MY TRAVEL INFO : NETHERLANDS : AMSTERDAM & ROTTERDAM

ABOUT AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam is the vibrant capital of the Netherlands, famously known as the "Venice of the North" for its iconic UNESCO-listed canal network. As of 2025, it remains a global hub for art, commerce, and a famously liberal culture that blends 17th-century history with a progressive, modern lifestyle.

Bicycle Culture: Biking is the primary mode of transport; there are estimated to be over 880,000 bicycles in the city—more than there are residents.

The city features over 165 canals (totaling 100 km) and more than 1,281 bridges, which is triple the number found in Venice. 

Zaanse Schans is a picturesque open-air museum and living heritage community located about 20 minutes from Amsterdam by train, known for its historic windmills and traditional Dutch craftsmanship. The outdoor area is free to visit, although individual museums and windmills charge an entrance fee.

The site is famous for its collection of well-preserved, functional windmills. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Zaan region was the world's first industrial area, with over 600 windmills powering sawmills, oil presses, and spice grinders. You can go inside several of them (like De Kat for paint pigments or De Zoeker for oil) to see the massive wooden gears in action.

Volendam is the most famous fishing village in Netherlands, located just 20 km north of Amsterdam, on the sores of the Markermeer.  It's a "postcard-perfect" destination known for its colorful wooden houses, historic harbor and deep-rooted folk traditions. 

Volendam is famous for its "national"dress (the pointed white bonnet and striiped skirts). You’ll find several studios along the harbor where you can dress up for a professional photo—a kitschy but classic Dutch souvenir.

Dam Square is the historical and geographical heart of Amsterdam. Its name literally comes from its origins: it was the site of the original dam on the Amstel River built in the 13th century, which eventually gave the city its name (Amstel-dam).

Oranje Nassau refers to the current Royal House that has reigned over the country for centuries. It is the name of the Dynasty that led the Dutch to independence and remains the symbol of Dutch national identity today. 

The name comes from the merging of two European territories in the 16th Century:

• Nassau: A German county (now the state of Rhineland-Palatinate). The family first moved into the Netherlands in 1403 through a strategic marriage. 
• Orange: a small sovereign principality in southern France (near Avignon). In 1544, the young William of Nassau inherited this title from his cousin, becoming the first "William of Orange". 

The name Oranje Nassau reminds me of the historical Battle of Cape Rachado (near Port Dickson, Malaysia) which took place in 1606. between the Dutch and Portuguese.  Among the Dutch fleet of 11 ships, there are two ships named Oranje and Nassau.The Dutch Ship Nassau sank off the coast of Port Dickson near the Bambek Shoal. It was lost during the battle at Cape Rachado (also known as Tanjung Tuan) in August 1606. Four ships sanks during the battle. 

In 1995, all four ships lost at Cape Rachado were found by Gerald Caba of CABACO Marine Pte.Ltd, Singapore. The wreck was found with 15 cannons, cannonballs, ropes and wooden barrels with animal bones, coins and a Chinese jar. The wreck of Nassau (Dutch) was found about 8-nautical miles off the modern town of Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, while the wreck of Middleburg (Dutch), Sao Salvador (Portuguese) and Dom Duarte de Guerra (Portuguese) galleon was found 0.7 nautical mile away from Nassau. 

Some of the retrieved artefacts from Nassau are on display at the Lukut Museum in Port Dickson.

Keukenhof, Often called "Garden of Europe" is the world's largest and most famous spring garden. Located in Lisse, Netherlands, about40-minutes from Amsterdam, a massive 32-hectare showcase of Dutch floriculture that attracts over a million of visitors in just eight weeks. 

The Anne Frank House is a biographical museum in Amsterdam, located at Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam, where Anne Frank and her family hid from Nazi persecution during World War II.

ROTTERDAM

Rotterdam (The Dam on the River Rotte), Netherlands second-largest city and home to Europe largest seaport. Known as "Gateway to Europe" . Most of the city was destroyed by German bombing in May 1940.

Rotterdam's history goes back to 1270, when a dam was constructed in the Rotte. In 1340, Rotterdam was granted city rights by William IV, Count of Holland. The Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area, with a population of approximately 2.7 million, is the 10th-largest in the European Union and the most populous in the country.

Some of the interesting places that have been visited in Rotterdam :

The Blaaktoren (Dutch for "Blaak Tower) , famously known as Het Potlood (The Pencil), is a distinctive residential high-rise in Rotterdam. Designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom and completed in 1984, it stands as a striking example of structuralist architecture. 

Located at the Binnenrotte, right next to the Blaak Station, the Markthal and the Rotterdam Central Library. 

The Markthal (Market Hall) in Rotterdam is a unique and iconic architecture landmark that functions as the first covered market in the Netherlands. Opened in 2014, and designed by the renowned Dutch frim MVRDV, it serves as a hybrid of a residential building, a fresh food market and massive piece of public art. 

Located at Dominee Jan Scharpstraat 298, 3011 GZ Rotterdam, next to the Blaak Station (train, metro, tram). 

Rotterdam Cube Houses (or Kubuswoningen) are one of Rotterdam's most surreal and photographed landmarks. Designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom and completed in 1984, they are telted 45 degrees and sit on hexagonal pillars, intended to resemble a forest of trees (the "Blaakse Bos").

Located at Overblaak Street, right next to the Blaak Metro, Trains and Tram Station and the Markthal food Hall in Rotterdam city center.

Remember Dutch Lady Milk?

Do you think Dutch Lady is straight from the Netherlands?

Despite its name, it is a Malaysian-established company that has been operating since 1963. A subsidiary of FrieslandCampina, one of the world's largest dairy cooperative based in Netherlands. 

Established in 1963 as Pacific Milk Industries, and renamed to Dutch Baby Milk Industries in 1975. In the year 2000, officially change to Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad. 

The Wild Turkey: In Malaysia we called "Ayam Belanda" which literally translate to "Dutch Chicken". 

While the wild turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo) is native to North America, it received thsi name in the Malay language due to historical trade and colonial routes. 

This bird was introduced to the Malay Archipelago by Dutch Traders during the colonial era (around the 17th century). Since the local had never seen the bird before and it was brought by the Dutch, they identified it as a "chicken" belonging to the Dutch and called it "Ayam Belanda" or Dutch Chicken. Belanda is a Malay word for Netherlands. 

However in Indonesia, it is more commonly called Kalkun, which comes from the Dutch word Kalkoen (Calicut Hoen) meaning "hen from Calicut" in India. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

23/12/2025: 5.55 a.m