The Netherlands

Largely below sea level, The Netherlands occupies land reclaimed from the sea over the last 2,000 years. This flat land of polders (low-lying land), canals and dykes (embankments) makes a fascinating landscape dotted with the turning sails of wooden windmills. Amsterdam is the nominal capital city but it is The Hague that is the true seat of government. This leaves Amsterdam free to do what it does best – entertaining over 20 million international visitors every year. This canal city has more bridges than Venice (1281 compared to 409 in Venice) and more museums per capita than any other city in the world. From the mega Rijksmuseum and the home of Anne Frank to the Marijuana Museum, it has something for everyone. The port of Rotterdam is one of the busiest in Europe. More attractive are the folklore villages of Marken and Volendam, the bulbfields near Haarlem and the pottery town of Delft, immortalized forever in scenes on its blue and white pottery. Away from the cities, the Netherlands’ landscape inspired the Dutch Masters and continues to enchant walkers and cyclists. From spring bulb fields to Christmas craft markets, it provides year-round attractions in a tiny country that, according to the laws of nature, should not even exist.