Amsterdam’s just the beginning

THANKS for Rosemary McClure’s article about biking in Holland [“Taking Holland for a Spin,” May 28].

However, there’s more about our country near the North Sea than what she reported in her story on Amsterdam and its surroundings.

Amsterdam, for example, is one of the most expensive cities to stay in. Of course, people should go and have a look around. But more than a couple of days?

Why not try a (much cheaper!) smaller family hotel in another city. Haarlem, for instance, is about 15 train minutes west of Amsterdam. Or go to Dordrecht, very similar but smaller than Amsterdam, and find out everything about the Biesbosch, a very wet nature reserve, in an electric boat.

Renting a bike is fine, but I would opt for a slightly more expensive bike with gears.

By the way, glad to learn those proverbs. I didn’t know we had so many.

ED IJDEMA

Rotterdam, Holland