It was a cold weekend in North Holland, but I decided to brave the zero temperatures and frozen ground for a visit to the Naarden Vesting. What is essentially a fortified town, Naarden is known for its unique star shape and grassy hills that surround the town and historically, would protect the province once once known as Holland and the city of Amsterdam.

From Amsterdam Central Station it takes only about 30 minutes to get to, with direct trains that drop you off at Naarden-Bussum station. From there you can walk 15 minutes or take a local bus to the fort. Once you're there you can do what most people do, visit the "Vesting Museum" which explains the history of the defenses as well as boasting a large collection of ancient and modern retired military weapons. There are also activities for children, as even on a cold early winter day, I saw a lot of families taking their kids for a visit.

Elsewhere in town you can walk the grassy steep inclines of the fort and enjoy the very unique and beautiful scenery. If its not winter, you can even sit for a picnic and relaxation. Since the weather didn't allow for that, I kept moving and had a look around town. Stopping to say hello to the St. Vitus Church which is a Gothic cathedral that is hard to miss in the center of it all. You can also stop in some of the beautiful restaurants and wander down different alleyways for glimpses of beautiful houses where regular Naardeners are lucky enough to live.

Winter may not be the best time for a walking a tour of this town, but if you bundle up right, there is a lot of beauty to be enjoyed. As a little example, here's a thirty second video clip from atop one of the grass hills in Naarden: