A canal in Haarlem

No, this is not the Spanish Harlem Elton John sang about in “Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters”, but a city in the Dutch province of North Holland you should include in the itinerary for your next ferry trip to Europe.

Haarlem’s proximity to the coast gives it a vibrancy and variety that many other European cities lack, and there’s a wide range of museums, historic sites and pleasant cafes and bars inviting you to sit down. Only an hour’s drive from P&O Ferries’ Dutch port in Rotterdam, it’s a great stopover if you’re on your way to Amsterdam (20 miles drive or 15 minutes by train) or even as a destination in itself.

The Corrie ten Boom house is a place worth visiting for everyone – it tells the story of the ten Boom family, who during WWII provided a hiding place for Jewish families, resistance fighters and anyone else deemed in danger. This inspiring story should be heard by as many people as possible, and with free guided tours available, you’d be a fool to miss it!

Art lovers will be pleased to hear that the Frans Hals Museum contains a fantastic collection of European paintings. The artist who gave the museum its name lived in the 15th century and is particularly famed for his sumptuous, incredibly detailed group portraits, but the museum features work from other Dutch and European masters as well (e.g. Monet, Pieter Bruegel) and is housed in a gorgeous mid-19th century building. A must for art lovers.

Walking around Haarlem’s canals is a pleasure – trees line many of them, and the atmosphere is a lot less busy than in Amsterdam, leaving you to take in the fresh air, the reflections, buildings and bird sounds. If you’re into your classicist and gothic buildings, you can take a look at the Nieuwe Kerk (based on a Jerusalem temple), and the St.-Bavokerk, located on the main market square.

All in all, Haarlem is like a smaller, more relaxed and less touristy Amsterdam. The local beer is fantastic yet cheap, and all main sights (as well as the hidden ones) can be reached by walking.

To get to Haarlem, you can take a P&O Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam, from where it is only a short drive. A highly recommended winter trip!

Image credit: Bogdan Migulski

Tags: Netherlands by Matthias Scherer
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In de Wildeman

With the Dutch Christian Democrat Party pushing for a tougher line on cannabis, many prospective visitors to Amsterdam worry that they might miss out on the coffee shop experience (in Maastricht, all foreigners except German and Belgian passport holders are banned from coffee shops). But even if the ban on tourists does make it into law, there are plenty of other hangouts in Amsterdam that you can relax and have a drink or two in. Here are five suggestions to get you started.

In de Wildeman (Kolksteeg 3, www.indewildemann.nl)
One for the beer drinkers. There are separate rooms for smokers and non-smokers, and again there’s a refreshing (literally) lack of run-of-the-mill beers and annoying music. In de Wildeman is a great spot for stretching your legs over a quiet pint of either Dutch or Belgian beer (there are Beer of the Month and other recommendations if you’re unsure what to go for), maybe accompanied by some tasty bar snacks and topped off by the authentic, cosy pub feel and décor.

Wynand Fockink (Piljsteeg 31)
After you finish snickering, you might be interested to hear that this tiny drinking hole implements a ban on mobile phones and features some of the most professional and amiable barmen in Europe. A place that does away with modern day horrors like TV screens, loud funky house music and coloured cocktails, the Wynand Focking provides what a bar should – a place to drink and chat. The drink selection is focused on sweet brandy liqueurs, and with over 60 to choose from, there will definitely be one that suits your personal taste.

Café Sound Garden (Marnixstraat 164-166, www.cafesoundgarden.nl)
Named after one of grunge’s great bands, this is a great indie/rock bar with a lovely terrace overlooking a nearby canal. DJs spin alternative pop hits (there’s also the occasional live gig), people chat away about music and, after a few drinks, even shake their limbs awkwardly. The beer is good, and there is a pool table. In short, it’s a little bit of heaven.

