5-star hotel guide to Netherlands
Tulips and windmills are synonymous with the Netherlands, but so should fabulous galleries and museums, cycling and café culture. Amsterdam is the country's epicentre for all of this and the perfect northern European short-break escape.
The official name of this friendly and liberal country is the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with King Willem-Alexander being the current king. While many still refer to the country as Holland, this name actually only refers to the two provinces of Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland that made the biggest contribution to the country's economy and wealth during the 19th century.
Art has played a vital role in Netherlands culture with celebrated Dutch Masters including Rembrant, Vermeer, Van Gogh and Piet Mondrian influencing art all around the world. World-class museums and art galleries abound, not just in Amsterdam, but also in Den Haag, Rotterdam and Haarlem. Dutch architecture has been a feature since Romanesque times, with Gothic cathedrals and Dutch Renaissance palaces and tilted gabled houses along Amsterdam's famous canals.
Dutch design has been cutting-edge since the 1950's with modernist graphic design in particularly influential.
In Amsterdam head for the Rijksmuseum, Museum het Rembranthuis and Van Gogh Museum for inspiration before relaxing at In 't Aepjen, a quirky candle-lit café in the Medieval centre, which has been a tavern since 1519, when it served sailors return from the far East, who often brought monkeys (aapjes) to trade.Alternatively, experience a gourmet dinner at Librije's Zusje, the. sister restaurant to three-Michelin-starred De Librije. We also love Ron Gastrobar for its unpretentious laid back vibe and Rijks a Michelin-starred eaterie at the Rijksmuseum.
Our favourite place to stay is The Dylan for its enviable location in the Nine Streets district for its intimate 5-star boutique charm, low key chic and canalside setting. It's the perfect base to explore the city and then retire to its calm and cossetting loft suites to contemplate a Michelin-starred dinner at its own restaurant, Vinkeles.