The Netherlands has almost dispelled the notion of simply being an archaic land of clogs and windmills with its string of exciting conurbations, including the cosmopolitan capital, Amsterdam – one of Europe's great cities. Even towns such as Eindhoven, The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam are instilled with a genuine buzz.
Away from the cities, the idyllic land of windmills and tulips still exists in the bucolic splendour of the countryside, as do a number of stunning medieval towns and beach resorts on its wide swathe of coastline. The Netherlands is renowned for being unremittingly flat, but this does have its advantages, providing excellent terrain for cycling and walking, plus opening up sweeping, vast skies that celebrated painters past and present – of which The Netherlands boasts many - have sought to capture on canvas. Essentially, what The Netherlands offers is high culture in low land. Amsterdam alone enables you to delve through centuries of history aboard a canal boat or explore an exhaustive array of museums and galleries.
The Netherlands' roots in the arts stem from the 17th century, the so-called 'Golden Age', which placed this tiny but rich country at the forefront of European culture. The gaining of the upper hand by imperial influence and the annexing of The Netherlands to the far-flung empire of the Hapsburgs in the 16th century resulted in the rebellion of the largely Protestant northern provinces of the Low Countries, led by William of Orange and Nassau – this struggle for independence would last until 1648. This was compounded by a remarkable growth in Dutch sea power, as many Spanish and Portuguese possessions in the New World and East Asia were seized. This reached its acme in 1689 when William III of Orange became King of England - although the association was severed on his death in 1702.
William III of Orange's death portended The Netherlands' 18th-century wane and its eventual absorption into Napoleon's empire. The whole area of the Low Countries was briefly reunited (1814-30) and, in 1848, the constitution was amended, leaving the Monarch only limited powers. The Netherlands took no part in World War I but suffered badly as a result of the Nazi invasion of 1940.
Post-war Dutch diplomacy has concentrated on increasing European unity: the Dutch are enthusiastic Europeans and the EU is the main focus of Dutch foreign policy. Although recent years have seen bad publicity surrounding the rise and murder of far-right politician Pim Fortuyn, in 2002, and increased public debate about tighter immigration controls (somewhat denting the city's reputation for tolerance), The Netherlands – in particular, Amsterdam – is still a haven for many nationalities, sexualities and radically different political and religious persuasions. It also just happens to be incredibly exciting, enchanting and interesting.
