DK Eyewitness - DK Eyewitness Netherlands

First edition 2003

Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited,
80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL

Published in the United States by DK Publishing,
1450 Broadway, Suite 801, New York, NY 10018

Copyright 2003, 2020 Dorling Kindersley Limited
A Penguin Random House Company

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the British Library.

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN: 9780241409374
eISBN: 9780241464595

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INSPIRE / PLAN / DISCOVER / EXPERIENCE

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t Urk Lighthouse, Flevoland

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t Gliding over a wintery Kinderdijk canal.

Reflective waterways and tilting canal houses. Delectable wine and world-class street food. Vivid flower fields and slow-spinning windmills. Epic museums and sprawling street art. From cosmopolitan cities perched delicately on land reclaimed from the North Sea to ethereal natural wonders, this small country contains a great multitude of surprises. Whatever your dream trip to the Netherlands entails, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion.

Lauded for its pleasingly no-nonsense and civilized way of life, this flat country reveals a surprisingly wild side. Between gorgeous cities and villages connected by canals, rugged heathland spreads across the interior, merging into marshy fenland fringed by dunes. In the countrys northern reaches, a necklace of remote sandy islands is strung out across the Waddenzee, a windswept wonderland of mud flats and seal colonies.

In marvellous contrast, regimented farmland bursts into technicolour dreams in the famous bulb fields, and watersports, windmill-dotted fields, vineyard terraces and local craft beers lure visitors to postcard-pretty villages. Most of the action is to the west in the belt of cities that comprise the Randstad. Each has its own character, from the laid-back hedonism of Amsterdam to the foodie scene of Rotterdam. World-class museums await, including the Mauritshuis in Den Haag and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. And of course, all have first-rate art galleries bursting with works by Vermeer, Van Gogh and Rembrandt.

The Netherlands is so full of things to see and do that it can be hard to know where to start. Weve broken the country down into easily navigable sections, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge and comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect visit. Whether youre staying for a weekend, a week or longer, this DK Eyewitness guide will ensure that you see the best the country has to offer. Enjoy the book, and enjoy the Netherlands.

Admiring a vast canvas in the Rijksmuseum.

An isolated refuge on the island of Terschelling.

Dutch wares on display at an Amsterdam cheese shop.

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Vibrant cities and abundant culture, vividly coloured bulbfields and wild dunescapes, picture-perfect windmills and freewheeling bicycles: there are endless reasons to love the Netherlands. Here are our favourites.

t In spring, take delight in the stunning colours of the blooming in Amsterdams canals, overflowing with flowers.

discover Reasons to Love the Netherlands