Netherlands Fast Facts

The Netherlands is one of the four autonomous countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The European country borders Germany & Belgium and has a long North Sea coast. The landscape is rather flat and unspectacular, but thanks to exciting cities and a lot of atmosphere, it still offers some great highlights as a travel destination. See ANDYEDUCATION for education in Netherlands.

Fast facts to know

• The Netherlands is a parliamentary monarchy.
• The color of the Dutch royal family is orange.
• Almost a third of the Netherlands is below sea level.
• The highest point in the Netherlands is the Vaalserberg at 323 metres.
• There are more than 35,000 kilometers of cycle paths in the Netherlands.
• In Amsterdam and other cities, cyclists often have the right of way.
• Christmas is not celebrated in the Netherlands, but “Sinterklaas” (Santa Claus).
• Most Dutch people have a sweet tooth.
• The country has a very high density of museums.
• Rotterdam has the largest port in the world.
• There are more than 1,200 bridges in Amsterdam.
• Around 1,000 operational windmills are still operational across the country.

Exciting cities in the Netherlands

• Amsterdam
• Enkhuizen
• Eindhoven
• Rotterdam
• Utrecht
• Maastricht
• Alkmaar
• The Hague

History of the Netherlands

• Area of ​​the Netherlands already inhabited since the last glacial period.
• 50 B.C. BC Conquest by the Romans, later part of the Frankish Empire.
• After the division of the Frankish Empire, the lower lands belonged to the East Frankish Kingdom and then to the Holy Roman Empire.
• Once included what is now Belgium and parts of northern France and western Germany.
• 1581 Declaration of Independence from the Spanish Crown.
• After eighty years of war, the independence of the Netherlands from Spain is recognized in the Peace of Westphalia on May 15, 1648.
• The southern Netherlands – today’s Belgium – remains with Spain, so the Netherlands is henceforth divided.
• The Netherlands rose to become one of the greatest maritime and economic powers of the 17th century.
• 1806-1810 Kingdom of Holland.
• 1810 Netherlands is annexed to France under Napoleon.
• 1813 renewed independence.
• 1815 Incorporation of the southern Netherlands (today’s Belgium) until the Belgian Revolution of 1830.
• The country remained neutral during World War I, but was occupied by Germany during World War II.
• In the 1950s, the Netherlands are among the ten largest economic powerhouses in the world.

Climate & travel weather in the Netherlands

• Temperate maritime climate.
• Not too warm summers and quite mild winters.
• Rapidly changing weather on the coast.
• Strong storms from October to November.
• Recommended travel time:
  • Beach holiday: August and September.
  • City trips: May to September.
  • Winter months rather uncomfortable.

Ideas for trips in the Netherlands

• Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
• Canal cruise in Amsterdam.
• Mills of Kinderdijk.
• The Delta Works in Zeeland.
• Zaanse Schans.
• Cheese market Alkmaar.
• On the road by bike.
• Admire the tulips at Keukenhof.
• Efteling amusement park.
• Rotterdam Zoo.
• Enjoy a break in a café in Utrecht.
• Castle of Haar.
• Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.
• Visit one of the many beautiful beaches.

Eating & drinking in the Netherlands

• Sweets are very popular.
• Warm meals are usually served in the evenings.
• Typical meal time is 6 p.m. (prefer not to disturb unannounced).
• Mostly served potatoes, vegetables and meat and sauce.
• Chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag) are very popular for breakfast.
• Snack bars and quick, small dishes or simple snacks are preferred at lunchtime.
• In the afternoon we like to have stroopwafels.
• The Netherlands are considered a tea nation.
• Kopje Koffie very popular.
• More of a beer nation, good wines are hard to find.
• Known for good cheeses such as Emmental, Gouda and Maasdammer.
• Eating out in the Netherlands is quite expensive.
• Typical opening times of restaurants from 6 p.m. to approx. 10.30 p.m.
• Typical dishes:
  • Andijviestamppot (endive and potato stew).
  • Asperges met krieltjes in botersaus (asparagus with small new potatoes in butter sauce).
  • Erwtensoep (pea soup).
  • Fryske mosterdsoep (Frisian mustard soup).
  • Hutspot (carrot, onion and potato stew).
  • Stamppot met boerenkool (potato and kale stew).
  • Texelse lamsbout (leg of lamb from Texel, quite salty).

Particularly scenic

• Gorgeous beaches
• Wadden Sea of ​​the North Sea
• Natural areas such as the Hoge Veluwe and the Oostvaardersplassen