The Netherlands
Whether you call it The Netherlands or Holland, visiting the Dutch people all adds up to a wonderful, friendly and remarkably different holiday experience.
Famous for it windmills, cheeses, tulips and clogs, The Netherlands has much more to offer the inquisitive traveler than you imagine.
Even the Dutch admit their culture is different and a mixture of contradictions – they tend to skip breakfast and focus on lunch, even though this is often a basic or light meal; they like to project a modern and progressive image, but are fastidious about their heritage, traditions and values; they are often very formal and businesslike, but once you are introduced you are usually called by your first name, no matter what your station.
And while they are very sociable, the Dutch also are protective about their personal lives.
Tracing their history to prehistoric times, it is not surprising that tradition and history plays a significant part in many of the things to see and do in the Netherlands, with historic cheese and fishing villages and other cities and townships; some of the biggest and most amazing diamonds in the world fresh from local mines; canal cruises as common as bus rides in many other countries; and a wonderful blend of modern and traditional arts, music, dining and entertainment.
Famous for it windmills, cheeses, tulips and clogs, The Netherlands has much more to offer the inquisitive traveler than you imagine.
Even the Dutch admit their culture is different and a mixture of contradictions – they tend to skip breakfast and focus on lunch, even though this is often a basic or light meal; they like to project a modern and progressive image, but are fastidious about their heritage, traditions and values; they are often very formal and businesslike, but once you are introduced you are usually called by your first name, no matter what your station.
And while they are very sociable, the Dutch also are protective about their personal lives.
Tracing their history to prehistoric times, it is not surprising that tradition and history plays a significant part in many of the things to see and do in the Netherlands, with historic cheese and fishing villages and other cities and townships; some of the biggest and most amazing diamonds in the world fresh from local mines; canal cruises as common as bus rides in many other countries; and a wonderful blend of modern and traditional arts, music, dining and entertainment.
Amsterdam - the capital
Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands and features beautiful 17th and 18th-century buildings. The most notable of its world-class museums are the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijks Museum, which houses some of the world’s finest artworks. Nightlife in Amsterdam is as mixed as the city itself, with something for everyone’s tastes available. Many travelers say that a trip to Amsterdam should include renting a bicycle and taking a boat cruise along the canals.