Netherlands

Travel News brought to you by Eurobookings, the experts in cheap hotel bookings for all major European cities including Amsterdam.Why not make yours a healthy break this autumn by taking part in the largest run in the Netherlands?Amsterdam's celebrated Dam tot Damloop has proved so popular in previous years that there are 5,000 more places for people who want to join in.Usually the race attracts more than 30,000 competitors, including children, from all over the globe.Whether you are a professional or novice, if you enter you are in with the chance of winning a share of €11,000 (£8,600) for coming in the top three.Registration for the 16km race is for as little as £4.75.The route goes from Dam Square via Zaandam and through the IJ-tunnel to Peperstraat.Support has been estimated at 200,000 in previous years.You'll also be cheered on by fanfares from orchestras and bands that turn out along the way.This year's road race takes place on September 21st and includes shorter distances for beginners and children.©CopyrightReady for the holidays? Browse cheap hotels in Amsterdam.

The home of the world's largest spring flower exhibition, Keukenhof in the Netherlands is a must-see for any botanical enthusiasts. More than seven million buds grow here every summer, in the gardens specially developed in 1949 to showcase Dutch bulb-growers. Each spring around 700,000 people visit the spectacular display that includes azaleas, hortensias, lilies orchids and of course, tulips. Their introduction to Holland in 1593 is credited to Carolus Clusius. The beauty of the garden makes it one of the world's most photographed sites, as visitors clamour to capture a lasting image of the huge range of traditional and more modern flower displays. Set among 77 acres of parkland, Keukenhof is also home to activities to keep the children entertained, including an outdoor wildlife zoo, a maze, a playground, an old Dutch windmill and the obligatory cafes and fast-food outlets. Other key Dutch gardens include the baroque Palais Het Loo, developed by William and Mary who were later to become the King and Queen of England, as well as the more modern Amsterdamse Bos, a large forest near Amsterdam.

Kilimanjaro Restaurant in Amsterdam is not technically only Ethiopian. This wonderful local favorite serves a delicious menu of pan-African cuisine perfect for most any palate. Vegetarians have a bounty of choices; meat eaters can indulge in tasty morsels like Sengalese lamb curry; the adventurous can wash down their crocodile steaks with banana beer.

The seating in winter is quite cozy (i.e. small) with only around 25 seats (on the ground). This means that it is a great place to while away the rainy, cold days…if you can get a table. In the summer, the cool outdoor patio makes for a perfect place to savor the tastes of Africa. The décor is simple and manages to mix elements of Africa into the simple design without looking Congo-cabana cheesy.
Other menu highlights include spicy Ethiopian chicken and antelope goulash. The food is, of course, best eaten with your hands. Ask the wait staff for recommendations. If you are open to trying new, and seemingly strange, items, they will set you up with a memorable culinary experience. Expect to spend around € 20 on an unforgettable meal.

Kilimanjaro Restaurant is located on the east side of Amsterdam still within the inner city on Rapenburgerplein. The Waterloopein Station is your nearest transit location. It is not too far from the Maritime Museum.

Visitors to Amsterdam in the spring should take some time for a short, stunningly vibrantly colorful daytrip just outside of the cultural capital of the Netherlands. Given the small size of the country, no destination in the Netherlands is too far away and this is especially true for the flowers. The Netherlands are famous for tulips but spring blooms also run rampant with hyacinths and daffodils.

Two key destinations just outside of Amsterdam that are a must-see for even the most casual flower viewer are the gigantic flower market in Aalsmeer and the bulb fields west of the town of Leiden. Aalsmeer’s flower auction is the biggest in Europe and is housed in a mind-bogglingly enormous complex (imagine 100+ soccer pitches put together and you’ll start to get an idea). The auction starts early in the morning so it is most enjoyable before 9:00 a.m. From Aalsmeer, continue southwest until you hit the quaint college town of Leiden. West of Leiden, you will find endless expanses of blooming fields to overwhelm your vision and olfactory senses. Just north of Leiden you can find, Keukenhof, the largest flower garden in the world only open for a brief window in the spring during the bloom.

Aalsmeer and Leiden are both accessible from the Central Station in Amsterdam by bus and train. Car trips in the region are a wonderful way to enjoy the sights and the smells of the region. For my money, however, nothing beats a two day bicycle trip with an overnight stay in Leiden.