Maybe it’s because I was raised in the burbs, but I’ve always known there was much more to my country than the ever-popular, culturally liberal city of Amsterdam. City dwellers who want to unwind know that just 30 minutes away by train there’s a place to relax that’s “shaped” by history. And it’s much more than tulips and windmills.

The northern fisher towns of Hoorn, Enkhuizen and Medemblik, also know as the “Historic Triangle”, blossomed during the time of the Dutch East India Company. A journey through these towns by steam train and boat make for a unique and unforgettable experience. At least, this is what my out-of-town guests claimed after a post-wedding trip I had arranged for them on this route.

We began our adventure in Hoorn. Trains run from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Hoorn every 30 minutes. Out the window, especially in April, the landscape is an explosion of color – blooming flowers in North Holland. In fact, it’s the most important flower producing area in all of The Netherlands.

The town’s picturesque historic center is paved with cobblestone streets, antique houses and a beautiful port. What I wanted most to do was take our guests to Hoofdtoren, a cozy restaurant in a 500-year-old defense tower. Popular with the locals and tourists alike, you can sample specialties like mussels and ale, plus herring either raw or pickled. To my surprise – our guests went for the raw herring. It went down pretty easily with a pint of local beer.

From Hoorn we traveled 20 minutes by conventional Dutch rolling stock to Enkhuizen. The town is home to the open-air Zuiderzee Museum. This recreation of an actual fishing village in the 19th century gives visitors a unique opportunity to live the life of a sailor over 100 years ago. I think the kids in our group liked this best!

Our last stop on the “triangle” was to Medemblik – and we arrived by boat. On this journey, we crossed part of the IJsselmeer, a modern marvel. This expanse of water turns from salty to fresh thanks to a manmade dike that connects North Holland with the province Groningen.

A must see in Medemblik is the 13th century Radboud Castle, situated next to the IJsselmeer. In fact, I felt it was so beautiful, we had our wedding there. On site, there’s a museum with exhibitions, which our guests loved exploring. Our wedding toast was held in the Knight’s Hall – perfect for my groom in shining armor. From Medemblik, our wedding party returned to Hoorn in style – aboard an early 1900’s vintage steam train. On board, we were served a local treat called poffertjes, which is like a small pancake with butter and powdered sugar. Our guests are still talking about them! Everyone got off the steam train, and boarded a conventional train back to Amsterdam, taking with them memories of their Dutch getaway off the beaten path and into history – The Netherlands’, and ours.

Reaching Brussels is quite easy if you’re in London, Paris or Amsterdam (just to name a few). Eurostar and Thalys services provide high-speed travel to Brussels with numerous connections daily. Traveling to Brussels from London, Paris or Amsterdam allows you to depart the city center and arrive right in the heart of Brussels.

You might expect Brussels to be busy and congested, but the opposite is true. Despite its international stature, Brussels retains an Old World ambiance that inspires a relaxed appreciation of its charms.

You’ll find much to see and do in Brussels, including museum hopping and carefree shopping! The city is known for its museums – there are over seventy! Shopping opportunities abound, as well, and you’ll have no trouble locating anything you might want-including those world-famous Belgian chocolates!

Brussels is also the place for foodies. Whether you want to sample the country’s traditional dishes or taste-tempting entrées from around the world, you can take your pick of over 3,000 restaurants – you’d need at least eight years to enjoy them all!

Brussels’ attractions are delightfully diverse. Take in the Bruegel and Rubens masterpieces at the Museum of Ancient Art, or ponder the Magrittes, Dalis, and other works at the underground Museum of Modern Art.

Venture into the futuristic landmark Atomium. Chat at a mock Venetian café at Mini-Europe. Meet Napoleon’s Waterloo at the notorious battlefield a few miles south of the city.

Brussels nightlife holds promise, too. There are bars, pubs, and clubs in every part of town. What else would you expect from a country that enjoys over 400 brands of beer?! Even the region’s Trappist monks brew some popular, truly delicious ales. Grab a mug and a heaping plate of moules (mussels), like the Bruxellois do!

Brussels is very upscale-prices rival those of New York and London-but savvy shoppers can always find great value. When dining, for example, try the prix fixe menus. Or go ahead and splurge-it isn’t often you’re able to enjoy cuisine of this caliber.

Visitors can also revel in Brussels’ lively arts such as first-rate opera, ballet, symphony, and theater performances.

Brussels enjoys a strong economy and great quality of life. When you walk the cobblestone streets past its tidy shops and cozy pubs, you’ll sense its special elegance.

Start 2010 off in Brussels, at the heart of the city, in the Grand-Place. This is the city’s magnificent medieval square. Then set off in any direction – you’ll find delights everywhere you go!

For those who are interested in, or collectors of cars, motorcycles, SUVs and scooters, Brussels will be the host city to the European Motor Show. From January 14th, 2010 to the 24th, you can experience the Auto Moto Salon (formally known as the European Motor Show). The show will be held at the Brussels Expo, it will focus its attention on light commercial vehicles, but will also feature numerous automotive debuts, scooter and motorcycle displays and even a 4×4 track for visitors to test the new crop of SUVs!  If you’d like more information on this motor show, click here.

Visit the Beglium Tourist Office for more information on what to see and do while traveling in Belgium.

Chances are, if you plan to visit Amsterdam, you also plan on visiting other Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) cities. A Benelux pass makes it easy and convenient to get from city to city. With several high-speed services operating you can see so much in just a small amount of time. In this issue of Explorer you can get some ideas on what to do in Amsterdam from our Top Ten Culturally-rich Amsterdam Activities list.