Whiskycafé L&B (Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 82-84, www.whiskyproeverijen.nl)
Punters can choose from more than 1,000 different whisky and bourbon options at this impossibly snug and welcoming bar. You might want to browse the menu (which divides drinks according to country of origin) or you could rely on the barmen’s recommendations – both are fun and rewarding options. Again, this is a place to drink and talk until late (the Whiskycafé is open until 3am during the week and 4am on weekends) rather than drink to oblivion/the point of public embarrassment, so don’t expect blaring speakers and cheesy chat-up lines.

You can get to Rotterdam with P&O’s great current offer of a 3-day minicruise from Hull to Amsterdam, which involves all the comforts of P&O Ferries’ onboard catering and entertainment as well as a night in the great city itself. Go here for details.

Image credit: Finnur Magnusson

Tags: Netherlands by Matthias Scherer
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If you are planning a trip to the Netherlands we’d recommend you look into purchasing an iAmsterdam card. For those of you intending to do a bit of cultural tourism the iAmsterdam association will really help you make the most of your trip, letting you jump the queues to get in to museums free, discounts on food and free public transport. You can order your iAmsterdam ticket online and get a 5% discount or pick one up in the Netherlands’ capital once you arrive. You have a choice of cards 24 hour, 48 hour and 72 hours, considering that this little card puts the entire capital at your feet.

You’ll have free or discounted access to exhibitions, live music, theatre dance and festivals. They also offer access to the canal hop-on-hop-off Bus, which is a sublime way to traverse the city, making the most of this service will add a leisurely pace to your holiday, honestly who doesn’t love a boat trip?

You can also order family passes so if you want to take the children with you it’s a brilliant means for an inexpensive trip filled with the wonderful sights and curios that only Amsterdam has to offer.

If you take a P&O Ferry to Rotterdam, you can use your iAmsterdam card to get to the capital and then all you have to do is flash it at the entrance of all participating venues for access.

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Tags: History, Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Karim Beerahee
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The first Saturday of November in Amsterdam sees the return of Museum Night. This tradition opens the doors of over 40 of the museums in Holland’s capital to visitors in the darker hours. One of the troubles with visiting Amsterdam during the winter is that the sun sets rather early, around 4:30PM, so this is a great opportunity for you to absorb culture in a night time setting. The event runs from 7PM to 2AM, after the sun sets traditionally tourists go for a meal, to a show or out to bars and clubs. With Museum Night you’ll have the option to see exhibits over later hours; it’s an excellent and unique way to while away an evening if you’ve spent the day roaming Amsterdam.

You can pre-book tickets if you want to avoid the queues pre-sales normally run until around 5:30PM and tickets are a steal at just € 17. The museums run events across the night including workshops, live music and unusual tours.

One of the benefits of getting tickets for Museum Night is that it will gain you access to all participating museums, with free transport on trams and the special Museum Night boat. You’ll also be given access to one museum any day up until the end of the calendar year. Unfortunately Museum Year Cards and ‘I Amsterdam Cards’ do not entitle you to entry on Museum Night.

Take a P&O Ferry to Holland for Museum Night, the crossing from Hull to Rotterdam is short and swift and excellent if you’re on a budget

Image credit: p22earl

Tags: Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Karim Beerahee
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The tourist season is pretty much finished but that doesn’t mean Amsterdam has shut up shop. If you are after a weekend break or a little time away from Britain there’s always plenty to see in Holland’s capital, and P&O Ferries can get you there for a blessedly queue free, albeit chillier holiday.

October brings a couple of exciting events to Amsterdam including this weekend’s ‘Awakenings’ techno festival and a dance event mid-month which serves as both festival and conference, drawing industry professionals and masses of fans to the city. Of course the end of October brings Halloween so watch this blog for updates on the larger parties and organised events to get you to make the most of All Hallows’ Eve.

Most cafes and restaurants will have packed away their outdoor sections, but there’s plenty to draw you indoors besides the colder weather. Some of the classic tourist attractions include the Van Gogh and Rembrandt museums, as well as the Anne Frank Museum. There are also numerous churches dating back over 500 years, concert halls magnificent architecturally and for the shows that go on inside. You can also get a taste of Dutch culture in the cafes and pubs.

