Netherlands Books

I did not get the product I wanted due to a lack of photo. The description did not tell me that the book I was purchasing was in play format. I wish to return the book.

Please note that Amazon does provide a box to the right of the selection list of documents that you may use to narrow your search parameters. I was looking for the play, so I chose the "entertainment" option. Also present in the box were "novel", "history" and a number of other options. It's a little confusing to navigate at first, but the more you use Amazon the better you'll understand how it works.

I just received this in the mail to give to my niece and discovered that it is written as a play. The Amazon description does not mention any thing about it being a play. Arggh! Frustrating.

They really should write better item descriptions. This is a play not a novel. Unable to return just wasted a bunch of money.

Online Reader-
After having just read this book for an English assiment I have only just now realized how much a War can do to someone.
I admit to crying throughout the book, and while reading I was heartbroken to hear of all of the misfortune that befell these inocent people. And to think that one man-Hitler-could cause all of this pain and misery made me insanly angry at him, and ashamed for all of those who followed him blindly.
In this book, and young girl Anne, and her family, as well as another family and Mr. Dussel, (seven people in all) went into hiding from the Nazis for TWO YEARS.
I feel so sorry for them that having not to breathe fresh air for two years, and to be cramped up with many people for two years, and the end result was being killed by the Nazis. I am so glad, however, that we now have her diary, and realize and know so much more about the Holocaust and all of the people who had to endure it's brutalness.

A bit sluggish and predictable at the start, but once you get past the first few chapters, the characters begin to develop and the plot builds into a page-turnner.

Why did I read this book? I guess because I wanted something that would put me to sleep. Forget those expensive pills when you have trouble sleeping, just take out your copy of THE TENTH MAN - it works everytime! Okay for real this book is a snoozer, boring boring boring. There is no need to read more than the first 100 pages, by this point you will be able to figure the whole story out. I am going to stop myself right here, this book has already taken enough of my time.

How anyone could enjoy this book is beyond me. I guess if you like bad stories with stupid endings this is the book for you! Worst "serious" gay theme book I think I have ever read.

I took this book on vacation with me, and it was a great plane read. The characters were wonderful and well developed. The locales were very well descibed and true to life (at least those that I know). My only complaint was that the ending was really contrived. Everything just happened to fall into place perfectly. After the tone of reality that was present in the rest of the book, this was a let down. However, the last chapter was a really unexpected, interesting twist. The Tenth Man is not great literature, but it is definitely a worthwhile read.

This is the story of a man on the run. Jack Barillo finds that men from his past are getting killed one by one (warning to the squeamish: this ain't Agatha Christie's type of killings--these are startlingly detailed). The killer, Lucifer, seems to be the type who can't be escaped.

I was interested in the Chicago settings, since I'm from there, but the environment in Amsterdam and Italy are also very well-done. Jack thinks he can get away from Lucifer by hiding out in Europe, then finds out that even his best-laid plans are laid open for exploitation. I look forward to more thrillers from this author!

a friend gave me a stack of amsterdam guidebooks and this one w as very out of date. However, I found that the authors captured a lot of the spirit of the city and I liked the idea of the irreverence. Why don't they update the club and hotel material and keep issuing this book? Lots of the other books seem geared to older people but this one reads as if it is for twentysomethings who have been around.

some of the information is out of date, but Kelly has the point of view of someone who loves the city. for correct facts i would go to another book, but her essays capture the flavor and mood of the place.

My wife and I are from New York City and we're visiting Amsterdam right now. We found so much of the information in this book either out of date or completely wrong that we couldn't even use it. The author's tone is so smug that one wonders if she even likes Amsterdam. The guy at the used book store we brought it to here wouldn't even buy it!

If you are looking for a book with a MAP TO THE COFFEE SHOPS this is the only one on Amazon.com that has one, believe me I have bought 4 A'dam books on line.

I don't think the author, has ever been to Amsterdam. The same place is refered 2 times, with diferent descriptions, if it where different places. etc...

I really think the author, didn't spend much time in Amsterdam at all, safe your money

As a Dutchman I have to say that, in my entire and long life, I have never - ever - read a single book that was so factually inaccurate with blatant errors and misinterpretations on virtually every single page!

