Thursday, December 1, 2011

Netherlands Passport and Visa entry requirements

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Netherlands Passport and Visa entry requirements
Travel tips for your trip to Netherlands Hotel Maps Famous Places in Netherlands helps you to make your trip to Netherlands in the holiday a Splendid One




Passports:

To enter the Netherlands, passports should be valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above, except EU nationals (1) holding a valid national ID card.

Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.


Passport and Visa entry requirements :-

Entry requirements for Americans: US citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay in the Netherlands. No visa is required, for holders of American passports.

Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the period of intended stay in the Netherlands. Passport exemptions apply to holders of identity cards issued by Gibraltar authories, and endorsed 'Validated for EU travel purposes under the authority of the United Kingdom'. A visa is not required for passports endorsed British Citizen; nor for holders of identity cards issued by Gibraltar authories, and endorsed 'Validated for EU travel purposes under the authority of the United Kingdom'; nor for holders of passports endorsed British Overseas Territories Citizen (containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode issued by the United Kingdom), and British Subject (containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode issued by the United Kingdom). No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days in a half-year period, for holders of British passports endorsed British National (Overseas).

Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay in the Netherlands. No visa is required, for holders of Canadian passports.

Entry requirements for Australians: Australian citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay in the Netherlands. No visa is required, for holders of Australian passports.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South African citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay in the Netherlands. A visa is required. Note that entry will be refused to holders of temporary South African passports.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay in the Netherlands. No visa is required, for holders of New Zealand passports.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the period of intended stay in the Netherlands. No visa is required, for holders of Irish passports.

Passport/Visa Note: The borderless region known as the Schengen Area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that has a multiple entry option, and which allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all the aforementioned countries. Additionally, non-EEA visitors to the Netherlands must hold confirmed return/onward tickets, the necessary travel documentation for their next destination, and proof of sufficient funds to cover their expenses while in the country. NOTE: It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Famous Places in Netherlands For Your Holiday

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Famous Places in Netherlands For Your Holiday
Travel tips for your trip to Netherlands Hotel Maps Famous Places in Netherlands helps you to make your trip to Netherlands in the holiday a Splendid One




Netherlands can be considered as the land of entertainment due to prominent and efficient pretparken situated in its territory. There is a wide array of attractieparken located in the territory of Netherlands. While your visit to Netherlands, you may come across numerous world prominent theme parks which may hone your interest. The best part about pretparkens in Netherlands is that every amusement park in the region has something different to offer to the visitors. With so many options, patrons are left confused and they usually visit more than one pretparken in the territory. It is evident that you may find a park which offers thrilling roller coasters and other exciting rides. On the other hand you may come across attractieparken based on different themes such as fairytales, zoos, Disney characters and many more.

Attractiepark Slagharen: One of the famous pretparken in Netherlands is the Attractiepark Slagharen. This attractieparken actually started developing in the year 1963 and through the course of time it has seen great transformation towards betterment. This prominent park is situated in the region of Slagharen which perhaps gives it the name the Attractieparken Slagharen. This amusement park is under the municipality of Hardenberg, Overijssel. This is one of the highly visited pretparken in the territory of Netherlands. According to the records Attractieparken Slagharen enjoyed enormous traffic of approximately 1.3 million visitors in the year 2004. This figure increased during 2005 to 2008 as it recorded 1.4 millions patrons visiting the site. Its ability to accommodate approximately 1000 people at a time can be considered as the reason for significant traffic enjoyed by this pretparken.

Artis zoo: Artis Zoo is another prominent site which is amongst the oldest pretparken offering zoo to the visitors. This attractieparken is a comprehensive source of excitement for those who hold honed interest in wild life and nature. This pretparken is a complete entertainment for everyone as it not only offers merely a zoo but also houses interesting aquarium. You may also come across botanical garden that may stimulate your interest towards plants and trees. This place is also house to zoological museum, geological museum etc. Another noticeable feature is the Planetarium that may whet your interest even further. This tourist destination is amongst the oldest attractieparken as it was built in the year 1838. Its historical values are depicted through its looks and design; for example its entrance which bears two golden eagles suspended atop on either sides.

