Travel encyclopedia of the Netherlands. Holland

"Encyclopedia of Travel". The book invites readers to different countries to tell and show how interesting and unique every corner of the Earth is! Travel, imaginary or real, is one of the most the best ways knowledge of the world. The book will help prepare for the trip, take readers to many wonderful places, and offer interesting tasks after the trip. “Encyclopedia of Travel” is addressed to primary schoolchildren. It is intended for use in lessons on the subject " The world around us"and extracurricular activities for independent reading child at home and joint activities with adults.

Encyclopedia of travel. Countries of the world. Pleshakov A.A., Pleshakov S.A.

Description of the textbook

Good luck!
There are more than 200 countries in the world. Where should I go? We have chosen five countries and will make five trips. Only five. But they say that in one trip, even if it lasts only a week, you can gain more knowledge and impressions than in several months of ordinary life. Well, let's check it out!
Of the countries we have chosen, Hungary is the closest. By plane from Moscow to Budapest, the capital of Hungary, you can fly in 2 hours 45 minutes. That's where we'll go first. Then we will visit Austria. The flight from Moscow to Vienna, the capital of this country, will take 3 hours.
Our next trip is to Greece. You can fly to Athens, the capital of Greece, from Moscow in 4 hours 20 minutes. And then we will go to the United Arab Emirates. The flight there from Moscow takes about 5 hours.
And finally, we will visit Argentina. Getting from Moscow to the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, takes at least 20 hours!
It's better to travel with those you love. A very friendly family will visit all countries with us: | Seryozha, his sister Nadya, their father and mother. Seryozha and Nadya’s dad is an artist, and their mom works in a botanical garden.
So, the travel plan has been drawn up. Curious team assembled. Good luck!
Parliament building in Budapest
Once upon a time, schoolchildren wrote in their notebooks with a fountain pen, and the ink was stored in a bottle. What a hassle it was! with this ink! Blots were often left in notebooks, and sometimes ink was spilled due to carelessness. And then a pen appeared with which you could write for a long, long time and without
all sorts of
ink! It was a ballpoint pen. A rod was inserted into it with a special paste and a ball at the end. This pen was invented by the Hungarian inventor Laszlo Biro. Therefore, Hungary can be considered the birthplace of the ballpoint pen. What else is remarkable about Hungary? To find out, let's go on our first trip!
Considering the business card of Hungary
Studying the “personal data” of Hungary
Full name: Republic of Hungary. Capital: Budapest. Head of state: president. State language: Hungarian. Currency: forint.
Learn polite words used by Hungarians
(Let's get acquainted with the safety rules
Traveling around Hungary is not fraught with any particular dangers. However, you need to remember that even in a safe country you need to carefully monitor the safety of your wallet and documents. You should not leave things unattended, especially cameras, video cameras and mobile phones. Normal safety rules must be observed on streets and roads. When visiting the famous Hungarian baths, remember that the water in some pools is quite hot, so caution is a good idea. Of course, when swimming you need to follow the generally accepted rules of behavior on the water.
Hungary is a small country located in Central Europe. Hungary's neighbors are 7 countries: Slovakia in the north, Ukraine in the northeast, Romania in the east, Croatia and Serbia in the south, Austria and Slovenia in the west. Hungary has no access to the sea.
The capital of Hungary is the very beautiful city of Budapest, located on the Danube River. This is the largest city in the country. The five largest Hungarian cities also include Döbrecen, Miskolc, Szeged and Pécs. In Hungarian, the name of the country sounds like “Magyarorsag”, which means “country of the Magyars”. The Magyars (as the Hungarians call themselves) settled in what is now Hungary in the 9th century. The Magyars were not the first inhabitants of these lands; Celtic tribes lived here long before them, and then the Romans.
Kings ruled Hungary for many centuries. The Hungarians especially reverence King Matthias, who lived in the 15th century. He was a wise ruler, a talented commander, and a patron of scientists and artists. During his reign, Hungary became a powerful kingdom where science and art flourished. The first printed book in Hungary was published, which was called “Chronicle of the Hungarians”.
From 1867 to 1918, Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the 20th century, the country experienced many events, both difficult, tragic, and joyful. A huge role in the history of Hungary was played by its liberation from the Nazis. Soviet troops in 1945. Modern? The Hungarian Republic was proclaimed in 1989.
Now let's take a look at the history of the Hungarian capital - Budapest.
Two thousand years ago, in its place was the ancient Roman city of Aquinc (Aquincum). Its ruins were discovered during excavations by archaeologists. Now you can walk the streets ancient city and see the ruins of many buildings: residential buildings, temples, shops, baths.
Ruins of Aquincus
Later the cities of Buda and Pest arose. They were located on opposite banks of the Danube: Buda - on the right, mountainous bank, Pest - on the left, flat bank. In 1873, these independent cities were united. The cities were united, and their names were united. So Buda and Pest became Budapest.
The flag of Hungary consists of three horizontal stripes: red, white and green. The meaning of the colors of the Hungarian flag is explained as follows. The red color symbolizes the struggle for freedom and independence of the country. White- the purity and nobility of the thoughts of the people, their loyalty to their homeland. The color green means hope for a better future for Hungary.
The coat of arms of Hungary is a shield topped with a royal crown. The crown recalls the past of the country, which, as we already know, was a kingdom for many centuries. The cross on the shield speaks of the Christian faith of the people. green hills at the bottom of the coat of arms symbolize the country's mountains, and the silver stripes on the left represent the rivers.

Encyclopedia of travel. Countries of the world.

