Netherlands Travel

The Netherlands is a country where tradition and technology are entwined. Artistic works of art, centuries-old windmills, endless ocean of vibrant flower fields, and romantic candle-lit cafes coexist with modernist architecture, sophisticated design, and sensational nightlife. With a quarter of the land below sea level, as well as 20% reclaimed from the sea, the seemingly flat landscape of the Netherlands adorned with canals, windmills, polders, wooden houses, and drawbridges never fails to amaze your imagination.

The Netherlands is one of the most urbanized and densely populated countries on earth, with a vast array of tourist attractions crammed into a very little space, despite the fact that about half of it was once underwater. About half of this amazing country is under or below sea level and is primarily a man-made entity owing to massive peat mining. In fact, the nation's name (Nederland) literally means "Low Country" in Dutch. Its fertile pancake-flat terrain is dotted with drainage ditches and canals, all under vast open skies while its cities and villages are often immaculate and unaltered places of gabled townhouses, charming canals, and church spires. In spite of the country's small size, every town has a unique personality; in fact, it's possible that no other place in the world has as many distinctive accents, even dialects, in such a short space. The bulbfields offer striking bursts of color in the spring and summer, while the lengthy coastline in the north and west is framed by mile after mile of protective dunes that back onto enormous expanses of flawless sandy beach.

There are 12 provinces in the Netherlands with their own governments, local traditions, attractions, and histories. Being Dutch citizens ourselves living in the Netherlands since 2013, and having traveled to 100+ cities, towns, and villages, I can safely proclaim that we’ve seen this country more than many of our Dutch friends who were born and raised here. We’ve discovered many hidden treasures scattered across the 12 provinces of the Netherlands that are not featured in any travel brochures or websites and many of our Dutch friends aren’t even aware of them.

So through this series of articles, I intend to share our stories and experiences of traveling across the different provinces of the Netherlands with our fellow photography and travel enthusiasts. I hope they help you plan your travels across this beautiful country!