Holland is famous for windmills and tulips and many other things like cheese, bicycles, clogs, canals, museums and the homes of famous artists. Also, you shouldn't forget the red light district and coffee shops.
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So what is Holland known for?
Windmills: There are thousands of old-fashioned windmill workers in Holland. For example, windmills Kinderdijk-Elshout, Willemstad (in the Netherlands Antilles) and Rietveld-Schroderhuis are all on the List World heritage UNESCO.
Tulips: This is definitely the first thing that comes to mind. From the end of March to the end of May, the flower garden, which is located near the town of Lise, attracts visitors to the most fantastic flower show in the world.
Cheese: The Netherlands is well known for its cheeses and is the largest exporter of cheese in the world! Dutch cheese is famous in every market. The famous Gouda and Edam cheese.
Bicycles: Cycling is a way of life in the Netherlands. Here everyone has a Dutch bicycle and bicycles, twice as many as cars.
Sabo: Originally wooden shoes, they were the traditional footwear worn by simple people... However, even today, the Netherlands produces over 3,700,000 clogs a year. The most beautiful clogs are made in Hindeloopen, Friesland.
Channels: There are several canals in Amsterdam that carry World Heritage status.
Red Light District: The Netherlands is notorious for its red light district. Amsterdam is famous for the windows through which prostitutes sell themselves. Rotterdam has a number of sex clubs and private homes. Small towns like Groningen and Alkmaar also won out the red light.
Coffee: We think coffee shops sell coffee, but coffee shops in the Netherlands also sell cannabis. This led to an increase in coffee cup addiction.
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Netherlands(unofficial name Holland) is a state in the north-west of Europe. In the north and west, it faces the North Sea; the length of the sea borders is about 1,000 km. In the north, the border of the Netherlands runs along the coastline of the five West Frisian islands of the North Sea (Vlieland, Terscheling, Texel, Schiermonnikog and Amiland). In the east, the Netherlands / borders with Germany, in the south - with Belgium.
The name of the country comes from the Dutch Nederland - "low country".
Capital
Amsterdam (official). The Queen's seat, parliament, government of the Netherlands and diplomatic missions are located in The Hague.
Square
On this moment the territory of the Netherlands occupies 41 532 km2 (with internal territorial sea waters), however, due to the drainage of lakes and swamps, the territory of the state is increasing every year.
Population
15981 thousand people
Administrative division
The Netherlands consists of 12 provinces: North Holland, South Holland, Utrecht, Flewoland, Gelderland, Drenthe, Groningen, Friesland, Overeissel, Zeeland, North Brabant, Limburg. Provinces are divided into communities.
Form of government
A constitutional monarchy.
Head of state
King (queen).
Supreme Legislature
States General (bicameral parliament), elected for a term of 4 years.
Supreme executive body
Cabinet of Ministers.
Big cities
Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht.
Official language
Dutch (Dutch).
Religion
34% are Catholics, 25% are Protestants, 36% are atheists.
Ethnic composition
96% are Dutch, 4% are Frisians, Surinamese, Turks, Moroccans, Belgians, British and Germans.
Currency
Euro = 100 cents.
Climate
The climate is maritime, with mild winter and relatively warm summer, which is determined by the sea and warm current Gulf Stream: Wet and windy weather is typical for all seasons. In winter, the temperature, as a rule, does not drop below zero, and in summer, even in the hottest months (July-August), it does not rise above + 20 ° C. Distinctive feature climate is unpredictable and rapidly changing weather. Fogs are characteristic. Snowfalls are rare, and even in winter time precipitation falls in the form of rain: its annual rate is 650-750 mm.
Flora
More than 70% of the country is occupied by cultural landscapes, which include settlements, seeded meadows, and arable lands. Forests (together with planted forests and roadside forest belts) make up no more than 7% of the territory. Oak, beech, ash, and yew are found here. In sandy areas, heathlands with bushes are widespread, willow stands along the banks of large rivers, and pine forests and sea buckthorn thickets on the dunes.
Fauna
The fauna of the Netherlands is not rich. On the dunes rabbits are common, in the forests you can find a squirrel, hare, marten, ferret, roe deer. The country is home to about 180 species of birds (gulls, sandpipers, geese, geese, etc.). The North Sea is rich in fish.
