The Netherlands

A country steeped in history and culture.

Marvel at the basilicas of Maastricht and the cathedral of Den Bosch, the Art Museum and Sculpture Garden in the heart of the Hoge Veluwe National Park. Climb the Dom Tower in Utrecht, visit the mills of Kinderdijk or cycle through the bulb fields, Giethoorn and along the dolmens. With most of the country only one metre above sea level, it is no wonder pedal power is such a popular way to experience the Netherlands. 

The capital, Amsterdam, is an attractive 17th Century city. Home to many museums, including The Van Goch Museum, housing the best collection of Van Gogh anywhere in the world, and The Anne Frank Museum, which includes the secret rooms of this diarist’s home.

One of the best ways to see the city is by a canal tour, discovering the historical canal district, added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2011. Contrast this with a visit to the newly developed Eastern Docklands, with its cutting edge architecture.

The UNESCO designated gothic St John’s Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) Cathedral is well worth a visit, together with its lively market town with intricate old quarter of canals and bridges. Delft too is a handsome city with its market square one of the country’s best. Maastricht is an atmospheric city in the south of the country with a superb old quarter.

The inland lake of Ijsselmeer, reclaimed from the sea, has charming old ports, such as Hoorn and Enkhuizen.

And  a vacation to the Netherlands would not be complete without a visit to Keukenhof Park near Lisse, the world’s largest flower garden - with seven million bulbs planted each year, including, of course, tulips.