Page 308 – DutchReview

Germany unveils unlimited public transport ticket for €49 per month — and Dutchies can use it too

Naomi Lamaury

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May 1, 2023

Germany unveils unlimited public transport ticket for €49 per month — and Dutchies can use it too

Fancy a trip around Germany to visit a few cities? As of today, everyone can travel around Germany on public transport for just €49 a month!

Germany launched a new affordable monthly subscription for unlimited use of their public transport. And anyone can make use of the subscription!

Get your ticket for a trip around Germany

According to RTL Nieuws, starting 1 May, all regional and local public transport in Germany will be accessible with this subscription. This means trains, buses, and trams.

Careful though — this doesn’t include first-class tickets or high-speed lines such as the DB Fernverkehr trains (including the IC, EC, and ICE trains), and the FlixTrain.

If you wish to travel from the Netherlands to Germany with this subscription, you’ll first have to get to a Dutch city close to the German border before the subscription is valid.

For example, those travelling from Amsterdam will first have to travel normally to Hengelo, Enschede, or Venlo and, from there, can make use of the ticket.

Germany has allowed a few specific routes from Dutch cities to German cities near the border to be used with the ticket. And once you’re in Germany, just sit down, relax, and watch the landscapes pass by.

Summer budget hols tip: get yourself a €49 ticket and spend up to a month travelling anywhere in Germany by public transport (trains and buses). Huge variety of culture and countryside to explore
— Andy M Turner (@andymturner) April 29, 2023

While the ticket is a monthly subscription, meaning that it will automatically renew and take your money every month, geen stress if you only want to make use of it for a few weeks.

You can cancel the subscription every month — even after just a month.

More and more travel by train

This new ticket comes after the overwhelming success last summer with the unlimited €9 German ticket. The offer was irresistible for summer holiday-goers, and according to the German Transport Association, it prevented 1.7 million tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted.

After the huge success, it became hard for the government to fight against some political parties’ demands for cheaper train travel and a solution for the rising petrol prices. And voilà — the €49 subscription was born.

The German government will compensate transport companies for any loss of income that comes out of the new travel subscription.

More and more countries in Europe are encouraging people to travel by train instead of by car. In Luxembourg, public transport is free and has been since 2020.

In both Spain and Austria, campaigns were initiated to compensate travellers for the high inflation.

So, it’s time to hop on the bandwagon, pack your suitcase, and get on the train this summer.

What are your favourite places to visit in Germany? Tell us in the comments below!

New photos: Here’s what the Dutch royal family looks like today

Simone Jacobs

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May 1, 2023

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New photos: Here’s what the Dutch royal family looks like today

Everyone ages and looks different from year to year, and the Dutch royals are no exception. Who wants to see what they look like now? We sure do!

We were all there celebrating Dutch King Willem-Alexander’s birthday on Koningsdag (King’s Day) last week, and we had a blast!

Well, the gifts keep coming. The tenth anniversary of King Willem-Alexander’s reign means the Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst (Government Information Service) is giving us some new shots of the royals from December 2022 to admire.

Isn’t this just the definition of regal?

photo-of-king-willem-princess-beatrix-and-princess-of-orange-at-paleis-noordeinde — King Willem-Alexander, Princess of Orange Catharina-Amalia, and Princess Beatrix looking grand at Paleis Noordeinde in The Hague. Image: RVD – Gemmy Woud-Binnendijk

Of course, we can’t celebrate the birthday and reign of King Willem-Alexander without a picture of His Majesty.

photo-of-dutch-king-willem-alexander — King Willem-Alexander has been reigning as Dutch king for 10 years. Image: RVD – Gemmy Woud-Binnendijk

We all have those birthday shots with Mom, and King Willem-Alexander has them too!

photo-of-dutch-king-willem-and-princess-beatrix — Dutch King Willem-Alexander with Princess Beatrix. Image: RVD – Gemmy Woud-Binnendijk

And let’s not forget to get a shot with the next generation

photo-of-dutch-koning-willem-prinses-van-oranje — King Willem-Alexander with his eldest child, Princess of Orange. Image: RVD – Gemmy Woud-Binnendijk

Women may not rule the Netherlands currently, but we sure love seeing more of them

photo-of-dutch-princess-beatrix-and-princess-of-orange — Princess Beatrix and Princess of Orange looking elegant. Image: RVD – Gemmy Woud-Binnendijk

What do you think of the new photos of the royals? Tell us in the comments!

