According to the international travel guide Lonely Planet, the province of Friesland is the third best vacation destination in Europe.
By Matthijs van Houten / Translation by Traci White
No Dutch destination has ever placed so high in the widely-read guidebook. Friesland came in behind the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy and Cantabria in Spain, but placed ahead of famous destinations like Provence in France, Dundee in Scotland and the Minor Cyclades in Greece.
Hidden gem
NOS reports that Friesland is seen as a hidden gem which is often – unfairly – overlooked. The guide encourages travellers to pay a visit to the province famous for their lily pads (“pompeblêden” in Frisian), waterways and the capital city of Leeuwarden. The region’s status as a European Capital of Culture this year played a role in the province’s high spot on this year’s list.
Lonely Planet
The travel experts behind the guidebook also cited Friesland’s lakes, wide open fields and idyllic Wadden Islands as highlights of the area, and appreciated the compact and inviting nature of the capital city of Leeuwarden.
Good for the economy in Friesland
The high ranking is a good sign for the Frisian economy. Friesland is now officially a part of the Lonely Planet Best in Europe campaign, which is widely publicised in travel media worldwide.
The region’s inclusion on the list will be celebrated at a special meeting at the Blokhuispoort in Leeuwarden on Tuesday afternoon.
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