Landal De Hellendoornse Berg: Landal De Hellendoornse Berg is another interest pretparken located in Netherlands. This park has a whole lot of features to entertain people belonging to any age group. In this park there are several rides for children and other features to amuse them. You may also come across swimming pool with thrilling slides, Jacuzzi and pool made for kids. One of the important features is the bowling alley that is developed for bowling fans. You may also find other past time sports activities such as billiard, darts, etc.

There are many such interest pretparken and attractieparken standing proud in Netherland which makes this place one of the highly visited tourist destinations.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Free Guide Amsterdam City

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Free Guide Amsterdam City
Travel tips for your trip to Netherlands Hotel Maps Famous Places in Netherlands helps you to make your trip to Netherlands in the holiday a Splendid One


Established in 12th century as a fishing village, today Amsterdam is the largest and most popular city of Netherlands. Although Amsterdam is fairly small, the city is packed with hundreds of treasures for travelers.

Here are a few of Amsterdam's most popular attractions and sightseeing activities listed to make your travel experience the best possible.

When touring Amsterdam, it is worth visiting its variety of museums famous for their historical and antique collections. Some of the major museums of Amsterdam are Rijksmuseum (know for its 17th century Dutch collected works), Steldelejk museum, Kroller-Muller (named on the daughter of a rich and eminent German industrialist) and Van Gogh museum (known for its collection of paintings by Van Gogh and other eminent artists from 19th century). With more than 50 museums each boosting amazing collections, it would be a sad thing to miss the experience of museum tour when holidaying in Amsterdam.


The Dam square

The Dam square is known for its historical value and is often an important part of many Amsterdam tours. The beauty and the historical background of this Dam make it a part of every tourist's visit, when touring Amsterdam. The various fascinating things about the Dam are also documented in the historical museum of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Holiday in Amsterdam can never be complete without the Amsterdam Canal Cruise, through its magnificent and incredible canals. Cruising through canals is the best way to cherish Amsterdam tour, as you get to see marvelous 17th century houses and mansions, as well as startling architecture.

Oude Kerk

Surrounded with small houses, Oude Kerk is a very old and beautiful church, adored by many visitors both locals and foreigners. The church has a building designed in Gothic-renaissance style and has an octagonal bell tower. Located at the centre of red light district, the church has become quite popular among visitors on Amsterdam tour.

Hortus Botanicus - (the Botanical Garden)

With more than 6000 plants, Hortus Botanicus is quite an old and unique botanical garden. It dates back to the year 1632 and has some plants almost 2000 years old. Situated within the walking distance of other major tourist attractions like Amsterdam zoo and resistance as well as historical museum, the garden is remarkable place to enjoy your holiday in Amsterdam.

Albert Cuyp market

With more than 300 stalls, Albert Cuyp market is one of the most busiest and popular tourist attractions. This remarkable outdoor market has a variety of products and is situated in Pijp district. Surrounded with numerous shops and cafes, the market gets to see huge amount of visitors, local and foreigners, everyday.

Best time to visit or holiday in Amsterdam

With its tourist attractions and friendly local people, touring Amsterdam at anytime of the year proves to be good. But by far the best time or the peak time for visiting Amsterdam is in the more pleasant months of July and August. Even off-season Amsterdam tours are quite popular.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Money Exchange for Netherlands -Services - Money

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Money Exchange for Netherlands -Services - Money
Travel tips for your trip to Netherlands Hotel Maps Famous Places in Netherlands helps you to make your trip to Netherlands in the holiday a Splendid One




Currency information:

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Credit cards:

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. ATMs are widely available.
ATM:

ATMs are widely available.
Travellers cheques:

Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
Banking hours:

Mon 1300-1600; Tues-Fri 0900-1600. GWK offices are open seven days a week.
Currency restriction:

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if travelling from or to a country outside the European Union.
Currency exchange:

Exchange offices are indicated by the letters GWK. GWK is a national organisation with currency exchange offices at major railway stations, at Schiphol Airport and at the border crossings with Germany and Belgium. Hotels tend to charge high commissions. Verkoop means sell, while Koop means buy.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Health and Medical Information for Netherlands

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Health and Medical Information for Netherlands
Travel tips for your trip to Netherlands Hotel Maps Famous Places in Netherlands helps you to make your trip to Netherlands in the holiday a Splendid One




On 1 January 2006 a new healthcare system has come into force in the Netherlands. The previous public/private health insurance has been be replaced by one basic package. Everyone has access to the same basic package regardless of age or income.

