I started a new job last week and it turns out I have to go to the Netherlands for a week in July. This is REALLY a trip because I had wanted to go anyway for this year's North Sea Jazz Festival. As luck, fate, and God would have it, the Festival is the weekend before my meetings begin. I've never been to Holland so I have a few questions and would appreciate some input.

I'll be in Rijswijk for business and I want to know how far it is to Rotterdam. I know they're both in the same province, but are they close enough to each other that I can stay in Rijswijk and go to Rotterdam daily for the concerts?

Also, after my business is done, I'm going to Amsterdam for 2-3 days. What MUST I do while I'm there. I've got some ideas but I wanna hear from those who have been or live there.

Thanks in advance.

See Herman

but if you really want my advice, I'd say come to Belgium instead. Our food is better and we have better beer

NSJ .... shouldn't be a problem going back and forth

BlueZebra said:

Beer AND chocolate!

So, what's the deal with the food??? I was on a conference call today, and my colleagues who've been before were making comments and jokes about the food. Should I be worried?

Oh, and how long is the commute from Rijswijk to Rotterdam?
[Edited 5/29/08 16:26pm]

I am no expert when it comes to the Netherlands, but I have been there several times some years ago and I cannot remember that there was anything wrong with the food. In Belgium on the other hand the food was extremely yummie . The food in England is something you would need to worry about, but not in Holland .

When I was in Amsterdam I had some pasta and it was just fine
They had really nice yogurt and these great little muesli clusters

Serious said:

Yeah, I wasn't too keen on English food. No flava.

SCNDLS said:

But dutch food is different from English food, thank God .

SCNDLS said:

yes ! very. There's almost no restaurants open during lunchtime because most
offices have a on-site restaurant or everybody brings in their bread with cheese. They drink buttermilk like it's water and this is a picture from a Dutch restaurant :



a true story : one of our salespersons had a sales lunch with a Dutch customers. You gotta know we always have the customer choose the restaurant so usually (here in Belgium) the bill will go anywhere between $100 and $200. With this customer, the bill was exactly $12 they had bad fries and some deepfried sausage thingy and the customer thought it was fabulous. He placed a $500k order the week after.

Come to Belgium, home of the dick-shaped artisanal chocolate

SCNDLS said:

Have sex with a prostitute in the red light district and do lots of drugs.

Serious said:

eikonoklastes said:

They're closing the red-light district in a few weeks or so I've heard

Serious said:

It's not that much better though. That's why, when going to a decent restaurant you'll never find typical Dutch dishes on the menu.

BlueZebra said:

Really????? Errrrr, I mean: Really?

I'll make it there eventually. My dogs are Brussels Griffons. Is this breed common in Belgium?

Back on topic: How far is Rijswijk to Rotterdam?

eikonoklastes said:

BlueZebra said:

I'm not from Amsterdam so I don't pay that much attention to it, but I believe they're just trying to clean up the RDL a bit and some "windows" will have to go in the near future, but the whores will definitely not be gone completely.

BlueZebra said:

what is the green stuff

BlueZebra said:

SCNDLS said:

15 minutes. (it's a little more than 20km)

ZombieKitten said:

It ALL looks like a hot MESS on a plate.

ZombieKitten said:

Christmas trees

BlueZebra said:

Thank you!!! So I can have the company pay for my hotel.

eikonoklastes said:

It looks better than many things people in the US eat .

BlueZebra said:

sorry ... I'm cracking myself up here. the green veggies, I think they're endives.

Serious said:

now that is a reference to go by

BlueZebra said:

gross!

Okay. . . so the food sucks, and I should sleep with a prostitute and do drugs .

Does anyone have anything else to tell me about Holland? Where to go? What to do?

SCNDLS said:

nope. nothing much.

Do you like cheese ? they got a lot of that.

A'dam has got a nice zoo, so does R'dam.

they got a shitload of windmills.

they have NO mountains

Belgium on the other hand ... no comparison.

SCNDLS said:

they have Miffi and clogs and tulips! that should keep you busy at least a couple of days

You should be prepared that dutch people are usually very tall and thus it is more difficult than in other countries to see a lot at concerts .

ZombieKitten said:

WTH is Miffi???