Top Attractions - Holland

Attractions - Amsterdam

Holland

It could only be the Netherlands. With half of the country lying below or at sea level, the battle to keep the North Sea at bay has been a constant feature in the history of this unique country.

Holland occupies an area of 41,160 square kilometres and is home to 15.65 million people. Partly reclaimed from the waters of the North Sea, it is Europe’s most densely populated country. The Netherlands enjoyed a golden age from around 1580 to 1740 when the Dutch East India Company sent ships to the Far East in search of spices and other exotic goods, while colonising the Cape of Good Hope, Indonesia, Surinam, the Antilles, and New Amsterdam (now New York). Today, only the Antilles remain a Dutch colony and are really self ruling. Disaster hit the country in 1953 when a high spring tide accompanied by a severe storm broke the dykes in Zeeland. 1835 people drowned. To make sure such a tragedy would never occur again, the Delta Project blocked the southwest river deltas using a network of dams, dykes and an impressive 3.2km storm surge barrier. Today, the Netherlands is one of the most developed countries in the world and combines liberal attitudes with an extremely orderly society.

The Dutch have produced a wealth of famous painters including Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer and Mondriaan. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam showcases their work. The city of Amsterdam is one of the world’s best cities. With canals and monuments, gabled houses, countless museums, arts festivals, bikes and an irrepressible joie de vivre, you’ll want to stay and stay. Don’t ignore places like Delft, Leiden and Haarlem, however, with their old canal-girdled centres, and The Hague - elegant home of the Dutch government and the Royals. The town of Delft is also famous for its distinctive blue and white pottery. Stroll along the canals, sip first-rate Dutch beer, hire a bike and explore this ultimate bicycle-friendly country.