Has a Dutch person ever read this piece of manure before it went to press? Obviously the authors - both non-Dutch (why? they couldn't find a local [out of 14 million people?] to write this?) have absolutely no idea what nonsense they are ejaculating on page and after page. This is self-evident from the notes about the authors on pages 220 and 221: "Hunt Janin (an American) `visits the Netherlands frequently' while Ria van Eil has obviously spent way too much time abroad to have kept an accurate finger on the pulse).

This "guide" is absolutely rubbish and I grieve for the trees that had to die for this pathetic attempt. I can only shudder at the credibility level of the other volumes.

This book appears to be at least several years out of date. If the Dutch were ever truly tolerant, they aren't anymore. The book states that the visitor will quickly find that the Dutch love foreign visitors, foreign languages, etc.... The Dutch have become a patently intolerant bunch. But if you think about it, tolerance is only putting up with someone from outside. They've gone from putting up with outsiders to despising them, and wanting most of them gone since the death of Theo van Gogh. This book paints an unrealistically naive, and positive view that doesn't fit with the reality of life in The Netherlands today. That is for those of us who weren't born here, who have accents, or are visibly "different."

I read this book before a recent trip to Holland to meet my boyfriends' family. It was really helpful. It provided some basic insights into Dutch culture that differ from American culture. After the 10 day visit, I feel as if the book helped me understand the behavior of the Dutch people I met. My only complaint would be the book's claim that the Dutch are extremely friendly. This is only partially true. They are incredibly warm and welcoming if you are introduced to them by another Dutch citizen. Random people on the streets were really not welcoming or helpful at all.

This series of books is so fabulous if you want to get to know the country you are visiting, not only if you want to move there but also if you just love to learn more than the surface of a country on your two week vacation. Great to read before and after a visit to the Netherlands. I learnt so much in this book that would have taken me months, years to learn by actually being in the country. Excellent resource.

this book should be red by all people that plan on visiting the netherlands.
as dutch person i looked in it (it was a gift) and it is very truthfull

Wasnt a very good or useful book. Didn't have a lot of the practical stuff in it!

Just got back from Amsterdam and had taken this book (along with others) with me. This book was far from the helpful book I had been hoping. It wasn't 'irreverent' really and seemed to miss a lot of good information. It also wasn't presented very well.

I do not recommend this...

This is not a typical travel book with all the standard info you'd find. It's best to be a supplement book (in conjunction to a "standard" one) providing info only the locals know-the un-offical stories. Excellent book.

I purchase this because I thought I would get more info then I could get from the website. It really was not what I was expecting. It does have good maps in it but that is about all it is good for.

This is a fantastic guide book. Easy to follow, enjoyable to read and full of wonderful information. Like another reviewer said, it is like being taken around by a savvy local. Highly reccommended!

I used the book for two weeks driving around and doing business in The Netherlands and Belgium. It's sized so that I can keep it in a back pocket so I always had it with me. It might be a great book for people who have had some instruction and need refreshing. Since I had "never seen Dutch before" it was impossible to have a conversation using it.
I never expected to talk, just read signs. But each time I tried, I only found half the words I needed. (I was driving and parking on my own and I'm sure I bypassed legal parking or parked illegally but was lucky. I also completely misunderstood a "there's major traffic problems, find alternate route" sign because too many key words weren't listed.) A section of "common signage" would be really helpful.
The menu section was useful for $5-10/meal restaurants (whose staff may not be very good with English), but leaves out most of the fancy things at a good restaurant. (where there will often be someone who speaks enough English) (And if you're going to be in the area you have to treat yourself to good food - there's so much of it).
I try not to be an Ugly American, but found that it was better to greet someone in English, because they'll instantly switch over to continue the conversation. But if you start in Dutch they assume you understand and chatter on too fast to follow. Get a local to show you how to say "thank you" and "goodbye" and other key phrases for the end of your conversation - there are lots of locals out there laughing at our mispronunciation of words that can't be described through dictionary phoenetics and include sounds that don't exist in American words.

I wouldn't go back without it, but I'm still looking for a replacement that meets my needs for my return in a few months.

I agree with the first reviewer in that the pronounciation is off for the -en sounds (and a couple others, perhaps), but this book seems to be a useful guide for the casual tourist. Most of the travel items are the often-used phrases that folks would need. (Especially if you're in amsterdam or Rotterdam, where dropping that -en for the -eh is typical)

I took a copy of this along with me on a trip to the Netherlands, primarily for assisting in understanding signs and menu items more than as a phrase book. Unless you plan to travel to very rural areas, you will have absolutely no problem getting along/around in NL. Just learning a few phrases of greeting, please/thanks, and goodbye (for courtesy's sake) is sufficient.

