Netherlands

Small, flat, and densely populated, the Netherlands has a big presence on the global stage—even without the huge colonial empire that defined its imperial days. Whether you come here for the dignified centers of international politics, the iconic tulip beds and windmills, or to soak up the progressive (and statistically super-happy) vibe of the Dutch populace, this northern wedge of the Low Countries won’t disappoint.

Straight off the bat, perhaps we should tackle some semantics. Many outsiders mistakingly refer to the Netherlands as “Holland,” but that historical name applies only to a portion of the country: the provinces of North and South Holland. While those areas do encompass the biggest cities in the Netherlands, get out of the habit of calling the entire nation Holland; it’s a little insulting, after all, to residents of Utrecht, Friesland, Limburg, and all the other Dutch provinces.

There’s a good chance, too, that you have a few stereotypes in mind when you think of the Netherlands. Tulip fields? Sure, there are plenty—but interspersed with vast industrial-scale farmland in this agricultural powerhouse of a country. Windmills? Indeed, including the UNESCO-listed Kinderdijk mills (built in the mid-1700s and still going strong) and the world’s largest windmills in Schiedam. Dutch clogs? Yes, klompen are easy to turn up—mostly in souvenir shops. The International Criminal Court? Yup—one of many landmarks of the Hague, which also include the waterfront political complex of the Binnenhof and the Peace Palace. Amsterdam’s loose and lax red-light district and woozy cafes? They’re realities of the Dutch capital, but there’s a whole lot more going on as well in the rest of the city, as notable for its sheer beauty as anything else.

In Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and other handsome metropolises, you’ve got lots of opportunities for cultural edification and cosmopolitan adventure, Dutch-style: outstanding museums (such as the Hague’s esteemed Mauritshuis), restaurants as creative as any in Europe, and nightlife driven enthusiastically by both Dutch and foreign club-hoppers.

Meantime, the Dutch countryside is famously unassuming from a topographic perspective, which makes it all the more perfect for long-distance cycling. And with cities as bike-friendly as Amsterdam—well, just count the Netherlands as one of the best places in the world to pedal, from back roads to the urban grid.

And less well known as the windmills and waterwheels is the topnotch Dutch coastline: some 400 miles of North Sea oceanfront, much of it beach-lined and sun-soaked.

From monumental houses of power and thronged evening streets to frozen-in-time bucolic vistas, the Netherlands is likely to satisfy all your expectations—and maybe dazzle with a few surprises, too!