Explore Netherlands

The Netherlands , informally Holland, is a country primarily located in Western Europe and partly in the Caribbean, forming the largest constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In Europe, it consists of 12 provinces that border Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest, with maritime borders in the North Sea with those countries and the United Kingdom. In the Caribbean, it consists of three special municipalities: the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Capital: Amsterdam Language: Dutch (Hello – Hallo) Currency: € Euro which is made up of 100 cents. Coins come in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2 denominations and notes in €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500 denominations. Weather:The Netherlands has a moderate climate with warm summers and relatively mild winters. Spring and summer bring longer and warmer days with light sometimes until 10:30pm and day time temperatures up to 30°c. Winter can be quite cold with icy winds from the North Pole, snow common in January and temperatures dropping to -5°c some days. Places to Visit:

• o Van Nelle Fabriek
• o Mauritshuis
• o Rijksmuseum
• o Sint Janskerk
• o Anne Frank Huis
• o Van Gogh Museum
• o Museum Bijmans Van Beuningen
• o Vondelpark
• o Zuiderzeemuseum
• o Hoge Veluwe National Park

How to Reach Air: Schiphol Airport is the biggest international airport in the country connected to most major parts of the world through the Dutch largest airline KLM. Other relatively budget airlines connecting the world to Schiphol include Jet2.com, Easyjet and Transavia. From Schiphol, the rail can be taken to reach major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Other international airports include: Eindhoven Airport (used by Ryanair), Maastricht/Aachen Airport, Rotterdam - The Hague Airport (used by Transavia), and Groningen-Eelde Airport. Dôsseldorf International Airport in Germany and Brussels Airport in Brussels can also be used to get to Netherlands. Rail: There are two major railway routes connecting the Netherlands to other European countries: 1. Netherlands is connected to France and Belgium by the Thalys, a high-speed train that is a bit on the expensive side. However, by booking in advance, you can avail cheaper ticket deals. 2. A second option is the ICE, a high-speed train connecting the Netherlands with Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Poland. 3. Intercity and regional trains also run along these routes and are cheaper alternatives. However, they take much longer to reach and one has to repeatedly change trains. Water: There are three main ferry services from the UK to the Netherlands: P&O Ferries: running between Kingston Upon Hull and Rotterdam Europort. Stena Line: running between Harwich and Hook of Holland. DFDS Seaways: running between Newcastle upon Tyne and IJmuiden in Amsterdam The prices and timetables are available online and tickets can be booked easily.