Netherlands Travel Guide

With a territory of 41.526 km ² , the Netherlands are made up islands and an alluvial plain whose level is close or lower than that of the sea. With approximately a quarter of the territory below the sea level, it is one of the lowest regions in the world. One finds only hills in the south of Limbourg where maximum altitude reaches 321 meters (Vaalserberg). The Netherlands are bordered with west and in north by the North Sea on 1200 km, with it is by Germany (584 km of border) and in the south by Belgium (496 km of border). The three inlands waterways (the Scheldt, Meuse and the Rhine), most important of Europe, form a vast deltaic unit. Moors and marsh in the south and east. In the south of the Meuse (Campine) and with east (Gueldre, Groningue), the plains are covered with marshes (Peel, Bourtange) or with moors. They are areas breeding of sheep and horses and poor culture (rye). Alluvial plain of the large rivers: In the center slack a broad mud plain and silts deposited by the various arms of the Rhine (Lek, Waal, New Meuse) and of the Meuse. It is protected from the floods by dams set up along the rivers; innumerable windmills pump water infiltration. It is an area of rich cultures (cereals, sugar beet), orchards and breeding. Polders in the coastal area: All the coastal area (Zealand, Holland and Frise) is located below the sea level. This zone conquered on water is with shelter of a rampart of consolidated dunes and dams built in their intervals (draining of the sea of Haarlem at the XVIIème century, closing at the XXème century of Zuiderzee by a dam while waiting for its total draining). The polders are of an astonishing agricultural richness (cultures in Zealand, gardens and breeding in Holland). Wooded surface - mainly of the woodland pine - covers 8% of the territory

Climate
The climate is of oceanic type moderate and a little more continental towards the interior, with moderate winters and fresh summers. Time is very changing. Fogs, drizzles and rains are frequent and the winds can show violent one along the coasts. The average temperatures vary 2,2°C (winter) with 16,6°C (be). The annual average of precipitations is of 760 Misters.

Principal cities
Amsterdam
750.000 inhabitants (1.150.000 in agglomeration). Capital and second port of the country, Amsterdam is connected, by channel, with the North Sea and the Rhine. This industrial town (size of diamonds, mechanical engineering, chemical industries and food) and commercial is the seat of the principal banking institutions of the country. In XIIIème century, Amsterdam was an alive village of the trade and fishing. The city develops following its affiliation with the Hanseatic League (1358) then with the League of Cologne (1367). In XVIème century, Amsterdam becomes a centre of attraction for the Jewish emigrants and huguenots. The foundation of the Companies of the Indies Orientales (1602) and Western (1621) enables him to create a colonial empire and to become, at the XVIIème century, the metropolis commercial of Western and septentrional Europe. Considered for its channels, its houses of bricks and its cultural activities, the city is built on a hundred small islands connected by innumerable bridges.

Rotterdam
600.000 inhabitants (1.100.000 in agglomeration). Located on a branch of the delta common to the Rhine and the Meuse, Rotterdam is the largest port of the world and the second urban community of the country. It is also a great industrial center (oil refining, chemical big industries). Completely destroyed during the Second world war, the city made, for its rebuilding, the choice of modernity.

La Haye/Den Haag
600.000 inhabitants in agglomeration. Place of residence of the Court and the Diplomatic corps, sits of the government and of the Parliament, La Haie is the political and administrative center country. It is also the seat of the International Court of Justice, International penal court (CPI) and the European Patent Office. The city is primarily residential. Utrecht 500.000 inhabitants in agglomeration. Located at the center of the country, Utrecht is a node of communication but also a center industrial, commercial and university important.

Eindhoven
400.000 inhabitants in agglomeration. Located at the south, the city is in particular known to be the head office of Philips. It is specialized in the scientific and technological sector.

Groningue/Gronigen
175.000 inhabitants. The big city of the north of the country, located close to the natural gas layers, is also an important arts centre and university.

Maastricht or Maestricht
120.000 inhabitants. Chief town of Limbourg, located at the extreme south of the country on the Meuse, the city gave its name to the Treaty on European Union, signed on February 7, 1992. Other important cities It is also necessary to quote the towns of Tilburg (industrial center) and Wood-The-Duke (port activities) in the Brabant, of Nimègue on Waal (mechanical engineering and electric), Arnhem on the Rhine (chemical industries and food), Of enschede with east, Haarlem in septentrional Holland (mechanical engineering) and of Delft (faience manufactures) between La Haie and Rotterdam.

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