There are many things to do in Amsterdam. Well-known for its lively nightlife, there are many cultural and historical activities to be found too. Below please enjoy our top ten picks for this amazing city.

10. Get yourself a pocket full of posies at Holland’s best flower market. Located on a floating barge in the Singel Canal, this floating market first began in 1862. It has remained on the barge to depict days gone by when the plants and flowers were shipped into the city. Fresh flowers still arrive in Amsterdam, however, they are shipped by vans nowadays. Once you’ve had your fill of fragrant flowers in Amsterdam, get yourself to the Central Station and wait for bus 172. This bus will take you to Aalsmeer, home of the world’s most famous flower market. Millions of flowers and plants are bought and sold every day of the work week. Buses run frequently from Amsterdam to Aalsmeer and it is a fairly short ride.

9. One of the best ways to get a true appreciation for an unfamiliar place is to visit a local market. Amsterdam is home to the well-known Albert Cuypmarket. Cars are forbidden within the boundaries of this market making it easy and relaxing to stroll through the over 300 stalls. You can find everything here from computers to vegetables, furniture to cosmetics. It would be a shame to visit Amsterdam without paying a visit to the Albert Cuypmarket.

8. With your Benelux pass, hop on a train for an exciting day trip to The Hague (Den Haag). Here you will come across Binnenhof. This is where the Houses of Parliament can be found. Be sure to also pay a visit to the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice. On the outskirts of The Hague is the small town of Madurodam. This town is frequently referred to as “Holland in a Nutshell”. Many visit Madurodam to wander around and photograph reproductions of famous Dutch structures such as buildings, bridges and monuments. Your day trip to The Hague will give you a good look at the Dutch justice system. And your Benelux pass can make it happen!

7. The canals that fill a great deal of Amsterdam are what make this city known as the “Venice of the north”. Canals seem to emit a feeling of romance and mystery. As you stroll down the streets, crossing over bridges that connect the city over the canals, you will be in awe and want to take many photos. Alternatively, you can get an even closer look at the city while riding a boat through the canals! Get yourself a Canal Bus Day Pass and have a fun day touring the city through the canals. Using a hop on, hop off system, the canal bus makes 14 stops, all at nearby tourist attractions and places of interest. Aside from great transportation, short commentary is also played on the canal bus giving you an overview of the city.

6. Spend some time wandering around the Begijnhof. This courtyard dates back to the 14th century, which was a time of great posterity for Amsterdam. The Begijnhof was once the home for the Begijntjes. This was a Catholic sisterhood that lived like nuns, however, they never took vows. Now the houses in Begijnhof are occupied by single women. In the courtyard you will see Amsterdam’s oldest surviving house, Het Houten Huis. It is claimed that this house was built in 1420. And in the southern part of the square you will find a beautiful medieval English church. The church stands proud with its original tower, dating back to the 15th century. This is the perfect afternoon activity to relax you and gear you up for a night out on the town!

5. Today he is considered to be one of the world’s greatest artists, Vincent Van Gogh lived a tragic life that ultimately ended with him taking his own life. You can stop by his house in Amsterdam and also visit the Van Gogh Museum. The museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of Van Gogh’s works. As you walk through the halls of this museum, you’re not just embracing art, rather taking a tour of the artist’s emotions and feelings, what he was going through as he made each brush stroke. It is truly a moving experience.

4. Heineken is Amsterdam’s pride and joy. The Heineken Brewery demonstrates one of the achievements of the Dutch beer industry. Currently this popular tourist spot is closed for renovations, however, is slated to open this summer with enhanced exhibits. Some of these new features include a mini brewery and tasting bar! Be sure to stop by if you’re in Amsterdam this summer.

3. A visit to Amsterdam should definitely include a trip to the Rijksmuseum. This is Amsterdam’s premier art and history museum and the largest in the Netherlands. Much of this great museum’s popularity is thanks to the gifted artists of the 17th century, as much of their work is on display at the Rijksmuseum. Make some time in your schedule to spend a few hours here.

2. Number two on our list is a marvelous painter from the 17th century, Rembrandt. van Rijn. The Rembrandt House Museum is where you can come to find paintings and sketches by the magnificent artist. It is within the walls of this house that “De Nachtwacht” was painted, also, this 17th century house is where Rembrandt’s son was born and his wife’s life ended. Today, this museum is one of Amsterdam’s major tourist attractions. Visitors come from all corners of the world to embrace the works of this artistic genius.

1. Our number one suggestion may not be for everyone. For those who have a desire to truly embrace history, culture and human behavior, this is something you’ll want to experience. Anne Frank is a name synonymous with the Holocaust. She was an innocent teenager, forced to go into hiding with her family to avoid being captured by Nazis. Her family went into a hidden annex on July 6, 1942. Anne was a mere 13 year’s old. The family survived with several others in the annex for 25 months, when they were found. They were transported to Auschwitz and then split up and sent to various other concentration camps. Otto, Anne’s father, was the only one of the Frank family to survive the concentration camps. He passed away many years later in 1980. Today, you can visit the Anne Frank House, preserved as it was left to depict the conditions that were lived in. Inside the house you can see the original diary kept by Anne along with other belongings that were left behind and preserved. To visit this house is an emotionally moving experience.

Amsterdam has a great variety of history, culture, nightlife and art. A trip to this fantastic city will certainly be one that stays in the memory bank for years to come. There are activities in Amsterdam to appeal to all travelers and all senses. Once you’ve explored Amsterdam, hop on a train with your Benelux pass and explore other Benelux countries!