Who needs insurance?
Everyone must have health insurance.

What does the insurance cost?
Everyone over the age of 18 has to pay a basic premium. These premiums differ slightly per insurance company. There is the option to take out supplementary cover over and above the basic package. It is therefore useful to ‘shop around’ to get the best price and package.

If suddenly taken ill or involved in an accident during a visit to The Netherlands, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available for European travellers - in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Comprehensive insurance is advised for all other nationals.

Short History Of Netherlands and Culture

http://travel-to-netherlands.blogspot.com/2011/10/short-history-of-netherlands-and.html
Short History Of Netherlands and Culture
Travel tips for your trip to Netherlands Hotel Maps Famous Places in Netherlands helps you to make your trip to Netherlands in the holiday a Splendid One


The Dutch are primarily of Germanic stock with some Gallo-Celtic mixture. Their small homeland frequently has been threatened with destruction by the North Sea and has often been invaded by the great European powers.

Julius Caesar found the region which is now the Netherlands inhabited by Germanic tribes in the first century B.C. The western portion was inhabited by the Batavians and became part of a Roman province; the eastern portion was inhabited by the Frisians. Between the fourth and eighth centuries A.D., most of both portions were conquered by the Franks. The area later passed into the hands of the House of Burgundy and the Austrian Hapsburgs. Falling under harsh Spanish rule in the 16th century, the Dutch revolted in 1558 under the leadership of Willem of Orange. By virtue of the Union of Utrecht in 1579, the seven northern Dutch provinces became the Republic of the United Netherlands.

During the 17th century, considered its "golden era," the Netherlands became a great sea and colonial power. Among other achievements, this period saw the emergence of some of painting's "Old Masters," including Rembrandt and Hals, whose works--along with those of later artists such as Mondriaan and Van Gogh--are today on display in museums throughout the Netherlands.

The country's importance declined, however, with the gradual loss of Dutch technological superiority and after wars with Spain, France, and England in the 18th century. The Dutch United Provinces supported the Americans in the Revolutionary War. In 1795, French troops ousted Willem V of Orange, the Stadhouder under the Dutch Republic and head of the House of Orange.

Following Napoleon's defeat in 1813, the Netherlands and Belgium became the "Kingdom of the United Netherlands" under King Willem I, son of Willem V of Orange. The Belgians withdrew from the union in 1830 to form their own kingdom. King Willem II was largely responsible for the liberalizing revision of the constitution in 1848.

The Netherlands prospered during the long reign of Willem III (1849-1890). At the time of his death, his daughter Wilhelmina was 10 years old. Her mother, Queen Emma, reigned as regent until 1898, when Wilhelmina reached the age of 18 and became the monarch.

The Netherlands' position at the threshold of the sea has historically been both a blessing and a curse. From its earliest settlement, inhabitants made efforts to keep their heads above water, as remains evident from the artificial mounds they constructed along the coast of Friesland. In modern times, vast public works projects have been undertaken, such as the Delta Project, built to protect the province of Zeeland after major floods in 1953. But the country has also taken advantage of its position and prospered from its overseas trade. Much of its productive farmland stands upon lands reclaimed from the seabed.

Defenceless against the onslaught of foreign powers in its nascent stages, the Netherlands was ruled by a succession of overlords. The forts of Nijmegen and Maastricht are evidence of Roman domination at the start of Christian era. During the feudal era, the Franks took over, then the Holy Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, some measure of independence emerged under the Dukes of Burgundy, who allowed representatives of individual counties to vote in assemblies. Around this time, the region began to prosper from a thriving cloth industry.

