Overview:
This country of tulips, windmills and bicycles stretches out
over a predominantly flat landscape of reclaimed land.
Sophisticated urban centres and sleepy rural towns are contained
within the expansive vistas broken here and there by canals, castle
walls and dikes. Europe's most densely populated region is located
within an area of the Netherlands called the Randstad. This urban
hub is spread in a circle from Amsterdam, and includes The Hague,
Rotterdam and Utrecht and the smaller towns of Haarlem, Leiden and
Delft. The metropolitan centres buzz with the activity of seasonal
festivals, cultural activities, vibrant art scenes and excellent
pubs and restaurants.
The cultural heritage that flavours much of Dutch life can be
traced back through time. During the 1600s the Netherlands
dominated the world both economically and culturally. The Dutch
East India Company established trading links with the East and West
Indies bringing back an abundance of merchandise and cultural
influences. The Golden Age reached its zenith in the artworks of
the Dutch Masters - Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Jan Vermeer. Today
their paintings hang from the walls of the cities' numerous museums
and galleries.
Most people travelling to the Netherlands head for the unique
experience of its capital city, Amsterdam. The other parts are
largely unaffected by tourism, particularly the areas outside the
Randstad. The southern parts of the country are transformed by
undulating landscapes of shifting sands and heath moors, best
experienced within the Hoge Veluwe National Park. Still south,
tucked between the German and Belgian borders, lies the historical
city of Maastricht.
Since the collapse of Napoleon's empire in 1814, the Netherlands
has taken a neutral stance throughout most of the world's
conflicts, including the First World War in which it took no part.
In spite of this independent stance it still suffered severely in
World War II during the Nazi invasion of 1940. Its neutral
political position, combined with its tradition of liberalism and
tolerance has made the Netherlands the logical choice for the
establishment of the International Court of Justice, which is
situated in The Hague.
Climate:The Netherlands has a fairly temperate climate, very
similar to England; temperatures are variable and rain occurs
throughout the year. Despite the hordes of tourists the best time
to visit is over the summer, or in spring when the flowers are in
bloom - the tulips come out in May.
Money:Single European currency, or Euro (EUR), is the official
currency of the Netherlands, and is divided into 100 cents. Major
credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. To avoid
additional charges take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds
Sterling or US Dollars. Foreign currency or travellers cheques can
be changed at banks, post offices or bureaux de change (usually
indicated by the letters GWK). Banks are closed on weekends but
bureaux de change are open. ATMs are widely distributed and most
are open 24 hours a day.
Passport and visa:The borderless region known as the Schengen area
includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these
countries issue a standard Schengen visa that, in principal, allows
the holder to travel freely within the borders of
all.
Tipping:Service charges are included in hotel rates, restaurant
bills and taxi fares, usually at 15%. Tips for good service are
always appreciated but not necessary. It is customary to tip taxi
drivers and waiters 10%.
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