Netherlands(unofficial name Holland) is a state in northwestern Europe. In the north and west it faces the North Sea, the length of the sea borders is about 1 thousand km. In the north, the Dutch border runs along the coastline of the five West Frisian North Sea islands (Vlieland, Terscheling, Texel, Schiermonnikoog and Amyland). The Netherlands borders Germany in the east and Belgium in the south.

The name of the country comes from the Dutch Nederland - “low country”.

Official name: Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland).

Capital: Amsterdam

Territory area: 41.5 thousand sq. km

Total Population: 16.4 million people

Administrative division: The Netherlands consists of 12 provinces: North Holland, South Holland, Utrecht, Fleevoland, Gelderland, Drenthe, Groningen, Friesland, Overijssel, Zeeland, North Brabant, Limburg. Provinces are divided into communities.

Form of government: Constitutional monarchy.

Head of State: King (queen).

Population composition: 80.8% - Dutch, 2.4% - Germans, 2.4% - Indonesians, 2.2% - Turks, 2.0% - Surinamese, 1.9% - Moroccans, 1.5% - Indians, 0 8% are Antilians and Arubans, and 6.0% are other ethnic groups.

Official language: Dutch (Dutch). The Frisian language is spoken in Friesland, and there is also a local dialect in the province of Limburg. Almost everyone in the Netherlands speaks English quite well. Many residents of the Netherlands also speak German and French.

Religion: 31% - Catholics, 21% - Protestants, 4.4% - Muslims, 3.6% - others.

Internet domain: .nl

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +31

Country barcode: 870-879

Climate

The climate of the Netherlands is typical of the maritime temperate zone, which includes the entire territory of the country. This type of climate primarily implies pleasant, cool summers and mild winters. The small size of the Netherlands by geographical standards implies uniformity of climatic characteristics for all its regions, except perhaps only the frequency sunny days in different provinces it differs slightly from each other, and even then more in the opinion of the Dutch themselves. They claim that the sun shines more often in the provinces of Zealand and Limburg than in the rest of the territory.

Typical summer weather is partly cloudy, when the rain stops before it starts, five to six times a day and the air temperature is about +17....+22 degrees. In winter, snow cover is very rarely established here - the fallen snow usually melts quickly, because the air temperature rarely drops below zero for a long period of time.

During the cold period of the year, sub-zero air temperatures here are the exception rather than the rule, because as soon as the wind blows from the sea, you can forget about frost, since the air above the sea always has a temperature above zero. The temperature of ocean water off the coast is around +4...+6 degrees, which allows the world-famous Dutch ports to receive ships all year round. Occasional drizzle, sometimes accompanied by sleet or snow pellets, is as much a part of the Dutch winter as fog in the British Isles.

In the coldest month of the year - January - the average air temperature is around +1...+4 degrees, which, combined with high humidity and wind, creates not particularly comfortable weather.

However, there are also severe winters when the flow of cold air from the continent chills the Dutch canals so much that they freeze. However, for local residents this is most likely a pleasant surprise - after all, it is in such winters that a huge number of speed skating competitions are held, the love for which lives in the soul of every native of the Lower Lands.

Geography

The Netherlands is a fairly small country located on the North Sea coast, and the population density here is one of the highest in Europe. The Netherlands should not be confused with Holland - these are not synonyms at all. Holland is only one of the Dutch provinces, albeit one of the largest. The word "Holland" itself means "wooded country", from the Old Frisian holt ("tree") and land ("country, land"). The Kingdom of the Netherlands is smaller in area than the Moscow region - it occupies an area of ​​41.5 thousand square meters. km, 40% of which is located below sea level.

In the east the kingdom borders on Germany, in the south on Belgium. The country is mainly located on coastal lowlands and areas of reclaimed land - polders, known for their fertility. The highest point in the Netherlands, Mount Waalserberg, rises barely above 300 meters above sea level. The main rivers of the country are the majestic Rhine - the Netherlands are located in its lower reaches, as well as the Maas and Scheldt, widely known from the paintings of local artists.

Administratively, the Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces (the last province, Flevoland, was created in 1986 on drained territories), the provinces into urban and rural communities. Overseas territories - the Netherlands Antilles - also remain a reminder of the former maritime greatness of the Netherlands.

Flora and fauna

Flora

About 70% of the territory of the Netherlands is occupied by cultural landscapes (seed meadows, arable lands, settlements and others). Forests (oak, beech, hornbeam, ash with an admixture of yew) are represented by separate groves and cover (together with planted forests and roadside shelterbelts) 8% of the territory. In sandy areas, heathlands with shrubs (gorse, broom, juniper) are common. On the dunes there are pine forests and thickets of sea buckthorn. Along the banks of branches of large rivers there are willow forests.

Animal world

The fauna is greatly depleted. There are wild rabbits on the dunes, squirrel, hare, marten, ferret, roe deer in the forests. There are about 180 species of birds in the Netherlands. In the delta of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt there are protected areas for mass wintering of waterfowl (geese, geese, gulls, waders). The North Sea is rich in fish (herring, cod, mackerel).

Attractions

Holland itself, 40% of whose territory is located below sea level, and its land literally “created” by people, can already be considered a self-sufficient cultural monument. The entire coastline of the country is surrounded by a system of protective dams and other hydraulic structures, the total length of which exceeds 3 thousand km.

The cities of Holland are masterpieces of medieval architecture, combining majestic cathedrals, picturesque canals, ancient houses, churches, town halls and modern buildings. Flower plantations are the “calling card” of Holland; in spring, almost the entire country is covered with a multi-colored carpet of flowering plants, which, in contrast with the constantly gray sky of the sea coast, creates an indescribable flavor of this land. Another integral part of the Dutch landscape are mills, many of which still perform their functions.

