ANDREA ORR andrea.orr@trinitymirror.com #*=>;-*B >7. "& ( with $1. +.*,1 *= )*7-?88;= 2< <2A 625.< 5870 *7- 6.=;.< @2-. .7=;. 8/ **;5.6 the sound of the surf could have kept me there all day but I had come to explore this region so after lunch, I set off on a hired bicycle through the town and on to the two fantastic nature reserves. To the north is ZuidKennemerland National Park and to the south are the dunes of the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. The park is perfect for extensive walks and bike rides. A round trip on my bicycle led me back to the front of my hotel, NH Zandvoort. Itâ€™s across the road #*=>;-*B >7. 6 1*;?.B -*25B;.,8;- ,8 >4 7-;.* 27 -*6 of the rays. Dinner was quirky and fun. The waiter arrived with a platter of raw meat and fish and an array of salads. I was ushered to a barbecue where I cooked to my liking. Next day and my first stop was the Beemster Polder, the oldest area of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. 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I finished my trip in the beautiful Itâ€™s possibly the oldest industrial city of Haarlem, which offers area in the world, having flourished attractions such as Teylers Museum in the 17th century, when there were and the Frans Hals Museum. about 1000 windmills processing Combine this with a canal trip, a food and wood. visit to the trendy shops and one of There are still many cocoa the unique restaurants or cafĂŠs to factories, which give the air a sweet make a visit to Haarlem an scent. I enjoyed a fabulous, locally unforgettable experience. 7-;.* =*4.< * ;2-. =1;8>01 ..6<=.; !85-.; got to visit the Agricultural Museum Westerhem, a working mill, and check out a fortification which is now a swanky spa hotel. A short car journey later I was in the picturesque city of Edam, famous for its cheese. I walked along the old streets and quiet canals and it is quite easy to imagine the Dutch town centuries ago. For lunch I chose Hof Van Holland, a charming restaurant where everything was made to order. My trip then took me to the Zaanse Schans, where you can watch from Circuit Park Zandvoort, the fabled former Formula 1 racetrack, but the setting near the beach and sand dunes was peaceful. My stylishly furnished room overlooked the sea and I wasted no time in getting freshened up to navigate back to another beach pavilion, this time for dinner. I chose a more relaxed feel as the sun was setting and the Safari Club offered a beach house setting, fire pits and loungers on the beach, complete with blankets to wrap up in as the sunset took away the last -8 58?. =8 +. +.<2-. ).. <2-. ! ! TRAVEL #=>-.7=< *7- 085/.;< 1.59 =8 6*4. #= 7-;.@< * <9.,2*5 95*,. =8 +. Late deals M$1. *2;687= #= 7-;.@< 2< 8//.;270 * 2?8=< *7- ;*6< 9*,4*0. E 27,5>-270 * ;8>7- 8/ 085/ *,,8668-*=287 *7- * =1;.. ,8>;<. -277.; *7- -;*6 *= =1. 5>+18><. ;.<=*>;*7= E /;86 78@ >7=25 #.9=.6+.; /8; D 9.; 9.;<87 8; -.=*25< ,*55 8; .6*25 <=*7-;.@< <,8=5*7- /*2;687= ,86 Facts Not the typical description that springs to mind when you mention Amsterdam but itâ€™s exactly what I found on a three-day trip to this wonderful region. Amsterdam is a well-known city DAVID McCARTHY break destination and many might d.mccarthy@dailyrecord.co.uk be put off by the seedy image of the ;.<=*>;*7=< * >,27. /8; =*52*7 /88- red light district. *7- $1. #:>2;. /.*=>;270 =1. +.<= 58,*5 What isnâ€™t as commonly known 9;8->,. '. ,18<. =8 .*= *= $1. is that a 20-minute journey from 5>+18><. 18@.?.; Amsterdam city centre takes you <18;= @*54 /;86 =1. 18=.5 2= 8//.;< into a very different 6*072/2,.7= ?2.@< 8?.; environment. =1. 085/ ,8>;<.< *7- The area is rich in #= 7-;.@< *B *7- =1. culture, history and /88- @*< <.7<*=287*5 M 5B270 /;86 5*<08@ excitement and I $1. *2;687= < @8;5- 87 >7. <.?.7 ,5*<< <9* 2< =1. 95*,. =8 experienced them all 7201=< 27 $>;4.B .*<. B8>; *,1.< *7- 9*27< thanks to a trip to the <=*B270 *= =1. /8>; .?.7 2/ 2= ,*7 = @29. =1*= beach, by getting a taste <=*; 6;. .*,1 *55 :>*-;>95. +80.B 87 =1. of old Holland and by 27,5><2?. /;86 D =1 8// B8>; <,8;.,*;- visiting authentic 9.; 9.;<87 9*<<.- =1;8>01 .7 Haarlem. M 5B270 /;86 5*<08@ ;8>=. =8 =1. 6.=;. Zandvoort aan Zee 87 >7. <.?.7 <@266270 9885 @12;59885 7201=< 27 *5=* was first on my hit-list. <=.*6 ;886 *7- <*>7* <=*B270 *= =1. /8>; One of the oldest (8> ,8>5- 58,4 B8>;<.5/ <=*; .552.1* *B 1*5/ seaside resorts in the *@*B *= =1. *2;687= /8; +8*;- /;86 D 9.; Netherlands, itâ€™s only a =1. ->;*=287 8/ B8>; <=*B 9.;<87 half-hour drive from +>= #= 7-;.@< 2< =1.;. =8 M 5B270 /;86 5*<08@ Schipol airport. +. .A958;.- *7- =1. 18=.5 87 >5B <.?.7 7201=< There is so much to .?.7 5*B< 87 * /;.. <1>==5. 87 =1. 8<=* -.5 #85 do there but since I had +>< .?.;B 18>; =8 =*4. 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