The Netherlands is home to sophisticated cities, a thriving arts scene and a friendly welcoming culture. The nation that gave the world groundbreaking artists like Van Gogh and Rembrandt, it's often finding new ways to set the agenda.

Amsterdam manages to remain human in scale while being one of the world's great cities. Bicycle-filled streets are lined with steep-gabled houses. Cafes, bars and restaurants line the UNESCO recognised canals. Once synonymous with industry, Rotterdam has undergone a makeover, making it a hip destination filled with galleries, museums and great music. The landscape of the Netherlands is immediately recognisable. Vast fields of colourful tulips, windmills, and scattered dairy farms are cut through by canals. Away from the cities, traditional rural towns like Edam, Haarlem and Leiden preserve an older Dutch way of life. There are over 400 miles of unbroken sandy beaches along the Zeeland coast, with great seafood restaurants and cycle rides to be enjoyed when the weather lets you down.