the Netherlands and are looking for fun things to do? Here is my ultimate Netherlands Bucket List for 10 things to do in the Netherlands…

1. Visit the Anne Frank Huis in Amsterdam

The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam

Sure, the reason why the house got so famous is pretty horrible. But in order to never forget and to ensure that such horrible things will hopefully never happen again, seeing the Anne Frank House from the inside is a must-do when visiting Amsterdam.

There have been several TV and cinema film adaptations about the life of Anne Frank based on her very own diaries. The most recent one is a German cinema feature from 2016, which was partly filmed at the original location of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam's most popular sightseeing attraction also appears in another novel and film: In The Fault in Our Stars (2014), the terminally ill American teenagers Hazel and Gus visit the Anne Frank House and share their first kiss here.

Read more about visiting the Anne Frank House and tracing the filming locations of The Fault in Our Stars in my post 24 hours in Amsterdam.

2. Wander in the footsteps of Girl with a Pearl Earring in Delft

You can see this view of Delft’s Town Hall and the New Church in several times in the film "Girl with a Pearl Earring"

Another great destination for a film-inspired trip is the picturesque town of Delft, which still features a wealth of beautifully restored historical buildings.

My trip to Delft in September 2017 was a really fun experience of traveling back in time. Not only did I learn all about the famous Delft-based painter Johannes Vermeer, but also about his unique paintings and the times this film is set in (1665).

Read more in my post 7 fun things to do on a film-inspired trip to Delft

3. See the real "Girl with a Pearl Earring" in The Hague

The "Dutch Mona Lisa" always looks and smiles at you with her eyes, no matter from which side you approach her.

The "Dutch Mona Lisa" always looks and smiles at you with her eyes, no matter from which side you approach her.

If you want to see "the real thing", head to the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague. You can easily do this on a day trip from Delft. It only takes 30 minutes on the tram or about 5 minutes by train.

For 6.50 €, you can get a day ticket for unlimited travel on all trams and busses in Delft and The Hague from Delft’s tourism information point VVV Delft (Kerkstraat 3).

Read more about visiting this museum in my Delft film sightseeing post.

4. Visit other world-class museums such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam!

Me at the "I amsterdam" sign in Amsterdam

In The Fault in Our Stars, Hazel and Gus can also be seen strolling along the outer façade of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (Museumstraat 1).

This museum is a must-do for any fan of world-class art. As it's the most famous museum of the Netherlands and one of the most popular ones in Europe, you are guaranteed to see some true masterpieces here!

Directly in front of the museum, you can pose for a fun (and free) Amsterdam souvenir photo a with the huge "I amsterdam" letters.

Read more about visiting this museum in my post 24 hours in Amsterdam.

5. Take in the sights on a walking, cycling or canal boat tour

Bicycles in Delft

To get a first overview of Amsterdam, the buzzing capital of the Netherlands, I would recommend a "free" (tip-based) walking tour by Sandeman's or Freetour.

In Delft, you can go on a typically Dutch canal boat tour or do the self-guided "Vermeer Cube Walk". While tracing the footsteps of the famous artist, you will certainly feel like you've travelled back in time.

When in The Hague, take a walking tour with Elswhere Tours and you can be sure to tick off all the highlights of the city in one day.

And if you want to explore the Netherlands like a true local, get on the saddle of a typical Dutch bicycle, for example on the Sandeman's City Bike Tour or the Freetour's Alternative Bike Tour in Amsterdam.

For more info, check out my Delft film travel post

6. Relive the tulip craze from Tulip Fever!

Alicia Vikander in "Tulip Fever". Photo: Alex Bailey © 2014 The Weinstein Company.

Alicia Vikander in "Tulip Fever". Photo: Alex Bailey © 2014 The Weinstein Company.

Even though the period feature film Tulip Fever (2017) has been exclusively shot in the UK, it provides an amazing "time travel experience" into the so-called "Dutch Golden Age".

In the 17th century, Amsterdam was one of the wealthiest cities in the world. At one point, everyone became so crazy about the new and exotic tulips that over-speculation caused one of the first economic stock market crashes in history.

For best visibility of Dutch tulips, come in spring (March-May). The Keukenhof Park (located half-way between Amsterdam and The Hague) is the most famous place to see them "all at once".

