The Netherlands

An Introduction to the Netherlands

The Netherlands, also known as Holland, borders Belgium to the south, Germany to the east and the North Sea and the United Kingdom to the west. It is the founding member of the European Union and the culture, people and language are referred to as Dutch. The Dutch have a good sense of humour and love to have a good time whether it is relaxing in the glorious country side or partying hard in the big cities. The country offers a wonderful mix of tradition in the form of fast paced modern European life and windmills and tulips.

The Netherlands is mostly flat which make it a wonderful destination for cycling or walking but it also offers a large cultural mix as the seemingly endless list of Dutch artists testifies. Arts in the country stem from the 17th century which placed this country at the forefront of European culture. The annexing of The Netherlands to the empire of the Hapsburgs in the 16th century led to the rebellion of the northern provinces of the Low Countries led by William of Orange and Nassau. This was compounded by the growth in Dutch power as many Portuguese and Spanish possessions were seized in the New World and East Asia. In 1689 this reached its peak when William III of Orange became King of England although this association was cut on his death in 1702.

The Netherlands is full of heritage, interest and fun for any traveller. The European Union is the main focus of Dutch foreign policy and the Dutch are enthusiastic Europeans. Many travellers visit this country for its relaxed attitude on many issues including the legalisation of prostitution. Sex shops, sex museums and drugs museums are popular tourist destinations together with the famous coffee shops which sell small quantities of cannabis. Although this is technically illegal it too is officially tolerated. Gay marriage is legalized in The Netherlands as is euthanasia, however only under strict conditions. This is quite a liberal country that promises to offer the traveller a rich and exciting experience.