Embark on a journey of colour, culture and nature

The Netherlands is located in Western Europe, with a coastline on the North Sea and borders with Germany and Belgium. Much of the territory is flat and lies below or at sea level, protected by dikes and polders. They are known for their network of canals (the Amsterdam canal belt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site), historic windmills, tulip fields, cycling culture, and cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam (Europe's largest port), and The Hague. It is in this setting that the Pestana Amsterdam Riverside is located, in a historic building next to the Amstel River, in the De Pijp district.

In the Netherlands, the Pestana Group operates the Pestana Amsterdam Riverside, a 5-star hotel in Amsterdam. It occupies a pair of 19th-century neo-Renaissance buildings (the former town hall and archives, now a national monument) and two modern wings, at Amsteldijk 67, on the banks of the Amstel River, in the De Pijp district – a quiet location just beyond the canal belt. It is close to the Albert Cuyp Market, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum.

The best time is from April to September, with longer days and milder weather (winters are cold, rainy and windy). To see the tulips, the ideal window is from the end of March to the beginning of May, peaking in mid/late April - the Keukenhof garden is only open for about eight weeks in the spring. Summer is ideal for boat trips on the canals and cycling. From the Pestana Amsterdam Riverside it is easy to arrange day trips to Keukenhof and the tulip fields.

The gateway is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), one of the busiest in Europe, with direct connections to Portugal. The train station is located under the terminal: up to eight trains per hour run between Schiphol and Amsterdam Centraal, with journeys of only 14 to 17 minutes (operated by NS). From there, there are quick connections to the whole country (Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht) and international high-speed trains. The Pestana Amsterdam Riverside is a few minutes from the city center and is well served by public transport.

The Amsterdam canal belt (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is a must-see, ideal for a cruise, along with the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House. In spring, the Keukenhof garden displays millions of tulips. For authentic windmills, Kinderdijk (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), with 19 18th-century windmills, or the museum village of Zaanse Schans. Rotterdam (modern architecture and the largest port in Europe), The Hague, Utrecht, and Delft are also must-sees. The Pestana Amsterdam Riverside, in De Pijp and close to museums and the Albert Cuyp Market, is an ideal base.

The country has one of the densest and most efficient rail networks in Europe, operated by NS, which quickly and frequently connects Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht. Within the cities, cycling is the preferred mode of transport, with cycle paths everywhere, and there are also trams, metro, buses, and the typical canal boats in Amsterdam. From the Pestana Amsterdam Riverside in De Pijp, it's easy to catch trains at Amsterdam Centraal or Amstel for excursions, or to explore the city on foot and by bicycle.