Famous for its traditional windmills, clogs, tulips, bicycles, pottery and cheese, the Netherlands, also called Holland, is a wealthy, liberal and multicultural Western European country by the North Sea. The lively and modern cities of the Netherlands offer excellent opportunities for sightseeing, culture and entertainment. As the Dutch landscape consists mostly of coastal lowland with canals and some hills in the southeast, the Netherlands is an ideal destination for biking and other outdoor activities.
Rotterdam, the second largest city in the Netherlands, hosts the largest port in Europe. The city has many influential modern style architectural sites and excellent museums. Rotterdam is also an important city of culture with famous Philharmonic Orchestra and a lively entertainment and nightlife scene. Rotterdam Zoo is one of the major tourist attractions in the Netherlands.
Cities & beaches. Located in the western Netherlands by the North Sea, the Hague is the famous seat of many international courts and institutions and the seat of the Dutch government. There are several museums, art galleries and architectural sites of interest in the Hague. A popular Dutch tourist attraction is the beach resort of Scheveningen near the Hague. Between Amsterdam and the Hague, the historic university town of Leiden offers impressive old architecture and interesting museums.
Natural attractions. The Netherlands is divided into two by the Rhine, Waal and Meuse Rivers and there are some nice beaches on the west coast. There are numerous canals as well as national parks and nature reserves in the Netherlands. A popular tourism attraction, Hoge Veluwe National Park is the oldest and biggest national park in the Netherlands, consisting of extensive natural areas. The park is a fascinating combination of art, nature and architecture and has lot to do and see, including a game reserve and Kröller-Müller Museum that is home to many modern sculptures and Van Gogh paintings.
The Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea area in the north of Holland are also well worth a visit. The small island of Texel is a peaceful destination for nature lovers and families, having sandy beaches, sand dunes and woods. In the nature reserves of the Wadden Sea there are excellent opportunities for outdoor activities and birdwatching.
Modern cities, canals and national parks in the Netherlands
A popular tourism destination, Amsterdam is the lively capital and the largest city of the Netherlands. The most remarkable feature of Amsterdam are its many beautiful canals. For those interested in the Dutch history, architecture and culture, Amsterdam is a perfect destination. Famous for its relaxed and liberal atmosphere, the modern and multicultural Amsterdam has also excellent opportunities for shopping, entertainment and dining.Rotterdam, the second largest city in the Netherlands, hosts the largest port in Europe. The city has many influential modern style architectural sites and excellent museums. Rotterdam is also an important city of culture with famous Philharmonic Orchestra and a lively entertainment and nightlife scene. Rotterdam Zoo is one of the major tourist attractions in the Netherlands.
Cities & beaches. Located in the western Netherlands by the North Sea, the Hague is the famous seat of many international courts and institutions and the seat of the Dutch government. There are several museums, art galleries and architectural sites of interest in the Hague. A popular Dutch tourist attraction is the beach resort of Scheveningen near the Hague. Between Amsterdam and the Hague, the historic university town of Leiden offers impressive old architecture and interesting museums.
Natural attractions. The Netherlands is divided into two by the Rhine, Waal and Meuse Rivers and there are some nice beaches on the west coast. There are numerous canals as well as national parks and nature reserves in the Netherlands. A popular tourism attraction, Hoge Veluwe National Park is the oldest and biggest national park in the Netherlands, consisting of extensive natural areas. The park is a fascinating combination of art, nature and architecture and has lot to do and see, including a game reserve and Kröller-Müller Museum that is home to many modern sculptures and Van Gogh paintings.
The Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea area in the north of Holland are also well worth a visit. The small island of Texel is a peaceful destination for nature lovers and families, having sandy beaches, sand dunes and woods. In the nature reserves of the Wadden Sea there are excellent opportunities for outdoor activities and birdwatching.
Practical information for your trip to the Netherlands
The Netherlands has a temperate maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. Summer is the peak season for tourism in Holland, as the weather is warm and many events take place in summer. You can also visit Holland during the winter, if you are prepared with warm clothing. Some rainfall can be expected throughout the year.
Photo: waterwin, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
How to get there. The main airport in the Netherlands is Schipol near the capital Amsterdam. The other international airports in Holland are Eindhoven Airport, Maastricht Airport, Rotterdam Airport and Groningen-Elde Airport. There are fast and comfortable bus and train connections to Holland from many major European cities. Excellent highways connect neighboring countries to the Netherlands and the country can also be accessed by ferries via the Northern Sea. The Netherlands has an excellent network of public transportation consisting of buses and trains.
Services & safety. The Netherlands is a wealthy country with well developed tourism services that offer accommodation, dining and attractions for most interest groups and budgets. Most local people in Holland can speak English, and German is also commonly understood. The Netherlands is a safe destination, although some areas in the cities should be avoided especially after dark. Keep an eye on your belongings when visiting Dutch cities and watch out for pickpockets especially in crowded places. Flooding used to be a problem here in the past, as 60% of the local population lives below the sea level, but today, it is very well prepared for.
Short history of the Netherlands
Once a part of the Roman Empire, The Dutch United Provinces declared independence from Spain in 1579. Soon the state became an important centre of shipping and commerce which had several colonies all over the world. Even today the Netherlands has two dependent areas, Aruba and The Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean. The Kingdom of Netherlands was formed in 1815 after a French occupation.The Dutch culture has been a source of inspiration for many famous Dutch philosophers, writers and painters like Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer and Vincent van Gogh. Nowadays the Netherlands is a modern, liberal, industrialized and densely populated country that is one of the founders of the European Union and NATO.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Hoge Veluwe National Park, Amsterdam, Leiden, Rotterdam, The Hague, Texel, Dusseldorf, Antwerp, Liege
