Highlights of the Netherlands
Written by Roz Andrews

The Netherlands is a relatively small Western European country of 16,164 square miles, bordered by Belgium in south, Germany in the east, and the North Sea in the north and west. The country is often referred to as Holland, as its western provinces are named North and South Holland.



The capital city, Amsterdam, is well known for its many attractions, the most notorious of which is its red light district. A good way of orienting yourself and seeing the main sights is to take a trip on a canal boat.

For a moving sense of history, visit Anne Frank’s House, the home of the young Jewish girl who, together with her family, hid from the Nazis for several years in the back of their house. During that turbulent time, Anne Frank wrote her famous diary.

If you enjoy art, the Rijksmuseum, housed in a fine Renaissance building, has a large collection of paintings including “Night Watch” by Rembrandt. In the Van Gogh Museum, you can view the world’s largest collection of works by the Dutch artist, Vincent van Gogh.

The Hague (Den Haag) is the seat of the Dutch government. Admire the historic buildings as you walk through the Binnenhof Parliament complex. One of the largest panoramic paintings in the world can be viewed at the Panorama Mesdag and a wide variety of works of art by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Holbein and other artists are on display at the Mauritshuis museum.

Rotterdam is the largest port in the world and the second largest city in the Netherlands. It was largely rebuilt after World War II and its most notable modern buildings include cube-shaped houses and a pencil-shaped office building. Enjoy breath-taking panoramic views of the city and its surroundings from the top of the revolving, 350 feet-high Euromast tower.

Other Dutch towns worth visiting are the university town of Leiden; the historic town of Delft where the famous blue and white pottery is still made; Dordrecht for its historic architecture, antique stores, museums and quayside; Gouda for its cheese market, pipe museum and impressive stained glass windows in the St Janskerk church; and Utrecht with its fine selection of Renaissance and Gothic buildings.

Although it is the most densely populated country in Europe, there are still many wide open spaces in the Netherlands, which can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by car. At Keukenhof, near Lisse, you can admire colorful carpets of tulips and displays of beautiful flowers in April and May every year. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid the long lines at the gate.

Travel north of Amsterdam to Den Helder, where you can take a boat to the island of Texel to enjoy unspoilt beaches, quiet villages and water sports.

The beaches and open countryside of the Zeeland province in the south-west of the Netherlands are also an ideal place for rest and recreation. The storm barrier that was built under the Delta Plan to prevent a repeat of the heavy flooding that devastated a large area and killed many in 1953 can be viewed in this province.

In the east of the Netherlands, the industrial city of Eindhoven grew up around the Philips electronics factory, which is still the city’s most important employer. Maastricht, close to the German border, dates back to Roman times and boasts around 1,500 historic buildings in its old town. You can explore underground passageways that were originally used to store ammunition and relax in its many pavement cafes.

The Netherlands is easily accessible by air, sea and train. The main international airport is Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, which has rail links with Amsterdam and many other destinations in the country.

Ferries connect Harwich and Hull in the UK with Hoek van Holland and Rotterdam, and international train services link the Netherlands to Belgium, Germany and other countries.

The Netherlands has an excellent public transport system with trains, buses and trams efficiently covering the whole of the country. There are also underground metropolitan railway systems, known as “metro’s,” in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. You can save money on the buses, trams and underground railways by buying a “strippenkaart,” a strip of fifteen single-zone tickets.

Another popular means of transport in the Netherlands is the bicycle, as there are dedicated cycle lanes throughout the country and bicycles can be hired and taken on trains.

The Dutch road network is well developed but is often congested, particularly in the densely populated west of the country.

Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, and, in the province of Friesland, the native language of Frisian is also spoken. Many Dutch people, especially in the major cities, speak English very well and there is a large expatriate, English-speaking community in Amsterdam and The Hague.

The stereotypical Dutch windmills, clogs and tulips exist, but the Netherlands offers visitors so much more to explore, including modern cities, historical sights, interesting museums, sandy beaches, and unspoiled countryside.