Rivers and lakes. Rivers - Meuse, Scheldt, Rhine, which is divided into Baal, Lower Rhine, Lech, Winding Rhine and Old Rhine.
sights
Tulips, windmills, wooden shoes and cheese heads, clay pipes and skates are the symbols of the country. Each city in the Netherlands has a large number of attractions. In Amsterdam it is - Old city, Ude Kerk churches, Neuwe Kerk, Aude Kerk, royal palace, town hall (1564). The city in miniature Madurodam covers an area of 4 acres, has 3 km of railways, houses, castles, churches and even an airport - all at a scale of 1:25. In Groening-ne - a Gothic church of the 15th century, in Maastricht - the Church of Onze, "Hell's Gate". In Haarlem - the building of the City Scales, meat rows, in Middelburg - the town hall, in Breda - the cathedral and castle of the XIV century. and many others.
Useful information for tourists
In this country, it is necessary to observe exceptional accuracy in time at each meeting or invitation. Handshakes should be avoided, no compliments should be made. The Dutch are very restrained and tolerant of other people's opinions, and their politeness has even become a topic for sayings. Entering the premises, locals must greet everyone present, and this applies not only to business offices, but also public places, shops and railway compartments. There are a lot of animal protectors in the country, so it is recommended not to wear fur coats made from natural fur and clothes made from natural leather.
It is not customary to dance in restaurants, for this there are many discos and dance halls. Also, one of the "restaurant traditions" is the payment by each of those sitting at the same table, even if they are friends, only for their share in the general feast. At the festivities official receptions and at parties, a plentiful table with drinks and snacks is also not accepted. Lunch usually means the period between 6 pm and 8 pm, being late is considered bad taste.
Tipping is the same as in Monaco.
1. The Dutch are famous for their excellent health. Almost everyone dresses very lightly even in winter, no one wears hats at -3 degrees, not even small children.
2. Most of Holland is below sea level. The lowest point is 6.7 meters below sea level.
3. Bicycles are the most popular means of transportation in the country, with about 16 million of them. Every inhabitant of the country has it. In Amsterdam, the number of bicycles exceeds the number of city residents.
4. Bicycles are often stolen, especially in Amsterdam. Therefore, a bicycle lock often costs twice as much as the bicycle itself.
5. The Dutch do not eat hot meals. They're just fine with a couple of cheese or peanut butter sandwiches.
6. Almost all Dutch people are fluent in English. Films on central and cable channels, as well as in cinemas are shown in their original language with subtitles. In addition to English, many Dutch people know German and French, the languages of the neighboring countries.
7. Contrary to popular belief, the Dutch are not big fans of weed at all, it is mainly fun for tourists. However, the Dutch government is trying to tackle the use of weed and since 2012, in one of the cities, they have introduced a pilot program where only a local resident can buy weed in a coffee shop.
8. In Holland it is allowed to grow up to 5 hemp bushes at home for personal consumption.
9. Flowers in Holland are very cheap and of excellent quality. A fresh bouquet of 50 tulips can be bought for only 5 euros (about 200 rubles).
10. Holland exports 2/3 of the world's living plants, flowers and roots. The Dutch agricultural sector ranks 3rd in the world in terms of profit after the USA and France.
11. Prostitution in Holland is legalized, and representatives of this ancient profession are obliged to pay taxes on an equal basis with other citizens.
12. The Dutch are the tallest nation in the world. Medium height in Holland is 182 centimeters.
13. Locals do not close the curtains, and you can always see what is happening in their homes.
14. People in the country live by the rules, and under no circumstances violate them. Even if the bus is still standing, but the doors are already closed, you will hardly be able to get inside.
15. The Dutch are a very athletic nation. Many people run or cycle almost all year round.
16. School and university use a 10-point grading scale instead of the usual 5-point one. 10, however, is almost impossible to obtain, so 9 is the equivalent of our five.
17. The weather in Holland is very rainy, windy and very changeable. Therefore, talking about the weather is one of the favorite topics for conversations of local residents.
18. Almost all shops (except for some grocery stores) in Holland are open until 6 pm. Once a week, however, on the so-called shopping night (koopavond), the shops close at 9pm and you have the chance to buy whatever you need.
