The Netherlands (also popularly called Holland in English) is a country partly reclaimed from the waters of the North Sea, and around half of it lies at or below sea level. Land reclamation has been the dominant motif of its history, the result a country of resonant and unique images - flat, fertile landscapes punctured by windmills and church spires; ornately gabled terraces flanking peaceful canals; and mile upon mile of grassy dunes, backing onto stretches of pristine sandy beach. The Netherlands is one of the most developed countries in the world, with the highest population density in Europe, its sixteen million or so inhabitants concentrated into an area about the size of southern England. It is easy to imagine this country as just Amsterdam, but the Netherlands is far more than just its capital. There are a string of impressive cities including Arnhem, The Hague and Rotterdam and out in the countryside, any sense of monotony you may have is soon broken by stunning medieval towns like Utrecht and Delft. It should come as no surprise that the Netherlands is one of Europe's most liberal nations; it is after all the country that unleashed the reality TV show Big Brother on an unsuspecting world.
Transportation in Netherlands
By Car: The road network is comprehensive. Drive on the right; speed limits are 50kph in built-up areas, 80kph outside and 120kph (or sometimes 100kph) on motorways. There are no toll roads.
By Bus: Buses are very efficient, and almost always running from ranks of bus stops next to the train station. Ticketing is simple. The whole country is divided into zones, and you need buy just one kind of ticket – ‘Strippenkaart’ wherever you are.
By Rail: The country is densely populated and urbanised, and train services are frequent. In the western Netherlands, the rail network is more like a large urban network, with up to 10 trains per hour on main routes. Main lines to the rest of the country usually have 2 Intercity trains and 2 local trains per hour, until about midnight. Local lines in more rural areas usually have an hourly service, and may stop earlier. The infrastructure is overloaded, and delays are quite common
By Ferry: The Netherlands is well served by ferry with connections to the UK via Rotterdam, Amsterdam (port of Ijmuiden) and Hook of Holland, sailing to Hull, Newcastle and Harwich respectively. Due to it’s proximity to neighbouring countries like Germany, Belgium and France cross channel services should also be considered if you are planning to travel by ferry.
By Air: The national airline – KLM, flies direct to all major European, North American and Asia-Pacific cities. KLM Excel flies between London Stansted and Maastricht. Most major international airlines and some low-cost carriers fly to Amsterdam.
Most people travel only to the uniquely atmospheric capital, Amsterdam; the rest of the country, despite its accessibility, is comparatively untouched by tourism. The west of the country is the most populated and most historically interesting region - unrelentingly flat territory, much of it reclaimed, a grouping of towns known collectively as the Randstad. It's a good idea to forsake Amsterdam for a day or two and investigate places like Haarlem, Leiden and Delft with their old canal girded centres, the gritty port city of Rotterdam, or The Hague, stately home of the government and the Dutch royals. Outside the Randstad, life moves more slowly. The province of Zeeland in the southwest is the country at its most remote, its inhabitants a sturdy, distant people, busy with farming and fishing and hardly connected to the mainland. In the north, Groningen is a busy cultural centre, lent verve by its large resident student population. To the south, around the town of Arnhem, the landscape undulates into heathy moorland, best experienced in the Hoge Veluwe national park. Further south still lies the compelling city of Maastricht, squeezed between the German and Belgian borders.
Main Attractions
Amsterdam
Amsterdam in all its beauty, style and energy is the Netherlands no.1 attraction and among the most magnetic and vibrant cities in the world.
The Keukenhof Gardens
The Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse is the world’s largest garden and the place to go to see the famous Dutch Tulips
Hoge Veluwe National Park
The country's largest national park and home to the wonderful Kröller-Müller Museum
Madurodam (The Hague)
The famous miniature town, Holland in a Nutshell, see miniature models of all the famous Dutch buildings and sights.
Maastricht
One of the Netherlands oldest towns, its history stretches back to 50 BC, when the Romans set up camp there. Explore a labyrinth of tunnels on the city's western outskirts.
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