Destination Guides > Netherlands > South Holland

South Holland

Leiden

This university town between Amsterdam and The Hague is a pleasant city with canals, a few windmills and a quaint old quarter. Leiden has a rich history and is the birthplace of several Dutch icons including Rembrandt and the first Dutch tulips.

Practical Information

Leiden Tourist Information Centre (VVV)

Stationsplein 210, Leiden

Tel 0900 222 2333

The Hague (Den Haag, 's Gravenhage)

Officially known as 's-Gravenhage (the count's domain), the Dutch seat of government and the home of the Netherland's royal family is called Den Haag by the Dutch, La Haye in French and The Hague in English. The 750 year-old city is a complete contrast to Amsterdam with quite tree-lined streets, impressive royal residences, imposing embassies and the nearby beach resort of Scheveningen.

Practical Information

The Hague Tourist Information Centre (VVV)

Koningin Julianaplein 30, The Hague

Tel (06) 34 03 50 51

American Express

Venestraat 10, The Hague

Tel (070) 370 1100

Website www.americanexpress.com

EMBASSIES & CONSULATES

Australian Consulate

Carnegieln 12, The Hague

Tel (070) 310 8200

Canadian Consulate

Sophialn 7, The Hague

Tel (070) 361 4111

New Zealand Consulate

Mauritskade 25, The Hague

Tel (070) 347 9324

Coming & Going

The Hague is served by two stations, Den Haag HS and CS. HS (Hollands Spoor) station is located about a 20 minute walk south of the centre while the CS (Centraal Station) is right in the centre. Make sure you get off at the right one. The Hague is withing easy reach of Amsterdam, Schipol Airport, Rotterdam and Utrecht with all these places within an hours train journey. Eurolines and Hoverspeed buses leave from Anna van Bueren Straat near the Centraal Station. If you're planning on visiting Delft, you have the choice of taking the train (5 minutes) or the more frequent tram (30 minutes) from Centraal Station.

Local Transport

The public transport network is made up of trams and buses. You'll probably find trams the more useful of the two with direct trams linking Centraal Station to both Scheveningen (No 7) and Delft (No 1).

Accommodation

Stayokay Den Haag

Scheepmakersstraat 27, 2515 VA Den Haag

Tram 1, 9, 12, 16 (stop: Rijswijkseplein)

Tel (070) 315 78 88

Delft

This pretty town on the outskirts of The Hague is famous for the Delftware porcelain which has been produced here since the 17th century. In summer Delft loses most of its charm as hordes of tourists decend upon the small town. However Delft retains it's quaint atmosphere during winter when the tourist numbers drop off and it makes a good day-trip from Rotterdam or the Hague during the off-season.

Practical Information

Delft Tourist Information Centre

Markt 85, Delft

Tel (015) 212 6100

Coming & Going

Delft is only about 10 minutes by train from either The Hague or Rotterdam and is also linked to The Hague's tram network. Tram 1 from Den Hague CS makes the 30 minute journey to Delft and runs more frequently than the train.

Rotterdam

Much of Rotterdam's old city was destroyed during World War II, however the city has been rebuilt to become the world's largest port and a major business city. In contrast to elsewhere in the Netherlands, Rotterdam is a thoroughly modern city with a reputation for innovative architecture although it lacks the charm of Amsterdam or even The Hague. A boat trip on the harbour is one of the highlights of a trip to Rotterdam.

Practical Information

Rotterdam Tourist Infomation Centre (VVV)

Coolsingel 67, Rotterdam
Metro Stadhuis

Tel 0900 403 4065

Website www.vvv.rotterdam.nl/uk/

Tourist Infomation (Use-It)

The Use-It information centre has loads of excellent information for backpackers including a nifty free guide to Rotterdam, maps, free lockers and bike rental for €6 a day.

Schaatsbaan 41-45, Rotterdam
Metro Centraal Station

Tel (010) 240 9158

Website www.use-it.nl

Open 1 Jan-14 May Tue-Sat 9am-5pm; 15 May-15 Sep Tue-Sun 9am-6pm; 16 Sep-31 Dec Tue-Sat 9am-5pm

American Express

Meent 92, Rotterdam
Metro Stadhuis

Tel (010) 280 3050

Website www.americanexpress.com

Coming & Going

Rotterdam Airport is accessible by bus 33 from centraal Station. Although this airport handles mostly short flights within Europe, most longer flights depart from Amsterdam or Brussels. Amsterdam's Schipol Airport is 50 minutes away by train and Virgin Express operate frequent buses from Centraal Station to Brussels Airport.

Eurolines buses depart from Conradstraat next to Centraal Station.

Eurolines

Conradstraat 20, Rotterdam
Metro Centraal Station

Tel (010) 412 4444

The train is the easiest way in and out of Rotterdam. Centraal Station (Rotterdam CS) is located to the north of the city centre and is a terminus for trams and the metro. Trains to Amsterdam and The Hague depart every fifteen minutes.

Local Transport

Rotterdam has a good public transport network (website www.ret.nl) comprising buses, trams and a metro.

These use the strippenkaart ticket system that is used throughout the country. You can buy a strippenkaart from metro stations and newspaper stands and validate the strips on the card as you make each trip. Generally you validate one extra strip than the number of zones that you are travelling in, so a short trip in one zone uses two strips whereas a longer trip covering four zones uses five strips. Although you can buy two strip cards (good for one short trip) for €1.60, the 15-strip (€6.80) and 45-strip cards (€19.20) are much better value.

There are also day passes coveriung all the zones within Rotterdam although you would have to be a real public transport junkie to get any real value out of them. A one-day pass is €6.40.

Accommodation

Hostel Boat the Clipper

Scheepmakershaven, Rotterdam

Metro Blaak

Tel (010) 414 15 51

ROOM Rotterdam

Van Vollenhovenstraat 62, 3016 BK Rotterdam

Tram 7 (stop: Westplein), 8 (stop: Vasteland) Metro Leuvehaven

Tel (010) 2827277

Sleep-in Mafkees

Schaatsbaan 41, 3013 Rotterdam

Metro Centraal Station

Tel (010) 404 6912

Sleep-Inn S.S.R.-Rotterdam

Mauritsweg 29 B, 3012 JS Rotterdam

Tram 4, 7 (stop: Eendrachtsplein) Metro Centraal Station, Eendrachtsplein

Tel (010) 414 3256

Stayokay Rotterdam

Rochussenstraat 107-109, 3015 EH Rotterdam

Metro Dijkzigt Tram 4 (stop: Mathenesserlaan)

Tel (010) 436 57 63

Gouda

Made famous by it's cheese, this quintessential Dutch town with the largest market square in Holland is a good excursion from Rotterdam. The city is generally free of tourists except for each Thursday morning between June and August when coachloads of tourists pour in for Gouda's famous cheese market.

Practical Information

Gouda Tourist Information Centre

Markt 27, Gouda

Tel (0182) 513 666