PalenQ

Well anyway the train ride from Rotterdam Centraal to Hoek van Holland is one of the most intriguing and amazing, in its own, way, that I have taken - great view of the all the port activity, etc.

I always wanted to visit the barrier and had planned on taking a bus from Rotterdam C S to it and across it to Middleburg, a nice city I have seen and take the train back to Amsterdam from there.

I'll have to look into the fast ferry!

aussie_10

Bookmarking

PalenQ

http://www.unmuseum.org/7wonders/zunderzee.htm

sorry I got mixed up with the Delta Works - not what you mention above but also near Hoek - you can drive over it or take a bus

menachem

I've pulled up a 9292 travel advice (tip if you want to go anywhere by public transport in The Netherlands) and I got this

http://9292.nl/reisadvies/station-ro...013-12-17T0738

the advice is to take the bus to Maasdijk and walk from there. Hm.

PalenQ

I finally got it - a little slow on the uptake - Maselandtkering is a part of the Delta Works - a vast endeavor of 13 separate keeping the sea out barriers - the main one I've always wanted to go to is the biggest one - that one you can take a bus from Rotterdam C.S. to Middleburg and go over and get out at the info center - I have never done it but have always wanted to and now I also want to see the Maselandtkering, seeminly easier to get to.

menachem

PalenQ, I think you're referring to the Oosterscheldekering.

Interesting also, that last week we had a storm and springtide, with higher water levels than in 1953. The Oosterscheldekering and the Maeslantkering were both closed and this was the first real proof the whole system worked: we kept dry feet.

PalenQ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oosterscheldekering

Yes indeedy - that is what I am thinking of - have you been to or know anything about anything there to visit - like a visitor center or is just taking a bus over it enough?

Dank u (very) wel!

thanks for all your info on the other Delta Works, collectively named One of the Seven Marvels on the Modern World Wiki says by some American engineering groups as well as the social-cultural aspects of Amsterdam or as it was called in the 70s and 80 Amsterdamned, damn, damn, damn!

PatrickLondon

As it happens, I've just been offered a home exchange for a couple of weeks to Amsterdam, so I've been looking at this as something different to do, and I've come across this site, about all the visitor centres for the Delta Works:
http://www.deltawerken.com/The-Delta...tres-/366.html

menachem

Yes exactly.

Last year I did a long cycle trip from Rotterdam to Vlissingen that included the Oosterscheldekering. So impressive! I cycled across all enclosing dams. Shows you how vulnerable Zeeland would be without all this engineering.

PalenQ

Thanks Patrick and menachem for the info on Oosterscheldekering - I gotta go there next trip to Holland! Hope that little boy keeps his finger in it!

jessicadog1

Sorry I haven't checked in in a while. Thank you everyone for your input. It gives us lots to think about and maybe we need to spend more time there as there's so much to see.

PalenQ

Learn the Dutch for Thank You as it goes a long way - Dank u wel! Or as I often hear them say Dank u very wel!

And for good-bye Tot Ziens!

For thanks you can also say "alstublieft" or simply blief - translates to 'please' or thank you - Dutch and Belgian often say Please in English for Thanks! Always kinds of throws me but I guess it means please be pleased?

annw

Good reading here -- planning extra time in the Netherlands in August.

Tulips

We don't say 'dank u very wel' nor do we say 'blief'.
I don't know which Dutch people PalenQ speaks to, but we don't say Please instead of Thanks.

'Dank U wel' of the more casual 'bedankt' for Thank you/Thanks
'Alstublieft' for Please
'Tot Ziens' means 'see you soon' but is also used for goodbye

PalenQ

I don't know which Dutch people PalenQ speaks to, but we don't say Please instead of Thanks.>

Almost always when I was for a 'pils please' in Belgium or Holland and pay the bar keep responds with 'please' - I have heard this over and over. So i surprises me that a native - I think - has never heard this?

And I have heard dank u very wel though that may be just for tourists - the very part.

And I have heard 'bleef' many many times - I must be imagining those things but I would not make them up. Maybe folks talk to tourists different than locals.

Flummoxed now for sure.

spaarne

<i>Tulips on Jul 24, 14 at 2:50am
'Dank U wel' of the more casual 'bedankt' for Thank you/Thanks</i>

A common mistake for Dutch people is using <b>of</b> when they mean <b>or</b> since <b>of</b> is the Dutch word for <b>or</b>.

Perhaps you can give correct use for the word <b>graag</b>. It is not used frequently. I think it adds emphasis.

hetismij2

Pal, alstublieft literally means if it pleases you. So the person giving you your beer or whatever is politely hoping you enjoy it. You will hear Dutch and Belgian wait staff saying please in English too when they give you something. The French also say s'il vous plait when giving you something.

I think Tulips use of of rather than or was more likely a typo, Spaarne.

I use graag when someone asks if I would like a specific thing.
Would you like another coffee? Ja, graag.
Gives the coffee and says alsjeblieft (alstublieft). Dank je or bedankt.
Would you like sugar? Nee dank je (U).

IMDonehere

In our recent trip to Belgium and The Netherlands, with rare exception, we found the people to be quite pleasant and ready for the next joke. My wife learned a few words in Dutch, which helped, although when she spoke to one waiter, he thought she was speaking Bulgarian. No, really. She needs a few more lessons.

Amsterdam is filled with worthwhile museums. I have never truly appreciated Van Gogh, but the cleverly planned namesake museum accompanied by explanations of his work, his life, and his techniques, I found a new admiration. The explanations were clearly written with relevant detail and not a tad of proselytizing.

We fully enjoyed Delft and Rotterdam, and if we return we will spend more there, for they are most different towns, one historic, the other modern with a purpose. Amsterdam is a great walking city.

The food in The Netherlands is quite abysmal and had a surprisingly sameness. Also the Centraal Rail Station is filthy and confusing. Other than that it easily worth a week with a side trips here and there.

hetismij2

It depends where you eat what quality of food you get.
Eating well is expensive, as can eating badly be.
In my small town we have three excellent restaurants within walking distance, a couple more a short drive away. We also have some good Asian restaurants.

If we head to Amersfoort we are spoiled for choice of really good restaurants.

I rarely visit Amsterdam, but my son has taken us to some good small places outside the tourist areas.

IMDonehere

As is our wont we usually have lunch out when traipsing around a city, thus we ate in many precincts. We stayed in an apartment in a residential area just north of The Jordaan, so we ate in areas other than tourist areas.

We also ate at one place in the Jordaan that a Dutch food critic raved about. It was fine but inconsistent and if it was in our neighborhood, there would be no reason to go back. That was the most expensive meal we ate.

When we travel, we look forward to sampling the local cuisine. For example, we returned from Turkey as great enthusiast of their food. And we are fortunate because where we live there are literally hundreds of restaurants, including all sorts of ethnic food, all within a twenty minute walk, very few of them of chains.

For a world class city, the food in Amsterdam was disappointing.