Amsterdam (“the dam on the Amstel River”) is a city of hundreds of canals, over which more than 600 bridges are thrown. The most beautiful of them: Blauburg and Mahere-brug ("Skinny Bridge"). Canals are an indispensable attribute of all excursions around the city. From the water you can see most of the sights of Amsterdam, hundreds of picturesque bridges, and feel the spirit of the city and its indescribable atmosphere.

Banks and currency

Since January 1, 2002, the currency of the Netherlands is the Euro (EURO). Euro (EURO), 1 EURO = 100 EURO cent. Banknotes: 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros. Coins: 2 and 1 euro; 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Banks are open on weekdays from 9.00 to 16.00. Some banks close one hour earlier on Fridays. The organization GWK also handles currency exchange in Amsterdam. Most GWK exchange offices are located around railway stations. They are open from 8.00 to 20.00 all days except Sunday; on Sunday the points are open from 10.00 to 16.00. You can also exchange currency at post offices.

The most favorable exchange rate is at bank branches and post offices (exchange is made at the official rate and the lowest commissions are charged). Currency exchange, as well as cashing of traveler's checks and credit cards, can be done at the offices of GWK (Central System of Exchange Offices), the country's main financial institution specializing in currency transactions.

Credit cards from the world's major systems are accepted almost everywhere and can be cashed out at most bank branches and at all GWK branches (including at border checkpoints). For student ISIC cards or youth FIYTO cards, currency exchange is carried out without deducting commissions.

VAT refund (BTW, 17.5%) is possible on purchases over 150 euros, subject to personal removal of the goods from the country no later than 30 days from the date of purchase. In most stores, for this you need to fill out a special form (a passport is required), which is presented at customs when leaving. Some stores issue a special check that is cashed at the airport, while others mail the check. VAT for hotels is 6% (included in the price), and in some populated areas a "tourist tax" (1-2 euros) has been introduced.

Useful information for tourists

In this country, extreme timing must be observed in every meeting or invitation. Handshakes should be avoided and compliments should not be given. The Dutch are very reserved and tolerant of other people's opinions, and their politeness has even become a topic for sayings. Entering the room, local residents Be sure to greet everyone present, and this applies not only to business offices, but also to public places, shops and railway compartments. There are a lot of animal defenders in the country, so it is recommended not to wear natural fur coats or clothes made of natural leather.

It is not customary to dance in restaurants; there are many discos and dance halls for this purpose. Also, one of the “restaurant traditions” is that each person sitting at the same table, even if they are friends, pays only their share of the common feast. At festivals, official receptions and parties, a large table with drinks and snacks is also not accepted. The concept of “lunch” usually means the period between 18.00 and 20.00; being late is considered a sign of bad taste.

In hotels and restaurants, a 15% service charge is usually included in the bill; otherwise, it is customary to leave a tip for the waiter in the amount of up to 10% of the bill, for the taxi driver - in the amount of about 10-15% of the meter, for the porter, maid or guide - 0.5-1 euro.

Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau and Princess von Lippe-Biesterfeld, born 31 January 1938 Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau and Princess von Lippe-Biesterfeld, born 31 January 1938

The Netherlands is the world's largest producer and exporter of flowers. Up to 60% of cut flowers sold in the world and 50% of potted flowers are from Holland. Over 2 billion tulip bulbs are grown annually, and about 800 varieties are bred in Holland. Flowers, seeds, and seedlings of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, roses, chrysanthemums, etc. are exported. The Netherlands is the world's largest producer and exporter of flowers. Up to 60% of cut flowers sold in the world and 50% of potted flowers are from Holland. Over 2 billion tulip bulbs are grown annually, and about 800 varieties are bred in Holland. Flowers, seeds, and seedlings of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, roses, chrysanthemums, etc. are exported.

Amsterdam is a city of hundreds of canals, over which more than 600 bridges are thrown. From the water you can see many of the sights of the capital Amsterdam - a city of hundreds of canals, over which more than 600 bridges are thrown. You can see many of the capital's sights from the water

Capital: Amsterdam

Geography: The state has a total area of ​​42 thousand sq. km. In northwestern Europe. It borders on Germany in the east and Belgium in the south. In the north and west it is washed by the North Sea.

Major cities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen.

Time: Lags behind Moscow by 2 hours

Nature: The lowest country in Europe, in all languages ​​it is called the “low lands”. The mainland of the country is a flat, low-lying plain. OK. 40% ter. lies below ur. m. (separated from the sea by dunes, dams and dikes, turned into polders) and is under constant threat of floods. The shores of the North Sea in the north of the country are indented by shallow bays (IJsselmeer, etc.), along the coast there is a group of West Frisian islands. The western coast is leveled, sandy, in the southwest there is a common delta pp. Rhine, Meuse, Scheldt. In the southeast are the spurs of the Ardennes (up to 321 m high). The rivers are deep, many of them are navigable and connected by canals. OK. 70% ter. The Netherlands - cultural landscapes (settlements, arable lands, cultivated meadows). Broad-leaved and pine (mostly planted) forests occupy 8% of the territory. Along the coast and in the east there are heather heaths and sea buckthorn thickets.

IN national parks(Veluvezom, Kennemer dunes, De Hoge-Veluwe), numerous birds are protected in nature reserves (the Netherlands lies on the route of their annual migration), some mammals (deer, badgers, foxes have been preserved). There is an abundance of fish in rivers, canals and along the sea coast, and oysters in the shallows.

Climate: The country is located in a temperate maritime climate zone. The average temperature of the coldest month of January is +2C. The hottest month is July, temperature is about +17C. There is not much precipitation, about 800 mm. per year.