7. See all of the Netherlands in one day!

The Madurodam in The Hague. Photo by Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium via Wikimedia Commons

The Madurodam in The Hague. Photo by Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium via Wikimedia Commons

The Madurodam is the place to head to if you want to see everything at once in this small country. Not that you could also reach this goal in a 7‑day tour around this small country, but I guess the Madurodam is definitely quicker… and also a lot of fun.

The open-air museum and miniature park is located in The Hague's seaside district Scheveningen.

8. Sit back and relax on a canal boat tour in Delft!

Canal Boat Tour in Delft

The most Dutch thing you can do (apart from cycling of course) is to take in the sights of a Dutch town via a canal boat tour.

My recommendation: The “Delft City Tour” includes a 1 hour boat ride tour on the canal with commentary by a multilingual tour guide as well as a 1 hour walking tour around the city and even a little present at the end!

Read more in my post about the Delft City Tour

9. Try some (funny flavoured) Dutch cheese!

At the Cheese Museum in Amsterdam

Typically Dutch foods to try include the yummy French Fries (that typically come in a paper bag with mayonnaise and ketchup), Dutch beer, and of course cheese!

If you travel to Gouda, you can be sure to find a lot of cheesy tourist attractions (no pun intended!). After all, Gouda's cheese of the same name is world-famous. Attractions to check out include the Goudse Waag cheese and craftwork museum or the famous cheese market during spring and summer.

At the Cheese Museum in Amsterdam, you can eat your way through samples of all kinds of cheese flavours – including such exotic combinations as Pesto Cheese Tricolore!

Read more about visiting Amsterdam's Cheese Museum in my post 24 hours in Amsterdam.

10. Relax at the beach… you've earned it!

Scene from "Tulip Fever". Photo: © The Weinstein Company

Scene from "Tulip Fever". Photo: © The Weinstein Company

The two young lovers in Tulip Fever (2017) flee to the beach near Amsterdam and so can you, too: After all, the next lovely beach is never far away in a country as small as the Netherlands.

Read more in my Netherlands Travel Guide for Film Fans.

Unless otherwise credited, all photos by © Sonja Irani | filmfantravel.com

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sonja

Sonja

I am an ex London expat now living back in Germany. Having worked part-time in a cinema since my school days, the cinema (or in 2020 rather Netflix & co) is my second home. If you don't find me there, I am probably travelling the world in order to trace my favourite film locations and film settings. On filmfantravel.com, I combine these two passions by sharing my best tips about film-inspired travel. Join the journey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @filmfantravel!

You may also like...
Iceland Bucket List
Sonja
DESTINATIONS

Iceland Bucket List

July 1st, 2017
12 Film-Inspired Travel Ideas for 2017
Sonja
AMSTERDAM

12 Film-Inspired Travel Ideas for 2017

January 28th, 2017
24 Hours in Amsterdam – Five Tips on How to Make the Most of Limited Time
Sonja
AMSTERDAM

24 Hours in Amsterdam – Five Tips on How to Make the Most of Limited Time

May 4th, 2016
Join the journey!
Facebooktwitterlinkedininstagram
About Me

Hi! I'm Sonja from Bremen, Germany. I'm a full-time English to German Marketing Translator, Linguistic Reviewer and Tour Guide on a part-time mission to discover the world through movies and series.

Read more about in ABOUT.

Current Location: Bremen, Germany
Newsletter

Become a film fan on Facebook!
Facebook
Join the journey on Instagram!

filmfantravel

#MarketingTranslator #Author #TourGuide
👩🏻‍💻 MA in Tourism Destination Development 
📍Bremen, Germany 
🎬 🌎 Blogging about #filminspiredtravel at:

Sonja | Film & Travel Writer


I recently started watching ski jumping competitio
I recently started watching ski jumping competitions on TV again. This inspired me to rewatch the film “Eddie the Eagle“ (2015), which is currently on Netflix.

The film is based on the real-life story of British ski jumper Eddie Edwards. Eddie managed to take part in the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada in 1988 even though he only started training for his ski jumps at the mature age of 22. 😂🙈

The scenes for “Eddie the Eagle“ were mainly filmed at the real-life ski jumping hills in Garmisch-Patenkirchen and Oberstdorf in Bavaria, southern Germany.