Feature Image: ©RVD – Gemmy Woud-Binnendijk

This Dutch city has the highest quality of life worldwide (and we aren’t surprised)

Francesca Burbano

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May 1, 2023

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This Dutch city has the highest quality of life worldwide (and we aren’t surprised)

The Dutchies have done it again — The Hague is the champion of the highest quality of life in 2023!

They were ranked high and proud by Numbeo, a cost-of-living database, snagging the gold medal this year. Going for the silver medal is Eindhoven, The Netherlands and Vienna, Austria, takes bronze.

The Netherlands continues to be gelukkig

In January earlier this year, the Netherlands was crowned number one for the highest quality of life in the world. Oh, and the Netherlands has also been ranked the fifth happiest country.

It seems that Dutchies are not stopping their high-ranking streak any time soon.

How it works

We won’t bore you with the statistics behind it, but Numbeo calculates the quality of life based on a series of factors. These factors include the cost of living, affordability of living, pollution, safety, healthcare quality, and traffic.

Okay, the Netherlands is not perfect with its current housing crisis and NS train delays this year, but let’s look at the silver lining.

When it comes to The Hague, the city beats its competitors for a good reason. With many trendy places to eat, nature reserves to get out of that city pollution, many yoga studios to stay fit, oh and an indoor wave pool in the making, it’s no wonder people are enjoying life!

Top 10 countries for quality of life

Curious about which cities got top 10 after the Hague? Take a closer look. 👀

City	Rank
The Hague	1
Eindhoven	2
Vienna	3
Canberra	4
Zurich	5
Rotterdam	6
Luxembourg	7
Helsinki	8
Adelaide	9
Reykjavik	10

What do you think about The Hague making it to the top of the list? Tell us in the comments below!

5 reasons why the Dutch love to travel to Spain

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿

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April 29, 2023

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5 reasons why the Dutch love to travel to Spain

Days filled with endless sunshine, delicious food, and average-sized people are all the things that the Netherlands (usually) doesn’t have.

So it’s really no surprise that, when it comes to selecting a vacation destination, Spain is one of Dutchies’ top choices. In fact, it’s the third most popular destination for a vacation from the Netherlands.

But do the Dutch love to travel to Spain so much? Let’s dive into it.

The climate is superb

With more than 300 days of sunshine in a year in some parts of the country, escaping to Spain to beat the all-too-common Dutch winter blues seems like a no-brainer. After all, a little bit of vitamin D (and sea) can make life worth living again.

road-along-the-coast-of-tenerife — Hiking and swimming on the same day is not unheard of in Spain. Image: Unsplash

On top of that, Spain boasts an incredibly diverse landscape. You could be going for a sunset swim after work on a Friday night and heading to the mountains for a little weekend getaway on Saturday morning.

Spain is easily accessible from the Netherlands

Believe it or not, there are more than 40 airports across Spain that you could fly into directly from the Netherlands.

Whether you’re after some culture in the lively Madrid, keen to discover art in Bilbao, or want to party all night long in Ibiza, you can easily find affordable flights that will take you straight to your desired destination.

With a number of data providers out there offering a convenient eSIM for Europe, the Dutch can easily stay connected with their friends and family back home while enjoying the much-needed sunshine.

The more adventurous types could also opt for long road trips in their classic campervans, maybe even exploring France along the way.

There are endless beaches to enjoy

Spain has more than 8,000 kilometres of coastline. What does that mean? So. Many. Beaches.

rocky beach in spain — There are all kinds of beaches to choose from in Spain. Image: Unsplash

There are the fine golden sand ones in the south of Spain, the black sand ones on the Canary Islands, and everything in between. So ja (of should we say “sí”?), the options for a fun vacation are practically endless.

