Tulip season is one of the most iconic periods in the Netherlands. From late March to mid-May, large parts of the country transform into geometric fields of red, yellow, pink and purple.

In this episode of Orange Horizons, we explore where the tulip comes from, why it became such a powerful Dutch symbol, and what you can actually see and experience during the bloom.

We look at:

• The history of the tulip and the story of Tulip Mania

• The famous bulb region between Haarlem and Leiden

• Keukenhof and its seven million flower bulbs

• The vast fields of the Noordoostpolder and the Kop van Noord-Holland

• The global flower trade at Royal FloraHolland in Aalsmeer

You’ll also hear practical tips on when to visit, how to explore the fields responsibly, and how to experience the landscape without damaging working farmland.

Whether you’re planning a spring trip or simply curious about one of the Netherlands’ most recognizable traditions, this episode gives you the essential background — and the best places to go.

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

Spring is the season when the Netherlands truly comes alive. As tulip fields burst into colour and café terraces fill with people, cities and countryside shift into a lighter, more open rhythm.

In this episode of Orange Horizons, we explore what makes Dutch spring so distinctive. From the world-famous flower bulb region and the gardens of Keukenhof to national celebrations like King’s Day, spring brings together nature, culture and everyday life in a uniquely Dutch way.

We also look beyond the tulips. Music festivals such as Paaspop mark the start of the outdoor season, while parks, national landscapes and coastal areas invite long walks and bike rides. Families visit farms and play forests, photographers chase blossom at sunrise, and wildlife slowly reappears across the country.

Whether you’re planning a spring trip to the Netherlands or simply curious about the season, this episode offers practical tips, cultural context and ideas for experiencing tulip season, Dutch festivals and nature in bloom.

A story of colour, fresh air and celebration, as the Netherlands steps into spring.

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

In this episode of Orange Horizons, we travel to Middelburg, the capital of Zeeland a city that once played a significant role in the Dutch maritime era, yet today feels calm, intimate and unhurried.

Walking through its narrow alleys and along quiet canals, we trace the layers of a place shaped by global trade, shifting tides and careful restoration. From the Gothic Town Hall on the Markt to the Abbey complex and the Lange Jan tower, Middelburg reveals a history that is present but never overpowering.

Beyond the historic centre, green ramparts, nearby beaches and the vast openness of Zeeland show how closely the city remains connected to nature. Water is never far away - and neither is the horizon.

This episode explores how Middelburg balances past and present, resilience and restraint, and why it rewards those who take the time to look a little closer.

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

Water built the Netherlands. But for centuries, it also protected it.

In this episode of Orange Horizons, we explore the Dutch Water Defence Lines. A unique UNESCO World Heritage landscape of forts and deliberately flooded fields.

Discover how the Dutch turned water into a strategic weapon, and how this quiet system still shapes the countryside around Utrecht, Amsterdam and Naarden today.

From Fort bij Vegten to the star-shaped town of Naarden, this episode connects history, landscape and travel. Including practical tips for visiting by bike and combining your trip with nearby cities.

Listen now and uncover one of the Netherlands’ most unexpected stories.

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

The Dutch Masters are known all over the world. But did you know their stories are deeply rooted in everyday Dutch life?

In this episode of Orange Horizons, we explore how artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh were shaped by the streets, light and cities of the Netherlands. And we will show you where you can still experience their legacy today. From world-class museums to walkable city districts.

This episode connects art, travel and place. Not as history, but as a journey you can still make yourself.

Listen now and discover how Dutch art continues to shape the Netherlands.

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

Rotterdam doesn’t try to charm you at first glance. It challenges you.
Wide streets. Bold architecture. A skyline that feels almost un-Dutch.

In this episode of Orange Horizons, we explore Rotterdam. A city rebuilt after the Second World War with confidence and creativity. From the iconic Markthal and the playful Cube Houses to the elegant Erasmus Bridge and the working harbor, Rotterdam is a place where architecture tells stories and cultures meet.

You’ll discover why this city is best explored on foot, how the port still defines daily life, and where to slow down for great food in neighborhoods like Katendrecht and Kop van Zuid. We’ll also share practical tips to help you plan your visit and experience Rotterdam like a local.

It the perfect episode for travelers looking for modern cities, architecture, food culture and lesser-known urban experiences in the Netherlands.

👉 For more inspiration and travel tips, visit holland.com.

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

Twice a day, the sea retreats. And twice a day, it returns... In between, an extraordinary world appears: wide, silent and alive. 

In this episode of Orange Horizons we head to the north of the Netherlands to explore the Wadden Islands - a UNESCO World Heritage site shaped by tides, silence and endless horizons.

We visit the five inhabited islands: Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. Each has its own character - from Texel's rolling dunes and nature reserves to Schiermonnikoog's serene national park, where silence takes over. Along the way, we experience what makes the islands truly unique: walking across mudflats, cycling along coastal paths and spotting millions of migratory birds that make the Wadden Sea one of Europe's most important natural areas.