Government system: Constitutional monarchy, head of state is the queen. The monarch has an advisory body - the State Council, whose members are appointed by the reigning monarch. Legislative power belongs to the Queen and the States General (Parliament), consisting of 2 chambers (First and Second). The first (75 deputies) is elected by provincial states on the basis of proportional representation for a period of 4 years. The second (150 deputies) is elected by the population for a period of 4 years. Executive power belongs to the queen and the cabinet of ministers, headed by the prime minister (the leader of the party or coalition that received the majority of votes in parliamentary elections).

Administrative division: 12 provinces.

Population: 16.15 million people (2003). Mono-ethnic country, St. 96% are peoples of related origin: Dutch, Flemings and Frisians; 3.5% of the population are foreigners, mostly refugees from Muslim countries. The Flemings live in the south of the country, the Frisians live in the north. The Netherlands ranks first in terms of population density in Europe - 388.9 people. per 1 km2 (in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland 800-950 people per 1 km2).

Language: Official language- Dutch. In the province of Friesland, the Frisian language also has official rights.

Religion: Believers are Catholics (40%), Protestants (34%).

Economy: A highly developed country with advanced industry and agriculture. The country occupies a leading position in the world in the area of ​​greenhouse farms, production of poultry meat, eggs, milk, butter (1/5 of world exports), and cheeses (many varieties bear the names of Dutch cities and villages). The main crops are potatoes, sugar beets, and grains are grown. From the 17th century “Tulip fever” began in the Netherlands, the memory of which remains in the form of the current abundance of flowers. The Netherlands is a recognized world leader in sales of cut flowers and flower bulbs and other planting material, obtained mainly by cloning. The center is the city of Haarlem.

Industry is developed, both mining and manufacturing. Rich deposits of natural gas (Groningen field) and oil (in the region of The Hague and Schonebeek, in the North Sea) are under the control of the transnational corporation Royal Dutch Shell. The world-famous Philips concern owns enterprises in the electrical, technical and radio-electronic industries (Eindhoven), chemical engineering is developed in Amsterdam and Utrecht. The Netherlands ranks 3rd in the world in terms of total merchant fleet tonnage and is one of the leaders in shipbuilding (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Schiedam, Vlissingen). The Netherlands provides up to 1/10 of the world's exports of chemical products: the production of nitrogen fertilizers, ethylene, ammonia, synthetic rubber, plastics and pharmaceutical products. The food and flavoring industry is highly developed. Meat and dairy products, confectionery (especially chocolate), and beer are exported.

Among its own automobile brands is DAF (trucks). In the Netherlands there are large enterprises for assembling Volvo and Mitsubishi passenger cars. Amsterdam since the 17th century. is a world leader in diamond cutting.

The Netherlands plays an important role as one of the centers of world communications. Rotterdam is one of the world's largest ports in terms of cargo turnover. The Dutch airline KLM ranks 7th in the world in passenger transportation.

The Netherlands is one of the world's financial and trading centers. It was here that the first stock exchange was founded (Amsterdam).

Main attractions: Holland itself, 40% of whose territory is located below sea level and its land literally “created” by people, can already be considered a self-sufficient cultural monument. The entire coastline of the country is surrounded the whole system protective dams and other hydraulic structures, the total length of which exceeds 3 thousand km. The cities of Holland are masterpieces of medieval architecture, combining majestic cathedrals, picturesque canals, ancient houses, churches, town halls and the most modern buildings. Flower plantations are the “calling card” of Holland; in spring, almost the entire country is covered with a multi-colored carpet of flowering plants, which, in contrast with the constantly gray sky of the sea coast, creates an indescribable flavor of this land. Another integral part of the Dutch landscape are mills, many of which still perform their functions.

Amsterdam (“dam on the Amstel River”) is a city of hundreds of canals, over which more than 600 bridges are thrown, the most beautiful of them are Blauburg and Mahere Brug (“Skinny Bridge”). Canals are an indispensable attribute of all excursions around the city - from the water you can see most of the sights of Amsterdam, hundreds of picturesque bridges, feel the spirit of the city and its indescribable atmosphere.

Most city tours start from the beautiful red brick building with a clock and weather vane in neo-Gothic style - the Central Station (19th century), separating the city proper from the old harbor of IJ. From the station, the streets and "grachts" - the canals of Amsterdam, fan out, including the main street of the city - Damrak, along which you can get to the historical center of the city - the "Grand Canal Quarter". The encircling canals Single ("defensive"), Heirengracht ("canal of masters"), Keizersgracht ("imperial"), Prinsengracht ("canal of princes") and many others, divide the city into 90 islands. The “Quarter of the Grand Canals” is, first of all, the famous Dam Square, a center of attraction for “informals” from all over the world, which also houses the Royal Palace with a huge museum (17th century, royal family does not live here now), the Freedom Monument (1956, capsules with the soil of those countries where the Dutch fought are soldered into the base), Nieuwe Kerk (“new church”, 1408, rebuilt several times) - the site of the coronation of the Dutch monarchs, and famous Madame Tussauds museum. Nearby are the building of the Berlagi stock exchange (1897 - 1903), which served as a mint in the Middle Ages, the wooden Munt Tower with a spire and chimes (1620), the zero sea level reference point for the whole world - the Amsterdam Footstock, a complex of buildings of the East India Company, one of the most interesting buildings of the city is the Shipbuilders' House, the Museum of Torture and the Museum of Sex on Damrak, as well as numerous picturesque residential buildings of the 16th-17th centuries.

