| A
country that is mostly flat, about half of Holland (also referred to as the Netherlands)
is below sea level, making for quite the constant struggle with the sea. And a
likely struggle you'll have as a visitor to this European country is what to see
first. The
cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam are usually high on the list...and if you're
an art lover, you'll probably want to head to Amsterdam right away. In that city
alone, you can see 22 paintings by Rembrandt and 206 by Van Gogh. And for you
history buffs (and anyone who made it through third grade), you know the infamous
Anne Frank House is also located in Amsterdam. Take
a tour of
the tiny attic room where Anne Frank wrote her diary during the two years when
her family was in hiding from the Nazis. You'll
want to avoid driving a rental car around city -- parking is expensive and hard
to find. Plus, renting a bicycle is much cheaper and you'll find the city is very
bike-friendly. In
the country, you'll find the things for which Holland is most famous: tulips and
windmills. The bulb fields in the provinces of North and South Holland are at
their most beautiful in April and May, when the daffodils, hyacinths and tulips
are in bloom. The colorful views are most impressive -- after all, Holland produces
60 percent of the world’s commercially-grown flowers. And
don't forget to sample the many cheeses that Holland has to offer. There are cheese
markets in many towns around the country that you might want to explore as well.
Enjoy! | 
