Watch windmill sails turning hypnotically around in South Holland. Or mingle in the hip bars and contemporary design shops of buzzing second city Rotterdam and you'll soon admire how the Netherlands combines the best of the old and the new. Drive through flower-strewn lowlands and pass picturesque canals to funky capital Amsterdam with its exciting blend of culture, history and late-night partying.
Join the Dutch and travel along the Netherlands' canals or see the sights by bike. If you're a nature lover you'll adore the classic landscapes and formal gardens of North Holland or the trails and beaches on Texel Island. But to see the Netherlands at its most vibrant and fun-loving, head for the bright lights of capital Amsterdam.
Visit The Hague for stunning modern architecture and an historic centre, as well as the Escher Museum, dedicated to the graphic artist and mathematician. Choose the port city of Rotterdam for its thriving design scene including the residential Montevideo Tower and the Erasmus Bridge. Follow Utrecht's canals and climb to the top of The Dom Tower's 465 steps for panoramic city views. Or visit peaceful Haarlem to see Dutch paintings at the Teylers Museum. In the end all roads in the Netherlands lead to capital city Amsterdam. See Old Masters like Vermeer and Rembrandt in the Museum Quarter or people-watch from one of the cafes that ring Amsterdam's central Leidseplein square.
The road between Haarlem and Leiden is known as the flower bulb route, and in spring its fields are filled with brightly coloured petals. In South Holland you'll find windmills and historic wooden houses, especially around Zaanse Schans. Journey up the North Sea Coast to the deserted beaches and miles of walking trails of the quiet Wadden Islands.
