Table of Contents
Introduction
The best of the Netherlands 6
Dutch treats 19
Reclaimed from the sea 21
History & features
Decisive dates 28
Early history 31
The Golden Age 35
Sailors' talk 38
From colonists to conquered 43
Amsterdam: A historical portrait 46
The war years 49
Operations Manna and Chowhound 57
Modern history 59
The evolution of a nation 67
The House of Orange 73
Provincial life 75
A scenic cycle 85
A feast of festivals 86
The art of the Golden Age 89
Modern art 95
Architecture 99
Inside story 101
Flowers - A way of life 103
Food and drink 109
Drinking 115
Places
Introduction 123
Amsterdam 129
Anne Frank 143
Streetwise in the city 153
Amsterdam café culture 154
Amsterdam environs 157
The hague and environs 167
Rembrandt 176
Delftware 180
Rotterdam and environs 185
Rotterdam port 190
Utrecht 199
Rebels with a cause 207
Zeeland 209
Noord-brabant 219
The Catholic south 229
Riotous fun 233
Limburg 235
Life on the Water 250
Gelderland 253
The Battle of Arnhem 256
Overijssel 261
Flevoland 266
The ijsselmeer 269
Wildlife and nature reserves 274
Drenthe 277
Groningen 283
Friesland 289
Travel tips
Transport
Getting there 302
By air 302
By train 302
By sea 302
By car 302
Getting around 302
Public transport 302
By air 303
By train 303
Train taxis 304
Taxis 304
Driving 304
Cycling 304
Water transport 305
A-Z
Accommodation 306
Admission charges 306
Arts 306
Budgeting for your trip 307
Children 307
Climate 308
Crime and safety 308
Customs regulations 308
Eating out 308
Electricity 309
Embassies and consulates 309
Emergencies 309
Etiquette 310
Festivals and events 310
Health and medical care 311
Internet 311
Left Luggage 311
Lost property 311
LGBTQ travellers 311
Maps 311
Media 312
Money matters 312
Nightlife 312
Opening hours 313
Photography 313
Postal services 313
Public holidays 313
Religious services 313
Shopping 313
Smoking 314
Student travellers 314
Telephones 314
Time zone 314
Ticket offices 314
Travellers with disabilities 315
Tourist information 315
Tour operators and travel agents 315
Value added tax 315
Visas and passports 315
Weights and measures 315
Language 316
Further Reading 319
Maps
Netherlands 124
Amsterdam 126
Haarlem 158
Amsterdam Environs 161
The Hague 168
Leiden 174
Delft 181
Rotterdam 186
Zuid-HolLand and Utrecht 192
Utrecht 200
Zeeland 210
Noord-Brabant and Limburg 220
s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) 224
Masstricht 242
Gelderland and Overijssel 254
IJsselmeer 276
Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland 278
Inside front cover Netherlands
Inside back cover Amsterdam
Legend
Insight on
Photo story