The Netherlands and the Netherlands are not the same, contrary to popular belief, since Holland is just one of the regions of this state. However, who cares about this? The main thing is that the Netherlands, like other European countries, can boast a truly impressive history, and that’s why hundreds of thousands of tourists go to this country every year.
In the Netherlands it rains almost all year round, but the Dutch never use umbrellas. But they always wear raincoats and raincoats, because it’s very difficult to ride with an umbrella on a bicycle, and even harder to cope with an umbrella in a strong wind that blows here almost continuously.
The Netherlands is a liberal country with progressive laws. Since 2000, prostitution has been legalized here, since 2001 – same-sex marriages. Since 2009, homosexual couples can adopt children.
The Dutch are the tallest people in Europe with an average height of 1.81-1.84 meters for adult men and 1.67-1.70 meters for women. In second place in this parameter among the countries of Europe is Montenegro.
Bicycles in the country more than people (18 million against 17 million). And the length of the bike paths is incredible 15 thousand km, and is constantly growing.
The Netherlands is the birthplace of many famous artists. Everyone probably knows names such as Rembrandt van Rijn or Vincent van Gogh. In Amsterdam alone there are at least 22 paintings by Rembrandt and 206 works by Van Gogh in Amsterdam.
The Netherlands is famous for its tulips, but the tulips initially did not grow there. They were brought from the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century. Today, the Netherlands is the largest producer and exporter of tulips in the world. And not only tulips: 75% of the flower bulbs in the world are of Dutch origin.
Despite the fact that the Netherlands legalized smoking marijuana, the level of its consumption by the Dutch is one of the lowest in Europe. Also in the Netherlands, one of the lowest death rates associated with drug use is eight cases per million inhabitants (for example, in the UK this figure is 50).
The Netherlands is famous for its cheeses. And in the spring period, local gourmets pay special attention to herring. It is at this time of the year that this product is considered the most delicious and the process of preparing it for consumption occurs in a special way.
The favorite alcoholic drink among the inhabitants of the Netherlands is vodka. Most often, preference is given to juniper vodka, with the local name “Enever”.
The name “The Netherlands” is translated as “lowland”. Indeed, most of the country is very vulnerable to the sea elements. About a quarter of the territory is even below sea level, from which the dams are protected. At such a low site is, for example, Schipholk airport south-west of the capital, serving millions of passengers a year. In its place was once a lake.
Famous Dutch windmills were once built to pump water there and keep it at the right level, protecting the land from flooding. Until now, about 1000 such buildings have been preserved in the Netherlands. The most famous of them is in Kinderkake near Rotterdam. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In Holland, it is customary not to curtain the windows. This tradition goes back to antiquity and is conditioned by the Protestant religion, which says that the Dutch have nothing to hide, and their way of life corresponds to the Christian notions of morality.
Colleagues for work, both men and women, wash together in the baths.
In Holland, as well as in Germany and Austria, most of the public saunas are open to men and women at the same time, and it is naked.
