History

Begijnhof: Amsterdam’s worst-kept secret in the heart of the city centre

Nestled in the heart of Amsterdam lies a place that draws in tourists like Dutch people to...

Zwarte Piet: the full guide to the Netherlands’ most controversial tradition

Many in the Netherlands view Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) as an innocent addition to the Dutch holiday...

Damsko, Roffa, Agga: Do you know the nickname for your Dutch city?

Let’s say you’ve lived in the Netherlands for a couple of years now — you’re fairly local,...

This Dutch city was key to the origins of Thanksgiving

You may very well know by now how the Dutch like to spend their Christmas and Sinterklaas holidays,...

Who’s your buddy? American-Dutch relations throughout times

The Netherlands and the US have a long and closely intertwined history. In fact, it goes all...

Amsterdam’s canal houses: why are they so wonderfully weird?

Images of Amsterdam's much-loved narrow and wonky canal houses have shaped the world’s perception of Dutch architecture....

Lucia de Berk: the Dutch nurse who was wrongfully imprisoned for six years

Lucia de Berk, better known to the media as Lucia de B., is a licensed pediatric nurse...

5 of the most haunted places in Amsterdam

You’ve made it to the Dutch capital, backpack on and feet itching to explore — but don't...