The Netherlands is a country partly reclaimed from the waters of the North Sea, and around half of it lies at or below sea level. Land reclamation has been the central theme of its history, the result being a country of beautiful and unique images – flat, fertile landscapes dotted with windmills and church spires; fields of brightly coloured tulips, ornately gabled terraces beside peaceful canals; and mile upon mile of grassy dunes, backing onto stretches of unspoiled sandy beaches. Accompanied by these images, the Netherlands is one of the most developed countries in the world and combines liberal attitudes with an extremely orderly society.

The low lying areas are very fertile, and it is in these areas you will see the beautiful fields of Tulips, and the cliched images of Windmills. A confident mix of old and new, Amsterdam, the capital city, features beautiful 17th- and 18th-century buildings and boasts some world-class museums, most notably the Van Gogh Museum, where visitors can marvel at the work of one the Netherlands’ most famous sons, and the Rijksmuseum, home to some of the world’s finest artworks, including those by famous Dutch artist Rembrandt. Take a trip to the Anne Frank House, the house where young Anne Frank provided her own unique account of Amsterdam’s occupation by the Nazis during World War II. Nightlife in Amsterdam is as mixed as the city itself, with something for everyone’s tastes available. A trip to Amsterdam would not be complete without renting a bicycle (Holland has more bicycles than residents), or cruising down the canals by boat.

The Hague is the administrative and governmental seat of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Rotterdam is one of the few thoroughly modern cities in the Netherlands. It is located at the heart of a maze of rivers and is one of Europe’s most important ports, there is something for everyone in this buzzing city. The town of Delft is also famous for its distinctive blue and white pottery.