19. In addition to taxes on houses and land, the Dutch pay a tax annually for the maintenance and construction of flood control systems.
20. Long before the abbreviation LOL (“Laughing out loud”) appeared and became popular on the Internet, in the Dutch language there was a quite literary word lol meaning “laugh, fun”.
21. Holland has the most high density museums. There are about 1000 museums in a country with 16 million inhabitants.
22. The Dutch population density is also the highest in Europe with 391 inhabitants per square kilometer.
23. The Dutch live on schedule. Even close relatives plan meetings in advance - several weeks, and sometimes months in advance. If you happen to be nearby and decide to "drop in" to a Dutch friend for half an hour, you are unlikely to succeed, since most likely her day had already been planned long before that.
24. Herring is one of the local delicacies. You can buy it right on the street - in one of the special kiosks. Locals eat herring generously sprinkled with onions and holding by the tail, or like a hamburger in a white bun.
25. The second Dutch delicacy is fries with mayonnaise (Vlaamse fries). For many Dutch people, this can also be an everyday meal.
26. Holland is one of the largest beer producers in the world. Brands such as Heineken, Amstel and Grolsch were born here. Heineken is the 3rd largest beer producer in the world. However, despite this, Dutch beer is not very tasty. The best beer is brewed in Germany, Czech Republic and Belgium.
27. The Dutch vodka is called Jenever and tastes like a cross between Calvados, schnapps and cheap whiskey.
28. The Dutch are very straightforward. They are unlikely to stand on ceremony and beat around the bush, and most likely, they will tell you everything as it is.
29. Dutch people are very informal in communication. On business meeting for example, the director can easily suggest making everyone coffee.
30. If you do not come to work, claiming to be sick, a doctor may be sent to you to check whether you are really sick.
31. Instead of Santa Claus, familiar to us from childhood, the Dutch meet Sinterklas (Saint Nicholas) every year, who comes from Spain on his white horse. Sinterklas is quite similar to our Santa Claus, however, instead of the Snow Maiden, he is accompanied by black assistants - Pita. Celebrating the Sinterklas holiday, children put their shoes on, putting a carrot for the Sint horse there, and in return they receive gifts.
32. The Dutch love to sprinkle their toast with a kind of chocolate chip - Hagelslag. This refers to the kind of shavings that children sprinkle on ice cream, but in Holland, adults sprinkle it on bread that has been previously smeared with butter.
33. When Dutch children graduate from school, they hang the Dutch flag and school bag on the street.
34. The Dutch kiss each other on the cheek 3 times when they meet.
35. 40% of the country's population are atheists. There are more Protestants in the north of Holland, and more Catholics in the south.
36. In those winters when the rivers freeze in the country, Elfstedentocht, beloved by the Dutch, is organized - the famous speed skating marathon in 11 cities of the Dutch province of Friesland with a length of 200 kilometers.
37. The Dutch are one of the most traveling nations in the world. At the age of 20-40, they often work / live for several years in other countries. In most cases, they go back to Holland.
38. The main reason for Dutch emigration from the country is bad weather. Due to the maritime climate, it often rains and cold winds blow in the country.
39. Many Dutch people are not officially married, even if they are raising common children.
40. Many pets are equipped with a special microchip, which makes it much easier to find if the animal is lost.
41. The color of Holland is orange, due to the fact that the name of the royal family literally sounds like "House of the Orange".
42. April 30 - Queen's Day - is considered the main holiday of the Netherlands. Locals dress in orange and arrange street festivities. On this day, one gets the impression that all the inhabitants of the country took to the streets, where one half of the population sells all sorts of things. orange and the other buys it. The streets of Dutch cities are decorated with orange lanterns. Orange garlands of balloons, ribbons, flags are visible everywhere, and even people's faces are painted orange.
43. Holland is the unofficial name of the Netherlands, which is not very popular with the locals. Holland is a region in the west of the country.
44. To get an appointment with a doctor, such as a cardiologist, you first need to get a referral from a doctor general practice... No doctor will see you just like that, without a referral.
45. Medicine in Holland is paid and paid for by insurance. Everyone should have insurance, its cost is from about 100 euros per month.
