Island gem of the Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of those cities that every traveler should have visited at least once in his life. No wonder, millions and millions of tourists flock to the city on the canals every year to enjoy the flood of sights and cultural offerings. The best way to discover Amsterdam is by taking a boat ride along the canals or a walk along the unique canals. Art lovers will be immediately drawn to one of the world-famous museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum or the Van Gogh Museum. Party people will find their happiness in the nightlife and red light district De Wallen. And beer drinkers should by no means miss the Heineken Experience.

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.

The idyllic small town of Enkhuizen, located in North Holland, offers its visitors a variety of historical buildings and monuments. The charming location on the water also invites you to take a walk along the ramparts, the harbor or even the canals. A visit to the Zuiderzee Museum is worthwhile to get an insight into the history of what was once the most prosperous place in the Netherlands.

The idyllic small town of Enkhuizen, located in North Holland, offers its visitors a variety of historical buildings and monuments. The charming location on the water also invites you to take a walk along the ramparts, the harbor or even the canals. A visit to the Zuiderzee Museum is worthwhile to get an insight into the history of what was once the most prosperous place in the Netherlands.

Harlingen in the Netherlands is a port city on the Dutch Wadden Sea. The city has the only seaport in the province of Friesland. The old town is grouped around the old harbor, which consists of a bay cut deep into the land. The canals, typical for Holland, extend from there into the city. The numerous old houses exude the quaint atmosphere of an old trading and fishing town. Many of the houses that form the front line at the harbor show the typical brick facades with stepped gables. The baroque town hall from 1730 still has a tower from its 16th century predecessor, and the Grote Kerk (Great Church) was built from 1772 to 1775. However, it is not so much these individual buildings that make up the special atmosphere of Harlingen, but rather the overall ensemble of the harbor bay with the historic houses and the sailing yachts moored in front of it. The museum in the Hannemahuis shows a worth seeing exhibition about the fishing history of Harlingen.

Harlingen in the Netherlands is a port city on the Dutch Wadden Sea. The city has the only seaport in the province of Friesland. The old town is grouped around the old harbor, which consists of a bay cut deep into the land. The canals, typical for Holland, extend from there into the city. The numerous old houses exude the quaint atmosphere of an old trading and fishing town. Many of the houses that form the front line at the harbor show the typical brick facades with stepped gables. The baroque town hall from 1730 still has a tower from its 16th century predecessor, and the Grote Kerk (Great Church) was built from 1772 to 1775. However, it is not so much these individual buildings that make up the special atmosphere of Harlingen, but rather the overall ensemble of the harbor bay with the historic houses and the sailing yachts moored in front of it. The museum in the Hannemahuis shows a worth seeing exhibition about the fishing history of Harlingen.

Lelystad is thecapital city of the province of Flevoland in the central Netherlands. Founded in 1967 and built entirely on reclaimed land, it sits approximately three meters (10 feet) below sea level and is named after Cornelis Lely, the engineer who masterminded the Zuiderzee reclamation project.

Whether you visit the famous Centraal Museum for ancient and modern art or prefer to discover the provincial capital on a leisurely canal tour from the water - the historic architecture and the many lovingly restored houses will inspire you.In the center of the landmark unmistakably watches over the city, the 112 m high Utrecht Cathedral. It was built between 1321 and 1382 and is considered the oldest and highest church tower in the Netherlands. If you climb the 465 steps, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view.If you like it more contemplative, just take a nice stroll through the alleys and typical Nierderland courtyards, for which Utrecht is known. Or how about a visit to the colorful flower market? Utrecht is always worth a visit.

Whether you visit the famous Centraal Museum for ancient and modern art or prefer to discover the provincial capital on a leisurely canal tour from the water - the historic architecture and the many lovingly restored houses will inspire you.In the center of the landmark unmistakably watches over the city, the 112 m high Utrecht Cathedral. It was built between 1321 and 1382 and is considered the oldest and highest church tower in the Netherlands. If you climb the 465 steps, you will be rewarded with a fantastic view.If you like it more contemplative, just take a nice stroll through the alleys and typical Nierderland courtyards, for which Utrecht is known. Or how about a visit to the colorful flower market? Utrecht is always worth a visit.

The Dutch city of Dordrecht is a former trading city thanks to its location on the water. This past can still be felt in the town today. Be it in the historic city center, at the harbor or in one of the several museums. Also worth seeing is the "Grote Kerk" and the Augustinian monastery of the 13th century. A walk through Dordrecht is the best way to discover the history of the place.

The Dutch city of Dordrecht is a former trading city thanks to its location on the water. This past can still be felt in the town today. Be it in the historic city center, at the harbor or in one of the several museums. Also worth seeing is the "Grote Kerk" and the Augustinian monastery of the 13th century. A walk through Dordrecht is the best way to discover the history of the place.

The port city of Rotterdam is located in the Netherlands and is one of the most interesting places in the world. The modern architecture plays a significant role in this. Among the impressive sights is the horseshoe-shaped market hall with the huge range of goods and the colorful hustle and bustle. In the old harbor with the striking white house, historic ships can be marveled at. For strolling, shopping and partying, the shopping mile Witte de Withstraat is an attraction. The futuristic-looking central station, the bag, also invites you to pub crawl and shop.

Rotterdam is a city that's a long way removed from most people's stereotypical notion of the Netherlands. There are few, if any, canals to be found here nor are there any quaint windmills. There is, however, a thriving modern city which is one of the busiest ports in the entire world.

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city’s Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don’t forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.