North Holland favorite with tourists: “All nationalities pass by!”

“It depends on the origin of the tourists which destination is most popular. Germans often opt for the coast, Belgians for forest and heathland areas and the British like to go to Amsterdam,” says Maarten Bloem, researcher at CBS. It is not the case that the four percent growth is only due to tourism from abroad, because we ourselves go out more often.

World of cheese and clogs

Not only Germans, Belgians and British know where to find our small country. Tourist attractions such as the Simonehoeve fully enjoy the Dutch appeal: “French, Americans, Indians, Mexicans… everyone comes!”, says owner Isabella Tol.

And that statement is quickly confirmed: there is a large bus with a Polish license plate in the parking lot. Inside is a horde of Mexicans, ready to immerse themselves in the world of cheese and clogs. At the entrance they are welcomed by men and women in full costume, and they all have to be photographed.

They are submerged: upon entering you will find yourself in the cheese farm, where you can taste the craziest flavors. From cumin cheese to nettle cheese and from nettle cheese to one with a beer flavour. Even the weed lover has been thought of: on the counter there is a cheese with a hemp flavor.

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language talent

A little further on, clogs are being made. While Isabella is cutting wood for the next couple, she says: “I speak almost all languages, so I can address each guest in his or her own language. Indians, for example, don’t laugh so much at jokes in another language. If you make the same joke in their own language, they’ll love it.”

There is also a shop at the end of the ride. There is a lot of tasting and buying. A bit hastily, the tour leader tries to get everyone back on the bus, because they have to continue to the next stop. Armed with cheese, clogs and a beer, they continue their journey.