Netherlands Travel Guide
The Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Netherlands in short, is a Benelux country, bordering Germany to the east and Belgium to the south. The people, language, and culture of the Netherlands are referred to as "Dutch".
With over 16 million people on an area roughly twice the size of New Jersey, it's a densely populated country with its gorgeous capital Amsterdam being just one of many interesting cities. Once a great naval power, this small nation boasts a wealth of cultural heritage and is famous for its painters, windmills, clogs and notoriously flat lands. A modern European country today, it preserved its highly international character and is known for its liberal mentality. As a founding member of EU and NATO, and host to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Netherlands are at the heart of international cooperation. Its small size, welcoming attitude to travellers and many sights make it a unique and fairly easy to discover destination and a great addition to any European trip.
Things to do
The Netherlands has numerous attractions to make your stay one of the most fun and unforgettable trips of your life. From zoos, such as Blijdorp, GaiaPark, Dolfinarium Safaripark Beekse Bergen and the Apenheul, to fun–parks like Madurodam, Neeltje Jans, Duinrell and the world–famous Efteling. And then there are also countless water sports facilities, historical squares, lively markets and, of course, the notorious Red Light District and coffeeshops
Places to visit
It is not a museum, it is the Heineken Experience. The former Heineken brewery is equipped with the latest multimedia to make you see, hear, smell, taste and enjoy Heineken.
Walibi Holland is perhaps the most exciting theme park of the Netherlands. It has many fast rides and attractions that spin you around, lift you up to great heights and play with g–forces. The park also provides plenty of entertainment for the younger visitors.
Deltapark Neeltje Jans is a water theme park, with a water playground, hurricane simulator, boat rides and shows with seals and sea lions. Besides fun and play, theres also room for exhibitions that educate young and old about the sea, the 1953 floods and the Delta Works
It's hard to describe the Dutch culture in a few words. Its better to experience it. So take a canal tour through Amsterdam, relive Dutch history at Zaanse Schans, eat a herring in Volendam, watch the cheese market of Gouda, marvel at the cathedral of Den Bosch and the basilicas of Maastricht, climb the Dom Tower in Utrecht, visit the mills of Kinderdijk, and cycle through the bulb fields, Giethoorn and along the dolmens. You would have seen only a fraction of what Holland has to offer and will already be impressed.
The Netherlands (or Holland) may be a small country, but its packed with world famous icons. Discover our bulb fields, windmills, cheese markets, wooden shoes, canals of Amsterdam, masterpieces of Old Masters, Delft Blue earthenware, innovative water–management and millions of bicycles. Find out more about these and other typical Dutch highlights.
Shopping
When it comes to shopping, theres more than souvenir shops with clogs, delftware and tulips. Most major cities have dozens of small shops ranging from up–market boutiques to trendy fashion labels, art galleries, and antiques and interior design stores. Most stores in the city center are open daily, including on Sunday.
Nightlife
Amsterdam has an international club life featuring the best DJs playing an incredibly wide variety of music styles. That's why Amsterdam's dance culture ranks among the absolute top in the world! Nightlife in Amsterdam has been growing enormously in popularity in recent years. The dominant music trend is dance in all its different varieties. Large numbers of dance restaurants, lounges and DJ cafes have opened up.
