Local Tourism Notes for Southern Holland

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Local Tourism Notes for Southern Holland

The Hague's Tourist Assistant Service (TAS) is available to assist visitors to The Hague in the event they need help (experience theft, violence, or need judicial assistance or help to re-order lost passports and travellers cheques). 

• Tourist Assistant Service (TAS)
  At: Politiebureau Duinstraat 23, 2584 AV, The Hague
  Tel: 070 424 4000
  Open daily: April to September from 09:00-21:00 
  Open daily: October to March from 09:00-17:00 

Southern Holland Airport Contacts

• To find out about the airports serving Southern Holland, flight information, access or lost luggage see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page for Airport Contacts
• To find out about airlines flying to the region see The AngloFILE for Airlines, Scheduled Flights & Charter

Public Transport 

Getting around in Southern Holland is easy. Public transport is very good and generally reliable and there is a choice of trains, buses, trams and taxis. Most services start around 06:00 and stop at midnight.

The Netherlands Railway network (Nederlandse Spoorwegen, NS) is modern and efficient and most staff speak some English. As the Netherlands is not a huge country, distances and therefore travel times are extremely manageable (for example, Delft to Amsterdam is less than an hour by train) and services are frequent.

• The NS website includes timetables and a route planner: Click here

A Strippenkart (strip ticket) makes travelling by bus or tram simple. The tickets are sold at Tourist Information offices, post offices, department stores, tobacconists and at train stations. Each journey cost a certain number of "strips" depending on the distance. The card can be shared - just use the number of strips required multiplied by the number of users. There are reduced tariff strips for children aged four to eleven and for senior citizens with the necessary Pas-65. Tickets can be bought on the tram or bus but cost more.

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Pages on Southern Holland Bus Services and Trains & Railways

Taxis can be picked up in the street or at designated stands or can be booked by telephone. They will charge an initial fee plus a fixed rate for each kilometre travelled.

Some cities are easy to explore on foot, while others have canal trips and horse drawn carriage rides.

Where to stay

Southern Holland offers a wide variety of accommodation, with options ranging from camping to Bed & Breakfast accommodation, to stays in luxury hotels and bungalow parks.

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Holiday Accommodation Options
• See The AngloFILE for Hotels & Holiday Accommodation

Days Out in Southern Holland

There is a wealth of variety of places to go, sights to see and foods to taste.

• For information see The AngloFILE for Days Out: Trips & Tours

Southern Holland for Children

There are a number of activities for children in the Southern Holland region

• See The AngloFILE for Children: Days Out For Kids

Tourist Attractions

Note that for one weekend in September there is a National Heritage Weekend. On this weekend thousands of monuments and other buildings are open to the public free of charge. Many locations also present special activities such as concerts and guided tours. Dates vary from year; see the Holland Tourist website.

The Hague

The Hague (Den Haag) originally grew up around a castle (The Hall of Knights) built about 1248. At that time it was a village with approximately 1,000 inhabitants; today it has over 480,000.

The main attractions include:

• In the old city centre: the Hall of Knights, the Binnenhof (inner court) and Buitenhof (outer court) which are government buildings dating back to the 13^th century. Take a walk around the old streets and squares here to see former Royal Palaces
• In the city centre: the former Portuguese Jewish area including the Synagogue by architect Daniel Marot. There are other buildings of his in the city including City Hall (Groenmarkt) and the Palace Kneuterdijk (Knueterdijk)
• New architecture: there are a series of new buildings erected since 1995 and designed by architects including Rob Krier (Austria), Charles Vandenhove (Belgium) and Hans Kuiper (Netherlands)
• Noordeinde Palace: the Royal Palace is home to Queen Beatrix
• Canal tours: most trips run throughout the summer and can take up to two hours. Tickets and more information are available from the Tourist Information Points.

Of the many parks the Park Clingendael and the Westbroek Park are perhaps the most well known and worth visiting.

Rotterdam

Among the cultural attractions the most visited is the Boijmans-Van Beuningen Museum which features an enormous collection of paintings documenting the history of art from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The Kijk-Kubus, an upside-down house, is a fully furnished museum home showing a novel living-style in the city.

Delft

The main attractions include:

• In the old city centre (which is beautifully preserved), the New Church (Nieuwe Kirk) built in the 14^th century. It is possible to climb the tower for a view of the city. The church also holds the vault of the Dutch Royal family 
• The Old Church (Oude Kirk) is where the painter Vermeer is buried
• The Eastern Gate (Ostpoort) is the only remaining gate of the old city walls dating from around 1400
• Porcelain factories: Delft is famous for its Delft blue porcelain. Some factories remain open to the public. De Porcelyne Fles factory is over 350 years old

• Keukenhof Gardens just outside Delft has floral exhibitions throughout the year (including the Japanese Garden) and a bulb market

Middelburg

Middelburg is the capital of Zeeland and is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands. The main attractions are:

• Abdijkerken: 12^th century abbey complex at the centre of Middelburg. It includes three churches, two museums and a herb garden
• The Stadhuis: built in the 15^th century but rebuilt after World War II. On the outside are 25 statues of the counts and countesses of Zeeland. Guided tours are available

North Brabant

• One major attraction is the theme park Efteling, based on the world of fantasy, in Kaatsheuvel; the website details opening times and tickets

Tourist Information Offices

The Tourist Information Points (Toeristen Informatie Punt, TIP) provide information on what to see, local events, accommodation and eating out. Opening hours vary according to season and they will be closed on Christmas and New Year's day. For full details on the range of services offered by individual offices and opening hours consult the main Holland Tourist website or go directly to the local website:

Maastricht

• VVV Maastricht
  At: Kleine Staat 1, 6211 ED Maastricht
  Tel: 043 325 2121
  Website 

Delft

• Toeristen Informatiepunt Delft
  At: Hippolytusbuurt 4, 2611 HN Delft
  Tel: 015 215 4051
  Website

The Hague

• VVV Den Haag
  At: Hofweg 1, 2511 AA Den Haag
  Tel: 070 338 5808
  Website
• Also At: Wagenstraat 193
  Tel: 0900 340 3505
• VVV Scheveningen
  At: Gevers Deynootweg 1134
  Tel: 0900 340 3505
  Website

Rotterdam

• VVV Rotterdam Store
  At: Coolsingel 5, 3012 AA Rotterdam
  Tel: 010 271 0120
  Website

Middelburg

• Bureau v. Toerisme Zeeland
  At: Nieuwe Burg 38-40, 4331 AH Middelburg
  Tel: 011 865 9944
  Website

Further Information

• See The AngloFILE Tourist Offices & Information