46. Fireworks in Holland are allowed only in new year's eve: from 10 a.m. December 31 to 2 a.m. January 1.
47. In Holland it is not customary for a man to take initiative in relation to a woman. This is partly due to the fact that women want to be independent, and regard male initiative as an attempt on their self-sufficiency.
48. Due to the fact that it rains most of the year in the country, the Dutch have learned to enjoy even short periods of good weather. As soon as a ray of sun peeps out, locals pour out onto the streets, drink beer on open roads, even if the street is only +5.
49. Surinamese, Indonesians, Turks and Moroccans constitute a special category of the population. Their stay in the country can be described as coexistence with the local population. They have created their own closed subculture, read newspapers and watch films in their own language. The official number of immigrants in Holland is over 1 million.
50. There is one bookstore for every 2,000 people in the Netherlands.
51. In Holland, alcohol can be consumed from the age of 16.
52. There are 1180 mills in Holland.
53. Keukenhoff Tulip Park - 32 hectares of land planted with flowers, is the most photographed place in the world.
54. Public toilets are paid (from 20 to 50 euro cents), even in some nightclubs, the entrance to which is also paid.
55. It is not customary in Holland to give expensive gifts. Even a wedding is usually limited to a budget of no more than 50 euros.
56.30% of Dutch children are born at home. At the same time, do not be surprised if, a few hours after birth, neighbors come to you to inquire about the mother's condition and look at the baby.
57. Dutch girls don't pay much attention to their appearance. Many do not dye, style their hair, or wear heels. Wear what is comfortable. In the mornings, they go out into the street with wet hair, not having time to finish drying them.
58. However, unlike the British, Americans and other representatives of the Anglo-Saxon countries, the Dutch have a sense of taste and look very neat.
59. Dutch men pay much more attention to their hair. Most Dutch people wear semi-long blond hair and they all have a hair styling product.
60. If you are stopped by a police officer for a violation on the road, and you try to offer him a bribe, most likely, he will return your money, being sincerely convinced that they got to him completely by accident.
61. Football is loved in Holland. Here they either play football, or watch, or, if there is nothing to watch, they re-watch the old matches.
62. The Dutch are rather stingy and do not like to show their wealth. On the other hand, they have a rather strong sense of envy.
63. Techno or trance dance music is very popular in Holland. Do not be surprised if walking through the streets of the city you will see people 40-50 years of age sausage in a trance. Armin Van Buren, Tiesto, Ferry Corsten are all from Holland.
64. Every August, Amsterdam hosts one of the largest gay pride parades in the world, attracting about half a million visitors. The parade itself is very similar to the celebration of Queen's Day and is a parade of barges along the canals of Amsterdam.
65. In Holland, you can be fined for not using flashlights on your bike at night.
66. "Dutch disease" - this is the name of the syndrome of dependence of increased extraction of natural resources and decline in the production and agricultural sectors. In 1959, the largest natural gas field in Europe was discovered in Holland. Due to its exports, the Dutch guilder has greatly increased in value, which negatively affected the rest of the export sectors of the economy.
67. During the Second World War, the German army removed a very large number of bicycles from Holland. For this, the Dutch do not like Germans very much and they still make fun of German tourists saying: “Bring back our bicycles!”.
68. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of the Netherlands proper and the Caribbean islands - the islands of Aruba and the Antilles.
69. The Netherlands is sometimes called "Holland", but in fact Holland is the name of two western coastal provinces, North and South Holland, that have played a leading role in the country's history. Due to their location at the mouths of the two main Western European rivers Rhine and Meuse, these two provinces still have great importance for the country's economy.
70. Rotterdam is home to the world's largest port, making the Netherlands an important gateway to Europe. And not only by water: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is considered one of the largest airports in Europe.
71. Each of the main cities in the Netherlands has its own character, although they are all very close to each other. The cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht form a single region of ten million people called Randstad.
72. Amsterdam attracts many tourists with its historic center, stately buildings, museums and a unique ring of canals. But the Hague, Delft, Haarlem, Utrecht, Groningen and Maastricht also have many historic buildings, interesting museums and attractions. Rotterdam is known for its astounding modern architecture, an example of which is the Erasmus Bridge, nicknamed "The Swan" by the locals.
