The Netherlands
About The Netherlands
Dutch culture is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as foreign influences thanks to the merchant and exploring spirit of the Dutch. The Netherlands and Dutch people have played an important role for centuries as a cultural centre, with the Dutch Golden Age regarded as the zenith.
Dutch society is egalitarian and modern. The Dutch aren't bogged in their clichés, even though bikes, dykes, windmills and blazing flower fields are pretty much the norm outside the major cities. Do as the locals do - grab a bike and explore. It's a very big small country, and full of salutary surprises.
One of the chief pleasures of the place is its lively contrast between pragmatic liberalism and the buttoned-up just-so primness of a culture founded on Calvinist principles. In Dutch society, ostentation is anathema and fuss of any kind is regarded as undignified.
Hordes of tourists snap their way around the Netherlands in summer, but this is still the best time of year to sit picnicking by the canals. August is a great month for all sorts of events. Spring is a good time to visit for daffodils and tulips. Easter is busy in Amsterdam, but if you can visit during Koninginnedag it's worth fighting the crowds. Early October with its Indian summer can be an excellent time to come. In winter the museums are quiet, and if everything freezes over, there's great ice skating on the canals and flood plains.