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Going Dutch

By on June 30, 2008

Luscious green hills, dazzling flowers, winding canals, working windmills, and fragrant Dutch cheese. Japan? Surprisingly… yes. Huis Ten Bosch is a colossal 375-acre reproduction of a 17th-century Dutch town situated roughly 40 kilometres north of the historic coastal city of Nagasaki. Since the first Dutch arrivals to Japan in the early 1600s, Nagasaki has been a diverse city rich with European influence. Being a Protestant nation when the ban on Catholicism became official in 1614, Holland was the only nation allowed to keep its economic ties with Japan. From then on, until the late 19th century when Japan opened its doors to the rest of the world, the Japanese learned the ways of the west from the Dutch merchants. The Dutch, in turn, added Japan to their long list of trading partners, providing them with European arms and gold whilst introducing the west to Japan’s fine porcelain and textiles. In recognition of this symbolic cultural exchange, Dutch and Japanese designers, architects, and other specialists came together to build Huis Ten Bosch.

Huis Ten Bosch literally translates to “House in the Forest,” after the eponymous residence of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. It is a cross between a village, an amusement park, an arboretum, and a museum. Since its grand opening on March 25, 1992, it has enjoyed great success.  From convincing replicas of old-style Dutch houses (built with bricks imported from Holland!) to authentic cheese shops where the melted gouda samples tempt the senses, and an extensive selection of theme restaurants and shops, Huis Ten Bosch is almost as good as going to Europe itself.

Imposing hotels grace the bayside walks. The Hotel Europe, a replica of one in Amsterdam, is a unique hotel with a European setting that offers a wide array of eating facilities for those spending a night or celebrating a special occasion. An impressive selection of restaurants offers an option to those visitors more frugal with both time and money.

To get around such an enormous complex, an old-time ship or steamboat is both entertaining and relaxing. Apart from getting your bearings while gazing at the sights of the park, you will also learn about the boats themselves and the canal system through which they sail. While we cruised past the imposing hotels gracing the bayside, a sharp whistle summoned us to the upper deck. There, a young sailor gave us each a rope and proceeded to demonstrate several types of knots. Though the explanation was in Japanese, it was fun attempting to get them right!

For those interested in more than just a casual cruise around the park, a direct shuttle boat from the nearby Nagasaki Airport sails straight into Huis Ten Bosch’s Omura Bay. It provides plenty of jaw-dropping views, both of the park and of the natural beauty which surrounds it. If you’re more of a “land-lubber” and want to stay off of the boats, hitching a ride in one of the “days-gone-by” taxis or buses is also a genteel option.

History buffs will enjoy museums illustrating the history of the Dutch and Japanese interactions. From the old Porcelain exhibit to the Navigational Museum, there is something educational for everyone. More outdoorsy individuals can rent a bike from the affable Dutchman at The Bike Shop or a high-tech “Segway,” and zip around the entire park at one’s own speed. Be sure to check out some of the hidden pathways by the water that provide a magnificent view of the bay and the verdant hills of the island.

To amuse families with children of various age groups, the park offers rides and attractions. Inside the spacious Customs Hall at the main entrance, families with young children should take a stroll through the Teddy Bear Kingdom, featuring the history of a child’s favorite nighttime companion, and the world’s biggest bear. Close by is the Musica Fantasia, an exhibit offering an extensive history of street organs and music boxes, including some original 18th and 19th-century musical clocks and instruments. Families with older children who are searching for a thrill can go into the “Grand Odyssey.” There is also the “Horizon Adventure” (closed between June 23rd-July 18th), a powerful simulation of a terrible flood in the Netherlands that gets much of the audience wet (but not too wet).From July 19th until August 31st additional attractions have been added: the nighttime Celebration of Light “Fantomatico” show and the Kingdom of Water for watery daytime adventures.

 

Huis Ten Bosch offers not only an exciting day of exploration for young and old, but is also an experience unique to Japan. There are few such theme park recreations, on such a mass scale, with such precision in detail and design anywhere in the world. It has proven to be so popular that hundreds of permanent homes, faithful reproductions of quaint Dutch homes, have been sold to retirees and vacationers. Whether it’s a 3-day-weekend at one of the luxurious hotels, a full-day excursion, or even a permanent relocation for an early retirement (!), Huis Ten Bosch is a magical memory that will leave you saying “Ik houd van het! (I loved it!)”

 

GETTING THERE

 

From Tokyo Haneda Airport: 2-hour flight to Nagasaki Airport, and then take high-speed ferry or bus ride approximately 50 minutes’ time to Huis Ten Bosch.

 

From Nagasaki Station: 1 hour and 30 minutes, take the “Seaside Liner” Express (JR Nagasaki/Omura Line)

From Hakata Station (Fukuoka): Take JR Limited Express “Huis Ten Bosch” about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

 

ENTRANCE

One Full Day Passport: 

Includes fees of admission, use of facilities, bus, canal ship and is effective during your stay at the hotel.

Adults: ¥5,600

Students: ¥4,400

Ages 4 to Elementary: ¥3,400

 

HOTELS

A selection of beautiful hotels and cottages are available. For details and reservations go to http://english.huistenbosch.co.jp

About Christian Sayre