Amsterdam has a huge number of churches, among which the oldest church in the city stands out - the Gothic Oude Kerk (1300, "old church"), which regularly hosts organ concerts, the largest Renaissance church in the Netherlands - Westerkerk ("Western", 1619 .) with the tomb of Rembrandt, the country's first Protestant church - Südkerk ("south"), Noorderkerk ("north", 1620-23) and the once largest Portuguese synagogue in the world (1675), as well as one of the largest Catholic cathedrals in Europe - Amstelkring (XVII century), which now houses a museum.

Amsterdam is one of the largest art and museum centers in the world. You can visit the largest art museum Holland and one of the best in Europe - the Rijksmuseum (1885, Flemish painting of the 15th - 17th centuries), the Dutch Historical Museum in the eastern wing of the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art (modern art), the Van Gogh Museum with the world's largest collection of it works (about 200 paintings and 580 drawings), the Rembrandt Museum in a 17th-century building. on Jodenbreustraat, Historical Museum Amsterdam, the famous Tropical Museum, the Anne Frank Museum, numerous museums of diamond factories, the Museum of the Heineken Brewing Company, the Cats' Cabinet, the Jewish Historical Museum in a combined building of 4 synagogues, the only Museum of Hashish, Marijuana and Hemp in Europe on Udesijds Achterbuergwal, as well as the Tattoo Museum located in the next building and many other, no less original collections.

In addition to historical and cultural monuments, many visitors are attracted by the famous "red light district" opposite the Central Station and the city's excellent shopping spots - from the flea markets of Watrelouplein and Spain Square, the "flower markets" along the Single and Monetplein (Müntplein), to chic jewelry stores Koster Diamonds, Amsterdam Diamonds Center and others. Traditional places for shopping are the areas of Kalverstraat, Nieuwe Wendijk, Rokin, Damstraat, Leidsestraat and Wijzelstraat, as well as the Jordaan and Magna Plaza areas. The Zwarte Markt market complex is 15 km away. north of the city, it is considered the largest market in Europe.

In Zaandam, which is 20 km away. north of Amsterdam, you should definitely visit the house of Peter I and the open-air architectural museum "Zandam in the 17th century." North of Zaandam is the famous Alkmaar (“surrounded by water”) - the only city in the world where medieval cheese fairs and even the guild of “cheese porters” have survived to this day. Interesting are the narrow medieval streets, numerous city canals, St. Lawrence Cathedral and the Gothic Town Hall. There is also a wonderful Cheese Museum, the Zaans Chance museum complex, the National Beer Museum in the building of an old brewery, the Netherlands Kiln Museum and the City Museum of History and Art.

The city of Haarlem lying west of Amsterdam from the 11th to the 13th centuries. was the residence of the Dutch Counts Palatine, and therefore is rich in historical and cultural monuments no less than Amsterdam or The Hague. The city center is the Grote Markt square, surrounded by picturesque medieval buildings. The Town Hall, the Sint-Bavo Church with the grave of Frans Hals and the famous organ (1738) are also located here; nearby is the old Haarlem almshouse (1608), which now houses the city Hals Museum. Of interest are the Episcopal Museum, the Museum of Industrial Art in the 18th-century castle, the Grote Kerk church (15th - 16th centuries) and the old “meat rows” (17th century).

The Hague (Grafenhage) is the seat of government, parliament and the royal court, the third largest and one of the oldest (1248) cities in the country, although The Hague received city status only in 1811. It is a city of officials, diplomats and pensioners. The Peace Palace, where the International Court of Justice operates, is also located here. Around the ancient Binnenhof castle (1248), in which the country's parliament, the Estates General, now sits, lies the historical center of the city. In front of the castle, on Plein Square, there is a monument to William I of Orange, and around there are many beautiful architectural and historical monuments - the building of the Ridderzaal tribunal (XIII century), the medieval prison of Gevagenport (now the Museum of the Inquisition is located here), the Ministry of the Colonies, the oldest city in the country Passage (1882 - 1885), Ministry of Justice and De Witte Literary Club. Nearby is the palace of the former governor of the Dutch possessions in Brazil - Mauritshuis (1633-1644), which houses one of the best art galleries in the world - the Royal Art Gallery with a collection of works by Dutch and Flemish painting masters of the 15th - 17th centuries. - Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, Wall, etc. Nearby, on the town hall square, there is the Gothic Old Town Hall, the Berlage stock exchange and the most famous cathedral of the city - the Grote Kerk church (XV - XVI centuries) with the coats of arms of the Knights of the Golden Fleece depicted on the pediment and symbol of the city - a bell with the image of a stork.

The Queen's residence is located in the Koninklijk Palace Noordeinde (1533 - 1655), which is open to the public in the summer (the Queen herself lives in the Huis ten Bosch Palace). Another attraction of the city is Madurodam Park, a kind of open-air museum, in which almost the entire country and all its monuments are represented on a scale of 1:25, and all these skillfully made models are functional! Also interesting is the ultra-modern Residence quarter, which was created by the best architects in the world. Many tourists are attracted by the Walloon Church (1807), built at the expense of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Spinoza House Museum, the unique Haagsche Hofje Museum of candies and caramels, the old Catholic Church (1722), the Peace Palace (1913), art gallery Prince William V, the International Press Museum, the Postal Museum and the Costume Museum, as well as the Aquarium and the Maritime Center, where there is an ocean walk underwater tunnel and excellent environmental displays.

Not far from The Hague are the world famous seaside resort of Schweningen and ancient city Delft (1246) is the birthplace of the famous Dutch blue and white porcelain, famous along with its Renaissance Town Hall (1619) with a watchtower, the monastery of St. Agatha (XIV century), and the chapel of St. Hippolytus (1400) , a church (1250) with a “falling bell tower” (1325), as well as the Lambert van Merten National Museum and the Gothic Nieuwe Kerk church (XIV - XV centuries) with the tombs of members of the royal dynasty. It is said that Delft's Market Square, with its 109-meter-tall Nieuwe Kerk bell tower, is the most beautiful in the country.