The culture is fascinating

The afternoon siesta, the local fiesta, the delicious tapas, and flamenco dancing are just a few of the cultural aspects of Spain that the Dutch happily embrace. The Dutchies’ gezelligheid fits perfectly with the Spaniards’ love for social interactions and relaxed way of life.

Many also take the effort to learn the language and engage with locals to learn more about their culture. Not to mention there are hundreds of charming towns with amazing history and architecture to visit.

famous-square-in-sevilla — Culture lovers will not get bored in Spain. Image: Unsplash

You get a lot of bang for your buck

Lekker zonnetje and cheap prices at the same time? The Dutch are in! Whether it’s food, activities, or real estate, a Dutch salary can take you a lot further in Spain than in the lowlands.

That’s why many Dutchies choose to not only visit the sunny Mediterranean country, but also create their second home base there by buying properties.

In the first half of 2022, more than 3,500 homes in Spain were bought by Dutch people, making them the seventh-biggest foreign buyer group in Spain. What’s better than vacation in a home away from home?

While the weather is one of the main reasons for Dutchies to flock to Spain, there are many other aspects of the sunny country that make it a great vacation destination for any Nederlander.

Do you enjoy a good vacation in Spain as much as the Dutch do? Let us know in the comments!

Lekker! The Netherlands now has a casual 125 Michelin star restaurants

Naomi Lamaury

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April 28, 2023

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Lekker! The Netherlands now has a casual 125 Michelin star restaurants

In spite of all those deep-fried snack foods, the Dutch are really stepping up their gastronomy game, now boasting a total of 125 Michelin-star restaurants in 2023.

The 2023 selections for the infamous Michelin stars awards were announced last week on Monday, April 24 in Amsterdam. And according to Tippr — and the Dutch won big.

Food lovers in the Netherlands can rejoice, the Dutch are putting themselves on the gastronomy world map. This year alone, you will find a total of 22 new restaurants on the Michelin star list.

Sophisticated Dutch cuisine?

While many newcomers have welcomed their first star, one restaurant, Vinkeles in Amsterdam, was awarded a second star this year, upping the total number of restaurants in the Netherlands with two stars to 20 — hoerah!

To break this information down into bite-size pieces, the 2023 Michelin Guide Netherlands gave 17 restaurants their first star. In total? There are now a whopping 103 restaurants in the Netherlands with one Michelin star.

Believe it or not, one star describes the restaurant as serving sophisticated cuisine — not exactly our first thought when thinking of Dutch food.

In NL, food is mostly seen as fuel rather than something you take your time for to enjoy.

The food culture isn’t sophisticated here. We throw potatoes, vegetables and gravy on a plate, mash them and call it a day.

So far my analysis. Dutch foodies are welcome to correct me 😉
— Ramses Oudt 🪵 (@rroudt) January 2, 2022

The Michelin Guide also features a special category, the green star, which celebrates restaurants committed to the development of sustainable gastronomy.

Four new Dutch members joined the category this year, bringing the total to 15 green stars.

Michelin star category	New Dutch Michelin stars	Total Dutch Michelin stars
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unique cuisine: worth the trip	0	2
2 stars ⭐️⭐️ Exceptional cuisine: worth the detour	1	20
1 star⭐️ Sophisticated cuisine: well worth the visit	17	103
Green star 🌱 Green gastronomy and sustainability	4	15
Total	22	140 (including green stars)

All over the Netherlands

Plenty of the starred restaurants are located in Amsterdam — so foodies, it’s time to explore the city’s gastronomy streets.

For those not in Amsterdam, don’t worry — there are Michelin star restaurants in all corners of the country, such as Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Eindhoven.

In fact, restaurants in the Netherlands with two Michelin stars are nowhere near Amsterdam but actually in Kruiningen (Zeeland) and Zwolle (Overijssel).

Lekker heh? Turns out the Dutch are about more than just bitterballen, frikandelen, and aardapelen.

