Netherlands: Where Everyday Life Feels Like a Beautiful Story

Exploring Europe’s lesser-known towns stole my heart, and living like locals offered a deeper understanding of life and culture.

During our family journey through Amsterdam, Cologne, Nuremberg and Berlin, we had already explored some cities earlier. But in this final part of the journey, we experienced something truly special as we explored Amsterdam, Groningen, Giethoorn and Assen. Groningen, Giethoorn and Assen may be unfamiliar to many travellers, but these charming towns completely stole my heart!

Whenever we plan a family holiday, we make sure to discover something new and experience real local life. This time, we chose the beautiful Netherlands — a gorgeous country in Northwestern Europe. Amsterdam is its capital, The Hague is the seat of government, the currency is the euro, Dutch is the official language and English is widely spoken. Famous for its canals, windmills, tulips, cycling culture, museums and strong happiness index, the Netherlands truly feels like one of the best family travel destinations with its clean surroundings, safety, excellent public transport and kind-hearted people.

Just like India has incredible diversity, I felt something similar in Europe, too. Crossing each border feels like stepping into a completely new world — culturally, visually and emotionally. Experiencing these differences closely is truly fascinating.

One of the most beautiful parts of our journey was celebrating Christmas in Assen with a Dutch family. We carried our favourite sweet — Gulab Jamun — and they welcomed us with warmth and love. The Dutch are known to be among the tallest and fittest people in the world, and we could truly see their healthy lifestyle. Cycling is a natural part of daily life, supported by wonderful cycling tracks everywhere. Assen also has excellent air quality; simply breathing there felt refreshing.

We had heartfelt conversations about life and festivals, followed by a lovingly prepared lunch. Dutch cuisine surprised us with its comfort and simplicity — varieties of cheese, millet bread, Stamppot (mashed potatoes with vegetables), Erwtensoep (thick pea soup), Dutch pancakes, seafood like Kibbeling and Haring, and of course, the iconic Stroopwafels filled with caramel. We enjoyed every bite, exchanged gifts and felt deeply grateful.

In Assen, we spent time in peaceful forest parks with tall trees and soothing walking trails. One truly unique experience was visiting pet animal farms where goats, rabbits, ponies, deer and roosters are kept, especially for children and families to lovingly interact with. Feeding and gently touching them felt healing and joyful. Later, we cycled along scenic canals, watching elegant swans glide across calm waters. Sometimes, slowing down is the best therapy.

The nearby town of Groningen is a lively university city full of energy and youthfulness. Huge thrift shops promote sustainability and thoughtful living, reflecting the Dutch mindset. There are also lovely shopping places like Primark, and the Albert Heijn grocery store became our favourite — their cheese breadsticks with hot chocolate are a must-try!

Giethoorn, often called the “Venice of the North”, was another dreamlike experience. Instead of roads, this fairy-tale village has canals, boats and charming cottages. It truly feels like stepping into a postcard!

Living like locals gives a deeper understanding of lifestyle and culture. It also made us appreciate India even more, where we enjoy a good quality of life at a much lower cost.

Finally, Amsterdam enchanted us with its vibrant streets and festive Christmas markets. The magical Christmas village near Museumplein, with ice-skating and twinkling stalls, felt like stepping into a winter wonderland. Visiting the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the concert hall beautifully completed our journey.

Soon, it was time to return home. As we flew from Amsterdam to Mumbai, I carried back not just photographs but lessons, emotions and gratitude. Travelling as tourists feels exciting, but living like locals gives us a real perspective on life. Nothing is easy anywhere — what truly matters is our mindset.

I truly believe that finding joy in every circumstance is the real key to happiness.

At Global Voyages, we specialise in customised tours to both famous destinations and beautiful offbeat places. Whenever we travel personally, we bring back real experiences to share with our clients, helping them discover meaningful journeys and hidden gems. During this trip too, we gathered precious insights and explored new towns that I am sure travellers would absolutely love if given the opportunity.

We remain committed to offering the best planning, care and comfort throughout your journey — creating memories that truly last forever.

(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)