On the occasion of my niece from India visiting Fukuoka, Japan on her summer vacation, we are now enjoying a two-day trip to Huis Ten Bosch, Holland themed park located near Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture in Kyushu island.
My last Huis Ten Bosch visit was about 15 years ago, with my best friend from Korea when we were still in the early 20s.
This time, I am so excited to finally introducing this beautiful, memorable place to not only my niece but also Siddharth, both of them are the first timers. Street and stage performances are excellent; it is worth offering some tips to show respect to the brilliant performers. Since we have decided to stay for a night at the nearby hotel, we enjoyed the illuminations and the magnificent spectacle of lights.
The highlight of the trip was that my niece, whom I thought she was a typical Indian girl from a small town called Akola, Maharashtra, came with me to Onsen public bath to experience something new in her life. Yes, she became full naked among strangers without hesitation! We stay at the budget yet comfortable & clean hotel "Hotel Lorelei" located at the right in front of Huis Ten Bosch Station.
However, frankly, as I walked through inside the park, I was astonished and rather disappointed by the changes the park had experienced over the long duration of the time.
I did not understand the necessity of involving “Anime” and “Japanese pop stars” every here and there to spoil the beautifully developed Holland or Amsterdam streets and townships. Alas, aren’t people paying a big amount of “Passport” looking forward to encountering the Dutch culture? Why are food options “Sasebo Burger,” “Nagasaki Champon (seafood noodle soup),” “Italian pasta,” and “Yakitori” here and there, but without Dutch cuisines?
If my memory is correct, there were many shops sold authentic Dutch Gouda cheese and other hams and sausages directly imported from Holland last time I visited here. That was the real value of this park that the moment we stepped in the park, we felt as if we were in a different country.
It looks like rather a cheap amusement park now, nowhere distinct from any other common one in all over Japan. Castles, houses, towers and other establishments are aged just like any other old reinforced concrete buildings do.
Huis Ten Bosch, once a dream-come-true mini Amsterdam in Nagasaki, does not exist any longer.
Harbour
Hotel Amsterdam, located inside the park.
View from the tower (Dortmund)
From another angle
Illuminated tower and town
Spectacular ocean of lights
From the tower in the evening
Sasebo had an important naval base during the WWII
