/countries/show/netherlands/1.rss en-us To watch the strangely spectacular sport of Fierljeppen is simultaneously nerve-wracking and entertaining. This isn't your average Netherlands travel activity. The sport of Fierljeppen utilizes a long pole sturdy enough to vault a grown man's weight over a narrow ditch filled with water. Participants run as fast as they can just before sticking the rod into the bottom of the ditch to support their jump across to the other side. There is an art to a Fierljeppen jumping, beyond the running, leaping and grasping, the jumper then needs to climb to the peak of the pole while attempting to control its lateral and forward motions over the water. If they succeed, a soft and sandy landing pad, and if they fail, a fall into a cold and muddy ditch awaits. The annual Fierljeppen tradition actually originated from the first Dutch and Frisian farmers of the Netherlands. Given the fact that the region is always plagued with floods, the villagers themselves engineered their lands to ensure that their crops would not be damaged, and Fierljeppen was born. The existing overall record holder for Fierljeppen is Bart Helmholt from Hardegarijp. He leapt an amazing range of 21.26 meters in 2010. The junior record is 20.42 meters. It is easy to recognize when there is Fierljeppen going on. You will recognize it when you see a man holding a metal or wooden rod, surrounded by a nearby crowd cheering. It is no longer rare for tourists to see locals doing Fierljeppen as kids around the area from Amsterdam down to the last region of the country are doing this for fun. And yes, their parents join in too. Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:25:11 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/fierljeppen http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/fierljeppen Amsterdam’s Queen's Day celebration of the masses in the Netherlands has spread into a night event as well. If you’re looking for a wildly exuberant party on April 30th, and are happy to dress in extravagant orange, then Queen's Day, or “Koninginnedag,” is one of the world's biggest street parties. There’s a sea of orange, with unique ideas for donning Netherland’s national colour, so pack your most outlandish orange outfit! Holland’s Queen's Day was dubbed a celebration way back on August 31st, 1885 with the birth of Queen Wilhelmina. Sixty-four years later after Queen Juliana's accession into the world of royalty, Queen's Day is officially celebrated on her birthday: April 30th. Succeeding her mother, Queen Beatrice continues to call April 30th Queen's Day in commemoration of her mother. The celebration of Queen’s Day actually starts around 7 pm the night before and carries right on over to Queen's Day. Walk the streets of the Nieuwmarkt and Jordaan areas for the perfect party. Two words of advice: pace yourself! You don't want to miss out on the biggest street party because you had a few too many funky orange drinks the night before the real celebrations begin. As the night turns into day, join in on the fun of the “free market.” Slowly slither through the market crowds to find second-hand artifacts sold by locals anywhere and everywhere. Find the most outrageous bric-a-brac being sold by the locals, and be entertained by talented teenage rappers, street discos, pick-up bands, tantalizing street entertainers, and young and old aspiring opera singers. Hop on a boat and join in the madness of techno music, or check out one of the ten different stages with DJs spinning their tunes. You will see it ALL on Queen's Day. If you are more into the organized lifestyle of concerts, then head on over to Museumplein or Dam Square where huge outdoor concerts are held in an oh-so-orderly fashion! Queen’s Day is a must to add to your bucket list as the crazy orange memories made here will go down in the books for the biggest, wildest street party you will ever attend. Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:11:48 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/queens-day-amsterdam http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/queens-day-amsterdam If you ever dream of spending the day surrounded by gorgeous flowers, then the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands will not dissapoint you. A wide array of aromatic scents caress your nose and the colours of long-stem flowers envelope your eyes. The Netherlands is privileged to have “The Largest Flower Garden in the World,” which they have christened the Keukenhof Gardens. Keukenhof literally means “kitchen garden” and is named after the herb garden outside the kitchen of Jacoba van Beieren’s castle. Situated near Lisse, between Amsterdam and The Hague, the “Bulb Region” contains 7 million bulbs which are planted by hand in the fall and covers a land span of 8 acres. The Keukenhof Gardens cultivated beauty will tempt you to kick off your wooden shoes and pick yourself a tulip. After Jacoba van Beieren passed away, the Keukenhof Gardens in Holland became what it is today due to the care of rich merchant families. Once a hunting area, The Baron and Baroness Van Pallandt requested that landscape architects J.D. and L.P. Zocher (who once designed the Vondelpark of Amsterdam) create a design for the garden around the castle. The current park is a section of the large estate of Slot Teylingen. Designed after English Landscaping, this 15th-century park has retained its distinctive look, growing evermore beautiful throughout the years. In 1949, the open-air flower exhibition became an annually recurring event, allowing Keukenhof’s popularity to grow as the world's largest flower garden during the following fifty years. The Keukenhof Gardens greet visitors with what can be likened to a football field of flowers. One could easily find themselves lost in the variety of colours that burst from the tulips alone. Hyacinths, narcissi, lilies, gerberas, and orchids are also located outside the main garden area. Mother Nature shows her artistry as rows of purple, pink, yellow, red, and orange dance before your very eyes. To describe the Keukenhof Gardens as breathtakingly beautiful would not do it justice. In addition to the main garden, seven gardens entitled the “Inspirational Gardens” are still inhabited by the Van Beieren family. A new garden called the “Be-Green” inspirational garden of Uncle Willem van Beieren has been created especially for its 2009 American theme. Furthermore, a display of the rooms in the Van Beieren family home can be viewed at the Oranje Nassau Pavilion. The Keukenhof Gardens has other activities available for its visitors besides just keeping them continuously awestruck. One can watch a flower show, flower parade, or even participate in a workshop which gives you tips on how to photograph these flowers. Naturally, bike rental and guided tours are available. Interestingly, the Keukenhof Gardens are only open for two months a year, from mid-March until mid-May. The rest of the year is spent landscaping and planting in the garden. The 7 million bulbs are planted by hand in the fall, and the fields of flowers outside the garden can be seen from alternative vantage points, as many people opt to rent bikes or drive alongside them. If you are a keen gardener, then a trip to Keukenhof Gardens is guaranteed to inspire you. Generally, all those who love flowers are destined to find a brand new admiration and respect for their beauty at the Keukenhof Gardens. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:53:53 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/keukenhof-netherlands http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/keukenhof-netherlands Ever wonder how the name 420 came to be associated with smoking pot? Some say it’s the number of ingredients in the herb, while others believe it to be the police code for a pot bust. Either way, if this kind of debate interests you then the Cannabis Cup is the place for you. For the liberal at heart that may not get to exercise the right to smoke pot legally in their home town, the Cannabis Cup is all that is marijuana liberation. Every November Amsterdam is home to the Cannabis Cup for a week. It’s no change from the ordinary for locals, but for those not able to partake in pot back home, the competition is the opportunity to visit various coffee shops competing intensely in different categories such as best marijuana, hashish, seed store and best hemp products, sample various pot based food such as hemp burgers, and find the latest paraphernalia. Started in 1987 by High Times editor Steven Hager the Cannabis Cup following has grown to attract thousands of tourists every year. Festivities include opening ceremonies, 4:20 parties both in the am and pm, tones of live music from blues to reggae, awards, friendly chit chat with other cup connoisseurs and of course a nonstop orgy of pot smoking. One misconception of some who attend is that weed consumed here is only be means of smoking, but all methods are fair game for the cup. No matter how you end up participating, may your Cannabis Cup runneth over! Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:25:08 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/cannabis-cup http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/cannabis-cup