The Lonely Planet made a top 10 for countries to visit in 2020 and the Netherlands came on the seventh place. 2020 is a great milestone for the Netherlands. Not only are the Dutch hosting the Eurovision Song Contest but also celebrating 75 of freedom on liberation day. These are 6 reasons why the Netherlands is one of the countries to visit in 2020.
1. In 2020 the Dutch celebrate 75 years of liberation after the war
On the 5the of May 2020 75 years of liberation sins, the second world war is celebrated in The Netherlands. The liberation in 1945 of the Germans and Japanese occupiers was first celebrated on the 31the of August in 1945. This was the same day as the birthday of the then Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. Queen Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria was the ruling queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until 1948. Queen Wilhelmina did not want an official liberation day on her birthday. This is why the official liberation celebrations are now on the 5the of May.
This day is celebrated every year with music and events in the Netherlands. Every 5 years the Dutch will get an official day off on the 5the of May for Liberation day. The whole country celebrates Liberation day on the 5the of May 2020. So, don’t only visit Amsterdam and check out the rest of the country on this day.
2. King’s day in the Netherlands is one that is bucket list-worthy
King’s day is the day in the Netherlands when the Dutch celebrate the birthday of the King. Before Willem-Alexander became king, the Dutch didn’t celebrate King’s day. The first Kings day was celebrated on the 26the of April 2014. Before this year the Netherlands had a Queen that ruled the country. Until 2014 the Dutch celebrated Queens day on the 30the of April.
This tradition started on the fifth birthday, 31the of August 1885, of then princess Wilhelmina. Then this day was called Princess day. When Wilhelmina became Queen, Princess day became Queens day. For more on King’s day and the activities on this day, check our blog on King’s day.
3. The Netherlands is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020.
In 2020 the 65e edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted in the Netherlands. The assignment of the Netherlands as hosting country is due to last year’s victory. This was done by the Dutch contestant Duncan Laurence who won the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel. The organisation of the contest chose Rotterdam Ahoy as the location for 2020. It will start on Tuesday 12e May until Saturday 16e of May 2020.
The Eurovision week will have three shows: Semi-final 1 on Tuesday, Semi-final 2 on Thursday and the Grand Final on Saturday:
- Semi-final 1 – 12 May 2020;
- Semi-final 2 – 14 May 2020;
- Grand Final – 16 May 2020.
All the shows will start at 21:00 Central European Summer Time.
4. Excellent Dutch train network to get you to all places
The public transportation such as the train network in the Netherlands can get you to almost every city or village, Thanks to multiple apps and connections between public transport you can plan your travel.
For more ways to get around in the Netherlands check our blog: How to travel around Holland : 4 ways to travel from A to B in The Netherlands.
5. 35,000km of cycling paths to explore beyond the cities
It’s known all around the world that the Netherlands is a real cycling country. Safe, comfortable cycle paths, nice and flat to allow you to cycle all around the country and enjoy the different landscapes. Finding a beautiful cycling route is very easy. There are over 33,000 kilometres of signposted cycling routes in the Netherlands. The special junction routes are ideal for a short bike ride. When you want to cycle for multiple days, it’s best to use the Long-distance Cycle Route. And the Dutch use the bicycle to get around on everyday use.
6. UNESCO World Heritage site the Wadden Sea
Sinds the year 2009 the Wadden Sea site is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Wadden Sea is positioned between the Wadden Islands and the North Sea on one side and on the other side the mainland of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
What makes the Wadden Sea so special? Not only does the site consists of natural powers and dynamics. It has sweet and salty water and wet and dry spots. Sometimes the currents are strong and other times they are weak. Plants and animals in this region are constantly adapting to the weather, winds and tides in the site of the Wadden Sea. This site is so unique and has a great variety of characteristics. With its surface area of 10,000 square kilometres, the Wadden site is the largest continuous wetland on earth. Therefore, the Wadden Sea is unique in the world. Every year, 10 to 12 million migrating birds make a stop in the Wadden region to eat enough food to be able to make their long treks. These migrations can be as long as tens of thousands of kilometres.
Even though the area is more than 70000 years old, it is one of the youngest nature reserves in the world. The area is fragile and its formation can be seen.
So now you know why the Netherlands is a must-see country in 2020. Come around and stay a little, become an expat in the Netherlands and we will help you to get settled. Do you need help arranging all utility connections in your new home to make it even less stressful? Give us a call on +31 20 7372124 or leave your details and we will call you back as soon as possible.