And at the end of the episode, we share four practical tips that you won't want to miss when visiting the Dutch Wadden Islands: how to get there, why cycling is the best way to explore, what to pack for changing weather and why guided tours are a must for mudflat walks.

Discover more about the Wadden Islands? Head over to our website for more tips and stories! 👉 Visit: holland.com

Credits:

• Production: Break The Wire Concepts for the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions

• Visual design: Le Bureau de L’eau

• Research & Direction: Elmar Rekers & Ger de Gram

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

You might think winter is the off-season in the Netherlands. But actually, it's a time when the country slows down, giving you the chance to discover it in a totally new way.

In this episode of Orange Horizons, we explore why the colder months might just be the best time to visit. It’s a season of quiet beauty, frosty mornings, and local traditions that shine brightest when the days are short.

From the low mist over the fields in Drenthe to the festive lights in Maastricht, we take you on a journey through the Dutch winter. Discover the national obsession with natural ice, learn what really defines 'gezelligheid', and find out why museums like the Rijksmuseum are best visited in January.

In this episode, you will discover:

• The Winter Light: Why photographers love the misty mornings at the Veluwezoom and the dunes of Schoorl.

• Ice Skating: The Dutch hope for a 'proper freeze', skating on canals in Giethoorn, and the best city rinks.

• Comfort Food: All about 'snert' (pea soup), 'stamppot', and fluffy 'poffertjes' at Christmas markets.

• Culture without Crowds: Enjoying the old masters in peace in Delft, Haarlem, and Amsterdam.

Curious to discover more? Head over to our website for more tips and stories to plan your winter getaway! 👉 Visit: holland.com

Credits:

• Production: Break The Wire Concepts for the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions

• Visual design: Le Bureau de L’eau

• Research & Direction: Elmar Rekers & Ger de Gram

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

The best way to understand a country is to taste it.

In this second episode of our New Dutch Food mini-series, host Alix Perry takes you on a route packed with tasty ideas you’ll definitely want to remember. Every region in the Netherlands comes with its own flavours, stories, and landscapes.

Missed the first part? No worries, you can dive in at any moment to hear how Dutch kitchens are shaping the future of food. 👉 Listen to Part 1 here

In this second episode, we travel from the wide skies of the North to the Burgundian South, uncovering hidden gems along the way. You’ll learn why a fried egg snack is cultural heritage in Groningen, taste the salty produce of the Zeeland coast, and discover that yes - the Netherlands has its own thriving wine culture.

In this episode, you will discover:

• The North: Why the 'Eierbal' creates internet drama in Groningen and how Westerzwam grows mushrooms on coffee grounds.

• The East: Tasting Dutch wine at Vineyard Hof van Twente and exploring food forests with De Nieuwe Winkel.

• The Green Heart: Dining inside a greenhouse at De Stadsjochies in Utrecht.

• The Coast: A local twist on soy sauce in Rotterdam and fresh seafood straight from the North Sea in Zeeland.

• The South: The comfort of Brabant's 'worstenbroodjes' and sipping wine overlooking the Limburg hills.
  

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Intro: Tasting the Netherlands

• 01:30 The North: Eierballen & Circular Mushrooms

• 03:50 The East: Vineyards & Food Forests

• 06:15 The Green Heart: Greenhouse Dining

• 08:30 The Coast: Soy Sauce & Zeeland Seafood

• 10:45 The South: Worstenbroodjes & Limburg Wine

• 12:15 Outro & Travel Tips
  

Ready to taste the Netherlands? If these places sparked your curiosity, head over to our website for more tips and inspiration for your own culinary adventure. 👉 Plan your trip: holland.com/food

Credits:

• Host: Alix Perry

• Production: Break The Wire Concepts for the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions

• Visual design: Le Bureau de L’eau

• Research & Direction: Elmar Rekers & Ger de Gram

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.

In this episode of Orange Horizons, we explore the rise of New Dutch Food. A movement that blends innovation, sustainability, and creativity into every bite.

Join host Alix Perry as we travel from smart farms and seaweed kitchens to multicultural food markets, discovering how the Netherlands is reinventing its culinary identity. You'll hear from Michelin-starred chefs, farmers, and innovators how are reshaping the menu for a sustainable tomorrow.

• How innovation drives sustainable agriculture and food production.

• The rise of food forests and circular restaurants.

• Seaweed as the new sustainable superfood.

• Diversity and cultural influences shaping the Dutch kitchen.

• How the Netherlands became a test lab for the future of food.

Hungry for more?
Visit holland.com/food for culinary travel tips, local experiences, and the best places to literally taste the future.

Orange Horizons is the official podcast by Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, taking you beyond the guidebooks. Every two weeks we bring you a new episode, in which we explore inspiring stories and locations from the heart of Dutch culture, innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking architecture to local art, design, and nature experiences. Discover what makes the Netherlands truly unique, and let us inspire your next unforgettable journey to our country.

Follow us in your favorite podcast app and visit holland.com for more ideas, tips, and stories.