Honeymoon Tours Travel

Situated at the mouth of the River Rhine, the Netherlands is a man-made country that owes its life to the sea: much of the land once lay under water, and a maritime trading tradition was the principal source of the nation's wealth, most notably in the 17th century. The Netherlands is also one of the world's most liberal countries, with a long history of cultural and racial tolerance.

The shape of the Netherlands (or Holland, as it is also known) has changed dramatically over the last 2000 years. Medieval maps show nearly half of the country under water, but since then large areas have been; reclaimed from the sea; the current shoreline is maintained by a drainage system of windmills, dykes, and canals.

With some 16 million people in just 41,547 sq km (16,041 sq miles) of Land, it is the third most densely populated country in Europe (after Monaco and Malta), but this is barely perceptible to the visitor. Only when arriving by plane do you see how such of the area is still covered with water, and how little precious land remains. The orderly Dutch cities and towns never seem overcrowded, but homes are often small, with steep, arrow staircases and modest gardens. Given the fragility of their environment, it is understandable that the Dutch are so good at preserving it.

The three biggest cities — Amsterdam, the capital, Rotterdam, the industrial hub, and the Hague, the seat of government — are all in the west of the country, part of the urban conglomeration known as the Randstad.