Rotterdam, Europe's largest port and the country's second largest city, lies on one of the northern branches of the vast Rhine delta - the river. Lek. The chronicles first mention it in 1238, and by 1340 Rotterdam was already one of the significant cities in Europe. The old city was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, so almost no old monuments have survived, but the restored modern Rotterdam amazes guests with bold architectural solutions and business activity.

The best preserved part of the city is the area of ​​the Delft port - Delftshaven, full of narrow streets, canals, ancient buildings and windmills. The first “skyscraper” in Europe is located here - Het Witte Heis (45 m, 1898). The territory of the old port is densely surrounded by new buildings. In the center of the city, near the Maritime Museum of Prince Hendrick, there is a bronze monument "The Creek" ("Devastated City") in memory of the old city destroyed by the Nazis, nearby are the Historical Museum in the palace of the 17th century, the Kunsthal building (exhibitions of artistic works of the 19th - 20th centuries .) and a building in the form of a tower with a lighthouse - the famous Boijman van Beuningen Museum with the best collection of Flemish masters of the 15th - 16th centuries in Holland. You can visit the city cathedral of St. Laurentskerk (XVI century) with the monument to Erasmus of Rotterdam installed in front of it, or the largest Town Hall in the country (1920), the monument to Peter I on the banks of the Meuse, as well as the Post Office and the Exchange. The huge Euromast TV tower (1960, 185 m) rises above the city, on top of which there is a rotating observation deck, from which a majestic panorama of the city and the huge port opens. In the Kralingen quarter there is a beautiful Botanical Garden, and when you go out into the business center area, you can admire the modern high-rise buildings of banks and offices, many of which are only a few meters lower than Euromast. Among the museums, the Academy of Arts, the Conservatory, the Museum of Ethnography, the Museum of Entomology, the Historical Museum and the wonderful Rotterdam Zoo are interesting.

Utrecht is an ancient university city located in the center of the country. A characteristic feature of the city is two-tier canals connected by numerous bridges with adjacent houses, which served as warehouses in the Middle Ages - cargo was transferred from barges to warehouses directly. Now the terraces of the first tier have been turned into numerous charming cafes and restaurants, and the canals themselves serve, for the most part, for pleasure walks and relaxation. The "calling card" of Utrecht is the oldest Gothic cathedral in the country with the tallest spire in the Netherlands - Domkerk (1254 - 1517), also interesting are the Town Hall (19th century), the famous University (operating since the 17th century), Coin Museum, museum societies of art and science, a railway museum, the Central Museum (a collection of works of art from the early 17th century), medieval residential buildings and one of the largest collections of medieval art in the country in the Museum of Christianity.

Maastricht, one of the most ancient cities in the country and the administrative center of the province of Limburg, lies in the south of the country, on the border with Belgium. One of the main attractions of the city is the remains of the Van du Moulin defensive line (walls, bastions, underground mine galleries, etc.), as well as a labyrinth of 20 thousand caves of St. Petersburg, also used as casemates and warehouses during numerous sieges of the city . No less interesting are the medieval burgher houses of the “old town”, protected as architectural monuments, narrow streets and bridges, the oldest city gate in the Netherlands (1299), the Town Hall (XVII - XVIII centuries), the symbol of the city - the Sint Servas Cathedral (Sint -Servaskerk, 6th century), many museums - Episcopal, art and antiquities, Bonnefanten art museum, as well as the most beautiful Romanesque basilica in the Netherlands - the Onze-Liewe-Frauwe church (or Onze-lieve-Vrau, 12th century) on the square of the same name . Not far from Tilburg there is a safari park and amusement park, unique for Europe, called Efteling.

Groningen, located in the north of the country, is famous for its churches - St. Martin (XIII - XVI centuries) with a tower (XVI century), Aa (XIII century) and Nieuwe Kerk (XVII century), as well as the remains of a Roman settlement. Groningen's Maritime Museum and the original Tobacco Museum are considered among the best in Europe, and the city's library houses Erasmus of Rotterdam's own Latin translation of the New Testament with notes by Martin Luther.

The province of Friesland and the Wadden Islands stretch along the northern coast of the country, interesting primarily for their “wild” landscapes, dunes, numerous lakes, pine forests, seaside resorts and secluded villages that have preserved the unique culture of the Frisian ethnic group living here. The capital of the province, Leeuwarden, is interesting for its ancient bastions, the Palace of Justice, the Town Hall, the best collection of porcelain and earthenware in the country at the estate of Maria Louise of Hesse-Kassel and the unique Frisian Museum, which tells about the artistic traditions and culture of this interesting province. In the village of Wenkloster there is a branch of this museum with a wonderful collection of toys. In Dokkum there is another museum of Frisian folk art, in Franeker there is a unique planetarium (18th century), its own University (considered at one time the second most important after Leiden) and the building of the oldest student dormitory. In Sneek there is the Frisian Maritime Museum and an excellent yacht club, and in Kollum there are luxurious houses in a traditional style and the majestic Town Hall (15th century). De Kennemerdunen National Park ("Kennemer Dunes") covers over 1000 hectares of natural dune land on the North Sea coast, being one of the few areas with natural vegetation, many small ponds, and beautiful pine and deciduous forests with natural fauna.

The country's largest national park, De Hoge Veluwe, is known, among other things, for one of the largest sculpture museums in Europe in Otterlo - more than 20 hectares of open-air masterpieces of the most famous European masters of the 20th century, as well as a rich private art collection the Kröller-Müller couple.

