NETHERLANDS

Nederland

Location : Western Europe
Capital: Amsterdam
Language: Dutch, Limburgish, Frisian, Low Saxon, English
Population: 17,418,808
Total Area: 41,848 km2
Currency: Euro
Annual average liquor consumption per capita: 10.6 liters per year
Annual Beer Consumption Per Capita: 77 liters per year
The most popular drink: Jenever Gin, Beers (Heineken, Amstel, Grolsch, Skol, Brandt, Breda) – best enjoyed with our Netherlands shot glass souvenirs

Netherlands Travel Video

Credits: Lonely Planet

The Country

The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as Holland, although North and South Holland are actually only two of its twelve provinces. History of the Netherlands dates back to 1519 with the Dutch Republic formation in 1581.

It is a country rich in history and cultural heritage, but to me, it will always hold a special place as my first visited Western European country. I was initially most excited to be in a country where I would be of an average height among the tallest people in the world, but this fascination was quickly replaced by breathtaking art, architecture and nature.

The People

Dutch are very open-minded. Netherlands makes for a very a popular travel destination probably due to that first and its Art later.

I would like to point out a few unusual legal activities in Netherlands versus the rest of the world: having cannabis and/or magic mushrooms at “coffee shops” that do not serve coffee; prostitution, abortions, same sex marriage and euthanasia (activities listed in no particular order).

We had our own freedom celebration by greeting our visitor at Schiphol Airport in nothing but colorful pajamas.

Activities:

Museums

It is nearly impossible to spend more than a day in the Netherlands without going to a museum. The country is home to 1,0000 museum with 42 of them located in Amsterdam.

You can see 22 paintings by Rembrandt and 206 by Van Gogh, not mentioning numerous others by Jan Vermeer and Piet Mondrian in Amsterdam alone.

An entire trip can easily be taken up by wondering through cool halls of Rijksmuseum, but one should really venture out and visit Haarlem, Utrecht and Rotterdam as well.

For those needing a little break from fine arts, Amsterdam is also home to the Sex Museum with a collection of various objects exploring human sexuality.

Drinking

Amsterdam is an excellent place for drinkers with friendly locals always willing to buy you a pint or ten. I also highly recommend visiting one of the beer festivals. For example, PINT Bokbierfestival takes place every October, and it is dedicated to Bock beers.

It is as much about beer with over 50 varieties to be tasted as it is about mingling with friends and making new ones.

Interesting Facts About Netherlands

The country is also called Holland.
In English, the name of the country can be translated to mean ‘Low Countries’.
The capital is Amsterdam but Hague is the seat of government.
There are actually two provinces in the country called North & South Holland.
Geographically, the country is very flat and one of the lowest-lying areas in the world.
Together with Belgium & Luxembourg, it forms Benelux.
Hague is also referred to as the ‘world’s legal capital’.
Some of the best land reclamation efforts have been in the Netherlands.

Outdoors

The climate and flat terrain in Netherlands allow for a wide range of outdoor sports and activities throughout the year. Some popular activities are hiking, walking, cycling, mountain biking, fishing, sailing and ice skating.

However, there are 20 national parks, but the Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland remains my favorite. It covers approximately 38 square kilometers of sand dunes, coastal beaches, lakes and forests.

Incredibly cold water does not seem to be stopping kids, dogs or sea gulls from having a great time.

Netherlands souvenirs

Moreover, Netherlands, with its several iconic symbols and landmarks, has always been and remains one of the most popular places to purchase souvenirs. However, among the many options of Netherlands-themed souvenirs, shot glasses are considered particularly and intriguing items for collecting or gifting.

Netherlands

Shot glasses and other souvenirs