7 Days...Driving in Holland...(1)

The Netherlands, renowned for its iconic windmills, has long captivated me with tales of its beauty. Last year, I finally had the opportunity to visit this enchanting land, and I am eager to share my experiences with you.

Obtaining a Dutch visa is surprisingly straightforward. The process is even more favorable as they generously issued a 2-year multiple-entry visa instead of the requested single-entry visa. This allows for convenient travel within the Schengen zone for the next two years.

The process is simple: book your tickets, accommodation, and car rental, and then use all of these documents to apply for a visa and an international driving permit.

Exchange money at Suvarnabhumi Airport for convenience. The exchange rates may vary slightly, but the difference is negligible for small amounts. The convenience of exchanging money at the airport outweighs the minor cost difference.

We arrived at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam and cleared customs. We then went to the car rental counter, checked the documents and the car, and grabbed a bite to eat. We were ready to hit the road.

The first town I will drive to, not too far away because I don't want to get tired on the first day, is Zaanse Schans. It's pronounced "Zaan Skans" and let me tell you, it's absolutely beautiful. It's only 30km from Amsterdam.

San Skans, a small town, is one of the most popular tourist destinations. It features a mix of traditional and modern windmills, a small museum, and a charming new town development in the tourist area.

The city's details are readily available. Let me illustrate with pictures.

Houses and water wheels on both sides of the river, viewed from the bridge on the road... are very beautiful.

A demonstration of wooden shoemaking, a symbol of the Netherlands.

And of course, what's indispensable is the sale of cheese products…

If you have the opportunity to visit the Netherlands, be sure to add this city to your list.

After spending the afternoon in Amsterdam, we drove back to the city to check in to our hotel, the AMSTERDAM ID APERTHOTEL, located in the suburbs. The small size of the country allowed us to avoid frequent city changes, as we could easily travel back and forth.

The accommodation includes a kitchen, allowing guests to prepare their own meals and save money and time.

I opted for the suburbs because I didn't want to drive into the city center. The traffic is heavy, there are many cyclists, and trams are everywhere. Plus, the cars have the steering wheel on the left side. No thanks! My accommodation is conveniently located in the suburbs, where there is less traffic and it's close to the train station. It's also easy to get to the city center of Amsterdam, which is only ten minutes away.

The train station, located in front of the accommodation, offers frequent connections to Amsterdam city center, with a travel time of only fifteen minutes.