Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is revered today as the greatest painter of the Dutch Golden Age of the 1600s, and takes pride of place in the splendid Rijksmuseum, the national collection in Amsterdam. But to learn about Rembrandt the man, follow the series of famous self-portraits hanging on the walls, where the artist observes himself looking increasingly melancholy and battered by fate. The great artist’s life was marked by personal tragedy and even at the height of his powers, he struggled financially. His contemporaries thought him inferior to now-forgotten artists such as Frans van Mieris and Adriaen van der Weff. Of course, Rembrandt himself never had any doubt as to his genius.

Born in 1606 in Leiden, the youngest of a well-to-do miller’s nine children, he was only 14 when he enrolled at the local university, but he quickly gave up his studies to paint. At age 17, the cocky youth moved to Amsterdam, a commercial boom town flooded with new wealth from the East India Company. Mentors advised him to study art in Italy, but Rembrandt replied that he was too busy and that there was plenty of Italian painting to be seen in Amsterdam. He gained his first major commission from the guild of surgeons at age 26—The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp. Soon after, he married a lawyer’s daughter, Saskia van Uylenburg, and moved to the fashionable Jodenbreestraat. (Today, the mansion is the Rembrandt House Museum, containing a fine collection of his etchings). But things soon went awry. Saskia died from tuberculosis in 1636, leaving him a son, Titus, and money troubles soon set in.

In 1656, at the age of 50, Rembrandt was declared bankrupt, his furniture and personal belongings were auctioned and he was obliged to find more humble lodgings in the Jordaan district. Strangely, despite his difficulties, Rembrandt entered his most productive artistic phase, producing masterpiece after masterpiece. But the biggest personal blow came in 1668, when his beloved son and assistant, Titus, died at age 27 of a mysterious illness. Rembrandt died the very next year and was buried in a pauper’s grave, the location is still quite unknown.

On your Dutch vacation you’re certain to see colorful houses as you sail down one of Holland’s many canals. While you’re there make sure to check out one of the many tulip farms.

Continuing our post from from last week, here are a few more Amsterdam must-see sights to make your vacation to Holland more memorable.

MARKETS
With over thirty weekly markets, there’s plenty of choice. Wander through the Albert Cuyp market, the Flea market on Waterlooplein, or see the Floating Flower Market on the Single.

ZOO, PLANETARIUM, VONDELPARK
Families may wish to visit the Artis Zoo and Planetarium or the Vondelpark where the locals go walking, biking, relaxing and pick-nicking. During the summer season concerts and plays are held in the park’s open air theater.

SHOPPING, P.C. HOOFSTRAAT, JORDAAN
Wander along the P.C. Hooftstraart near the Museum quarters to shop or browse for exclusive goods. Good buys in Holland include diamond jewelry, wooden articles such as clogs, embroidery and Delft pottery. In the 17th century, Amsterdam‘s canal diggers, bridge builders and stonemasons called Jordaan home. Now eccentric, one of a kind, shops, chic restaurants and painstakingly manicured courtyards make this a unique spot.

PANCAKES, POFFERTJES AND PEA SOUP
When you’re ready for a snack, try one of the local pancakes, there are over 300 varieties! Or maybe sample the similar poffertjes. Then there’s the many varieties of Dutch cheese. Pea soup is another specialty made with peas, potatoes, carrots, celery, smoked bacon, and sausage.

RIJSTTAFEL
The rijsttafel is a unique fusion of Indonesian and Dutch culinary traditions from colonial times. It was a Dutch custom to eat leftovers on Sundays, the Indonesian people decided to reinvent this by cooking everything fresh. The main dish of a rijsttafel is noodles or rice with several small side dishes like meat, fish, vegetables. Tiny plates of food, arranged from mild to very, very spicy fill the table. Round off with a sip or two of Jenever, the Dutch liquor made from wheat or fruit.

When traveling to the Netherlands here are some must-see sights of Amsterdam:

DAM SQUARE
Take a stroll to Dam Square, sit at one of the terraces and people watch to get a feel for the city. You’ll see bicycles are a favorite means of transport – there are nearly as many bicycles as citizens.

ANNE FRANK HOUSE, THE REMBRANDT HOUSE
If you’ve read her Diary, you’ll want to see where Anne lived and wrote her remarkable and poignant story. The Anne Frank House, as well as the attractive Rembrandt House where the Master lived, are both on walking routes your Local Host will be pleased to tell you about to discover more of Amsterdam at your own pace.

HEINEKEN BEER BREWERY MUSEUM OR T’IJ BREWERY
See the famous Heineken Beer Brewery Museum. Or maybe the more recently opened T’IJ specializing in biological ingredients; the second largest wooden windmill in the Netherlands stands next door.

NATIONAL GALLERY, MARITIME MUSEUM , VAN GOGH MUSEUM, BAGS & PURSES MUSEUM
Amsterdam has several splendid museums, these are just a few, ask your Local Host for more details according to your tastes. The Van Gogh collection has some 200 paintings, 550 sketches, and hundreds of letters from Van Gogh to his brother, Theo.

HORTUS BOTANICAL GARDENS
The Hortus has an expansive collection of more than 6,000 varieties of plants illustrating over 350 years of Dutch horticultural history. From the “coffee plant that fathered all the coffee in Brazil” to a nursery created exclusively for tropical palms, it’s a heavenly destination for plant-lovers the world over.

Check back next Tuesday for Part #2 of our Amsterdam not-to-be-missed sights. Start planning your European vacation today!

Also named the Kingdom of the Netherlands and bordered by Germany and Belgium, Holland faces the North Sea and the United Kingdom. While one of the most densely populated countries, civilization is always nearby. Dominated by highly industrialized farming, Holland stands as one of the largest food distributors in the world. Holland, while dominated by water, is criss-crossed with dikes, canals and rivers. Not to mention the beaches, named some of the most beautiful North Sea beaches around.

While famed for its red-light district, the capital is also well-known for its culture, canals, and coffeeshops. The famously recognized tolerant attitudes along with the open minded atmosphere have helped to establish this laid back culture.

Beyond the capital is a country with beautiful countryside, famous beaches, hidden villages, and astonishing national parks. While resting below sea level and existing on flat land, Holland is an ideal destination for cyclers.

The fishing and sailing is reason enough to visit. Spend the day exploring the breathtaking islands, the shimmering lakes, and the sandy coastlines or roaming through the national parks and cycling along the flat land. Ride into the evening and enjoy the lasting sunset while on the deck of your favorite cafe along the water.

It’s time to prepare for your favorite vacation where you will encounter your most amazing memories and will bring never before seen sites to life. Whatever comes your way, this vacation will surely be an unforgettable experience. So what are you waiting for? Let’s explore Holland!

Van Gogh Museum

This elaborate collection of the troubled artist’s work is a true find. The museum houses some 200 paintings and 550 sketches exposing Van Gogh’s many moods. These works are combined with hundreds of letters from Van Gogh to Theo. Fascinating.

De Hortus Botanical Gardens

This expansive collection of more than 6,000 varieties of plants illustrates more than 350 years of Dutch horticultural history. From the “coffee plant that fathered all the coffee in Brazil” to a nursery created exclusively for tropical palms, the Du Hortes is a heavenly destination for plant-lovers the world over. Read the rest of this entry »