It seems that if anyone is ever headed for the Netherlands most people assume that they are going to Amsterdam. It’s not that there isn’t anything else to see and do in this fantastic country, but Amsterdam certainly has just about everything a person could want from their Dutch experience. With that being said, many visitors to this great city have their mind set on what they want to do, although this may unfortunately see them missing out on some great tourist attractions. There are a number of ways to reach the Dutch capital, although one of the most popular is on one of the various trains from London to Amsterdam.
Anne Frank Huis
Probably one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire country is the house, Prinsengracht 263, which was the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis during the Second World War. Anne, her sister, her parents and a number of other Jews went into hiding in July 1942 and managed to stay a secret from their persecutors until August 1944. They were then all arrested and eventually Anne, her sister and mother died during their stay in the concentration camp that followed. However, her father, who survived, insisted on Anne’s diary being published. The diary was eventually printed in over 50 languages and has sold millions and millions of copies around the world. The Frank’s “home” for those two years now receives well over one million visitors on an annual basis.
CoBrA Museum of Modern Art
For those who prefer a little modern art then this museum is place to visit. The museum follows the development of Dutch art during the 20th century and houses artwork from some of the now well known artists, such as Cornielle, Karel Appel and Eugene Brands. Admittedly, during their lifetimes they were viewed as nothing more than people trying to cause trouble, but they have now gone down in history as some of the greatest Dutch artists ever. In an attempt to attract more and more visitors to the museum they now hold various exhibitions to showcase the talents of many of the modern day artists.
Efteling
For those who have travelled to Amsterdam with children, fear not there is something for them too. In fact, travelling on the trains from London to Amsterdam doesn’t need to be the only adventure on the menu. There may be no Disneyland Paris if animation and adventure is what they’re after and admittedly, there won’t be a Mickey or Goofy in sight, although Efteling is certainly the next best thing and is bound to keep the kids entertained for hours. There are witches and dwarves to be found in the massive enchanted forest, and there are even certain characters that may be familiar to the children as well. Some of the characters found in the forest originate from the Arabian Nights and Grimm stories. Once the children have finished their journey through the forest they have the opportunity to enjoy some fantastic fairground rides, and there are even rides that will please the most fearless of thrill seekers. However, planning is the key, as this is one tourist attraction that is extremely busy during the summer months.
Ana Aleksejeva has spent a number of years travelling to some of Europe’s greatest cities and has chronicled many of her adventures through her series of travel articles. She has travelled on trains from London to Amsterdam on a number of occasions, and yet she is still surprised every time she visits.
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