Conflict erupted in the 16th century as Spain wielded its imperial power to suppress the rise of Protestantism in the northern provinces. Allying with the Catholic provinces to the south, Holland revolted against the authoritarian rule of Spanish King Philip II, declaring independence in 1588. A period of great economic prosperity and cultural flowering ensued in the 17th century, now recognized as Holland's Golden Age. During this period, the country became a colonial power in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and South America; the settlement of New Amsterdam in 1625 established a beachhead in North America as well. Concurrently, shipbuilding and related industries flourished. Wars with England over control of sea trade checked Holland's ascendance, and France annexed the country in 1795. After the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, Prince William I of Orange became king and the 17 northern and southern provinces of the Netherlands were reunited, only to be severed again in 1830, as Belgium declared itself independent.

The 19th century saw a shift to an industrialized society. The country managed to stay out of World War I, but a few decades later succumbed to the onslaught of the Nazis, who systematically decimated Holland's Jewish population. After WWII, the Netherlands developed a progressive social welfare system and saw major migration from Morocco, Turkey and the former Dutch colonies of Surinam and the Antilles as a response to labour shortages. Anti-immigration sentiment reared its ugly head in the elections of 2010 as the middle-of-the-road Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) yielded its plurality to the right-leaning VVD, which formed a coalition government with the ultra-right PVV, led by the incendiary figure of Geert Wilders.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Netherlands Accommodation. Hotel Guide. Details

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Netherlands Accommodation. Hotel Guide. Details
Travel tips for your trip to Netherlands Hotel Maps Famous Places in Netherlands helps you to make your trip to Netherlands in the holiday a Splendid One




Hotels in Alkmaar



Hotels in Alkmaar offer pleasurable stay in Alkmaar in Netherlands. The city of Alkmaar offers a good choice of Hotels in Alkmaar catering to all your accommodation, dining, business and recreational needs. Get to know more about Hotels in Alkmaar through Alkmaar travel guide.

Alkmaar Info

Alkmaar is situated in North-Holland province in Netherlands, the land of windmills and tulips. The city is 10 kilometers away from the coast and 30 kilometers away from Amsterdam, towards the north-west. The city still preserves its 17th century old labyrinthine network of canals. The city streets are narrow. The city is home to many ancient buildings. There are spectacular dune reserves and beaches within close proximity to the the city of Alkmaar.

Categories of Hotels in Alkmaar in Netherlands

There are 4 star Hotels in Alkmaar, 3 star Alkmaar hotels and 2 star hotels. The 4 star hotels comprise the luxury Hotels in Alkmaar while the 3 star and the 2 star hotels comprise the budget Hotels in Alkmaar. Whether you are looking for upscale hotels or top range hotels or beach side hotels or mountain-side hotels or business hotels or budget hotels or discount hotels or cheap hotels there is a suitable accommodation in Alkmaar that will suit your budget and taste.

Leading Hotel Group in Alkmaar

Best Western Group of Hotels, one of the leading hotel groups in the world, houses 2 hotels namely the Best Western Hotel Marijke and the Best Western Amrath Hotel Alkmaar.

Prime Location of Hotels in Alkmaar

Some of the prime location of the Hotels in and around Alkmaar are:

City Center
Near intercity railway stations
Beach
Boundary of city

Facilities and Services

Rooms

The luxury Hotels in Alkmaar offer world class accommodation, premier business services, fine dining and mind-blowing recreational facilities. The Hotels in Alkmaar offer a wide array of rooms to choose from ranging from standard rooms to deluxe rooms rooms to suites. The room facilities in the luxury hotels include telephone, flat-screen television, wireless Internet access, hair dryer, private bathrooms, showers, bathtubs, safes, house-keeping and room services.

Dining

The luxury Hotels in Alkmaar offer great many on-site restaurants which provide a plethora of multi-cuisine dining options catering to a broad palate of preferences. The restaurants serve a delectable fare comprising Dutch, Chinese, Mexican, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Greek, Scotch and eastern European cuisines.

Business and Conference

The top range Hotels in Alkmaar offer meting rooms and halls to host conferences and business meetings. The conferencing facilities include audiovisual equipment, catering, secretarial services, Internet access, fax and photocopying services.

Recreation

The upscale Hotels in Alkmaar offer a host of recreational options like swimming pools, gymnasium, beauty parlor, gift shop, arrangement of sightseeing tours and arrangement of beach sports.