The Netherlands has preserved many medieval fortresses, palaces and castles. The Ammersoen fortress (XIV century) is famous for its exhibition of objects found during excavations in the fortress moat, Middachten Castle (1190 rebuilt in the 17th century) is one of the few completely preserved medieval castles in the country, along with all the furnishings, Valkenburg is built on a rocky foundation ( 1100) and is famous for its extensive system of underground passages leading to a vast labyrinth of caves; the castles of De Haar, Breda (XIV century), etc. are also interesting.

Historical sketch: The modern Netherlands are the northern provinces of the historical Netherlands, which broke away as a result of the struggle against the rule of the Spanish Habsburgs. In 1579, seven provinces concluded the Union of Utrecht, in which they agreed on a future federal political structure countries. The core of the anti-Spanish resistance was the province of Holland. The Republic of the United Provinces, which soon formed as a result of the Dutch Revolution, was often informally called Holland. It was the first republic in Europe in modern times. Legislative power belonged to the Estates General. At the head of the country was a Stathouder - from the House of Orange, since Prince William of Orange stood at the head of the anti-Spanish armies. William III of Orange (1650-1792) became the last stadtholder. The Republic of the United Provinces achieved great success in shipbuilding and traded with all of Europe. The Dutch West India Company, having received from the Republic a monopoly right of trade and colonization in America and West Africa, seized part of the territory of Brazil, a number of islands of the West Indies, and part of the east coast of North America, where the city of New Amsterdam (now New York) was founded. A number of company strongholds on the west coast of Africa became bases for the Dutch slave trade. Holland even traded with Japan, which was closed to all Europeans. It was in Holland that Tsar Peter I came to study ship craftsmanship. But the Dutch were unable to resist such strong powers as England and Portugal and lost a significant part of their possessions by the mid-18th century. In 1795, the country was captured by revolutionary France, and the dependent kingdom of Holland was formed here. After the overthrow of Napoleon in 1815, Holland was transformed into the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but only partially restored its economic potential.

The Netherlands did not participate in the First World War; during the Second World War it was occupied by Germany in 1940-1945. IN post-war years the country lost all its colonies (with the exception of the Antilles) and nevertheless remained one of the most stable and prosperous states in the world. The head of state is Queen Beatrix, who ascended the throne on April 30, 1980. In 1980, Willem Alexander, Queen Beatrix's eldest son, was officially proclaimed Crown Prince.

The Netherlands is a member of the EU, Benelux, and NATO. Modern Dutch society is characterized by increased tolerance towards “minorities”; the Netherlands is the first of European countries legalized drugs and euthanasia.

National holiday: April 30 (Queen Beatrix's birthday).

National domain: .NL

Entry rules: The country is part of the Schengen zone. To enter, you must have a foreign passport and a visa obtained on the basis of an invitation. There are no restrictions on movement within the country.

Customs regulations: The import and export of currency is not limited. It is prohibited to import and export without special permission objects and things of historical and artistic value, weapons, drugs and animals, flower bulbs without a health certificate issued by the Phytopathological Service of the Netherlands, as well as non-canned meat products (other non-canned products are declared).

When importing goods from outside the EU, you can import no more than 200 cigarettes, or 100 small cigars, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams duty-free. tobacco, 1 l. alcoholic beverages with a strength of over 22% or 2 liters. alcoholic drinks with strength up to 22%, up to 250 ml. eau de toilette, 50 ml. perfume, 500 gr. coffee, 100 gr. tea, as well as other goods costing no more than 60 euros. There are no restrictions on the import of goods from EU countries if the goods are imported exclusively for personal use and tax has been paid on them.

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Anyone who comes to the Netherlands for the first time, or Holland, as this country is otherwise called, is amazed by the powerful earthen and concrete structures that fence off the land from the sea. The entire history of this small state is connected with the struggle against the elements of the sea. This is not surprising - after all, two-fifths of the country lies below sea level. High and wide dams stretch for hundreds of kilometers, protecting ancient cities and towns, carefully cultivated fields and lush water meadows from flooding.

From time to time, the raging sea breaks through the barriers created by people on its way, but the courageous people again conquer the land from the sea. A monument was erected to commemorate the completion of one of the country's largest dams; On it are carved the words: “A nation that lives builds for the future.”

If you climb the spiral staircase to the top of this monument, you can see on one side of the dam the expanse of the harsh, turbulent North Sea, and on the other - the stagnant waters of the Zuiderzee Bay and beyond it - an endless plain. Looking at it, you remember that the word “Netherlands” means “lower lands”. Not so long ago, in place of these flat fields running towards the horizon, there was also a sea. A complex system of canals and continuously operating pumps drains the soil of polders - this is what the Dutch call the vast spaces reclaimed from the sea for gardens, vegetable gardens, arable land, and flower beds. The area of ​​some polders is equal to thousands of hectares.

The coat of arms of one of the Dutch provinces depicts a lion fighting the waves, and under it the motto: “I fight and win.” In this country, everything reminds of the victory over the sea: polders - low-lying areas of arable land from which a hardworking farmer reaps a rich harvest, and the canals of Amsterdam. The capital of the country, Amsterdam, is sometimes called the “city on stilts.” Indeed, the entire city is built over water. Hundreds of thousands of wooden piles are driven into the bottom of the former river mouth. There are three hundred bridges in the city.

For a long time, the life of the Dutch has been connected with the sea. This nation was formed from the descendants of ancient Germanic tribes in the 14th - 15th centuries. Since then, the Dutch have gained a reputation as brave sailors. There was a time when the Netherlands was considered one of the richest countries in the world. The source of this wealth was the sea. Dutch fishermen fed all of Europe with fish, and sailors delivered strange goods from overseas countries to European ports.

