The Netherlands' motto is "I shall stand fast", appropriate for a country that has had to fight the waves to survive. Made up of 12 provinces (and Netherlands Antilles and Aruba), this flat, densely populated country is famous for its windmills, tulips, clogs and bicycles as well as its progressive society.
Amsterdam is capital, a compact city of waterways, narrow canal houses and snug cafes. Its museums are world-class and include the Rijksmuseum (glorious collection of 17th-century Dutch masters), Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandt House Museum, and Van Gogh Museum, which has the world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings.
Outside the capital, Rotterdam considers itself a working city rather than a cultural town. Despite this, it has many museums, ranging from the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (art) to a tax museum.
The Hague is the seat of government and where Queen Beatrix lives and works.
Friesland is a province in the north, where the Frisian language is spoken. It's possible to walk to some of the islands off the coast at low-tide.
Most flights to the Netherlands land at Schiphol Airport, near Amsterdam. Europe's fifth-largest airport offers international connections with most leading airlines.
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