“God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.” This aphorism of Martin Luther proves to be right when we see the landscapes in Holland, situated in the west of Netherlands. A maritime region, Holland lies on the North Sea at the maw of the Rhine and the Meuse (Maas) along with numerous rivers and lakes that unfold the splendor of the region and to the south is Zealand that narrates the tale of its own existence to its visitors.
The region is enclosed on the east by the IJsselmeer and four different provinces of the Netherlands. The core cities in Holland are Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague. The Port of Rotterdam is Europe's largest and the most important harbour and port in Holland with the population of 607,460. Amsterdam is officially the capital of the Netherlands and houses scenic canals, world class art museums, great shopping experience and many more. The Hague is the seat of government of the Netherlands with 473,940 residents.
Rotterdam signifies Netherlands' best art museum -the Boymans van Beuningen Museum in the Museumpark section of the city. In Arnhem Openlucht museum, you can find the replicates of how the Dutch lived, farmed and built homes and windmills in the ancient times. Aside from the fantastic scenery, the Park is the site of the Kroller-Muller Museum, which currently displays a collection of nineteenth and twentieth century art including forty-six paintings by Van Gogh. In Haarlem, be sure to visit the impressive St. Bavo's Cathedral and its famous Muller organ played by Mozart and Handel.


Another important place in Holland is Delft. It is one of the best preserved historic towns in the Netherlands. It is known for its canals, walkways and Delft Pottery. You can have a glimpse of both the Oude Kerk (Old Church) and Nieuwe Kerk (with the tomb of William of Orange). City's best museum the Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof (Municipal Museum Het Prinsenhof) features an excellent collection of Dutch decorative arts.
A notable place in history, Utrecht has a pleasant Old Town, fine canals, good restaurants and interesting antique stores. The Domkerk, featuring the highest and oldest church tower in the country, is a must visit. The Dom Tower was built in the 14th century. You can climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city. If you are a fan of the Modern Movement in architecture, Utrecht houses the Rietveld- Schröderhus, designed by Gerrit Rietveld. On the whole, the Central Museum in Utrecht has the world's largest collection of Rietveld, along with a fine collection of painting from the Caravaggists (known as the Utrecht Masters) from the 16th and 17th century.
Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan city, with some of the liveliest nightlife in Europe. Its famous (or infamous) red light district, de Wallen, is a magnet for visitors, and there are numerous bars, clubs and coffee shops. Rotterdam has an excellent selection of nightclubs, a lively harbour side café and restaurant scene, while Hague leans heavily on theater and dance. University City Utrecht offers a large casino and the lively nightlife scene associated with a large student population.

The Hague has a scenic core with a well-preserved history. It has a slower pulse than Amsterdam and its gentrified neighbourhoods make it a place for great touring. Den Haag (The Hague) is 'Royal Netherlands' as the royal family lives here. In addition, The Hague is the center for government and diplomacy in the Netherlands. The Hague has several interesting museums, including the Municipal Museum of the Hague, which features a significant collection of painting by Piet Mondrian.
The Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery is housed in a beautiful building that contains paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer and other Masters. If you want to visit the region by boat, there is a large choice of marinas. Do contact them before you go there, to make sure they have room for the size of your boat.
You will also love to visit a historic university town -Leiden, an attractive “Old Town” that hugs its main canal and a number of small but interesting museums. Leiden is also considered to be the birthplace of the prominent artist Rembrandt. Time permitting; do take a boat trip on Leiden's scenic canals. If you are in Netherlands at the time of the Spring Bulb Festival at Keukenhof, you may also want to use Leiden as your base. The Keukenhof, billed as the most beautiful spring garden in the world, is open for touring only from mid-March through mid-May. This year, Keukenhof season will take place from March 24th to May 20th.




Maastricht is another important city in Holland that would make your trip memorable. Its importance has doubled since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 that laid the groundwork for the adoption of the Euro. This fortified medieval town is over all a pleasant stop. The Randstad area is one of the most densely populated regions of Europe.
Large towns, however, have a wide range of restaurants specializing in international dishes. Indonesian cuisine, a spicy legacy of Dutch colonization in the East Indies, is particularly good in Netherlands. The Dutch enjoy having fun and carry an open minded approach towards life. Night out in Netherlands can be something unbelievable for the first time visitor. Large cities are well-supplied with sophisticated nightclubs and discos. The theaters and cinemas in all major towns are popular in Holland and play a big role in life.
Another popular option is a dinner cruise through the canals and harbor aboard a glasstopped boat. There are legal casinos in several main towns and cities. A Dutch breakfast consists of fresh bread, cheese, cooked meats & sausage, butter and hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles), jam or honey and often a boiled egg. Lunch is generally similar. Broodjes (sandwiches) are a common daytime snack, served in the omnipresent sandwich bars –broodjes winkels. Poffertjes (pancakes) served with butter and sugars are teatime favourite. Matjes (salted herring) is widely available from street stalls, and smoked eel is another seafood specialty.
Overall, Holland is famous for its cheeses such as the Gouda, Edam and Leiden varieties. The local spirit is jenever (Dutch gin), normally taken straight and chilled as a chaser with a glass of beer. The most popular beer brands in Amsterdam are Amstel and the ubiquitous Heineken, which is also produced in the city. There are also a number of smaller breweries producing special beers and ales for the connoisseur, including the Trappist Brouwerij De Koeningshoeven. Dutch liquors include Curaçao, Parfait d'Amour, Triple Sec (similar to Cointreau) and Dutch-made versions of crème de menthe, apricot brandy and anisette.