Netherlands

Colour and carnival return to the Dutch capital this summer with the arrival of the city's annual Gay Pride weekend.One of the biggest gay and lesbian festivals in the whole of Europe, it takes place from August 1st to 3rd for three days of non-stop partying.The highlight takes place on Saturday afternoon with the world-famous Canal Parade comprising 75 spectacularly decorated boats sailing from 2pm until 6pm through the Prinsengracht and Amstel rivers.Over 350,000 visitors turn up each year to feast their eyes on the procession and dance along to the banging tunes accompanying it.Elsewhere in Amsterdam, Pride weekend is marked with a mixture of concerts, sports and plenty of revelry, including the popular White Party at the Melkweg on Saturday night.Stockholm Pride is held over the same weekend in Sweden and this year hosts Europride too, making it one of the biggest festivals in Scandinavia.

Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in Europe, let alone the world, and I have definitely stayed in a wide range of accommodations during my visits. After trying several types of accommodations in many parts of the city, I have settled on the Hotel Vondel for its location, cleanliness and character. The Hotel Vondel is very near the Vondelpark which not only means the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum are a short walk away, it also means that a green urban escape is close at hand. Plus, I can easily walk into the heart of Amsterdam for food and culture. But the selling point for me really is the wonderful interior of the hotel

I started only staying at the Hotel Vondel two years ago mainly because I like the look and feel of the place. The hotel is located along Vondelstraat, a lovely street lined with similar-looking brick townhouses. Inside, however, the Hotel Vondel transforms into a hip, chic boutique hotel. The lobby, restaurant and rooms are all done in a stylish black and white theme that relies on cool fabrics, simple black-framed prints and modern fixtures to remind you that the hotel is very up-to-date European. I enjoy the feel of this hip urban-ness after a day of wandering Amsterdam’s old streets. Most of the rooms are cozy (i.e. small) but include comfortable beds and nice amenities like wall-mounted flatscreen TVs. The breakfast is plentiful and a cocktail in the garden (weather permitting) is a great reason to stop your sightseeing early and come back in the late afternoon.

Some of the very best hotels can also be some of the most unknown believe it or not. The Seven Bridges in Amsterdam is one such hotel. It features a great location, beautiful interiors, friendly service and an overall is a very good hotel. Some even say it’s the most romantic little hotel in all of Amsterdam. 300-years ago, the Seven Bridges was a merchant's house. It is located where Herensgracht and Keizersgracht meet beneath seven small arched bridges.

Are you inspired by interior decorating? You'll find inspiration here. Although there are only eight rooms, they are all styled in their own way with antique bedspreads, wooden floors, exquisite rugs and mirrors as well as "art deco" themed bathrooms. The hotel is a tall, narrow building and has no communal dining room. Rooms range from £70-£200 a night.

If you want to see the city, get away from the touristy places close to the train station and go towards the canals. There, you will see the true character of the city. Stroll around, sample the local fare and pick up a few souvenirs.

Amsterdam - and the Seven Bridges hotel will be remembered for a lifetime.

The story of Anne Frank has captured the hearts of millions of people all over the globe and her diary is the second most popular book in the world after the bible.And thousands of people pay homage to the brave teenager every year during a visit to Amsterdam.The house that Anne and her family lived in with the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer when hiding from the Nazis is based on the Prinsengracht in the Netherlands' capital.Scores of people queue up throughout the day to see the annex, which was concealed behind a moveable bookcase.Within the small rooms are remnants of the Frank family's history, largely collected by Anne's father Otto after the war. These include the pictures of filmstars treasured by Anne, which she displayed on her bedroom wall.There are also a number of letters, documents, photographs and objects from the time that the families were forced to live in this confined space.And of course, here is where visitors can catch a glimpse of Anne's original diary, now so famous throughout the world.The museum also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.Anne Frank died in Bergen-Belsen in March 1945, about a month before the camp was liberated.

Every year the citizens of Holland celebrate two of their most recognisable symbols - the windmill and the bicycle.The second Saturday of May each year marks both National Windmill and Pumping Station Day as well as National Cycling Day, when 600 of the country's 1000 windmills welcome visitors for free, while hundreds of thousands of cyclists take to Holland's famously flat streets.Those on two wheels may want to take the opportunity to explore one of the hundreds of windmills, which indicate they are taking part in the free-entry scheme by flying a blue pennant.In the few remaining working mills in the country dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, millers give demonstrations of what their working day is like.On the day, 360 cycle routes are specially set up for those on two wheels.Throughout the Netherlands, cycling is an extremely popular method of transportation all year round, with many cycle paths and facilities for cyclists, stretching from city to city and cross-border to Belgium and Germany.