Favourite and not so great places to visit in the Netherlands

 I visited a lot of cities and sites during my recent trip to the Netherlands.  Below are my favourites and least favourites.

Transportation is a favourite (public trains, trams, buses) are great in the Netherlands.  Get an OV-ChipKaart. Its $7.50 euros, non- refundable and load it up with at least $50 euros.  Use Ns.nl (their GVB) transportation site to plan out all of your trips. I found they had up to date info on routes. costs and any delays.  You get back whatever is left on the card (back to your credit card). You can do this at all major stations and in the airport at the customer service kiosk. Note the card is good for 5 years.

Museumkaart is a favorite-  5 entries to most museums for 64.5 euros. You will save about 20 euros. Note book an entry time for all museums in Amsterdam or you won't get in.

Amsterdam is not a favourite.  Even though I like the museums and parks.  I found it dirty in the DAM, central station area, lots of homeless and druggies.  

Favourite museums here are the Rikmuseum, the Moca.  I really didn't find any of the restaurants amazing or worth mentioning.  The Modern Art museum was just ok.

Hotels - I loved the Manor Amsterdam (Muiderport station), and hated the IBIS central station hotel (dirty)

Delft is a favourite.  This town is worth staying a couple of  days. I loved the Hotel Grand Canal (my least expensive hotel).  Close to the train station.  Its a walkable town with great food at college student prices.  I loved the YA street food for their asian toast speciality,  Mama's falafel (everyting is homemade).  The greek restaurant right beside it in the central square.  You can take the train from here to Rotterdam or The Hague. Stay here and visit for a day to the two mentioned cities.

I visited the Delft pottery factory for the tour, and the old and new church - 5 euros for both 

Haarlem - worth a visit especially on Saturday as the market in the central square is buzzing.  I visited the Frans Hal museum (just ok),  But liked walking around the old town

The Hague- the Mauritisuis museum was my favourite museum in the Netherlands. So many masters paintings.  The peace palace is closed due to covid as is the palace.  Only worth a half day visit.

Rotterdam - only worth a day visit.  I stayed two nights due to my PCR testing, but only the waterfront Markhal and Delshaven (a small neighbourhood) are worth visiting.  This is a commercial, shipping town and not really for tourists. The museums are just ok.  

Years ago I visited the tulip park in April and loved it ( a day trip from Amsterdam) as well as the windmill park (you can take tours or public transport).

I find the Dutch people friendly, well organized and its an easy country to travel in by yourself.

KLM was great to fly with - on time, organized.  The seats however on the plane are really hard and uncomfortable - I had to put the blanket down  and wished I had a pillow to sit on.  

Overall Holland is a great place for a visitor during Covid if you are fully vaccinated.  As they just need proof of vaccination to travel to.

 Hope this helps

Marcia