73. The Dutch are amazing people. All of them - 16 million people - live on an area of 41,528 square kilometers, which is just over half of Scotland. Thus, the Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The population density here is 480 people per square kilometer. But the Dutch have managed to make their crowded country so successful that designers and architects from all over the world are eager to learn from their unique experience.
74. The Netherlands is best known for its tulips, windmills and clogs. As well as lowlands and flood tendencies.
75. The Netherlands lies in the delta of three rivers - Rhine, Maas and Scheldt. In addition, almost a quarter of the country's territory lies below sea level. Therefore, the Netherlands owes its existence to the skill of hydraulic engineering. The Dutch are proud of the fact that they were able to defeat the water. There are 1,281 bridges in Amsterdam alone.
76. The struggle to drain the soil helped the Dutch develop confidence in their abilities. And since water management requires the participation of many parties, it helped them learn to work together as a team. This is why European partners and the wider international community value the Dutch art of bridge building and often contract with them to build bridges in their home countries.
77. The country's low-lying areas are mainly composed of polders, flat stretches of land surrounded by dams where the water table can be regulated.
78. The landscapes of the Netherlands are dotted with windmills that have become a characteristic feature of the country. Nowadays, there are about 1000 traditional operating windmills here. Since the 16th century, windmills have been used not only to drain the land, but all inland lakes.
79. The highest point in the Netherlands reaches 323 meters above sea level, and therefore is called "mountain" (Mount Waalserberg), and the lowest is in the polder near Rotterdam and lies 7 meters below sea level.
80. About 4,400 km of navigable rivers, canals and lakes pass through the territory of the Netherlands.
81. Dutch language - native language more than 22 million people in the Netherlands and Belgium. In northwestern France, the Dutch dialect is spoken by approximately 60,000 people. The Dutch language is widely spoken in the former colony of Suriname, as well as in Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles, which are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Due to its historical ties with Indonesia, many lawyers and historians in Indonesia also speak Dutch. Afrikaans spoken in South Africa, is related to the Dutch language.
82. The Netherlands has the largest number of museums per square kilometer, with about 1,000 throughout the country and 42 in Amsterdam alone.
83. The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is the largest city in the world, built entirely on stilts. Despite the fact that Amsterdam is the main city of the Netherlands, the seat of government is located in The Hague.
84. Representatives of about 200 nationalities live in Amsterdam.
85. In Amsterdam, you can see 22 paintings by Rembrandt and 206 paintings by Van Gogh. The first World Press Photography Exhibition was held in the Netherlands.
86. The Van Gogh Museum and the Kröller-Müller Museum house the world's largest collections of works by the world famous Dutch and French post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh.
87. The International Court of Justice is located in the Dutch city of The Hague, in the famous Peace Palace.
88. The country's two large provinces, North Holland and South Holland, account for about 13% of the total territory of the Netherlands.
89. There are about 15,000 km of cycle paths in the Netherlands. This means that there is one bicycle for every inhabitant of the country. By the way, there are twice as many bicycles in the country as there are cars.
90. The Netherlands was one of six founding members of the European Economic Community.
91. The Netherlands is often referred to as a “country of compromise” because its government has always been of a coalition nature.
92. The Netherlands is the third largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, after the USA and France, although the agricultural sector of this country employs only 3% local population, and its territory is 0.008% of the entire territory of the planet.
93. The inhabitants of the Netherlands are the tallest people in Europe.
94. The Netherlands is the eighth largest exporting country in the world.
95. The Dutch love to eat raw herring with big amount chopped onions.
96. In 1811 Napoleon conquered the Netherlands and demanded that every inhabitant acquire a surname, like all Frenchmen (before that, most of the Dutch had only names). Considering that the annexation is temporary, and after the release of the names will be canceled, many Dutch people wished to name themselves in a curious way, for example, Piest ("urinating"), Rotmensen ("rotten people") or Naaktgeboren ("born naked"). Nevertheless, these surnames took root and the heirs wear them to this day.
