Bitterballs – “bitterballen” in the Dutch plural – don’t exactly make a potent first impression. They’re universally drably brown, about the size of small meatballs, come usually six to an order and unadorned on plates aside condiments like mustard. But, they’re also great pub grub, unpretentious, pared-back food shareable by the plateful.

The Hague (Den Haag) doesn’t exactly occupy anyone’s top spot for odd, unusual, overlooked, weird, or even spooky things. It doesn’t even sit many, many steps down. It’s a place for lawyers and financial-type folks and the dull-faced in offices, and then some more lawyers, the tales say. These tales aren’t quite right.

Maastricht, without a doubt, is one the jewels of the Netherlands. It’s beautiful, antique, has a helpfully laid out and interwoven walkable downtown, has tons of noteworthy sites, and loads of excellent cafes and bares interspersed throughout its entirety.

Folks poking around online who intend to either visit or move to the Netherlands will doubtlessly come across one preeminent Dutch stereotype placing high in the list: “Dutch people are rude.” We’re not talking about stereotypically recognizable facets of Dutch culture like tulips, clogs, windmills, and so forth. Those things are all true. But the rudeness thing requires a bit of unpacking.

In all honesty, I never set out into the Dutch countryside thinking, “Today I shall finally behold Breda.” It’s likely that others feel like me, even within the Netherlands. Breda is not going to make it to the top of anyone’s must-see list of places to visit. And yet, when I wound up passing through I found myself pleasantly surprised.

Much like other Dutch towns and cities, the greatest joy you could find in Den Bosch comes from just wandering around, letting things happen, and soaking up the city. If you’ve got the chance to just amble around town a bit, grab some kibbling (little fried fish chunks) and chips, sit outside of a café and have a beer, and breathe.