7 reasons the Dutch are doing the Olympics better than everyone else

Updated
Here's why the Dutch are doing the Olympics better than everyone else
Here's why the Dutch are doing the Olympics better than everyone else


There's been one destination that's been on the tip of everyone's tongues at the Olympic Games in Rio – and it's not Copacabana or Ipanema ...

It's Heineken's Holland House.

Over the past two decades of Olympic Games, nation houses have been popping up everywhere with Olympic committees and brands often teaming up to create a hip, cool spot for their fans to party and their Olympians to celebrate. This year in Rio, France, Jamaica, USA, Austria, Germany and more nations scored cool hotspots, for their fans to hang out and watch their teams win medals, but the orange-themed Holland Heineken House outdid all these nations.

After a quick trip to Rio, it's pretty clear that "the Dutchies" are winning the Olympic games when it comes to work hard, play hard and finding time in between Olympic fever to just kick back and enjoy.

Here's 7 reasons the Dutch are doing it right in Rio:

1. Their medal ceremonies are what dreams are made of: We're not talking about the Olympic hosted flag ceremony where champs get their medals, we're talking about the strobe light-filled ceremony the Dutch throw for their country's winners complete with confetti canons and a walk of champions. Winners emerge from behind a massive star, walk down the stairs as Brazilian dancers shimmy and shake alongside, and are greeted by cheers from their countrymen. The athletes take the stage, gives a speech and then the confetti canons go off! Next, they get their own plaque placed on the "walk of stars" – and basically the crowd goes absolutely bonkers. We're not even Dutch and we were feelin' it.

2. DJ, Musicians, and hot athletes everywhere? Miss Montreal, Racoon, Matt Simons, VanVelzen, Kensington, Typhoon and more big names are spinning sets and singing tunes nightly. The house goes from plush party pad to a Euro nightclub in a matter of minutes. We spied entire athletic teams from cyclists to swimmers to judo champs busting a move alongside fans. Essentially, you're getting a stamp in your passport to Amsterdam without ever having to leave Rio.

3. Even the Americans love this place: During our quick trip to Rio, we spotted US soccer stars Kelley O'Hara and Megan Rapinoe kicking back poolside with beers and bikinis, US gold medal-winning swimmer Conor Dwyer made repeat stops to the house for the party vibes and brought along his pal, medalist Jimmy Feigen.

4. Plush poolside: Sure, the parties are sensational, but the doors open at 11 AM and during the daytime, this is where beautiful people come to sunbathe and kick back with brews as they watch the Olympics. There's even a swim-up bar, making this Olympic house feel like a vacation destination of its own.

5. The house is a relaxation station during the day: The Dutch are big on exercise, if you hadn't figured that out already by the number of bikes lanes in their country, and they brought that fitness fever to Rio. During the day, you can sign up for SUP lessons with experts from Brunotti (a super chic water sports brand), yoga lessons and kickboxing all from the house concierge. Yes, you can really have a hot Dutch guy take you to Ipanema and teach you to paddle the waves, outfitted in chic swimwear. Talk about a dream.

6. Really, people love to watch the Olympics here: You can watch the Olympics on a 40-foot big screen TV and the Games are on all day and night. The focus is on Dutch athletes, but you'll see people cheering just as hard for Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps as they do their own.

7. There's seriously delicious food: Some houses only had beverages, and while Heineken is definitely a hot ticket here, there's a dream-worthy iced coffee concoction, acai bowls, burgers and Dutch favorites like the stroopwafel cookie. 'Nuff said.

Want to check out Heineken Holland House while in Rio? Buy a ticket right here for 45 euros.

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