Geography and Best places in Netherlands
The Netherlands is surrounded by the North Sea in the North and West, while Germany and Belgium reside in the East and South respectively. Apart from the mainland, the country holds sovereignty over 6 other islands. The Netherlands has 12 provinces and every province has its own capital. Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Groningen, Gelderland, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, and Zuid-Holland are the names of the 12 provinces.
Several cities here are popular holiday destinations. Out of which, Amsterdam is the most popular one. It is the largest city and is well-known as a tech hub. Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is also home to the royal palace. Several international companies, entrepreneurs, startups, and universities are effectively working here.
Another city, Delft, has delightful architecture that gives a golden age vibe. The square includes the famous twin towers, an old drawbridge, a river canal, the 17th-century pinnacle of Dutch trade, the church, and sea power. Delft’s delftware is famous around the world.
Royal Delft, the oldest surviving workshop, established back in the 1600s, welcomes visitors to drop in and see how those earthenware is made from clay. The second-largest city, Rotterdam, has the busiest seaport in all of Europe called Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
The third-largest city, the Hague, acts as the second capital of the Netherlands, which holds the seat of government, as well as the international court of justice. The beaches of the Hague are also one of the most visited areas in the Netherlands.
Most of the country is below sea level. The Dutch reclaimed the land from the sea over centuries. To keep the land dry, the windmill has been playing an important role. Some of those giant windmills are from the 1600s. The windmill would use the wind energy to lift the water to the dams and dikes.
Once covered with the sea, the soil of the Netherlands is fertile and suitable for farming. This soil particularly grows flowers very well. The flowers are grown for commercial purposes as the Netherlands is the world’s leading flower exporter.
The prayers in the church are one of the peaceful activities here. Haarlem's towering organ has been serving visitors since 1738. The architecture and interiors of the church are artistic and heart-warming too.