Are you surprised by the 2023 Michelin Guide Netherlands? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Enjoyed the sun? Good, because rain is returning to the NL

News
Weather

Simone Jacobs

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April 28, 2023

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Enjoyed the sun? Good, because rain is returning to the NL

Are you sad that the King’s Day celebrations are over? Well, that’s not the only thing that’s come to an end, so has the good weather.

It looks like Dutch spring still won’t commit to sunny weather. Waving another red flag in this love-hate relationship, spring ended our sunny King’s Day parties early with some nasty rain and wind.

Maybe we could have forgiven that slight transgression, but according to NU.nl, our recovery Friday is going to be cloudy and rainy too.

A hangover cure

Let’s look on the not-so-bright-and-sunny side, perhaps this is for the best! A cold shower might help with your King’s Day hangover, and the morning weather is here to give it to you.

With clouds and showers in many areas in the northern part of the country, you’ll be wide awake in no time.

Goedemorgen! Vandaag valt er van tijd tot tijd enige regen en motregen. Tijdens het weekeinde knapt het wat op. Meer lezen op: https://t.co/zj9Y4wC9kQ Foto gemaakt door Peter de Vries. pic.twitter.com/SY89cBNm83
— Buienradar (@BuienRadarNL) April 28, 2023

Translation: Good morning! Today there will be some rain and drizzle from time to time. During the weekend, it brightens up a bit.

Don’t plan on having lunch outside in the sun, however, because the rain is going to continue into the afternoon in the north. The wind is also picking up and will be stronger along the coast.

The wind might chase some of that rain and clouds away in the south of the country, however, where there’s more of a chance for the sun to peep through the clouds.

A warm Friday

If there’s one silver lining to be found in the many clouds, we can be glad that it won’t be too cold today, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 17 degrees Celsius. The rain will also disappear for most areas by tonight.

Helaas pindakaas, the clouds will still be lurking, however, so you won’t get to see the sunset or go stargazing while thinking about all the embarrassing things you did yesterday.

A brisk evening temperature of 8 degrees Celsius will have us dreaming of warmer weather, and we might just get lucky!

Saturday is most likely going to be a better day with the possibility of some sun. This is how Dutch spring keeps us coming back for more.

How is the weather affecting your Friday plans? Tell us in the comments!

Time to say goodbye: Dutch government scraps STAP budget

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺

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April 28, 2023

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Time to say goodbye: Dutch government scraps STAP budget

For the first time in years, the Dutch government has to cut its budget. As a result, many government plans and programmes have to be stopped — including the STAP subsidy.

The reason behind the budget cuts? Other rising costs such as higher interest on public debt, an influx of Asylum seekers, and compensations to the province of Groningen for decades of gas extraction and the resulting earthquakes.

According to RTL Nieuws, the Dutch Cabinet will cut its budget by a total of €2.5 billion (ouch!). Almost all ministries have to surrender something as a result.

What is the STAP budget?
The Dutch STAP budget is (or should we say “was”) a government-funded training budget for people in the Dutch job market.

By covering up to €1,000 of the costs for training programmes, the budget aims to help employees learn, advance, or retain their career skills without breaking the bank.

STAP budget? More like STOP budget

As De Volkskrant writes, the STAP subsidy currently costs the government around €200 million per year — a high price if you’re already struggling with other rising costs. 😬

When it was first introduced in March 2022, the STAP budget replaced tax deductions for employee training and education.

As a result, for many, it became completely free to advance or reorientate yourself on the job market (as long as your training course cost less than €1,000.)

Since its introduction, the scheme has become hugely popular among the Dutch workforce, and during the most recent application round in March, the €34 million budget was gone within just 2.5 hours.

Praise and criticism

The STAP budget was praised by Krien van Gennip, the minister of Social Affairs, due to its ability to help not just highly educated workers, but also applicants who have an intermediate vocational education.

The scheme also reaches many people in vulnerable positions on the labour market, such as job seekers, flex workers or self-employed persons without employees.

At the same time, STAP received some criticism.

