The Netherlands

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Entry posted by korver · November 10, 2020

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The Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe, is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII. Canalside mansions and a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the city's 17th-century "Golden Age." “Netherlands” means low-lying country; the name Holland (from Houtland, or “Wooded Land”) was originally given to one of the medieval cores of what later became the modern state and is still used for 2 of its 12 provinces (Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland). A parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch, the kingdom includes its former colonies across the globe, although today much of the country is centered in the capital city of Amsterdam and the seat of government in The Hague. Let's take a look at this beautiful, historic country in today's update.

Our journey through The Netherlands will begin in its iconic capital city of Amsterdam - where the entire city center is surrounding by a maze of canals and historic row houses. The city's unique layout is quite impressive from above.

At nighttime, the city truly comes to live from above.

Amsterdam is home to many of the country's most iconic landmarks, such as Amsterdam Central Station, seen here at nighttime. Since it first opened in 1889, it has seen many renovations and has turned into an important transportation hub for embarking on trips all across western Europe.

Another view from Amsterdam - this time a closeup of the city's iconic canals and row houses on a rainy afternoon.

In addition to its modern cities, The Netherlands is also well known for its beautiful countryside. Scenic tulip fields can be seen for all around and have been grown in this region for centuries - and can come in all sorts of vibrant colors. In addition to the tulips, the landscapes of rural Netherlands are also known for another characteristic landmark - the windmill. They're been an iconic sight in the country for centuries.

Despite the traditional windmill's fame, they're not actually that efficient at producing power - and in recent years, a modern take on them has helped to transform the country's power supply. Massive offshore wind farms in the southern part of the North Sea have helped to produce clean, cheap, green energy and have transformed the look of the country's shorelines.

We travel back inland, stopping by at another one of the country's most famous cities - Utrecht. Orange roofed apartments and single family houses in a traditional, Dutch design can be seen all around and dominate the city's historic center.

Another one of The Netherlands' most important cities is The Hague - which serves as the seat of government for The Netherlands. Its city center is filled with unique modern architecture that you'll certainly want to check out.

When viewed from space, The Netherlands' most defining natural characteristic is the massive, shallow, freshwater IJsselmeer lake that's also the largest lake in Western Europe. Much of it was formed in 1932 when Dutch engineers created a massive dike across the Zuiderzee to control frequent flooding and to protect some of the country's most important cities.

The last city on our tour across The Netherlands is the iconic Dutch city of Rotterdam - it's well known for its unique blend of architecture and world-famous seaport, one of the largest in not just in Europe, but the world as well. Having an area over 100 sq kilometers, Rotterdam's port takes in nearly 500 million tons of annual cargo and plays a vital role in the country's economy. Additionally, it's also home to many important oil refineries - seen here in a closeup view of the harbour.