A plus for providing some Dutch grammar basics, which might spark an interest in more in-depth study. A minus for an unnecessary section on vulgarisms. The translations of some phrases are a bit too "interpretive" for my taste, some of the translations could be a bit more literal (or provide a literal meaning of the Dutch phrase). The pronunciation guide is not completely accurate, either.

If you're just heading to the Netherlands or Belgium on a brief holiday, you really won't *need* a phrase book. A waiter will be happy to decipher the menu for you if it is not multi-lingual. You won't really need to know the road signs unless you're driving (and with the excellent public transportation system and bicycle paths/lanes, you probably won't). And if you're seriously interested in learning Dutch, it won't offer you anything you can't learn in a more substantial book.

Save the money, and put it toward your Lonely Planet guidebook.

Since I am a beginner in studying Dutch, I try every possible way to look for books and courses which are able to help myself improve my knowledge of the Netherlands. To know a country or a state or a nation, the best way is to understand what the people think, how the people lead their lives and the language they use. "The Rough Guide to Dutch" I think it is good for the beginners. It is a so-called "dictionary phrasebook." you can get not only basic vocabulary and phrases but also daily life information. In my opinion, to choose the book is a good idea to help yourself. It is a pocket book that you can bring it to everywhere without any trouble. Everytime and everywhere you want to enlarge your vocabulary, it is at hand. It is full of basic & daily vocabulary. The more you attempt, the more you earn!

I bought this book before going over to the Netherlands for a business trip. I found the book VERY confusing and VERY unusable. The pronunciation guide is very misleading. For example, it leads you to think that the "n" at the end of every word should be pronounced as "u" as in bus, which is totally untrue. The content is arranged in dictionary format, and is thus unhelpful at all for the beginner. I highly recommend AGAINST this book. BTW, most people in the Netherlands can understand and many can speak English, so if you go over there for a short stay, you don't need to learn Dutch at all.

After years of visiting family in the Netherlands and visiting obvious tourist attractions, I felt it was time to find a guide to help me unearth those not so noticeable sights. I quickly discovered that it was challenging to locate a book that focuses solely on the Netherlands. Then I stumbled upon the Rough Guide to the Netherlands. I thought I had finally discovered the ideal comprehensive Dutch travel book. But after opening the beautifully photographed cover, I dove into the introduction only to find the following statement, "Indeed for such a small and accessible country, the Netherlands is, apart from Amsterdam, relatively unknown territory." Unfortunately, I did not find that this book helped to dispel this myth and encourage travel anywhere outside of Amsterdam.

By the tone of the writing, it felt as though the writer(s) had a negative image of this country even before writing a sentence. They overlooked many of the quaint, personal aspects of this country, as well as many of the attractions that I considered obvious places to visit. I was able to attain more useful information about cities in the Netherlands from my outdated copy of Let's Go Europe 1994, which covers information on over a dozen countries in just one book.

In the back of the Rough Guide, there is a section of assorted English/Dutch translations, which can be extremely helpful for travelers. They list simple terms like hello, good-bye, thank you, etc and important translations for questions like, "where is the bathroom?"

If you are looking for a travel book to list a handful of plain-as-the-nose-on-your-face attractions in Amsterdam, then you found your book. If you are looking for an all-inclusive guide to aid your explorations throughout the Netherlands, this is not it. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this review, I have not found a book I can recommend and I am also sad to say this is the first book that I will return to Amazon.

It is always dangerous to criticize a travel guide to a place you have always lived, but reading this guide once again confronted me with the prevailing prejudice that Holland (the Netherlands) equals Amsterdam. Allow me to let you in on a little secret: it doesn't.
Personally, I don't care for Amsterdam that much: much of it is a noisy, messy, tourist trap filled with people you would prefer to avoid. Outside the capital life is generally much more gentle. However, there is enough hustle and bustle to be found in the nightlife of Rotterdam, Utrecht, or Groningen.
The problem is that you are unlikely to experience those places after having read this guide. Often it reads like an extension of the RG to Amsterdam, showing an unwillingness on the part of the researches to take the long one-hour train journey to Utrecht or Rotterdam and take in those places. Although I generally prefer this series over Lonely Planet, my advice is to take the 'other' guide to the Netherlands if you're really interested in travelling outside Amsterdam

