Feel like travelling the world without getting out your passport? In the Netherlands you can travel from America to Zurich, taking in a pyramid and St Peters, without so much as stepping on a plane.

From America to Zurich
Did you know America is actually in Limburg and that Zurich is located at the Friesland end of the Aflsluitdijk, looking out over the sea?

There are plenty of places with famous names in the Netherlands. Take Denemarken in Groningen for example, a hamlet of a few farms and houses in the heart of the earthquake zone. Or Siberie in Drenthe where there is a pretty walk there, and back.  If it is the Middle East you are heading to, you can check out Palestina in Nijkerk and Amersfoort while Bethlehem, a hamlet of two farms on the site of a former convent, is in Groningen.

Not feeling like crossing the channel? Engeland is located in Overijssel and Gelderland, while Moskou is in Friesland, Napels in Groningen and you can even find Spitsbergen in Drenthe.

As for the origins. America may be named after the continent but may also derive its name from the German am Erica, or “on the heather fields”.

Zurich’s name is actually derived from ‘Zuderinghe,’ its 14th century Frisian name. In the years that followed, it gradually evolved into the Swiss sounding monicker.

The Great Pyramid of Giza – Doorn
The Netherlands has its own doppelganger of this wonder of the ancient world and you’ll find it in the Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug.

Dating back to 1804, it was the brainchild of French General Auguste de Marmont. He was eager to keep his troops fighting fit during a lull in the Napoleonic Wars and this was the end result. Unlike the real deal, it’s mostly comprised of turf and sand and is currently closed to the public for maintenance. There’s also a small theme park located next door.

An Occasional Eiffel Tower – Kollum
This small town in Friesland was the site of an uprising against the French when they were still occupying the region in 1797. The Kollumer Oproer [Kollumer Riot] took place over the course of two days before culminating in the arrest of 168 participants and the beheading of two local leaders.

These days, residents honour the uprising with periodic theatrical performances and festivals featuring large replicas of the Eiffel Tower and at least one Arc de Triomphe. The most recent tower was constructed for the 2024 holiday season. In February, the town’s promotional foundation was still desperately trying to find a new home for it in between gatherings. If you’ve got space available, it can be broken down into three pieces for easier storage.

St. Peter’s Basilica – Oudenbosch
Vatican City typically attracts over 20,000 visitors per day during the high season. Things are considerably more low key at this replication of one of its most famous sites.

Located in the small town of Oudenbosch in Noord-Brabant, the Oudenbosch Basilica is smaller than the real deal and it’s not a perfect facsimile but it does have a replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà. You can also get an up close look at the paintings within its iconic dome after climbing a spiral staircase to a balustrade.

The church was commissioned by a priest named Willem Hellemons who called in the famous architect Pierre Cuypers to help design the interior. Work began in 1865 and the finishing touches weren’t added until around 1911. If you go, don’t forget to visit the gift shop – in the crypt.

American-style ‘50s diners – various locations
‘50s diners became all the rage in the United States back in the 1980s as Baby Boomers started getting nostalgic for childhoods spent watching I Love Lucy and Elvis Presley on The Ed Sullivan Show. The fad reached Europe shortly thereafter, but they’ve become increasingly rare here in the 21st century.

There’s still a few of them around if you’d like to party like it’s 1959 or just dig into a cheeseburger with a milkshake on the side. Charley’s All American Diner is still rockin’ around the clock over in Nederhorst den Berg.

Tom’s Diner in Roosendaal is a pretty elaborate eatery that looks like it was cut and pasted from Grease. American Steakhouse Betty Boop in Delft is another one and they’ve even got a jukebox over by the bar.