Europe uncovered - Contiki
Europe uncovered - Contiki
Europe uncovered - Contiki
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contiki.com<br />
<strong>Europe</strong> <strong>uncovered</strong><br />
THE NETHERLANDS<br />
Political Capital: DenHaag (The Hague)<br />
Official Capital: Amsterdam<br />
Currency: Euro<br />
Population: 16,500,000<br />
Area: 41,160 sq.km<br />
People: Language: Dutch, English, French,<br />
German, Belgian. Ethnological Mix: Dutch,<br />
Belgians, Frisians, Germanic stock with<br />
French mixture.<br />
Climate: Fairly cool summers, moderate to cold<br />
winters - fairly wet throughout the year.<br />
Time Difference: GMT + 1 hr<br />
Geography<br />
There’s an old saying that ‘God made the world, but the<br />
Dutch made Holland,’ which you can almost believe when you<br />
realise that nearly half the country has been reclaimed from<br />
the sea. Miles upon miles of unbroken flower fields, farmland<br />
and villages can all be found in this flat country which has<br />
rolling hills and forests in the South along its border with<br />
Belgium. Amsterdam, the largest city, has more canals than<br />
Venice, featuring 95km (60 miles) of waterways, spanned by<br />
1000 bridges.<br />
Places of interest in Amsterdam<br />
Rijksmuseum: Explore an extensive collection of paintings<br />
by Dutch masters in the Netherlands’ largest National<br />
Museum which opened in 1885. Features “The Night Watch”<br />
by Rembrandt.<br />
Albert Cuyp market: Shop for a variety of goods from<br />
delicious Dutch licorice and stroop waffels to clothes, shoes<br />
and all kinds of food, at this, the city’s best known market.<br />
Closed Sundays.<br />
Anne Frank Huis: Marvel at how two Jewish families hid<br />
from the Nazis for two years in WWII by occupying the<br />
second floor of what was then an office building and moving<br />
around only at night instead of the day-time to avoid<br />
discovery. Anne Frank kept a diary of her experience now a<br />
best-seller in dozens of languages. Closed January 1st,<br />
Yom Kippur, December 25th.<br />
Van Gogh museum: Experience the work of a tormented<br />
genius in the best collection of Van Gogh’s work in the world<br />
today. Popular pieces include “The Potato Eaters” and “Vase<br />
With Sunflowers”. Closed January 1st.<br />
Bloemenmarket (Flower Market): Wander along the Singél<br />
Canal at the last of the city’s floating markets and enjoy the<br />
displays of fragrant seasonal flowers. Closed Sunday.
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