NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe, is known for its flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills, and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII. Canalside mansions and a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the city's 17th-century "Golden Age."
Main Destinations
AmsterdamGiethoorn, The Hague, Eindhoven,Rotterdam, Utrecht, Lisse, Texel
The Location
The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland [ˈNederland] (listen)), informally Holland, is a country located in Northwestern Europe with overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces; it borders Germany to the east, and Belgium to the south, with a North Sea coastline to the north and west. It shares maritime borders with the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium in the North Sea. The country's official language is Dutch, with West Frisian as a secondary official language in the province of Friesland. Dutch Low Saxon and Limburg Ish are recognized regional languages, while Dutch Sign Language, Sinte Romani, and Yiddish are recognized non-territorial languages.
Main Airport
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, known informally as Schiphol Airport, is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located 9 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland.
Capital City
Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system, and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are numerous bike paths.
Language Spoken
The Netherlands has 16 million inhabitants and Dutch is the only official language of the country. Frisian, spoken in the Northern province of Fryslie, has been granted local official language status too. Frisian is very close to English.
Currency
The Netherlands, like most of Europe, uses the euro as its form of currency.
Emergency Calls
You should call 112 for urgent assistance in life-threatening situations or if you witness a crime. The number can be used to report emergencies of various types, such as a road accident, a fire, or an intruder, where every second counts.
Peak Season
Summer in the Netherlands (June to August)
Summer is the high season for tourism in the Netherlands. All the restaurants and tourist attractions will be open.
Low season
Both spring and fall have generally mild weather. The Netherlands' off-season (from late October through mid-March) is cold and wet, as coastal winds whip through this low, flat land. If you don't mind the shorter days, winter's a fine time for visiting Amsterdam.
Temperature
The Netherlands is located in the 'temperate zone'. Throughout the country, mean winter temperatures are about 3°C, and mean summer temperatures are around 17°C. Coastal regions have more hours of sunshine than inland regions and a relatively small annual and diurnal temperature range.