After the first rounds, it turned out that the money was often used for courses on things such as cryptocurrencies, analysing children’s drawings, and even a two-day “discover yourself” trip to Amsterdam, Antwerp or Paris. Really, guys?

At the start of 2023, many of these “hobby-like” courses were scrapped as rules for the budget were tightened.

On top of that, some training providers are said to have increased the costs of relatively cheap training courses to €1,000, to profit from the government’s budget.

Grappig dat cursussen die vroeger €399 of €499 waren tegenwoordig allemaal gratis te volgen zijn via het STAP budget en toevallig allemaal €999 zijn 🙃
— Dennis Gerritsen  (@dennboss) April 24, 2023

Translation: Funny that courses that used to be €399 or €499 can now all be followed for free via the STAP budget and coincidentally all are €999 🙃

These were all things Van Gennip wanted to address in the future.

Details remain unclear for now

As of right now, it’s unclear when the STAP subsidy will be cut, but it’s likely that this year’s application rounds may still go ahead.

The government did confirm this afternoon that the application round of May 1 at 10 AM will go through as planned. A total of €32 million are available for this round.

Once the STAP budget is gone, the government will likely go back to introducing tax deductions for employee training and education.

What do you think about the government’s plans to scrap the STAP budget? Tell us in the comments.

Dutchman wins European seagull screeching championship (yes, you read that right!)

Naomi Lamaury

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April 26, 2023

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Dutchman wins European seagull screeching championship (yes, you read that right!)

A fellow Dutchman proudly stood at the top of the podium as he won first place at the European Gull Screeching Championship.

This year, the competition took place in Adinkerke, Belgium, close to the French border, reports VRT NWS. Jarmo Slutter put on his best seagull suit and screeched his heart out.

In some countries, you get woken up by crowing roosters. In the Netherlands, you get to listen to the sound of screeching seagulls in the morning (and then throughout the day).

The proud Dutch champion

The 21-year-old man from Eindhoven snagged first place at the European-wide competition this year.

And Slutter found his hidden talent and made the most of that experience.

He says that joining the competition was all a bit of a joke: “It’s the first time that I participate. It’s a joke that got out of hand,” writes VRT NWS.

“I just imitated a seagull with friends, and apparently, it sounded good. Then we saw that there was actually a competition and I entered. I came here with a group of about 16 friends. I never thought I would win.”

If the sound of screeching seagulls awakens memories of being attacked by seagulls diving and demanding your frietje, maybe don’t watch this video:

Why a seagull screeching competition?

The competition started in Belgium five years ago. It was such a success that not only was it replicated in other countries, but it was expanded to a European-wide competition

How did this idea even start? The creator of the competition, Claude Willaert, said that he was saddened by the bad reputation that the birds have picked up.

They are often called the “rats of the sea” and a nuisance to cities, but Willaert says, “seagulls belong to the coast like salt to the sea.”

He hopes that the competition will help people understand the birds instead of looking down on them.

Seagulls’ undeservedly bad reputation is caused by human action. Feeding seagulls bread makes them more likely to continue coming closer to humans.

And like many animals, seagulls scour the city rooftops looking for breeding grounds because theirs have been taken over by humans.

Would you take part in the European Gull Screeching Championship? Tell us in the comments below!

Going Dutch? Payment system iDEAL to be used throughout Europe

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺

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April 26, 2023

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Going Dutch? Payment system iDEAL to be used throughout Europe

Once again, the Dutch did it first and the Dutch did it best: iDEAL is set to be introduced to the European Payment Initiative (EPI) and used Europe-wide.

iDEAL was introduced in the Netherlands in 2004 by the country’s three major banks, ABN AMRO, Rabobank and ING. As NU.nl writes, they had European ambition from the beginning.

What is the EPI?

The European Payment Initiative is a payment scheme designed to meet the needs of European citizens.

Its goal is to offer an instant digital payment solution for all major retail uses, for both consumers to merchants.

Currently, the EPI is a patchwork system that heavily relies on American systems and credit cards. “Now iDEAL must become the European answer to that,” an ING spokesperson tells NU.nl.

