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Travelers Digest 2005
Summer World Tour After completing our extensive tour of the entirety of the UK and the Republic of Ireland we arrived in Amsterdam on the 8th of May 2005. Our previously arranged tour guide met us at the airport, Mr. Marius Hovius, owner of “De Dagtoertaxi.” Translated it simply means, "Day Tours," I assure you there is nothing simple about this most cherished man. He is without doubt one of the most likable people in the entire world and most surely a very knowledgeable tour guide. We were driven and guided to the best sites and locations of the country, as he is not limited in his service to any specific area and will drive his cherished and appreciated clients anywhere in this region of Europe. Including, but not limited to, the entirety of the Netherlands, Germany, The Hague, Belgium, Italy and even into France. An excellent speaker of Dutch, German, Italian, French and English, he welcomes travelers from around the globe. In addition to be a great guide, he is a good person. Working with retirement homes, he enjoys driving the elderly on tours and devotes his free time providing comfort to these lovely people that often have no one in the entire world. He is much more than excellent guide he is a good man to make your friend. In the time spent with him he unearthed the mysteries of Holland and like him, we too, began to fell in love with this magical kingdom of the North Sea. Our affection for the cities, the people, the laid-back lifestyle, the art, culture and heritage of this country grew continuously from the first moment we arrived on our first tour in the spring of 2001 and we were ever so ready to truly explore the entirety of this land stolen from the sea with large and very powerful windmills.
The Dutch are primarily of Germanic stock with some Gallo-Celtic mixture. Their small homeland has frequently been threatened with destruction by the North Sea and if that wasn’t bad enough, they have often been invaded by the great European powers. Julius Caesar founded the region, now known as the Netherlands, which were inhabited by Germanic tribes in the first century B.C. The western section was inhabited by the Batavians and became part of a Roman province; the Frisians inhabited the eastern portion. Between the fourth and eighth centuries A.D. the Franks conquered most of both sections. The region later passed into the hands of the House of Burgundy and the Austrian Hapsburgs. Falling under harsh Spanish rule in the 16th century the Dutch revolted in 1558 under the leadership of Willem of Orange. By virtue of the Union of Utrecht in 1579 the seven northern Dutch provinces became the Republic of the United Netherlands. During the 17th century, considered its "Golden Era” the Netherlands became a great sea and colonial power. Among other achievements the period saw the emergence of the art’s world Old Masters including Rembrandt and Hals, whose works--along with those of later artists such as Mondriaan and Van Gogh--are still on display in museums throughout the Netherlands. The country's importance declined, however, with the gradual loss of Dutch technological superiority and after wars with Spain, France, and England in the 18th century. The Dutch United Provinces supported the Americans in their Revolutionary War and in1795, French troops ousted Willem V of Orange, the Stadhouder under the Dutch Republic and head of the House of Orange. The great conqueror Napoleon took reign and fell in love with the region, accomplishing many of the freedoms still endowed today. He wrote and bound in law, individual rights, protection from unjustified persecution, granted free education and wrote their bill of rights, still mostly intact today. Following Napoleon's defeat in 1813, the Netherlands and Belgium became the Kingdom of the United Netherlands" under King Willem I son of Willem V of Orange. The Belgians withdrew from the union in 1830 to form their own kingdom. King Willem II was largely responsible for the liberalizing revision of the constitution in 1848.
Elements of the Netherlands' once far-flung empire were granted either full independence or nearly complete autonomy after World War II. They granted their distant colony of Indonesia its independence in 1949 and Suriname in 1975. The five islands of the Netherlands Antilles (Curacao Bonaire Saba St. Eustatius and a part of St. Maarten) are an integral part of the Netherlands realm but enjoy a large degree of autonomy. Aruba, which had been a part of the Netherlands Antilles, was granted in January 1986 a separate status within the kingdom on par, but apart from the Netherlands Antilles. Getting back to the present. Every moment of everyday during our in depth exploration of this country, we were never disappointed. Quickly adapting we learned the valuable art of relation. In every visited town and city, we mingled, as they did along the endless array of canals lined with bars, restaurants & cafes. As the sun slowly goes down they become packed with both locals and visitors. Along with dinner, lots of drinks and each other’s company, the conversation was always festive and relaxed. Of the several million English words to describe this amazing country, with its diverse culture, liberal lifestyle, phenomenally beautiful architecture, historical diversity and immaculate landscape, inhabited with remarkably intelligent and friendly people, the most appropriate description would simply be an invitation to visit it in person. Beauty and bewilderment is perfectly and harmoniously endowed throughout the cities and my cameras were my closet companions. Amsterdam is art-imitating life as it appears simply just too beautiful to be real, but fortunately…it is real. During our month in Holland, we were quite fortunate to have acquired a luxury apt. in the center of the city, a region called the Nine Streets. Everything was in walking distance. The Anne Frank House only two blocks, a large food mart, 2 blocks, the Palace, 5 blocks and the central train station is only a 15-minute stroll. Walking anywhere in this city is a fantasy stroll of amazement. Countless sidewalk cafes, museums, grand churches, art dealers, antiques stores, book shops, clothing boutiques and so much more are just minutes from this area.
Our apt. was excellently equipped with the entire appliance for preparing meals, morning coffee & tea, which is crucial for most people. The apt. has a very private bedroom down stairs, a large bathroom with large tub & shower and the toilette is in a separate room, providing even more privacy. The large living room has 2 additional beds, a fish tank, large remote cable television and DVD player. The apartments are on Reestraat St. with shops and cafes within 20 meters of its front door. The Amsterdam Luxury Apts. will definitely provide you, your family and associates the best accommodations during your stay in Amsterdam. Just across the street from our apt. was my favorite bar and very delectable restaurant, The
Damsteeg, located at 28-32
Reestraat St. is a server of excellent food, fine local & imported beverages. He also has a very sweet and attractive
waitress, Ms. Katrine that moved here from Russia and loves living here, as she so proudly stated. I spent quite a few leisurely hours, sitting at the outside tables, basking in the warm, early
summer sun, sipping a cold drink and watching the people walking and riding by on bicycles. My partner and son, Dakota made many friends and was venturing around the city quite a lot and, he too, was reluctant to leave. Travelers Digest explicitly recommends the above mentioned businesses and most assuredly…the unforgettably country of Holland, also known as The Netherlands, but what-ever you call it…visit it and get to know it…you’ll be glad you did. Written by Mike Smith Click here for Rates, Reservations, or just Inquiries! This editorial in its entirety is the sole property of Travelers Digest and may not be distributed, sold or copied without prior written permission of Travelers Digest and/or its licensed representatives.
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The owner and proprietor of the apartments, Mr. John Butler-Gould, is a gentleman and scholar, having traveled the world and after falling in love with this land, settled here to build his business of providing excellent accommodations to tourists desiring more of their lodging and not choosing to forfeit their comforts of home by staying in a hotel. 
