One of the chief pleasures of the Netherlands is its lively contrast between pragmatic liberalism and the buttoned-up culture founded on Calvinist principles. In Dutch society, ostentation is an anathema and fuss of any kind is regarded as undignified. The towns are surrounded by canals and castle walls, the endlessly flat landscape which inspired the nation's early artists still stretch unbroken to the horizons and the dykes still occasionally threaten to give way.

Best time to visit

April to September (spring through to summer), for tulips and picnic weather.

Essential experiences

Exploring Amsterdam's many neighbourhoods, from red-light sleaze and bohemian chic to stately grandeur; visiting Hoge Veluwe National Park, the country's largest, which also houses works by Van Gough, Picasso, and Mondriaan; riding a bicycle around the Randstad region to see the spectacular bulb fields; wandering around the labyrinth of tunnels on Maastricht's western outskirts.

In a few words Amsterdam is

Bikes, dykes, windmills, clogs, tulips, red light district, pot smoking and Van Gough.

Did you know?

Dutch ovens were invented in Pennsylvania, the Dutch are reputedly the tallest people in the world and on the trains passengers sit to maintain the greatest distance between each other.