Discover the ultimate European Roadtrip
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
America - Liège
Unusual naming conventions or a passion for the global greats? The Netherlands is packed with
international inspiration. Just ask the villagers of Turkeye or those for whom Siberie tends to be
thankfully much warmer. These place names and many more make up a veritable atlas of
discovery within the delightful Dutch lowlands. So grab your flags and set out on this voyage of
discovery across the seven seas…or ten towns in this case.
Stops on this Route:
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 1: America 1/10
We begin our road trip appropriately with a drive around America – a small village a few kilometres west of the German border, and 40 minutes from Eindhoven. Take to the greens for a game of golf, or visit a museum dedicated to the region’s most famous export: peat. Americanophiles are welcome at the Old America Working Group, which meets on Saturdays at Gemeenschapshuis Aan de Brug to dig through the archives and rediscover old links with the new country.
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 2: Egypte 2/10
During your drive west past cutting-edge Eindhoven make a stop at the pyramid-less Egypte, which nonetheless touts a few fascinating destinations. The watchtower in nearby Bladel is a honeycomb concrete structure from which Air Force cadets kept watch. Unused since the '60s, these Brutalist remnants stand out in the surrounding woodland. Bladel’s Sint Petrus Bandenkerk is pictured (credit: Michiel Verbeek).
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 3: Turkeye 3/10
A brief detour through Belgium brings you to the village of Turkeye, found in the Zeelandic Flanders region on the Dutch-Belgian border. A village of barely two dozen inhabitants, Turkeye nonetheless shares ancestral and diplomatic bonds with its Balkan namesake. In nearby Waterlandkerkje, the Bistro in den Koning serves up salacious French and Flemish dishes alongside more traditional fare. Tuck into their specialty salads and save some room for delightful desserts.
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 4: Frankrijk 4/10
A drive northeast along the A28 brings you to Frankrijk, on the outskirts of Harderwijk. Frankrijk is also close to the edge of the Hoge Veluwe National Park – a notably beautiful destination, even among the windmills and fields you’d typically encounter on a Dutch road trip. You’re also a short drive from the waterfront in Harderwijk, which is well worth the trip for the views as well as the family-friendly water-themed attractions.
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 5: Siberië 5/10
Continue along the A28 through the fringes of the national park and you’ll arrive in Siberië – thankfully, a much warmer place to visit than its Russian namesake. Once you’ve marked it off your list, head into nearby Hoogeveen, whose rich resource of peat first put them on the map. Kunsthuis Venendal is an arts space featuring works by established and up-and-coming talents, while you’ll also have the chance to take to the skies and chute into some of the region’s best scenery.
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 6: Engeland 6/10
Engeland is surrounded by green and pleasant hills – just seven kilometres south of Apeldoorn. Eat at the Restaurant Foyer Riant before heading to neighbouring Beekbergen. The Veluwsche Steam Train Company allows you to ride some of the finest steam-powered vehicles before taking a walk through the history of the region’s rails in the authentic old train station. Packed with the technology of yesteryear, trainspotters and history-lovers alike will love exploring what’s on offer.
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 7: Marokko 7/10
Having passed through Siberia and England’s distant relations, you’ll be relieved not to deal with the African heat as you reach Morocco on the rising thermometer. A little way down the Trekkenweg you’ll come across Van Gogh House in New Amsterdam (another fun geography fact – New York was once named New Amsterdam). Van Gogh House was the place where the famed painter stayed on his travels throughout the Low Countries, and contains a treasure trove of his work.
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 8: Denemarken 8/10
The local dialect’s reference to the ‘wild lands’, rather than the home of Lego, Denemarken is nonetheless a scenic highlight of a drive towards the Dutch coast. Nearby, the Fraeylemaborg park combines beautiful countryside walks with a restored Baroque-style stately home, complete with surviving interior touches from the 18th and 19th centuries. The ‘follies’ displayed throughout the park are competition-winning sculptures, wooden structures and other playful creations designed to enhance the landscape.
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 9: Polen / Borkum Island 9/10
Polen is probably the smallest stop on our global tour of the Netherlands. There’s still plenty to do, though. Across the Wadden Sea, you may be able to see Borkum, the westernmost East Frisian Islands. There are beautiful beaches with Borkum’s famous tents, an old lighthouse to explore, and even a water park. It’s also recognised as Europe’s first allergy-friendly island, thanks to its fresh air and lack of pollen.
The Dutch Globetrotter Tour
Stop 10: Oosterwolde 10/10
Conclude your trip at Oosterwolde, a charming village offering serene canalside walks – and a crossroads full of international intrigue. The route here brings you through Groningen – one of the Netherlands’ busting cities and home to a centuries-old clock tower. But, from Oosterwolde you can reach even more of our mystery destinations. Canada, Moscou, even another Egypte – the choice is yours.
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