97. The Netherlands has the largest number of part-time workers. working day(four out of ten people).
98. Most Dutch people speak at least one foreign language.
99. Each of the three residents of the Netherlands considers himself a member of a sports club.
100. The Dutch are the largest coffee consumers after the Scandinavians.
101. The population of the Netherlands is considered to be one of the youngest in the European Union.
102. The plane arriving at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, lands 4.5 meters below sea level.
103. When Dutch students take their exams, they hang the Dutch flag and school bag outside their homes.
104. The Dutch have received 15 Nobel Prizes: in the fields of chemistry, physics, medicine, economics and peace.
105. After a Dutch student has passed his final exams, a national flag and ... a school bag are hung on the house.
106. An interesting fact is that four out of ten Dutch people actually do not work anywhere, being part-time.
sources
Natalia Permyakova, specially for Fresher.ru
http://www.destinations.ru
The Netherlands is often referred to as "Holland", which is not officially correct. South and North Holland are only 2 of the 12 provinces in the Netherlands.
Location:
A state on the northern coast of Western Europe, more than 40% of the territory is below sea level and protected by a system of dams and hydro-technical structures.
History:
From the 1st century A.D. the territory of the modern Netherlands was under the rule of the Roman Empire. After the fall of Rome, they settled here Germanic tribes, in particular the francs. After the collapse of the Frankish kingdom in 1843, the country became a bone of contention between France, Italy and Germany. During centenary war 1337-1453 Civil War"Hooks and cod" has weakened the country. K ser. XVII century The Netherlands broke free from Spanish rule. The Netherlands freed itself from Spanish domination and the bourgeois Republic of the United Provinces was formed, which embarked on colonial conquests in Africa and South-East Asia, claiming to be the main reseller with a strong merchant fleet. In 1795, after the capture of the country by the troops of France, the Botavian Republic was proclaimed. In 1806 Napoleon appointed his brother Louis king of the Netherlands. In 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna proclaimed the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which then included Belgium. In 1830 Belgium became an independent state. The Netherlands is a member of the UN and all specialized agencies of this organization, NATO, the EU, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Culture:
Many famous artists have lived and worked in the Netherlands. In the 16th century, Hieronymus Bosch created his works. Masters such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Wermer, Jan Stein and many others lived in the 17th century. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Vincent Van Gogh and Piet Mondrian were famous. Maurice Cornelis Escher is known as a graphic artist. Willem de Koning was educated in Rotterdam and later became a renowned American painter. Khan van Meegeren became famous for his forgeries classic paintings.
The philosophers Erasmus of Rotterdam and Spinoza lived in the Netherlands, and all the main works of Descartes were performed there. Scientist Christian Huygens discovered Saturn's moon Titan and invented the pendulum clock.
The Netherlands are usually associated with windmills, tulips, wooden clogs (in the Netherlands they are called "klomps"), pottery from Delft, cheese
In the Netherlands, painting was the main art form. Holland has given the world many famous artists - Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer, de Hoch, Hals, Averkamp and others.
The world famous brands born in the Netherlands - Philips, Unilever, Café Crème, Heineken.
In the culinary field, the Netherlands became famous for Dutch cheese and Dutch herring.
The Netherlands has a low population growth (one child per family). By the way, we met very few strollers on the streets! The husband drew attention to this.
Dutch men and women are considered the tallest in the world.
The Netherlands is known for its tolerance of any dissent. That is why the country has become a haven for any informal people, gays and lesbians, prostitutes.
Same-sex marriage is allowed in the Netherlands.
Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, soft drugs (marijuana, hashish and hallucinogenic mushrooms) are legalized. Moreover, the crime rate is the lowest in Europe. Despite the fact that such a state policy in relation to drugs and prostitution attracts many criminals, they do not expect super-profits here - everything is taken under the control of the state. And that's why it becomes uninteresting.
When is the best time to go:
It is best to go to Holland in April, early May.
Sights:
Among the numerous museums in the country, the Riksmuseum (the richest collection of Flemish painting in the world) stands out; Museum of Contemporary Art Stedelijk; the Van Gogh Museum (800 paintings by the famous artist); Rembrandt Museum - all in Amsterdam. In Rotterdam there is the Boijmann van Beuningen Museum. In The Hague - the Royal Art Gallery (paintings by Dutch artists of the 15th-17th centuries). In Nimengen: Museum of Roman Art. In Haarlem - the Frans Hals Museum with a rich collection of paintings by this painter, several of his canvases are also in the city hall of the 13th century; Museum of Industrial Art, housed in an 18th century castle.
