The Netherlands

The Netherlands is administratively divided into 12 provinces (provinces). The western part (Holland) is the most industrialized and about half of the population lives in and around this area. It consists of

N.B. The West Frisian Islands (Waddeneilanden in Dutch), five inhabited islands off the north coast, lie in three provinces (North-Holland, Friesland, Groningen). The eastern provinces are

The southern Netherlands have a distinct cultural identity because the population is (or was) largely Catholic. The three provinces are

N.B. In Belgium there are since it became an independent country in 1830 some other parts of the Southern_Netherlands The Netherlands has many cities and towns of interest to travelers. Below is a list of the most notable.

Zwolle - With a population of over 110.000, Zwolle is an important economic centre situated in the middle of the country. It has a rich history. Ancient fortifications, great churches and the imposing homes of the well-to-do merchants of yesteryear combined with centuries-old buildings and small winding streets in the historic city centre. Zwolle is a lively centre of entertainment, offering plenty of action and amusement! There are numerous bars and restaurants and a wide range of shops. Windesheim students have their own student pub, Het Vliegende Paard (the Flying Horse), which offers Internet facilities and good wholesome food at reasonable prices. Zwolle frequently hosts major national and international events, such as the Street Festival, the Rhythm & Blues Festival and the Student Cabaret Festival. Pop concerts are also hosted here, and the cinemas and museums are open all year round. There is also no shortage of top-class sporting facilities.

Amsterdam - Capital city of the Netherlands with impressive architecture, lovely canals that criss-cross the city and great shopping. There is something for every traveler's taste here, whether you prefer culture and history, serious partying, or just the relaxing charm of an old European city.

Alkmaar - This city, north of Amsterdam in the so calles 'West-Frisian region', preserves the 17th-century pattern of canals and narrow streets, and has many historic buildings. Inland is a historic agricultural landscape, with 17th century polders: one (De Beemster) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Delft - Historic city between The Hague and Rotterdam. It's a beautiful, unspoiled town with traditional architecture, canals, bikes, and the world famous blue and white ceramics.

Groningen - Capital of the province of Groningen. One of the older cities in the North of the Netherlands: Groningen was founded around 1100 and has a rich history, which can clearly be told from the old medieval buildings in the downtown area. Groningen won the award of 'best city center' in the category of 'large cities' for 2006.

Haarlem - Historic city and capital of the province of North-Holland. Haarlem is the center of a flower-growing district and the export point for flower bulbs. The famous Keukenhof gardens is nearby.

The Hague/'s-Gravenhage (Den Haag) - Seat of the Dutch government, place of residence of the Queen, Juridical Capital of the World due to the seat of the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, Peace Palace and some other International Institutions. Also capital of the province of South-Holland and the third largest city of the country. The Hague offers great architecture, some of it picturesque, such as the medieval government complex of the Binnenhof, some grand and stately, like the mansions on Lange Voorhout. The museums in the city rank among the best in the country.

Leiden - Known for the oldest university in the country, the birthplace of Rembrandt and for it's beautiful, old city center which is the second biggest after Amsterdam and a plethora of pubs.

Maastricht - Historic city in the very south of the country and capital of the province of Limburg. Great shopping areas and many pubs in the city centre. Said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands. Maastricht, however, is quite different in style and architecture than traditional Dutch cities. Most 'Burgundic' city, founded by the Romains and second eldest city of the country. Nowadays it hosts a large amount of European and international institutions.

Nijmegen - Oldest city of the Netherlands (dates back to Roman times; said to be founded in the year 6 after Christ), known internationally for its Four Day Marches, it's left-wing politics, and it's large student population.

Rotterdam - The city was known for having the world's largest harbor, but lost the title in 2004 to Shanghai. Still it is the countries second largest city. It may feel difficult to get in touch with the heart of Rotterdam; its natural center was bombed away during WW2, forcing the city to renew itself completely. The result is a lot of modern architecture.

Utrecht - Capital of the province of Utrecht. Utrecht is a central Dutch city with a long history. With 290,000 inhabitants it's the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. The history of the city goes back to 47 AD when the Roman emperor Claudius ordered his general Corbulo to build a defense line along the river Rhine whitch was the northern most border of the empire.