The Facts:
Capital: Amsterdam (The Hague is the official seat of government, home to the Netherlands' monarch, parliament and supreme court).
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: GMT +1
Introduction:
It is one of the flattest, one of the most densely populated, it has the tallest people in the world and over 60% of it lies beneath sea level. Today in the Netherlands these seeming struggles are all part of the seduction. The windmills at Kinderdijk with polders and dykes are one of the most popular sights, the flat landscape makes for easy biking and the bulging cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht are easily accessed. Whether its tulips or cheese, the art of the Old Masters of the Golden Age or coffee shops and canals the Netherlands offers a liberal view in a landscape where wind, water, bikes and boats are in abundance along with some very tall men and women.
Where To Go:
Located in Western Europe the Netherlands is bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east. Netherlands literally means 'Low countries' or 'Lowlands'. In English, 'Holland' is often used as a common synonym for the Netherlands as a whole. Strictly speaking, it refers only to the central-western part of the country, which consists of two of the country's twelve provinces: North Holland and South Holland.
What To Eat & Drink:
- Matjes or salted herring is a favourite, smoked eel is another speciality.
- Broodjeswinkels are the sandwich bars typically found in most towns and cities selling Broodjes.
- For fast food try FEBO the infamous 'deep fried food out of the wall' snack bar chain. You put your money in the machine and it unlocks a column from which you can pick your favourite snack.
- Fries are another popular snack in Holland and are eaten with mayonnaise sauce. For something different look out for the peanutbutter and mayonnaise sauce.
- The Dutch are famous for their dairy products and especially for their (cow's milk) cheeses. Dutch cheeses are mostly semi-hard or hard cheeses, including Gouda, Edam, and Leyden.
- Pannenkoeken are pancakes. The Dutch make them in several forms, including poffertjes (miniature pancakes) and spekdik (a Northern variant with bacon).
- Amstel is the most popular beer.
- Jenever is the local spirit, a Dutch gin.
Unmissable Netherlands:
5 things you really should do in the Netherlands
1. Try flower power
Visit the famous tulip fields in spring (Mar- end of May) to see the swathes of colourful flowers, emblematic of the Dutch, in full bloom.
www.haarlem.nl
2. Hide-away
Step into the secret hiding place of famous teenage diarist Anne Frank and visit her house, now a museum, on Amsterdam's Prinsengracht. Combine this with a water taxi tour of Amsterdam's famous canals.
www.annefrank.org
www.water-taxi.nl
3. Delft deeper
Visit the royal Delft pottery and see the delicate creations of this iconic porcelain come to life. There are even painting workshops for those feeling inspired.
www.royaldelft.nl
4. See a work of art
Visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to see some of the original Great Masters. The work of classic Dutch painters like Vermeer and Rembrandt is on show.
www.rijksmuseum.nl
5. Find the wheel deal
Take advantage of the flat topography and travel by bike. Over 17,000km of cycle tracks exist making biking the most popular way to get around.