Among other attractions: in Amsterdam - the Ude Kerk church (1300), the royal palace of the 17th century, residential buildings of the 16th-17th centuries. In Groningen - the church of St. Martina (built from XIII to XVI century), Neuve-Kerk (XVII century), the remains of a Roman settlement; is kept in the city library latin translation Of the New Testament, made by Erasmus of Rotterdam, with remarks by Martin Luther. There is a zoo in Rotterdam. In Maastricht - the Cathedral of St. Servatius, built in the 6th century (the oldest church in the country). In Haarlem - the church of St. Bavo, which houses one of the largest organs in the world with 5000 pipes. In The Hague, the parliament building; Billenhof and Buttenhof - part of the 13th century old town, surrounded by medieval towers; The Peace Palace, funded by Andrew Carnegie in 1913; Madurdam is a miniature reconstruction of an ancient city.
Netherlands (unofficial name Holland) - a state in the north-west of Europe with with total area 41,526 km². In the east, the Netherlands borders on Germany, in the south - on Belgium. From the north and west, the country is washed by the North Sea; the length of the sea borders is about 1000 km. The uniqueness of the Netherlands lies in the fact that a fairly large part of the territory was obtained by drainage, about half of the territory lies below sea level, and another 1/3 has a height of up to 1 m, this explains the name of the country, which means "low-lying lands" ... The country can be conditionally divided into two parts. In the north and west there are low-lying lands, most of which lies at the mouths of large European rivers: the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. Along the seashore stretches a belt of sand dunes up to 405 m wide and up to 60 m high, which, together with a system of dams, dams and sluices, protects low-lying fertile lands from flooding. South and Eastern countries lie above sea level, in the east hilly landscape prevails, and the southern region is occupied by plains, turning into hilly-forest landscapes of the foothills of the Ardennes. The highest point in the country is the Waalserberg Upland, 321 m.
Climate
The location of the Netherlands, its small size and the absence of significant elevations, determine its climatic features. The climate is temperate maritime, very humid. Winter in the Netherlands is usually mild with an average January temperature of +1 to + 3 ° C. Summer is usually cool, the average July temperature is +16 - + 17 ° С. Despite the rather warm climate, westerly winds often cause a sharp drop in temperature even in the warmest months. On average, there are only 35 clear days per year. Annual precipitation is 650-750 mm, mainly in the form of rain. Snowfalls are rare.
Currency unit
Euro (EUR). Banks are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 16:00. Some banks close one hour earlier on Fridays. You can exchange currency at any bank, hotel, airport or train station ( additional interest is charged, at night the rate is less favorable), as well as in private exchange offices ( the rate is less profitable and the commission is higher). The most favorable exchange rate is at bank branches and at the post office ( the exchange is made at the official rate, the lowest commissions are charged). Currency exchange, as well as cashing traveller's checks and credit cards, can be done at GWK offices (" Central system exchange offices"). Most of the GWK exchange offices are located near the train stations. They work from 8:00 to 20:00 (Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00). Credit cards of the major world systems are accepted almost everywhere.
Time
In winter UTC + 1, in summer UTC + 2 ( in Belarus 2 hours more in winter and 1 hour more in summer).
