Netherlands, also known unofficially as Holland, constitutional monarchy of northwestern Europe, bordered on the north and west by the North Sea, on the east by Germany, and on the south by Belgium. With Belgium and Luxembourg, the Netherlands forms the Low, or Benelux, Countries. The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, islands in the Caribbean, are part of the Netherlands.The country's capital and largest city is Amsterdam.

The Netherlands has played a special role in the European economy for many centuries. Since the 16th century, shipping, fishing, trade, and banking have been leading sectors of the Dutch economy, and trade with the country's colonial empire was important in the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries. Since the independence of Indonesia in the late 1940s, the Dutch economy has been redirected from colonial trade to that with European nations.

Important Destinations In Holland

Amsterdam

You neednot be Dutch to let the cosmopolitan cauldron that is Amsterdam get under your skin and blow you off your feet! A city that never sleeps, Amsterdam will weave a spell on you, a spell that you will never want to see the end of. One of the world's most popular hangouts, Amsterdam attracts both backpackers and businessmen keen to let it all hang out, Amsterdam offers the kind of freedom not seen in cities anywhere else. Amsterdam sees the old and new blend seamlessly into a homogenous whole. All you need to get around Amsterdam - monument to urban design and classic paintings - is curiosity, common sense and a comfortable pair of walking shoes.

Personal freedom, liberal drug laws, the gay centre of Europe - these images have been synonymous with the Dutch capital since the heady 1960's and 1970's when Amsterdam was one of Europe's most redical cities. Though Amsterdam foundered somewhat in the 1980's and continues to face a chronic housing shortage and growing numbers of homeless, it is still exuberant and famously tolerant.

The Hague

Officially known as 's-Gravenhage ('the Count's Domain') because a count built a castle here in the 13th century. The Hague-Den Haag in Dutch - is the country's seat of government and residence of the royal family, though the capital city is Amsterdam. It has a refined air, created by the many stately mansions and palatial embassies that line its green boulevards. The city is known for its prestigious art galleries, a huge jazz festival held annually near the seaside suburb of Scheveningen, and the miniature town of Madurodam.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is not your quintessential Dutch city. Bombed to oblivion on 14th May 1940, its centre is ultra-modern, with mirrored skyscrpers and some extraordinary innovative buildings. The city prides itself on this experimental architecture, as well as having the world's largest port.