Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. A maritime and economic power in the 17th century and even today, Holland today consists of the Dutch provinces of North Holland and South Holland. Holland lies on the North Sea at the mouths of the Rhine and the Meuse (Maas). It has numerous rivers and lakes and an extensive inland canal and waterway system. Delft and Amsterdam are both in North Holland. I took a road trip along the coastline of North Holland over the following weekend. I always wanted to check out some small and non-touristy areas and the local life. I started off the trip at Delft and drove north through Haarlem, Alkmaar, Bergen, Bergen Aan Zee, Schoorl, Petten, Callantsong on Saturday. I stayed at Callantsong Saturday night. On Sunday, I drove through the north most town Den Helder and then turned to East till Den Oever. At Den Oever, I crossed the Afsluitdijk dam – a highway between Friesland and North- Holland over the North Sea. In Friesland, I took a highway paralled to the coast toward south and stopped at Lemma and Urk. Then I took a highway south to Afsluitdijk dam back to Holland. I stopped at Enkhuizen and then continued north to Medemblik and turned back south through Hoorn and further down to Edam, Volendam and Amsterdam. During the trip, I stopped at 13 towns and went through numerous cities and villages along the coastline of Norrd-Holland and Friesland. I took local roads most part of the trip which gave me a good opportunity to see and experience the local life. I estimated I had driven about 1000 kilometers. Most of towns I stopped by were on the beach and used to be fishing villages. Each town has its own unique features. Haarlem is one of big cities in North Holland with habors, canals, bridges and a centrum of the city - it’s kind of mini Amsterdam. Bergen Aza Zee, Petten and Callantsong are small beach towns with a long line of costal dunes. The beaches were very quite and lonely in this off season and bleak weather. Afsluitdijk dam is an amazing 35 kilometers road stretching out above the sea as a connection of the two provinces of Netherlands (North Holland and Friesland). Enkhuizen, Medemblik, Urk, Lemma, and Edam were used to be fishing villages. They share some common traits including maritime harbor, lots of fishing boats from the sophisticated gigantic ones to simple single engine-powered boats, cobbled streets, centrum of the town where the church and square are, cute shops and cafes.
The scenic drive from Bergen Aan Zee to Petten is breathtaking. The straight and endless ocean road next to the miraculous creature – Sea wall (costal dune) along Petten beach is absolutely striking. A biking path is paralleled to the road which I thought the most amazing cycling route in the world.
Enkhuize is one of my favorite towns which has a big harbor and lots of interesting Dutch architectures. I strolled through the streets in sprinkling rain and window shopped at all these cool boutique shops (they were all closed on Sunday).
In Haarlem, I had a car-search drama where i was escorted by a couple of handsome young Dutch police officers in the police car and looked for my rental car which I couldn't remember where to park . After driving through half of the city, I found my car 500 meters away from the police station.
Rain had followed me through most part of my trip. The weather obviously discounted a great deal of the joy. On the way back from Amsterdam on Sunday night, it was pouring all the way. Thus I wrapped up the journey wet and tired. This trip gave me a great opportunity to explore a number of small cities en route the local streets and highways in North Holland and Friesland along the coast, to see and experience local Dutch life, to interact with locals and of courses to enjoy the striking country, ocean and forestry sceneries. There is one moment when I was driving on this flat country road toward Petten beach,I had to pull my car to a temporary parking spot to figure out where I am at is real or not. I was a dot on this purely and evenly green pasture. The pasture is as flat and still as a piece of paper spotted with a few house and cows. I was staring at the sorroundings and tried to inhale every single bit of air form the ambience of peace and harmony. This is what a fair tale tells - a perfect wonderland where human being and nature are brought in together in peace and harmony. In north Holland, I found such a wonderland and I was at that moment part of fair tale.
The scenic drive from Bergen Aan Zee to Petten is breathtaking. The straight and endless ocean road next to the miraculous creature – Sea wall (costal dune) along Petten beach is absolutely striking. A biking path is paralleled to the road which I thought the most amazing cycling route in the world.
Enkhuize is one of my favorite towns which has a big harbor and lots of interesting Dutch architectures. I strolled through the streets in sprinkling rain and window shopped at all these cool boutique shops (they were all closed on Sunday).
In Haarlem, I had a car-search drama where i was escorted by a couple of handsome young Dutch police officers in the police car and looked for my rental car which I couldn't remember where to park . After driving through half of the city, I found my car 500 meters away from the police station.
Rain had followed me through most part of my trip. The weather obviously discounted a great deal of the joy. On the way back from Amsterdam on Sunday night, it was pouring all the way. Thus I wrapped up the journey wet and tired. This trip gave me a great opportunity to explore a number of small cities en route the local streets and highways in North Holland and Friesland along the coast, to see and experience local Dutch life, to interact with locals and of courses to enjoy the striking country, ocean and forestry sceneries. There is one moment when I was driving on this flat country road toward Petten beach,I had to pull my car to a temporary parking spot to figure out where I am at is real or not. I was a dot on this purely and evenly green pasture. The pasture is as flat and still as a piece of paper spotted with a few house and cows. I was staring at the sorroundings and tried to inhale every single bit of air form the ambience of peace and harmony. This is what a fair tale tells - a perfect wonderland where human being and nature are brought in together in peace and harmony. In north Holland, I found such a wonderland and I was at that moment part of fair tale.
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