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Netherlands
Holland on a bike
Located at the northwest of Europe and limiting with the North Sea, Holland, or more precisely, the Netherlands, is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and one of the most developed states. It's considered a model country in having achieved a wide consensus on important decisions on controverted subjects. Holland's worldwide fame, and mainly its capital, Amsterdam, is due to its image as a hundred percent liberal country.
Taking a walk on the streets of the capital you'll get the impression that multivariety and multiculturality is everywhere. An important reference of this place is the well-known Dam Square opposite the Royal Palace, of neoclassic style and built between 1648 and 1655. The scent of the variety of flowers that decorate many of the narrow alleys of the city will make you forget for a moment that you are in a lively city with plenty going on. The large avenues are crowded with businessmen, there are full of office buildings and traditional stores that blend with some of the renowned coffeeshops and neon-lit windows that make this city famous. You'll find most of them at the so-called Red Light District, the first tourist attraction throughout the crossing of some of its more than 160 canals.Although the soft drug consumption is legal here, Holland is a country closely related to the respect of the law. In fact, another of its important cities, The Hague, is a great symbol in this sense. It holds several United Nations jurisdictional bodies. Its visit not only it's interesting because of its seven centuries of history, but also because like Rotterdam or Amsterdam, The Hague has a beach, a good option if we have got tired of seeing the immense fields of tulips, narcissuses and jacinths which enjoy their inhabitants.
Besides the Zuid Kennemerland, the Veluwezoon or De Groote Peel National Park, there are also the well-known islands off the north coast of the country, like Vlieland, Ameland or Terschelling. All these places are authentic temples for the contemplation of highly-preserved nature.
After reviewing your trip schedule, visiting the rest of the country it's a piece of cake. Means of transport in the Netherlands are very good and travelling around to any town or city is very simple. The trains are punctual, comfortable, fast and depart very frequently. Maastricht or Utrecht will be a stone's throw away as well as it will be easy to get a piece of the famous Gouda cheese, name of the city where the recipe originated from.
But Holland is not only famous for its milky products, of course, of an extraordinary quality, but also for the delightful dishes of the Dutch cuisine. Only one recommendation: rijsttafel, a typical cooking invention, made with rice, stewed vegetables or produce with coconut milk. And to drink... beer.
But if what you're looking for constant amusement, nothing better than going to some of the fairs and festivals that this country holds every year. The hospitable city of Deventer is one of oldest in the Netherlands and celebrates one of the most long-established traditional festivals. The European retailers of the medieval times already attended its annual fairs. And for the lovers of the native crafts, the porcelain of the locality of Delft, internationally famous and original from 17th century, thanks to the commerce of the Dutch East India Company from where they obtained the Chinese porcelain.You cannot leave the country without visiting the monuments of Alkmaar, situated at the northwest of the country, a historical place, with more than 400 constructions. In your path through this town you'll be able to visit and enjoy one of the great symbols of Holland, its impressive mills. Anciently dedicated to the flour, to the drainage and other necessities. In your trip, this is a must.
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