I discovered The Rough Guide series last year when I was dazzled by their guide to Thailand. By comparing the Holland version to that one, however, I'd say TRG has dropped the ball in The Netherlands. Whereas TRG Thailand approaches its subject at a subdued level of wonder, the Holland writers seem to have gone about their itinerary by suppressing their interest in anything outside of Amsterdam or art museums. Forget subdued, it's as if the authors burned out in the capital, and a mummified expedition dragged their feet through the polders out of a need to comply with the terms of their contract. Humbug quotes from famous writers set the tone for chapters on cities they dislike. Many of the towns they cover are evaluated with Amsterdam as their benchmark: Utrecht - "just a half-hour from Amsterdam, all the brashness and vitality of the capital is absent;" The Hague - "[the city's] older buildings are a rather modest collection with little of Amsterdam's flamboyance." A measly six pages are devoted to Rotterdam, none of which mention the city's uppermost nightlife (for the sake of comparison, Michelin's guide gives Rotterdam twenty). Furthermore, parks and recreation get little or no air time. Nothing is mentioned in the way of The Hague's many forests and dune parks. If you obeyed only this guide, you wouldn't know that sky diving, among other sports, is offered in the Frisian Islands.

I do enjoy the voice of the Rough Guides, that of a discerning traveller, and the gray informational sections detailing national custom are usually right on target. As expected, each of these signature features can be found here. But if you want a comprehensive guide to The Netherlands, for recreation & nightlife as well as Amsterdam & museums, you might look elsewhere. I'd start with Michelin.

This is the closest thing out there to my ideal guide. The authors really did their research, and it showed in the copious amounts of background info for each city and region. Listings for lodging, restaurants and attractions were scrupulously accurate. The Rough Guide does not have as much of a budget focus as Let's Go; it does list inexpensive places to stay, but has a little bit of a tendency to sneer at them. The only drawback for me was that the authors' taste is more boyish and more upscale than mine. They like military and shipping museums and dungeons a lot, and are a little too harsh on places they find kitschy or dull. Nevertheless, I'm glad I brought this guide along. It made my trip much more enjoyable and did a lot for my peace of mind.

I'm an exchange student living in Belgium for a year.. and this book is AMAZING! I'm determined to do everything in this book, and I'm already on my way! A few of the pricing things and anything to do with money is a little outdated (ie: the Diamond museum in Antwerp is no longer free). But the authors know their stuff, and (quoting Notting Hill) has actually been to Belgium, which is a plus. And not only do they know their stuff, they give it to you straight up. No sugar coating, nothing, and that's a huge plus. Go out, buy the book, then visit our amazing country!

As much as I am faithul to Lonely Planet guidebooks, I was shocked by reading their edition of Belgium & Luxembourg. Not only did we have to wait 2004 to have a LP guidebook for those 2 countries (which must be after about all other regions in the world, even Antarctica, Papua New Guinea and tiny tropical islands), but it's not even half satisfying.

They should have kept the previous title "Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp", as there is frankly not much about the rest of the country. For instance, Belgium has some 3000 castles, but for some reason only 2 (yes, a miserable 2 !) are listed in the Lonely Planet. Same sparsity for the abbeys. Then, the book is heavily centered on Brussels and Flanders, as if the author didn't know more about Wallonia than the average occasional tourist. No mention of towns like Huy, Ciney or Gembloux - in fact they are not even on the guide's map ! No mention of the beautiful stone villages of the Condroz and Meuse Valley. It's like if they had written a guidebook about England without writing about the Cotswolds, Mendips and the country's many castles and stately homes ! It seems that the author is more interested in finding the best pubs and clubs in Antwerp than in historical and cultural sightseeing. There is more than lots of beer and legal drugs in Belgium !

All in all, in my 3 years living in Belgium, I found this a really helpful guide book. Prices are always wrong in guidebooks, but I found the contact information (web, address, phone) nearly always right, and the descriptions accurate.

You will be very challenged to find another guidebook that has this level of coverage of Belgium in its entirety, as most seem to focus on Brussels, Gent, Bruges, and perhaps Antwerp. Belgium seems to typically be an afterthought on most tourists' itineraries.

I really enjoyed the author's picks, both hotels and restaurants. What can I say to the other reviewer where the hotel unfortunately cancelled their booking because they found a group that would pay them more? Is that the authors' fault? No, welcome to Europe, and to Belgium, where the customer is always ... wrong!!

