Netherlands sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

It doesn't matter what city you will choose as a starting point of your travel, your vacation in the Netherlands will be equally interesting and diverse. In this country you will find ancient buildings, beautiful botanic gardens and newest entertainment centers.

When it comes to historic landmarks of the Netherlands, breath-taking medieval castles must be mentioned first. There is an interesting legend about Radbound Castle that was built in the 13th century in order to protect the border with Friesland. During several centuries the castle was an irreplaceable facility until a part of its towers and protective walls were destroyed in 1578. The stones obtained in such a way were used to build a sea dam. Muiderslot Castle was built in 1280 by the order of Count Florice V. In 1609, Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft became the owner of the castle and turned it into a venue for various theatre performances, concerts and balls. Once a severe fortress, Muiderslot Castle has turned into a luxurious palace. Nowadays, halls of the castle exhibit the collections of the State Museum. Travelers are also recommended to visit De Haar Castle, which original design is reminiscent of a traditional Bavarian palace. During its centuries-old history the castle was destroyed several times, but every time it was carefully restored afterwards. Nowadays, visitors are able to see the castle exactly the way it was restored by skilled masters of the 18th century.

Keukenhof or the Garden of Europe is one more place of interest in the Netherlands, which is well-known beyond the borders of the country. The park is particularly beautiful in spring, when more than 7 million of different flowers start blooming there. Tulips, sakura, hyacinths, narcissuses, roses, orchids, gerberas, lilies, azaleas and crocuses - you will find all these and many more flowers in the park. Every year skilled florists of Keukenhof design the park in a new way, so that every time it looks original and absolutely unforgettable. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Madurodam Interactive Miniature Park is a wonderful place, a visit to which will be interesting to both adults and children. This is a large open-air museum, where visitors will be able to see ancient windmills, the magnificent Palace of the World, Dam Square, the Royal Palace and many other interesting buildings. In addition to amazing architectural landmarks, there is a big cheese market in the territory of the park. Cheese makers from nearly all cities of the country come to the market to show off their best products, so even the most discerning cheese fans will be pleased. Travelers with the children will definitely fall in love with Efteling Theme Park, where they will meet characters from their favorite fairy tales, try different rides and attractions or watch a performance of the doll theatre.

History and Entertainment

The first settlements at the site of the modern country appeared more than 2500 years ago. Some of the most interesting archeological districts were found by explorers in Oss. In the 1st century AD, the part of the present state territory was under the Romans. In the 3rd-4th centuries, the Saxons and the Franks started conquering this territory. In the 5th century, some part of the territory of the present Netherlands was occupied by the large Frankish state called the Empire of Charles the Great.

By the 12th century, it flourished, as a lot of new cities appeared exactly at that time. The main local residents’ means of subsistence were the trade and different handicrafts. Some craft traditions are still alive and have a history of over one hundred years. The 17th century was a turning point in the state history, as tulips were brought to the country exactly at that time. Their breeding immediately became one of the main economic components. Besides, during that period, the Netherlands was known as one of the largest slave trade centers in the world.

Nowadays, the Netherlands is known as the largest center of floriculture and plant breeding and as a country with a rich historic heritage and cultural traditions. A lot of captivating celebrations and festivals visited by guests from all parts of the world are annually held here. It will be interesting for fans of event tourism to visit the country in the second half of April. This is the time for the traditional Flower Festival where the guests can admire sculptures made of fresh flowers.

The key point of this festival is the flower parade when the procession with transportable flowerbeds and sculptures covers the distance of over 80 km. The completion point of this route is the park of Keukenhof where sculptures are stored for several days. On 30 April, one of the most significant national holidays – Queen's Day – is celebrated. On this day, you can see thousands of people in funny orange clothes in the streets of the cities. Most of the entertainments of the festive day are held in the open air.

The Netherlands is a popular holiday destination for adherents of food tourism. They visit not only local restaurants with the highest awards, but also picturesque markets where they can find a lot of unique specialties. Some of the main national treats are Dutch cheeses. Another important national product here is herring. A lot of food festivals are held in the country during the year.