A good deal

ING has not disclosed how much EPI paid for iDeal, but one thing is for sure: It was too much to pay with a regular Tikkie. 💸

The three banks that created the payment system are all part of EPI and remain co-shareholders.

Change is on the horizon

Besides iDeal, EPI has also acquired Luxembourg’s Payconiq system.

Martina Weimert, CEO of EPI, explains the plans for a European payment method in a press release: “Together, we will join forces to realise EPI’s vision.”

“We are developing a new, scalable platform to address the modern and evolving payment needs of European consumers and merchants in the best possible way.”

Although there may be changes to the system, consumers will likely not notice much of them.

As a spokesperson at Currence, the company that houses iDeal, tells NU.nl: “It may change the name in the long run, but it may also just remain iDEAL.”

What do you think about EPI’s acquisition of iDeal? Tells us in the comments!

The best photo spots in Leiden

Lyna Meyrer 🇱🇺

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April 25, 2023

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It is no surprise that there are plenty of stunning photo spots in Leiden — after all, the city is a breathtaking little gem, snugged neatly between Amsterdam and the Hague.

Leiden is a truly ideal spot for a photography tour, especially since all of its most stunning sights are within minutes of walking from each other.

Are you ready to get that perfect shot? Here’s where you can find it! 📸

1. De Burcht: for the best view of the Hooglandsekerk

photo-of-burch-van-leiden — This circular monument dates all the way back to the 11th century. Image: Depositphotos

De Burcht is worth visiting for many reasons. One of them, undoubtedly, is the fact that it’s located on a hill… in the Netherlands!?

If you know a thing or two about hills, you’ll know that they can provide fantastic views — and that sure is true for De Burcht as well. Here, you’ll get a breathtaking view of the glorious Hooglandsekerk of Leiden. ⛪️

This imposing church is one of Leiden’s most famous monuments, so don’t miss this chance to get a stunning shot of it!

📍 Location: Van der Sterrepad 5, 2312 EK Leiden

2. The Hortus Botanicus: for exotic plants

photo-of-hortus-botanicus-things-to-do-in-leiden — The perfect spot for a sunny day! Image: Depositphotos

Time for some greenery — and Leiden has just the right place to go: the university’s botanical gardens.

The Hortus Botanicus is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands. Beautiful, romantic, and packed with a great variety of plants, it’s easily one of the best photo spots in Leiden.

Whether you want to shoot some Dutch tulips, or Leiden’s famous penis plant (yes, you read that right), this is the place to be!

📍 Location: Rapenburg 73, 2311 GJ Leiden

3. The Rapenburg: for magnificent canal views

Image of the Rapenburg on a sunny day in Leiden — Leiden’s Rapenburg is the most expensive street in the city! Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen/Supplied

One thing that can’t be missing from a good ol’ Dutch photo series is pictures of a canal view: glistening water reflecting in the camera, a charming boat floating by, and lush green trees decorating the side of the roads. Oh la la!

Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! The Rapenburg in Leiden can provide you with just that. Trust us; the 700-metre-long street has not a singular spot that is not worthy of a spot in a Kruidvat photobook!

The snazziest street of the city hosts the oldest building of Leiden University, as well as plenty of great cafés, museums, and historical Dutch houses.

On top of that, it has a stunning canal that is frequently called the mooiste gracht (prettiest canal) in the whole city — and we can see why! 😍

📍 Location: Rapenburg 1, 2311 GD

4. The Molen de Valk: for a quintessentially Dutch shot

photo-of-molen-der-valk — Can it get any more Dutch? We don’t think so. Image: Freepik

If you walk towards Leiden’s city centre from the station, you will come past what looks like your typical painting of the Netherlands.

The main star of the show? The Molen de Valk, the only windmill left of the 19 that once stood within the city walls of Leiden.

Surrounded by the water and the park’s greenery, it makes for a truly stunning and quintessentially Dutch shot!

