Amsterdam is a beautiful historic city. If you are tired of how busy the city can be, there are more historic places in the Netherlands. In this blog we share some of the best places to visit if you are interested in history. You learn something more about the history of this country and experience a different atmosphere away from Amsterdam.
Dokkum, Frisia
Dokkum is an important place in the history of the Netherlands. Dutch schoolchildren learn about the murder of the bishop Bonifatius in 754. Nowadays it is a place of pilgrimage. Dokkum also marks the turning point for the Elfstedentocht, the legendary ice-skating tour around Frisia. The best way to learn about the history of Dokkum is by taking a walk over the defense walls of the city. The city center lies in between these walls. There are plenty of typical Dutch cafes in Dokkum to rest after sightseeing.
Fortress Bourtange, Groningen
Visiting Bourtange is like walking through a history book (as you can see in the video). This city was founded in 1742, before that (from 1593 until 1851) is was a defense place, built by order of Willem van Oranje. After 1851 it was no longer used as a defense and Bourtange became a little farming town. In the 1960’s Bourtange was restored to look like a fortress again. Nowadays you can visit Bourtange and look at the original buildings, with a traditional windmill, a church and houses from the olden days. Every year in June there is a reenactment of the battle of Bourtange.
Wijk bij Duurstede, Utrecht
Wijk bij Duurstede is one of the oldest little villages in the Netherlands. It was built in the Middle Ages as an important place for doing business. It is located by the river Rijn, which made it the perfect lovgistical place for business. You can visit the Dorestad (the original name of Wijk bij Duurstede) museum to learn all about the history of Wijk bij Duurstede. A must see is the restored castle ruin, which still has two of the original towers. Nowadays Wijk bij Duurstede is also known for its art. There are lots of art galleries in the city center.
