The Netherlands, day 3: North and South Holland

So I did it – the “tourist” thing. I booked a tour called The Grand Holland Tour . If you’re going to The Netherlands, I highly recommend this tour and this tour company. It was very easy to book and the place is easy to find in Amsterdam. The meeting place for the tours is at 26 Damrak, which is a straight shot, maybe 5 minutes, from the Centraal Station.

It wouldn’t be Holland without windmills! I had to snap this photo quickly, and from a moving vehicle, so have a heart and forgive me that it is not my best work. According to the guide, these windmills are called the “Three Sisters”, as they are all in a row. I have no way to substantiate this, so we’ll take her word for it.

The first stop on the tour was to a wooden shoe maker. The thing that impressed me most about this visit was that it was very informative, not just a visual demonstration. The shoemaker gave a history of shoes, and of the different types of shoes available. I was most impressed with the carved wedding shoes. I was simply amazed at the craftsmanship required to create such an elegant work of art.

Prior to this tour, I had no idea the use for wooden shoes. Like anybody, I suppose, I guessed that it was just a cultural thing passed down through the years. However, in actuality, they serve a very valid and useful purpose; keeping the feet of fisherman and farmers, in the very wet Netherlands, dry.

 

The next stop was Rotterdam, a very modern city considering how the rest of the Netherlands looks. However, this too, has rhyme to the reason. Back during WWII, most of the city was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. Thus, you have some of the best, modern architecture in this city.  

I would have to say my favorite piece of architecture was the Erasmus Bridge. I have a thing for bridges, especially funky ones, so this caught my eye. According to Wiki, it cost €75 to build. That’s one expensive bridge, but, a nice addition to the modern architecture of Rotterdam.

 

Next it was onto Delft, home of the famous blue pottery. The demonstration was excellent and well put together. It’s so much better to have an explanation as to how the pieces are made instead of just saying “oh! ah! pretty shiny stuff!”.

Having done some ceramics in the past, I have a great respect for the artisans that create this special pottery. It takes hours and hours of hard work to ensure the quality is up to par, not to mention painting the designs on the pottery. Patience, Patience, Patience!

Overall, I give this tour an excellent rating. The only thing I would change is more time enjoy the scenery of places like The Hague and Rotterdam. This is a great way for traveler’s to see some of North and South Holland’s beauty.