HJ ZULHEIMY - DOWN MEMORY LANE: DOWN MEMORY LANE : 2017

Hj Zulhemy Maamor

23 April 2024

Sufi Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd's Three Country Tour is nearing its end with a visit to the 3rd country on the tour list, which is the Netherlands, also known as the Netherlands or Holland.

The Netherlands, or Holland in the local language, is called Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (Kingdom of the Lowlands) and is a country located in northwest Europe.

Bordered by Germany in the east and Belgium in the south. The name Holland comes from the Portuguese word Holanda.

The travel distance between Belgium to the Netherlands is 225 km and takes 3 hours 7 minutes.

What is the difference between Holland and Netherlands?

Many people seem to think that the two names are interchangeable. But North Holland and South Holland are actually just two of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands, which is officially called thd Kingdom of Netherlands.

AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam is the capital of Netherlands, Amsterdam is known for its historical attractions, for its collection of great art, and for the distinctive colour and flavour of its old sections,which have been so well preserved.

While in the Netherlands, the group stayed at the NH Noordwijk Conference Center Hotel located at Langelaan 3, 2211 XT Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands.

ROTTERDAM

Rotterdam is a major port city in the province of Zuid-Holland. It is the second-largest city after Amsterdam.

The city had the largest port in Europe and also the busiest port in the world in 1962 but lost that status to Shanghai in China in 2004. The name Rotterdam comes from a dam located on the Rotte River.

BLAAKTOREN - PENCIL TOWER

Blaaktoren, located at Kolk 90, 3011 MD Rotterdam, Netherlands, was built in 1984 and is also known as the Pencil Tower due to its pencil-like shape. It is situated next to the Cube House, or Kubuswoning in the local language. The tower was designed by Piet Blom.

CUBE HOUSE (KUBUSWONING)

Next to Blaaktoren, there is the Cube House or Kubuswoning in the local language. It was designed by Piet Blom and built in 1984, containing 37 apartment houses and a hostel.

MARKTHAL, ROTTERDAM

Markthal, located in Verlengde Nieuwstraat, Rotterdam, is a large market that sells vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, nuts, and other foods. It also features small food stalls, supermarkets, and liquor stores. Opened in August 2014, the design of Markthal is an example of modern Rotterdam architecture. The market tends to get crowded every weekend.

KEUKENHOF, LISSE, NETHERLANDS

Also known as the "Garden of Europe," it is the largest flower garden in the world, located at 2160 AB, Stationsweg 166, 2161 AM Lisse, Netherlands.

Lisse is a city in the south of Holland. Keukenhof is another famous tourist destination in the Netherlands.

This 32-hectare area contains various types of flowers, with the most famous being tulips, such as hyacinths, daffodils, and others.

AYAM BELANDA OR WILD TURKEY

Around the 70s, this "Ayam Belanda" or Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo) was seen a lot in my village in Lubuk Cina Melaka. But now it is no longer seen there.. maybe this species is extinct in Malaysia, but it is still there in the Netherlands.

Wild Turkey is a species from the middle of the North American Continent.

The name "Ayam Belanda" is believed to be related to the introduction of this bird to the Malay world by the sailors of the Dutch Empire around the 17th century. The lesser-known "piru chicken" is associated with the name Peru as a result of the introduction by the Portuguese through the name gallo do Peru or gallinhas de Peru.

"Turkey" is a more specific name used in Indonesia borrowed from the Netherlands: kalkoen is an abbreviation of the word Calicut-hoen or Calkoensche henne which is "Kolkata chicken" from where this bird was obtained while trading in India.

THE HOUSE OF ORANGE NASSAU

The House of Orange-Nassau (Huis van Oranje-Nassau) is the current reigning house of the Netherlands. A branch of the European House of Nassau, the house has played a central role in the politics and government of Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe.

(For further reading refer to Wikipedia - House of Orange-Nassau)

I remember that in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, a Dutch shipwreck called Nassau was found in 1993 by accident by a company, off Bambeek Shoal, while searching for the British Merchant CAROLINE, a few miles from Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

The Dutch frigate, NASSAU was owned by the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) and in service for Kamer van Amsterdam.

On 22 August 1606, NASSAU under the command of Capt. Mathijsz Abraham, was burn and sunk, off Port Dickson (Malacca) in the Battle of Cape Rachado.

During the Battle, 20 Portuguese ships attacked the Dutch Fleet of 11 ships ,hereby sinking the MIDDLEBURG and NASSAU. The Portuguese lost SAO SALVADOR and DOM DUARTE DE GUERRA GALLEON. The wreck of these four ships have been found in 1993.

ZAANSE SCHANS

Zaanse Schans is an open air conservation area and museum, on the east bank of the Zaan River, north of Zaandam in Netherlands. Its display the traditional architecture of the area (green wooden houses) and has several functioning windmills and craftman's workshop, which open to visitor. Located next to it is the regional museum, the Zaans Museum.

Most of the windmills here were built around 1574.

HABOUR OF VOLENDAM

A popular tourists destination and is known for its lively atmosphere and colourful, traditional Dutch customes. Visitors can take a stroll along the habor, watch the local fishing boats come and go, and sample some of the town's famous seafood. It is worth visiting it in combination with the nearby town of Edam which is much nicer and quieter town to visit.

AMSTERDAM CITY CENTRE, CANAL CRUISE AND DAM SQUARE

On the last day of the tour on April 28, 2017, the group was taken on a tour around Amsterdam City, Canal Cruise and Dam Square.

Dam Square of the Dam is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital and the most populated city of the Netherlands. The Dam derives its name from its original function, a dam on the Amstel River, hence also the name of the city of Amsterdam (Dam of River Amstel).

Amsterdam is a city below sea level and is famous for its canals. There are approximately 1000 canals in the city of Amsterdam. Sufi Tour group participants have the opportunity to cruise the canals while enjoying the panorama around the city of Amsterdam.

THE DUTCH LADY

Looking at the photo of the Dutch woman below, or better known by the name "Dutch Lady," of course, we will remember Dutch Lady milk, which is quite popular in our country.

Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad, a producer of cow's milk and dairy products in Malaysia, was established in 1963. It was previously under Royal FrieslandFoods based in the Netherlands.

27.4.2017 : BACK TO MALAYSIA

After the tour, the group continued to board the bus to Schiphol International Airport, which is located in Evert van de Beekstraat, Schiphol, Netherlands. It is among the 15 best airports in the world.

The Sufi traveling group boarded an Etihad Airways flight and departed from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam at 9.25pm Amsterdam time.

Arrive at Abu Dhabi Airport (Transit) at 6.20am local time.

Departs Abu Dhabi International Airport at 10.50am and arrives at KLIA Airport at 10.30pm.

The end of my wife's trip with Kembara Sufi Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd exploring 3 European countries starting from 24 April until 28 April 2017.