"Not just Holland but The Netherlands! " a Netherlands Travel Page by Robin922

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Just how much cool stuff can you pack into one little country? A lot!!

The Netherlands is a very small county. To give you an idea, the state of Arkansas is 53,182 square miles and the Netherlands is only 16,485 square miles. However, don’t let the size fool you, a person could spend weeks here and not see everything.

Many people hear the word ‘Holland’ and think of it as being a county, however it is only a province. The other things that often come to mind are windmills, wooden shoes, cheese, and depending on your age and gender… the red light district and ‘coffee shops’. Yes all of these items are here, but also a whole lot more.

For first time international travelers, I would rate this county a 10. Dutch is the national language, however most people speak fluent English, and many also have a third language.
The county is one of the cleanest, friendliest places I’ve ever been to.

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The old saying, “flat as a pancake” describes the county! Unless you go to the very most southern point, the largest hill you are going to see will be a dirt pile at a construction site.

This flat landscape does offer some advantages when it comes to transportation. One of the most popular ways to get around is the bicycle. Bicycles can be rented from many locations, and some hotels even offer free loaners.

If you don’t care to ride a bike, or you want to travel a little further, the public transit system is wonderful. The train system will take you to most major towns, and secondary ones are accessible by bus. Cities like Amsterdam also offer trams. I do have one warning, avoid the cabs!!! While they appear to be very honest, the rate is very high.

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For most visitors the first and only stop will be Amsterdam. Going to Amsterdam, is like going to New York City and saying “I’ve see the U.S.” Unfortunately many travelers do this. Don’t get me wrong Amsterdam is a ‘must see’ place, however there are many other places to see.

If you have an interest in architecture, antiques, archaeology, diamonds, sports, gardening, or most anything to do with water you will find something here to tickle your fancy. Then of course you there is windmills, cheese, tulips, wooden shoes, and lots of cows & sheep.