So you're browsing guidebooks, and wondering which one to get?

I would have to say, based on my experience using an earlier edition of this book for the past 3 years (I imagine they're pretty similar!), if you're swinging through Belgium for 2 days, and going to see Brussels and Bruges, this book is probably not the best for you. You'll probably do better with a thinner city-specific guidebook. But if you're going to tour around Belgium, or spend an extended amount of time in a city or two, then the in-depth coverage of this book is a real benefit.

One criticim I do have to echo: Lonely Planet, let's face it, is not known for its maps, and this book is no exception. They're good enough, and I've never NOT been able to find something, but sometimes the maps, er, well, don't necessarily reflect reality.

So all in all, this is a solid book, and if you follow my advice in paragraph 5, I think you'll be happy with it.

We, too, were shocked with the inadequacies of this guide, (along with the Netherlands guide). What's happened to Lonely Planet? Maps were almost unreadable, information attached to the maps was confusing, streets there were incomplete, addresses were wrong, and the tone was opinionated and unhelpful. To top it off, one of the hotels that was editor's choice cancelled our two-day booking when a full week booking came along from someone else, and we weren't told. No apology, only a remark that we wouldn't like the room with someone else in it. Who selected this place for inclusion in the book with an extra recommendation?

I would like to respond to the previous review. William of Orange (also known as William the Silent) was a very prominent figure in the cessation of the Netherlands from the Habsburgian Empire. In Dutch history, he is the founder of the Orange Dynasty and a more important figure than any of his descendants William 2, 3, 4 or 5. The author tried to avoid confusion by adding a reference to his nickname "William the Silent".

This book is a typical example of "Orange propaganda" and the single star for this book is well deserved.

If not for William the Silent and the brave, heroic Dutch, the Reformation and the Enlightenment would have failed, the spark of Liberty would have been snuffed out, and darkness would have once again descended upon the West. For 80 years, one of the smallest countries in Europe fought against the mightiest empire in the world, and won. It is an important tale to learn young, to know that individuals like William the Silent lived, to know how they lived and how their lives made the dream of America possible.

This book is a must read for anyone who does not know European, and in particular, Dutch history. The author, a former schoolteacher does a very good job of narrating the history of the Dutch struggle against the Spanish Philip II under the leadership of the sovereign Prince of Orange who gave all his goods, and his life, for the benefit of the Dutch people. He was known as the silent prince because of his prudence in knowing when not to speak

First of all, this book isn't named correctly. "William of Orange" is William III. This book describes one of his ancestors. There were many Williams and Oranges, but WOO by historical consensus refers to the William who became king of England, Scotland, and Ireland. That I'm annoyed at having bought it by mistake will therefore be reflected in the tone of this review.

Now, it's fine to write in defense of a belief so long as one makes this clear up front. The author didn't. He described this William as a wonderful Christian hero commissioned by God so that wrong might fail and right prevail.

I don't mind that the author believes this, but I certainly do mind the lack of objective narrative. True, the book is written for children (another point of annoyance, for it wasn't advertised as such), but all the more reason for at least acknowledging that the wonderful hero was seen--correctly--as an acute religious and political threat by the Catholics of his time. He was no saint; he was a shrewd politician not known for having a mild temper.

I would be happier were apologists of a faith to stick to why they find certain people and events meaningful instead of moving right into this "God willed it so" propaganda that rewrites history, blurs the real issues and increases the interfaith intolerance from which the world has suffered too much already. For that reason I certainly wouldn't recommend this book for children. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone, except perhaps as a demonstration of how one can slant a point of view.

Was this review sharp enough? "Every bullet has its billet." -- William of Orange (the real one)

AAA tour books are small and easy to carry.They don't go into great depth on any subject,but if it's a short trip,they give you the highlights.I especially like the "Top Ten" listings in each book,and the star ratings for each attraction,which allow you to set priorities for things to see.

A guide about the catalan capital that has a picture of a woman dressed in an andalusian (southern Spain) typical dress on its cover is like a guide of Edinburgh with a pint of Guiness on its cover. Only suitable for anglosaxon tourists with a very low cultural profile.

The book has a good summary for the major highlights, and very nice pictures. Good overall coverage, but the best part is that the book is small enough to fit in a bag or a pocket to travel with you when finding the features of Madrid.

Good, but not detailed enough, map of central Madrid. One would still need a more detailed map for a lot of walking around the city.