Windmills, tulips, cheese, diamond polishing, wooden shoes, bicycles and one of the most famous breweries in the world are just a few of the things the Netherlands has to offer to tourists.

Despite the fact that the country occupies only 132nd place in the world in terms of area, there are a lot of places to visit here.

1. Capital: Amsterdam.
2. Currency: euro.
3. Time: Central European (CET).
4. Visas: Schengen area.

Long before the trip, many tourists book a car in the Netherlands online in order to get a favorable rental rate, see more attractions and not depend on tour groups. In Amsterdam, the cost of renting a compact class car starts from 17 euros per day; if you rent for a longer period, you can get a discount.

What to see in the Netherlands?



Amsterdam is a must see - a city with an extremely interesting urban layout and a special atmosphere. There are several ways to explore Amsterdam - on foot, by bike or by canal cruise. Each of them will be unforgettable and will help you get to know the sights and bridges more closely, and there are about 1280 of them.

Particular attention should be paid to Dam Square with the National Monument, the Royal Palace, the Norderkerk, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House, the Heineken Brewery, the Flower Market, Ajax Stadium Amsterdam. An interesting experience will be a walk to the red light district - this is a great example of tolerance. The church (Oude Kerk), the kindergarten and the prostitutes in the windows function side by side.

The Hague, Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, Breda, Arnhem, Delft and Leiden are cities that will also help you discover the charm of the Netherlands.
The Hague combines modernity and tradition - next to the glass monumental buildings are places with old (typical of the Netherlands) buildings. Worth seeing: Mauritshuis, Binnenhof, Oude Stadhuis, Grote Kerk, Madurodam.

During the summer season, the elegant seaside resort of Scheveningen, 4 km from the center of The Hague, is a must.

Rotterdam is one of the largest transshipment ports in the world. This city looks very modern, and all because during the war it was destroyed to the ground. The most interesting buildings are the cubic houses of Kiik Kubus, the Erasmus Bridge and the buildings of international corporations.

When to go?

The Netherlands is a very attractive place at any time of the year. The climate is temperate, cool summers (up to 20 degrees) and mild winters (up to 2 degrees) prevail. It can rain every day, at any time of the year. Although the most rainfall is in November. The most windy in February. It happens that in winter the canals freeze - then thousands of Dutch people go ice skating in their free time.

However, the most beautiful time of the year in the Netherlands is considered to be spring, when thousands of flowers bloom on huge plantations, including the famous tulips.

Practical Information

1. Tourist information institutions (VVV) are very useful in the Netherlands - they are located at railway stations, on main streets and central squares of cities.

2. If you want to spend time visiting cultural attractions, you should buy Museukjaarkaart - an annual card that entitles you to free admission to about 400 museum-type places throughout the Netherlands. The price of the card is 39.95-50€, and for persons under 18 years old - 19.95-30€. The card can be purchased online, at the box office of major museums, or at the Uitburo (Cultural Information Center) across the country.

3. The Netherlands is a paradise for cyclists. There are more than 22,000 km of linked bike trails. A bicycle is not only a means of transportation, but also a way of life. An example is the Vrienden op de Fiets (friends on bikes) foundation, which brings together and connects individuals who offer bed and breakfast accommodation at a cost of 19-30 euros per night per person. The only condition is to have a valid fund member card.