I personally have not yet been to these ski jumping hills, but I have been to the ski jumping hill „Holmenkollen“ in Oslo, Norway, which is equally stunning.

Have you ever been to a ski jumping hill?

Photo 1: Scene from
“Eddie the Eagle“ (2015). Larry Horricks - © TM & 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
Photo 2: © Sonja Irani - FilmFanTravel.com

#eddietheeagle #netflix #filminspiredtravel #filmlocations #movielocations #skijumping #holmenkollen #oslo #norway #visitoslo #dreamchasersnorway #lovescandinavia #visitnorway #bestofscandinavia #dreamynorway #norwaytravel #norwaytrip #onlyinnorway

Christmas is almost over and although many things 
Christmas is almost over and although many things have been different this year, some things never change... Such as our favourite Christmas movies that we can watch over and over again... and that make us dream about future travel destinations! 😉 💭 

One of my favourite Christmas series to look forward to this year was the second season of the Norwegian romcom series “Home for Christmas” (OT: Hjem til jul) with @idaelisebroch_official and @felixsandman! The series was released on Netflix on 18 December 2020. 

When I was working as a tour guide in Norway this summer, I was lucky enough to pass by Røros - the UNESCO world heritage town that served as the setting and main film location for the series! 

Read more about the series and its film location Røros on my blog FilmFanTravel.com(link in my bio above)! 

Which Christmas movie has inspired your upcoming travels? 

Photo 1: Scene from “Home for Christmas” (2019-) filmed in Røros, Norway. © Netflix. Photo 2: Me at the same street in Røros, Norway in August 2020. © Sonja Irani / FilmFanTravel.com

#destinationroros #destinasjonrøros  #netflix #netflixshows #norway #roros #homeforchristmasnetflix #hjemtiljul #dreamchasersnorway #traveleurope #filminspiredtravel #filmlocation #filmlocations #movielocations #lovescandinavia #norway #visitnorway #bestofscandinavia #dreamynorway #norwaytravel #norwaytrip #onlyinnorway #rorørosregionen #godjul @visitnorway

Just like American Marketing Manager Emily in the 
Just like American Marketing Manager Emily in the new Netflix series “Emily in Paris”, I followed almost every fashion trend back in 2007. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️Here I am in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a massive “link chain necklace”. Hey, it was fashionable at the time, okay? InStyle magazine said so! 😂🙈

Writing my newest film review about the American girl who makes the big move to Paris (link currently in bio), I realised that it has been exactly 10 years since my last visit to the city of love in 2010. So I really would like to go back in 2021.

Who else was inspired to put Paris on their post-pandemic travel list by watching “Emily in Paris”?

Photo 1: Scene from “Emily in Paris” (2020-). © Netflix. Photo 2: © Sonja Irani / FilmFanTravel.com

#emilyinparis #netflix #netflixshows #paris #france #citytrip #traveleurope #filminspiredtravel #filmlocation #filmlocations #movielocations #lilycollins #thisisparis #visitparis #ig_paris #parisianlife #hello_france #parisjetaime #parislife #exploreparis

Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland in full autumn b
Blarney Castle near Cork, Ireland in full autumn bloom back in October 2016.

The castle’s unique attraction is to kiss the famous Blarney stone on top of the castle. What’s more... you apparently get the gift of eloquence afterwards. The catch: You have to lean over backwards - head first - to reach it! Apart from that, kissing a stone that millions others have kissed before is not exactly in line with the current Covid hygiene rules... 😂

As far as I know Blarney Castle itself has not yet been used as a filming location, but the website states that it’s open for bookings for TV and movie crews. Maybe something to look forward to in the year 1 or 2 AC (After Corona). 😂🙈 Let’s hope so because with Ireland being the main film location of major TV and movie productions such as “Game of Thrones”, “Star Wars” and “Vikings”, there is much to discover for film fans! 🤗
-
#blarneycastleandgardens #autumn #autumnleaves #filminspiredtravel #ireland #loveireland #irelandtravel #discoverireland #map_of_europe #visitireland #instaireland #irland #irish_daily #daily_ireland #images_ireland  #castle #castlesineurope #castlesinfall #colorsinfall #castlesofireland #autumncolours


Load More…


Follow on Instagram


Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • IMPRINT
  • PRIVACY POLICY
© Sonja Irani 2021. All rights reserved.