Why choose Holland? | About Holland | Where in Holland | Amsterdam | The Hague | Maastricht | Rotterdam | Utrecht
Why choose Holland?
Holland or the Netherlands?
What is the difference? There is often confusion about the name Holland. Some people call the Netherlands Holland, but in fact Holland is only a small part of the Netherlands and like the Dakotas, Carolinas and Virginias, there are two Hollands: 'North Holland' (capital city Haarlem) and 'South Holland' (capital city The Hague). Holland used to be an independent country, but gave up this independence in the 16th century, when it allied with the Northern and Southern Netherlands against the armies of the King of Spain. Some other adjustments later, 'the Kingdom of the Netherlands' as we know it today, is more than just Holland! Throughout the world, people continue to refer to the Netherlands as Holland, but this is really a mistake!
Ease of arrival
When you are paying a visit to the Netherlands it is highly likely that you will be traveling via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, named best airport in Europe in 2004. Schiphol is a major European hub, with flights arriving here daily from every continent. Given the size of the Netherlands, and its excellent transport system, most destinations are within easy reach of Schiphol. The Netherlands also has airports in Eindhoven, Enschede, Groningen, Maastricht and Rotterdam, serving European destinations.
Selection of venues
The Netherlands has an ample selection of top class 5-star and 4-star hotels throughout the country, both in historic and modern settings.
The People
Dutch people are famed for their tolerance, commercial astuteness, sea-faring abilities and skill with languages, all traits that brought the Netherlands to the forefront of the world stage in the 17th century and continue to ensure its place as a key member of the European and global economic and political scenes. Visitors to the Netherlands will be impressed by the efficiency, and at the same time laid-back attitude to life of the Dutch people. Statistically the Dutch are the tallest people in the world, and visitors will also be impressed by their height!
Landscapes
The Netherlands is a flat country, made beautiful by the myriads of windmills, dykes and bulb fields that decorate the landscape, while the cities are a mixture of beautifully preserved 17th century merchants houses and canal bridges, mixed with the best of modern architecture and design.
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About Holland
Facts
Capital: Amsterdam (seat of the government is in The Hague)
System of Government: Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system
Area: 41,528 square kilometres
Estimated Population: 16,400,000 inhabitants
Size
Holland is quite small; the surface area is 41,528 square kilometres. The greatest distance from north to south is 300 kilometres, and from west to east 200 kilometres. Holland is also one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with an average of 481 inhabitants per square kilometer. To the east the Netherlands borders Germany, to the south Belgium, and to the north and west the North Sea.
Language
Dutch is the national language of Holland. However, English is spoken by almost everyone. In addition, many Dutch people speak German and French. Dutch is the mother tongue of well over 21 million Dutch people and Flemish people (Dutch-speaking nationals of Belgium). The people in the province of Friesland speak Fries, in addition to Dutch.
Climate
The Netherlands has a temperate marine climate, with cool summers and mild winters. Rain is spread pretty evenly over the year. Summer temperatures average about 16 or 17 degrees Celsius but highs of 30 degrees Celsius are not unheard of. Winters are mild with increased rainfall and average temperatures of between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius. The most popular months to visit are between May and October when temperatures are at their highest and rainfall is at its lowest.
Time
The Netherlands is located in the Central European Timezone (GMT +1). This implies that the time difference with EST is +6 hours and with PST +9 hours.
Currency
The Netherlands is one of 12 European Union countries whose common official currency is the euro (€). 1 euro is divided into 100 cents. The coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. The notes are differentiated by their size and colour and come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.
VAT and Tax Refunds
In the Netherlands VAT (BTW) is charged at a rate of 19% and is included in the sales price of all items. It is worth double-checking before making a purchase, however, to avoid any confusion when it comes to payment. Non-EU nationals can reclaim this VAT when leaving the EU. In order to avail of this service you must make purchases in stores which state that they participate in this scheme. Your purchases must exceed €135 in one shop in one day and the gooda must be exported from the EU within ninety days of the month of purchase. When departing you must show the purchases, the receipts and the Global Refund Check which you received in the store. Following this you will have several choices as to how to get your money back. You can get an immediate refund at the Cash Refund Office in Amsterdam Airport, you can get a refund on your credit card, or you can receive a check.
Opening Hours
Most shops are open from Tuesday to Friday between 9 am and 6 pm, on Saturdays between 9 am and 5 pm. On Monday, many shops are closed in the mornings and open between 11 am and 1 pm and close at 6 pm. Most cities have late-night shopping (until 9 pm) on Thursdays or Fridays. In the main cities, many shops are open on Sunday from 12 noon to 5 PM. In most holiday and tourist resorts many shops are open at night, too.
Electrical Current
The voltage in Holland is 220 volts. Hotels may have a 110-volt or 120-volt outlet for shavers, but travellers are advised to bring a power converter and an adapter for two-prong, round-prong plugs with side grounding contacts.
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