8 Most Prominent Dutch Symbols And Their Meanings

For most people, three things come to mind when they hear the Netherlands:
Amsterdam, windmills, and tulips — and wooden clogs, sometimes. These things
have come to symbolize this small but beautiful country sandwiched by Belgium
and Germany in Western Europe.

While it is a modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large

exporter of agricultural products — second in the world, in fact, trailing behind
the United States.

It ranks in the list of the world’s top producers of fruit and vegetables, but tulip
bulbs are its largest produce. The Netherlands, also called Holland, provides 4.2
billion of these bulbs per year and exports half of them.

1.TULIPS
The Netherlands is famous for its large and colorful fields of tulips and for this
reason, it is called, “the land of tulips and windmills”. Dutch people love flowers,
especially tulips. And this fact can be noticed at every street corner, where colorful
flowers are carefully hanged or in their courtyards or gardens, particularly cared for.

The Netherlands ranks in the first place, worldwide, as the largest tulips exporter.

The tulip is a traditional symbol of the country, therefore, Dutch people celebrate,
annually in January, National Tulip Day.The event takes place in Dam Square in
Amsterdam and symbolizes the beginning of the tulip season. Visitors are allowed to
pick up tulips for free, in a specially designed garden, in the middle of the square.

2. WINDMILLS
The windmills are a traditional symbol of the Netherlands. You could find out breathtaking
landscapes, with windmills across the country, a symbol that contributes to its beauty.
You will just have the impression that you landed in a fairyland. The most famous areas where
you can walk among the age-old windmills are Kinderdijk (Unesco World Heritage),
Zaanse Schans, Haarlem (Molen de Adriaan), etc.

The name “Netherlands” literally means “Lowlands.” That’s how it is — flat and
below sea level.
3. CANALS
The Netherlands attracts millions of tourists every year, due to its historical and
graceful canals of Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Delft, Amersfoort, Leeuwarden,
Groningen.

If you like discovering Dutch history and society, don’t hesitate to take a boat
cruise, along canals!

4. WOODEN SHOES OR CLOGS

Clogs or “klompen” are wooden shoes that Dutch people have been wearing
since medieval times. Nowadays, the tourists can find a wide range of wooden
clogs, that they usually buy as souvenirs.

5. CHEESE
The Netherlands is famous for its delicious cheese.You can taste and buy a multitude of
types of cheese, directly from the cheese markets or the specialized cheese
stores.

The most famous assortment of cheese is Gouda cheese that originates from
Gouda town and represents the most produced type of cheese in the
Netherlands.

The most famous markets where you can taste and buy your favorite cheese
are Alkmaar Cheese Market, Volendam Cheese Market, Gouda Cheese Market,
Woerden Cheese Market, etc.

6. STROOPWAFEL
Stroopwafel is the original Dutch sweet very popular in the Netherlands and that
you can find nowadays worldwide. It consists of two layers of baked dough with
caramel syrup.

You can find everywhere in the country, these delicious sweets, for example, in
Amsterdam, one of the most known bakeries are Original Stroopwafels, Van Wonderen
Stroopwafels, Lanskroon or other sweet spots at Albert Cuyp Market, the largest daily
market in Amsterdam.
7. DUTCH ART (Rembrandt, Van Gogh)
The Netherlands is also famous worldwide for its artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh,
Rembrandt, Piet Mondriaan. If you want to admire the incredible masterpieces of
those famous artists, I advise you to make a visit tour at the Rijks Museum. The Rijks
Museum represents the national heritage site and is located in Amsterdam. There
you will discover more aspects of Dutch history and art. Moreover, you will have the
opportunity to admire the Night Watch, one of the most famous Rembrandt paintings.
Another art museum, located next to the Rijks Museum is the Van Gogh Museum, a
tourist site dedicated to Van Gogh’s artworks.

8. DELFT BLUE POTTERY

Delft Blue is the famous worldwide blue and white hand-painted earthenware,
produced in Delft city. Delft is a city located 68 km away from Amsterdam, and
you can get easily there through a one-hour train trip. Delft is a beautiful city with a
medieval old square and beautiful architecture. Plan a tour to Delft at one of Delft’s blue
factories and enjoy a unique experience at a workshop. You can buy beautiful ceramics
souvenirs such as vases, plates, pots, ceramics jewelry, etc.

Reference:

https://makingmemories753375544.wordpress.com/2019/07/12/top-8-traditional-dutch-symbols/

https://symbolsarchive.com/dutch-symbols/