In the 17th century The Netherlands owned a fleet larger than that of all countries combined. Dutch merchants and industrialists took advantage of the courage and experience of sailors. Capturing the lands discovered by the sailors, they turned them into their colonies. The Dutch colonialists brutally robbed and exploited the inhabitants of the West Indies, Indonesia and other countries.

From the beginning of the 18th century. The Netherlands is gradually losing its maritime and trade primacy to England and losing many colonies in Asia. But before the Second World War, they brutally exploited the richest colony, the “emerald belt” - the Indonesian islands.

In May 1940 the Netherlands was occupied Nazi troops. For five long years the people of Holland endured the horrors of Hitler's occupation. Only the defeat of the Nazi hordes by the Soviet Army and its allies brought liberation to this country.

The Dutch government is pursuing a reactionary policy. It waged an armed struggle against the Indonesian people, who declared the independence of their country. Until now, the Netherlands occupy part of the Indonesian Republic - West Irian, and maintain colonies in America (Netherlands Guiana, or Suriname, and islands in the West Indies). Holland is an active participant in the aggressive NATO military bloc created by the United States; the American military places missile bases on its territory.

Industry plays a leading role in the country's economy. Plants and factories process a variety of raw materials imported from Asia, Africa and Latin America(tin, rubber, coffee, cocoa, copra).

The small country of the Netherlands is the birthplace of such large international associations as the oil company Royal Dutch Shell and the electrical engineering concern Philips. Many Dutch monopoly associations are closely connected with American and British capital.

Peculiarities geographical location countries, located in the center of the main sea routes of Europe, left their mark on the appearance of its cities.

Rotterdam and Amsterdam are major ports in the world. In terms of cargo turnover, Rotterdam is second only to New York. From here, the Netherlands sends ships and machine tools, radio equipment, nitrogen fertilizers and silk linen, Dutch cheese and canned fish to different countries, and steel and cast iron purchased abroad are also brought here. The factories and shipyards of Rotterdam lining the shore and the forest of ship masts in the port present an impressive sight.

Leading Industry agriculture- livestock farming. Cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens are raised in the country. Half of the sown area is occupied by grain crops. Industrial crops are also important: sugar beets, flax, potatoes. Part of the products of field cultivation and gardening is exported to other countries.

When people talk about the Netherlands, they first of all remember the wonderful works of art, books and philosophical treatises written by the famous sons of this country. There is no corner in the world where the names of the artists Rembrandt and F. Hals are not known; their paintings have entered the treasury of world culture.

Numerous tourists come to the Netherlands to see ancient monuments associated with the names of great masters, admire the architecture of ancient cities, and get acquainted with the unique way of life of the country and people, which is depicted in the paintings of Dutch artists.

In the crowd on the streets of Amsterdam, you can still find women in fluffy dresses and black pointed hats; girls in white starched capes and white caps; men in traditional wooden shoes, the so-called klomps. It seems that these people stepped out of the paintings of Rembrandt or Hals.

A tourist who comes to Amsterdam usually first goes to the house where Rembrandt lived. This narrow four-story building is squeezed between neighboring houses. There are many such houses in the city. Together with narrow streets and Gothic churches, with buildings on stilts and canals, they give a unique appearance to the city, vividly reminiscent of its seven-century history.

There are museums in Rotterdam, Haarlem, and The Hague - the third largest city in the Netherlands. The Hague is the seat of government. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy.

In The Hague, tourists, in addition to the museum, will definitely be shown the architectural ensemble - the Inner Court, which consists of the parliament building, the medieval courthouse and the Knights' Hall. Tourists will also see a monument to Erasmus of Rotterdam, a humanist scientist whose books have been translated into many languages, and the house in which the outstanding thinker of his time, B. Spinoza, lived.

But no matter how interested a tourist is in history and art, he will, of course, see the signs characteristic of the country today. In Amsterdam, his attention will be attracted by a huge floating dock for ocean-going ships and next to it - small barges, the so-called wonboats. They house families of workers and artisans who do not have apartments. In "Apollo" - a district of mansions - industrialists, landowners, and bankers live in spacious houses. And on the outskirts there are barracks buildings intended for those who work in factories and factories, who drive ships and catch herring.

On the shores of the North Sea, expensive hotels are filled with wealthy holidaymakers, and next door farmers work in the fields from morning to evening to feed themselves and their families. Here, as in other capitalist countries, the life of a worker is not easy.

The Dutch are famous for their special love of cleanliness and order, and you see this traditional feature of people’s life in everything - in their homes, although poor, but cleaned to a shine by the housewives, and in the way roads and gardens are maintained. Imagine a village square, which is washed daily with soap and where houses are lined with colored glazed tiles. Some houses are purple with yellow window frames and a red roof, others are green with white or blue ornaments.

Dutch flower growers have long enjoyed worldwide fame. Entire fields are plowed up to plant flowers. The “capital” of flower plantations is Lisse. People from many countries come here to admire the amazingly bright multi-colored carpet. In this flower kingdom, hundreds of varieties of tulips stand out: red, orange, blue, black, white; asters and fragrant hyacinths. In Amsterdam, flower beds hang over the streets. These boxes of flowers decorate the city and speak of the special love of the Dutch for flowers.

But flowers are grown not only to decorate the home. Flower trading is a traditional occupation for many residents of the country. Flowers in special baskets are transported abroad by truck, plane, or train. Aromatic oils used by perfume factories are prepared from the petals of some flowers. For traders and owners of perfumeries, flowers are first and foremost a commodity.

The hardworking people of the Netherlands beautified their land, cultivated it to the last inch, and built wonderful cities. That's why he wants peace. He hates the specter of war.

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