Holland

departure by car on Friday at 20:00 destination Amsterdam, after several stops made to please our travel companion Leo (our little dog) we finally arrive on Saturday morning at 13.00. We stay at the ibis stopera hotel. A hotel I recommend for its excellent location, very helpful staff, buffet breakfast with lots of choice, nice and above all clean room, moreover right next to the hotel there is a covered paid parking (35 euros per day). During the day, even though tired after a regenerating shower, we go to discover Amsterdam, we visit Dam Square, the royal palace, the flower market and the Anne Frank house but only from the outside given the long queue of people. We wander a bit through the streets of the center and then have dinner in an Italian restaurant.

Sunday 8 wake up at 6, hearty breakfast and then off towards Durgerdam a small fishing village 15 minutes from Amsterdam, beautiful and quiet. At mid-morning we go to visit Zaanse Schans a wonderful and picturesque village with windmills to see!!. We stop for lunch and then in the afternoon we head to visit Marken another fishing village, even though the weather doesn't promise well we go to see the town of Delft famous for its blue ceramics. The center is very nice with a beautiful square overlooked by shops and bars. In the late afternoon we move to Scheveningen a famous seaside town and after a walk on the long beach we go to dinner in one of the many restaurants overlooking the sea. In the evening we return to the hotel. Monday 9 wake up at 6.30, we have breakfast and then head towards Den Helder to take the ferry to the island of Texel.

The crossing lasts about 15 minutes with a well-equipped ferry. Once disembarked we decide to go and consult the map of the island and we go to the north of the island to visit the famous lighthouse and the wonderful expanse of beach. And after a long and relaxing walk by the sea we go to visit the other small villages, since the island is small (25 km long and 8 wide) we manage to see almost all of it. At mid-afternoon we return to Den Helder and move to the town of Haarlem, nice although I imagined it a little different. Volendam and Monnickendam are only our next stops, very beautiful although I prefer Monnickendam for its simplicity and tranquility, both worth visiting. Evening ride on the illuminated canals of Amsterdam and through the streets of the center in search of small gifts. Unfortunately we have to go home.

I recommend visiting the Waterland area because with its canals, windmills and endless pastures it is truly unique.