The Netherlands

The Netherlands is a unique country. Almost half of it was once under water and is now largely man-made. Each town also often has its own distinct identity . Perhaps there is no other place in the world where you can hear so many different accents or dialects. In spring and summer you can admire the wonderful bulbfields where colourful tulips and other flowers grow. And the coastline in the west and north is protected by dunes that stretch onto perfect sandy beach. Most Dutch people speak English and an efficient public transport system makes most of the country easy to reach.

The Netherlands is a cosmopolitan place with an overabundance of paintings in its museums remaining from the Golden Age and a vast array of festivals with performing Dutch and foreign artists. Moreover, cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam also have a rich nightlife scene.