Category: Dutch History
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The Dutch Village Where Every Family Hid Someone During the War
The Dutch village where every family chose to hide someone during WWII — a story unique in Europe — plus weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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The Dutch City That Hides an Entire Canal Network Underground
Den Bosch hides 8km of canals beneath its streets — and gave the world Hieronymus Bosch — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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Why a Third of the Netherlands Was Once the Bottom of the Sea
How the Dutch reclaimed a third of their country from the sea and built an entire new province — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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The Dutch City That Gave the World Cheese — and Kept Everything Else Secret
Gouda’s cheese is famous. Its Gothic city hall, medieval stained glass, and stroopwafel birthplace are not — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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The Dutch Hunger Winter — and Why Every Dutch Family Remembers It
The Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944 killed 22,000 people — and shaped a nation that never forgets. Plus weekly Netherlands stories, free in our newsletter.
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The Dutch Town That Was Almost Destroyed in 1572 — and Still Stands Perfectly Intact
Naarden was nearly wiped out by Spanish soldiers in 1572. Today its star fortress is one of Europe’s best-preserved — and most tourists never find it. Get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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The Dutch City With a Castle, a Cathedral, and No Tourist Queues
Breda has a medieval castle, a Gothic cathedral, and the Burgundian pace of Dutch Brabant — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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Why Amsterdam’s Famous Canal Houses Were Built by Spice Merchants
Discover how the world’s first global trading empire paid for Amsterdam’s Golden Age canal ring — and which 17th-century landmarks you can still visit today — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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Why the Dutch Ate Tulip Bulbs One Winter — and Never Forgot It
Discover the story of the Dutch Hunger Winter — when 20,000 people starved in their own cities, and families ate tulip bulbs to survive. Plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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How the Dutch Turned Tulips Into Gold — Then Lost Everything
In 1637, the Dutch tulip market collapsed overnight, wiping out thousands. Discover the flower craze that invented the world’s first financial bubble — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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What Is Sinterklaas? The Dutch Tradition That Created Santa Claus
Sinterklaas is the Dutch December festival that gave the world Santa Claus — celebrated on 5 December with poems, gifts, and pepernoten — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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The Dutch City That Was Here Before Amsterdam — and Still Is
Dordrecht is the oldest city in Holland, founded in 1220 — and almost no tourists visit. Discover the Golden Age painters, medieval churches, and river landscape that most visitors miss — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.