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Delftblue

Delftware, also called Royal Delft or Delftblue, denotes blue and white pottery made in the Dutch city Delft. The main period of this tin-glaze pottery was 1640 - 1740. Delftware ranged from simple household items to fancy artwork. Delft potters also made tiles in vast numbers ( around eight hundred million in 200 years.)

Flowerparade: 3 - 4 May

On Saterday April 20th, the 66th edition of the annual Flower Parade will leave Noordwijk at 09:30 to travel its 40-km route, along the main roads, to arrive in Haarlem at about 21:00. The procession will comprise of 20 large floats and more than 30 decorated luxury cars, interspersed with marching bands.

Artis Zoo

Artis is the oldest zoo on mainland Europe, situated in the center of Amsterdam. Founded in 1838 by Dr. Westerman.

Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank house is a monument in memory of Anne Frank and her family. Anne Frank was one of the Jewish victims of Nazi persecution during the second world war.

Zaanse Schans (Windmills)

The story of the Zaan region begins around 1600 with windmills. There used to be over a thousand industrial mills. Initially they used the wind to keep their feet dry, but later on they used too for sawing wood, pressing oil, milling cocoa beans or making paper.

Canalcruise

Like any city built on water, it's best seen from a boat. Buildings seen from the water are totally different from dry land. From the water you have a much better view. Canal cruises are the most popular tourist attraction, with over 3 million passengers a year.

Tulipfields / Keukenhof: 20 March - 18 May

Keukenhof ("Kitchen garden") is the world's largest flowergarden. Approximately seven million flower bulbs are planted by hand. It covers an area of 32 hectares and is the most photographed place in the world.

Deltaworks

The Netherlands is locked in a permanent struggle for survival. Large areas lie below sea level. Half of the Netherlands would be flooded if it were not for the lines of defenses that has been built over the centuries and the equipment to pump ground water and river water out of the lowlying polders. After the Nord Sea flood of 1953, a commission was installated which had to come up with a plan to research the causes and seek measures to prevent such disasters in future.

Heineken

Heineken is a 5% pale lager, made by Heineken International since 1873. It is made of purified water, malted barley, hops and yeast. In 1886 H. Elion finished the development of the Heineken A-yeast. This is still used for the beer.

Cheesemarket in Alkmaar (at fridaymorning)

The cheese market has taken place on the Waagplein in Alkmaar since 1593. Teams of official guild cheese-porters carry the farmers' cheese on stretchers. Buyers then sample the cheese and negotiate a price, using a ritual system called "handjeklap", in which buyers and sellers clap each others'hands and shout prices. Once a price is agreed, the porters carry the cheese to the weighing house (Waag).

Redlight district

The whole area between Warmoesstraat, Nieuwmarkt and Damstraat is the Red Light District, known locally as "De Walletjes". The total area is approximately 6500 square meters. The city's history of prostitution dates from the its 13th-century roots. Amsterdam has always resisted efforts to banish sex as an industry, and the Dutch came to accept the advantage of a more pragmatic approach. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, with the exception of street prostitution.

Van Gogh museum

There is no place in the world where so many works by Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890) are on show together. The collection includes over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and more than 750 letters. The artist produced around 900 paintings and 1200 drawings.

Nightwatch - Rembrandt / Stedelijk museum

The Stedelijk Museum ,built in 1876 by architect P.J.H. Cuypers, is currently under construction. The Philips Wing of the museum, presenting all the highlights of the Golden Age (including masterpieces of Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Vermeer and Rembrandt's Night Watch) is still open.

Madurodam

Madurodam, built in 1952, is a miniature city located in The Hague, offering you the highlights of the Netherlands on a scale 1:25.