Dutch cuisine
The cuisine of the Netherlands is a special part of the culture of the state, which will undoubtedly be appreciated by food lovers. Typical Dutch cuisine is based on simple ingredients: the Dutch eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, dairy products and fish. The most typical dish is " hotpot" ("hootspot" or " hot sweat") - tender boiled or stewed meat with vegetable puree, also worth a try" stampot"- mashed potatoes with cabbage, lard or smoked sausages, stewed pork legs, beans with cracklings" canties"sausages" hair"and the national dish of rice, meat and vegetables -" riystaffel". Favorite Dutch soup -" erten-soup", flavored pea soup on meat broth excellent seafood traditions. Traditional Dutch cuisine naturally abounds in fish dishes: " haring", that is, lightly salted herring cooked in a special way with a slice of pickled cucumber or onion. Fried fresh herring fillets with onions, pike perch stewed in the oven with vegetables, smoked eel with a garnish of eggs and lemon, fresh herring fillets are also popular -" machies"fried fish or meatballs" croquetten", as well as numerous dishes from river fish, shrimp and shellfish (the country ranks first in the world for their consumption). Baked fish dishes are usually served with lettuce or potato fries." sweaty". Holland is famous for its cheeses, which is the main ingredient in many dishes. It is often served as a separate appetizer with pieces of fruit, vegetables or meat products. Dutch salads also require cheese. From alcoholic drinks, the Dutch prefer all kinds of beer, which is usually served here. in very small glasses (~ 0.2) to drink before it heats up and loses its amazing taste. Among spirits in Holland, it is very popular " Enever"- the ancestor of the English gin. Also in the country they make first-class liqueurs, the most popular is the famous " Orange Bitter".
Tourist centers
The first associations that come to mind when mentioning the Netherlands are ancient mills, colorful tulips, red-light streets and funny wooden shoes. In fact, this is a country - much more than the listed stereotypes. You can verify this and get to know the Netherlands in bus tours during which you will visit Amsterdam, The Hague and Delft, you will have the opportunity to visit the Zaanse Schans - open-air folk museum, where you can get acquainted with the national crafts of the Netherlands, and the unique tulip park Kückenhoff.
Amsterdam(Dutch. Amsterdam) Is the capital of the country and an incredibly attractive and beautiful city. Amsterdam is not only another European capital, but also one of the most popular tourist cities among thousands of people. So the concept of "low season" simply does not exist here. Amsterdam is a city of canals with over 600 bridges. The most beautiful - Blauburg and Mahere-Bruges (« Skinny bridge"). From the water you can see most of Amsterdam's attractions and hundreds of picturesque bridges. The historical center of the city is called " Quarter of the Grand Canals». Main square « Quarter of the Grand Canals"- Ladies. Here is the Royal Palace with a museum, the Freedom Monument, the New Church (Nieuwe-Kerk, 1408) and the famous Madame Tussauds. Nearby are the Berlagi stock exchange and the Amsterdam tide stock, the Shipbuilders' House, the Amsterdam Canal Museum. Also, visitors to Amsterdam have a unique opportunity to visit an operating diamond factory.
Hague(Dutch. Den haag) - the seat of government, parliament and the royal court, the third largest and one of the oldest cities in the country. But above all, The Hague is known for the fact that it houses the Peace Palace, which is the seat of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. There is a palace with centuries-old history, lock Binnenhof, tribunal building Riddersal, medieval prison Gevagenport(the Museum of the Inquisition is opened in it) and the oldest city passage in the country. The Hague, although considered a city of castles and museums, nevertheless, it is incredibly modern thanks to the towering skyscrapers, the Town Hall and the building of the central library from the American architect Richard Meier also stand out from the modern buildings.
Delft(Dutch. Delft) Is a real open-air museum. Squeezed between The Hague and Leiden, this city is called the "absolute center" of Holland. Delft is a city known all over the world for its many historical monuments, most of which were created in the 16th and 17th centuries and picturesque canals. One of the main attractions of the city is the Prinsenhof Palace. Here, the museum contains not only paintings by masters of the 16th-17th centuries, but also collections of porcelain and silver. Previously, a monastery was located here. Next to the palace is the Gothic 75-meter Old Church, built at the end of the 13th century. In the 17th - 19th centuries, three most powerful organs were installed in the church, and a bell was placed on the bell tower " Bourdon". Today, services and organ music concerts are held in the Old Church. On the Market Square of the city, there is another Gothic basilica built in the XIV century - the New Church, as well as the City Hall, built in the 17th century in the style of the Dutch Renaissance. It is worth noting that Delft was the first city in Holland to build fortified walls that protected it from raids. To date, only one Eastern Gate has survived, built at the beginning of the 15th century.
What to buy in the Netherlands
- souvenirs with images and in the form of mills, wooden shoes
- ceramic figures, pendants and wooden tulips
- delft china
- cheese (cheese sets with cheese knives and cheese spices)
- chocolate (especially Leonidas)