Holland, Country of History, Culture and Fun!

The Netherlands is a wonderful place to visit. Often referred to as Holland, it is rich in history and culture. It’s evident from the second you arrive in this wonderful country. If you enjoy walking streets and finding yourself surrounded by buildings that played a major role in the success of the Dutch golden age, then Amsterdam would be a good place to visit. As you explore the canal lined streets, you’ll see tall, skinny houses that all used to be warehouses for the vast amount of trade that passed through the city during this golden age. Now converted into high end housing and commercial units, the history and grandeur hasn’t been lost. There are even some that have been preserved and turned into museums, so that you can see what houses back then looked like. Many famous people had homes in Amsterdam, and those have been preserved also. Some of the famous names that have museums dedicated to them include Rembrandt and Anne Frank. There are endless amounts of sights and attractions in this beautiful city, you won’t be disappointed.

The Hague is also filled with a lot of history, but its feel is more international than Amsterdam, due to the fact that the international courts are located here, along with all the embassies and multinational companies such as Shell oil. The city is also more continental than others in the Netherlands, due to its wide avenues and streets, more so than the rest of the country. Its 18th century mansions are quite different from the tall houses that line the streets of Amsterdam. The Hague also has 11km of coastline, which Amsterdam cannot compete with. There are still plenty of museums here and a lot to see, you’ll soon find that the history, although maybe somewhat different than Amsterdam, is still evident while you explore this wealthy Dutch city.

Rotterdam is more of a modern metropolis than the other cities. Although the city also has history, it’s hard to see this in the heart of the city, as the center was leveled during the Second World War, on the bombing raids that led to the fall of Holland to the Germans. This is why you’ll find that the architecture in Rotterdam is a lot more modern and a must see if you love modern architecture. You best bet to discover this city is to get a tour to take you around, as it’s a large city without a real center, so to appreciate it, a tour will give you a better picture of this modern metropolis.

The rest of Holland is filled with cities, towns and small villages. Rent a car, drive through the small roads and stop of at a few small villages, head north along the coast, through places like Callantsoog and experience village life, walk on the beach, explore the flower fields (during spring). It’s a small country, but it has a big heart, friendly people and will leave a lifelong impression on you.

If you wish to learn a bit more about Holland and its attractions, come visit www.comevisitholland.com for more information, and you’ll soon be booking your trip!

About The Author: Jason Zisaruk
I'm a dutchman living in California and wish to let people know what Holland is like and that its a wonderful country to visit.