Hotels in Amsterdam



The Hotels in Amsterdam accommodates the international tourists who come to visit the capital city of Netherlands throughout the year. The Hotels in Amsterdam allure visitors with their wonderful location and outstanding hospitality services. There are many famous hotels in Amsterdam, which cater to the diverse needs of the travelers. The Albus Grand Hotel, Vondel Park Plaza, Movenpick Hotel, Victoria Hotel, and Arena Hotel are the leading hotels in Amsterdam.

The travelers can find different categories of accommodation in Amsterdam, which suit the requirements of the leisure as well as the business tourists. The Amsterdam Hotels are ideally located providing visitors easy access to the sightseeing locales, commercial district and the entertainment hub of the city. Owing to the strategic location of the Hotels in Amsterdam the visitors can access these hotels from anywhere in the city.

The Hotels in Amsterdam are also famed for offering classic accommodation to the travelers. The guests can lavish in complete luxury inside the cozy interiors of the Hotels in Amsterdam. The Hotels in Amsterdam roll out an extensive range of room amenities, which ensure that the guests are offered a comfortable and convenient stay.

The Hotels in Amsterdam are renowned for the in-house restaurants, which roll out a range of scrumptious platters to the visitors. The restaurants of the Hotels in Amsterdam are the perfect place to sample the mouthwatering local dishes. Visitors can also find nice bars inside the Hotels in Amsterdam, which serve the finest quality drinks to the visitors.

The luxury hotels in Amsterdam also provide a host of recreational facilities to the boarders. The lodgers can find fitness center, swimming pool and spa facility inside the luxury hotels in Amsterdam. Some luxury hotels in Amsterdam also arrange sightseeing tours for the boarders.

Hotels in Eindhoven

Hotels in Eindhoven are wonderful places in the city to enjoy a pleasant stay. The region of Eindhoven offers you a wonderful experience as there are many things to explore, from historical spots to scenic spots, but the everlasting experience that you carry back is the innate hospitality of the people of Eindhoven. The Hotels in Eindhoven offer everything from the innate hospitality to wonderful Accommodation in Eindhoven.

The Hotels in Eindhoven also numerous and you will get one according to your preference. Its never hard to find luxury accommodation in the region of Eindhoven. If you are looking for first class accommodation option then the luxury Hotels in Eindhoven are reliable choice. The Park Plaza Mandarin Eindhoven Novotel, Eindhoven Crown Inn, Eindhoven and Sofitel Cocagne, Eindhoven are the luxurious Eindhoven Hotels. You will get all royal treatment here. The rooms here are elegantly decorated that offers supreme luxury and comfort. The rooms are all equipped with modern amenities. You will find everything from air conditioners, refrigerator, color television, IDD telephones, alarm clock and other modern items. The rooms offer luxurious bathing options also. There are attached bath that are equipped with all bathroom amenities.


The business travelers will find this place appropriate to carry out their business meetings. There are conference halls and meeting rooms. The conference halls and meeting rooms are all equipped with modern technology and the business guests will get all facilities for carrying out their business conferences and meetings. The luxurious Hotels in Eindhoven also runs a business centre that offers other facilities like copying or facsimile equipments, e-mail and internet facility, printer, wireless data connection and secretarial services. The luxurious Hotels of Eindhoven also offers wonderful recreational facilities. From massage to swimming you can enjoy every activity.

There are several budget Hotels in Eindhoven that offers affordable luxury to the guests. These hotels also offer wonderful accommodation. These hotels also offer equal service to the leisure and business travelers. There are conference halls and meetings rooms available in these hotels for the convenience of the business travelers. The Eden Crown Hotel, Eindhoven, Holiday Inn Eindhoven, Campanile Hotel & Restaurant, Eindhoven, Best Western Hotel Pierre and Hotel Parkzicht in Eindhoven are the other popular Hotels in Eindhoven.

Zutphen Hotels



In order to make your trip to Zutphen a great experience, you put up at any one of the Hotels in Zutphen. Coming here, you will find wide array of Zutphen Hotels awaiting your gracious presence to serve you with the best facilities and services available. Zutphen is an exotic destination that is of great historic importance. Large number of travelers from all corners of the world throngs this destination to savor its beauty. To accommodate the growing number of travelers, large numbers of Hotels in Zutphen have cropped up.

