Netherlands - 30 April to 5 May 2008

We headed straight for Amsterdam and soon found ourselves engulfed in waves of orange and chaos. This was a party of note – people everywhere, food and drink with pumping music and performers and lots of 'coffee shop' effects!! We immersed ourselves, absorbing and loving all this crazy action – a feast for the eye, ear and every sense known to mankind – Amsterdam was truly the place to be!!! We all agreed that we will be back the end of April each year to celebrate ‘Koninginsdag'! Not just for the party, as Amsterdam is eccentric, broadminded, tolerant and breathtakingly scenic.

Innumerable canals are lined by 16 th and 17 th century heritage protected homes, the result of a prosperous era generated by the Dutch East India Company. We had to slot in the famous 'Frites' and 'Pannekoeken' in between a relaxing canal boat tour, feeling the life around Dam Square with its Royal Palace and the imposing Rijksmuseum and visiting Anne Frank's home – the start of the history lesson for the kids on the World Wars. Each couple took time out to enjoy the darker/naughtier side of the city which obviously had to include a visit to the coffee shops, a stroll through the Red Light District and the obvious 'Sex Show'!

Heading north, we visited clog and cheese farms en route to picturesque Alkmaar , known for its cheese market. Then the land of bikes, dykes and blazing flower fields greeted us as we drove past Lisse with the richest coloured tulips imaginable. Some maintenance work with teaching and washing followed at the Duinhorst campsite in the Hague – the seat of political power and the royal house of Orange . The refined green city is famous for 'Binnehof', it's Parliament buildings which enclose the 13 th century Knights Hall and the home of the international Court of Justice – the Peace Palace . This is the place that promotes peace and administers justice!

The kids though, were more enthralled by Madurodam which is a miniature Netherlands with scenes replicated from all over built on a 1:25 scale showcasing moving planes, boats, cars in between buildings. Sunset over Scheveningen Pier with its seaside promenade was appealing if rather hurried as exhorbitant parking is limited to 30 minutes!

Our final day in Holland was spent travelling via Rotterdam , a modern city after it was flattened by Nazi bombers, then Kinderdijk with its massive windmills and south to Maastricht - our bush camp just outside the border with Germany .