For a relaxed mid Autumn getaway, and a chance to see Amsterdam without too much tourist culture, P&O Ferries can get you across to the Netherlands at minimal cost.

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Tags: Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Karim Beerahee
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Runners in the Amsterdam’s Vondelpark

While it might be a tad too late to take part in this year’s Amsterdam marathon, there’s still plenty of time to hop aboard P&O Ferries and go on a cheeky jaunt to the Netherlands to take in this great event as a spectator.

The 2011 Amsterdam Marathon takes place on Sunday, 16th October and will feature runners from over 50 countries. Last year, Ethiopia’s Getu Feleke broke the track record with a time of 2.05.44.

This year’s Amsterdam marathon route (it changes every year) is a great way of discovering the city. Great spots to cheer on the runners include the city’s Rijksmuseum (National Museum) on Museumplein, the Vondelpark with its numerous ponds and variety of trees, and the nature reserve along the Amstel river.

As befits a sporting event like this, the marathon starts and finishes in the Olympic stadium.

You can go to Amsterdam and take in the marathon’s atmosphere by using P&O Ferries to take you to Rotterdam, from where it’s only half an hour’s drive to Amsterdam.

Image credit: donheffernan

Tags: Netherlands by Matthias Scherer
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The Delfshaven area in P&O’s Dutch port city Rotterdam

This is another one for all of you who are into their ships and maritime history: At a shipyard in Rotterdam, a warship that sank during the 18th century is being rebuilt, piece by piece, under the gaze of the public.

De Delft was part of the Dutch navy and used to protect merchant ships in European waters, as well as on a few missions against slave traders. It was captured by the British (who were at war with the Batavian Republic – a brief Dutch republic proclaimed after a coup d’etat in 1795 – at the time) in October 1797 and sank a few days later.

Some pieces of the De Delft shipwreck were found in 1977, and reconstruction started in 2001. The replica is still being built today, and visitors can pop down to the shipyard and admire the craft involved in re-building an historic warship to its original proportions (63m length, 57m height).

The reconstruction is being carried out by volunteers and students, and the ship isn’t expected to be fully restored for another few years. Nevertheless, it is a hugely impressive sight and you could do worse on your next P&O Ferries visit to Rotterdam than to check out the surrounding exhibitions and film presentation.

There are also guided tours offering information about the ship’s history and the process of reconstruction.

As it happens, the area surrounding the shipyard, Delfshaven, is a lovely part of the city to have a wander around afterwards, so you can sit down in a bar after viewing the De Delft.

P&O Ferries is offering minicruises from Hull to Rotterdam for only £72 per person. Go to P&O Ferries minicruises to check out the offer and book your trip to Rotterdam.

Image credit: JeHu68

Tags: Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Matthias Scherer
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P&O Ferries is offering a couple of excellent deals for the winter months, if you fancy a break to the continent between 1st October and December 29th you’ll be able to travel in luxury at discounted prices with P&O Ferries.

At just £72 per person you can catch either the Pride of Rotterdam or MS Pride of Hull and cross the Channel in style in a 10 hour mini cruise dropping you off at Bruges, Rotterdam or you could take the Coach transfer and head on in to Amsterdam. The Hull minicruise is going to run a 2-for-1 deal, an excellent opportunity to holiday with your loved one and not break the bank.

To keep you entertained on your crossing these ferries are well kitted out with a casino, cinema, live cabaret and huge shopping sections.

They have 546 en-suite cabins, as well as state rooms and standard suites; the deal opens on the 1st of October. For more information on when to make your bookings watch this blog, we can keep you updated on all the tourist events you won’t want to miss, including Christmas Markets and festivities.

Image credit: Peter Huys

Tags: Belgium, Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Karim Beerahee
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