The hotels of Zutphen are all a perfect combination of traditional hospitality as well as modern facilities. Accommodation in Zutphen can never be a problem. At this city, you can find various categories of Zutphen Hotels to suit your needs, taste and budget. The various types of hotels in Zutphen include 5 star hotels, 4 star hotels, 3 star hotels, budget hotels, discount hotel, cheap hotel and many others. Some of the hotels come up with several packages so that the guests can have a great experience.

All these Hotels in Zutphen are accommodated by both the business travelers as well as the holiday makers. It is because of the numerous facilities offered to the guests and their convenient location, the hotels are frequented by both the national as well as the international travelers. The hotels are tailored so as to provide satisfaction and pleasure to the guests.

Some of the major Hotels in Zutphen includes Golden Tulip Resort Zutphen, Berkhotel, Hotel Inntel, Hotel Het Volkshuis, Eden Hotel and many others.

The Hotels in Zutphen are designed to make your stay at the hotel a comfortable and pleasurable one. The well appointed rooms of the hotels are properly equipped with all modern amenities so that you can have a feel of home away from home. You can take advantage of the restaurants available at the hotel. You can take advantage of the business facilities, wherever available. The recreational facilities will make your stay worthwhile experience.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Planning To Holiday In The Netherlands Travel Information

http://travel-to-netherlands.blogspot.com/2011/09/planning-to-holiday-in-netherlands.html
Planning To Holiday In The Netherlands Travel Information
Travel tips for your trip to Netherlands Hotel Maps Famous Places in Netherlands helps you to make your trip to Netherlands in the holiday a Splendid One




The Netherlands is a modern and beautiful country located in northwestern Europe. It was often plagued by flood in its early history; the sea would often encroach on the land. Dikes were built to remedy this situation. These dikes have helped reclaim the land and are now a tourist destination in itself.

Many people would associate the Netherlands with fresh tulips, old fashioned windmills, beautiful wooden shoes and bicycles. Often incorrectly referred to as Holland, which is in fact a province of the Netherlands, many tourists from all over the world visit this country to enjoy its culture and places

The best time to visit the Netherlands is between May and October. It is during this time that day and night temperatures are ideal for touring. Visitors who want to enjoy the tulip season may opt to visit the country from April to May when the tulip season runs.

Entering the Netherlands has some requirements. You only need your passport if you intend to stay in the country for not more than 90 days if you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, the E.U., and the U.S. Citizens of any other country would require a visa which you could get at your nearest Dutch Embassy. Make sure to apply for a visa 1 month before your intended trip since it usually takes this long to have your visa approved.

Once you have entered the Netherlands there are a lot of things to do and places to discover. In Amsterdam there are a lot of museums to visit such as the Anne Frank House and the Rijkmuseum. It is also in this city that you could visit the numerous coffee shops that legally sell marijuana and hashish. The Red Light District is also a famous tourist destination in this city.

For the nature lovers, you could go to the city of Utrecht and visit the huge Hoge Veluwe National Park. This park has lots of trees and wildlife like red deer and wild boars. To top it off, there is a museum in the center of the park that has an impressive collection of artworks done by Van Gogh, Seurat, Mondrian and Picasso.

For the bicycle enthusiasts, proceed to Wadden Islands. Located in the northern part of the country, gorgeous beaches could be found here. Lanes exclusive for bicycles are also everywhere. You could cycle from grazing lands all the way to the sea and enjoy the fresh air and the peaceful scenery.

The traditional cuisine of the Dutch is hearty, heavy and meaty. For breakfast and lunch, expect the menu to be mainly variations of bread and cheese while fish and meat dishes make up dinner. After eating the local dishes, wash it all down with their world famous domestic beer, Heineken.

While touring the Netherlands taking the train to travel between different cities is the fastest and efficient way to travel. Once in the cities, buses are preferred or if you want to rent a car then make sure you have an international driver’s license. Biking is also a preferred mode of transportation since distances between cities is short and most streets have lanes exclusively for bikes.