📍 Location: 2e Binnenvestgracht 1, 2312 BZ Leiden

5. The Pieterskerk square: to capture Leiden’s history

Pieterskerk square in leiden — Truly a sight for sore eyes. Image: Lyna Meyrer/Supplied

History buffs, and appreciators of all things beautiful, this one’s for you! A feast for the eyes and the brain alike: the Pieterskerk and its surroundings.

Charming little streets lead you to what used to be Leiden’s main Catholic church, with its roots dating all the way back to the 1300s.

Important not just for Leiden’s history, this district of the city actually used to be settled by the American pilgrims in the 16th century.

The stunning church’s big windows, and red doors, along with the typical cobbled streets, easily make for one of the best photo spots in Leiden.

📍 Location: Kloksteeg 16, 2311 SL Leiden

6. The Koornbrug: for the hustle and bustle

photo-of-boat-cafe-in-leiden — What a glorious bridge! Image: Depositphotos

Next up, let’s head to the Koornbrug. This stunning bridge has a unique look that will look great in any photo. Its canopy even hosts Leiden’s coat of arms! 🗝️

The Koornbrug is located right on the Nieuwe Rijn, one of Leiden’s main canals. Stroll along, sit by the water, admire the Dutch architecture and get shots of Leiden’s hustle and bustle.

Oh, and if you need a break from carrying your heavy camera through the city, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of great cafés and yummy ice cream shops along this canal!

📍 Location: Koornbrug, 2312 JE Leiden

7. The little pink house: for a pop of colour

Little pink house in Leiden on a sunny day — Who’s moving in with us? 😍 Image: Lyna Meyrer/Supplied

Just like Los Angeles has its famous pink wall, Leiden has its charming pink house — a pop of colour in the middle of the city centre.

Dating back to 1635, this little dream house has quite the history in its lap. It used to be home to a well-known prostitute, who went by the nickname of Groene Haasje (little green hare).

At the time, the area the Little Pink House is in was deemed a Leiden-version of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

Today, it’s just the perfect spot to spice up your Instagram feed. Just look at that beautiful contrast between the sky’s baby blue and the house’s baby pink! Mooi, hé? 🌸

📍 Location: Groenhazengracht 3, 2311 VT

8. Outside the Volkenkunde Museum: to see the cherry blossoms

cherry blossoms at the Volkenkunde Museum in Leiden on a sunny day — A rare sight in the Netherlands: Clear skies! Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen/Supplied

Last but certainly not least: The Volkenkunde Museum — a beauty both inside and out!

While the inside of the National Museum of Ethnology is among the best things to do in Leiden, the museum’s surroundings are an attraction in themselves.

In the spring, this is a great place to observe the cherry blossom season slowly unfolding. On top of that, the museum will occasionally have artwork of fairs outside as well. This is a photo spot in Leiden that’s definitely worth checking out!

📍 Location: Steenstraat 1, 2312 BS Leiden

Whether you’re looking to get that perfect shot for your apartment’s photo wall or just a casual snap for your ‘gram, these photo spots in Leiden are great locations to be featured. 📸

Do you know of any more great photo spots in Leiden? Tell us in the comments!

DutchReview

DUTCHREVIEW

DutchReview

Get your ticket for a trip around Germany

More and more travel by train

The Netherlands continues to be gelukkig

How it works

Top 10 countries for quality of life

The climate is superb

Spain is easily accessible from the Netherlands

There are endless beaches to enjoy

The culture is fascinating

You get a lot of bang for your buck

Sophisticated Dutch cuisine?

All over the Netherlands

A hangover cure

A warm Friday

STAP budget? More like STOP budget

Praise and criticism

Details remain unclear for now

The proud Dutch champion

Why a seagull screeching competition?

What is the EPI?

A good deal

Change is on the horizon

1. De Burcht: for the best view of the Hooglandsekerk

2. The Hortus Botanicus: for exotic plants

3. The Rapenburg: for magnificent canal views

4. The Molen de Valk: for a quintessentially Dutch shot

5. The Pieterskerk square: to capture Leiden’s history

6. The Koornbrug: for the hustle and bustle

7. The little pink house: for a pop of colour

8. Outside the Volkenkunde Museum: to see the cherry blossoms