Netherlands Sights

Itself Netherlands, 40% of which is situated below sea level and it literally "created" human beings the earth may already be self-sufficient cultural monument. The entire coastline of the country is surrounded by a whole system of protective dikes and other waterworks, the total length of which exceeds 3 thousand km. City of Holland - masterpieces of medieval architecture, which combine majestic cathedrals, picturesque canals, old houses, churches, town halls and most modern facilities. Plantation flowers - "calling card" of Holland, in the spring almost the whole country is covered with a carpet of colorful flowering plants, in contrast to the constantly gray sky sea, creates a mouthwatering flavor of this land. Another integral part of the Dutch landscape - windmills, many of whom still perform their functions.

Amsterdam (dam on the Amstel River ") - a city of hundreds of channels through which, nowadays there are more than 600 bridges, the most beautiful of them - Blauburg and Maher-Brug (Skinny Bridge). Channels - an indispensable attribute of all excursions in the city - from the water you can view most of the sights of Amsterdam, hundreds of picturesque bridges, to feel the spirit of the city and its inexpressible atmosphere.

Most city tours start from the beautiful red brick building with a clock and weather vane in the neo-Gothic style - the Central Station (XIX century.) Separating itself from the old harbor town Hey. From the station a fan of the street and run away "grahty - Amsterdam's canals, including the main street of the city - Damrak on which you can reach the historic city center -" quarter for more channels. " Shingles his single channels ( "defensive"), Heyrengraht ( "channel master"), Kayzersgraht ( "Imperial"), Prinsengracht (Princes Canal ") and many others, divide the city on 90 islands. "Quarter for more channels - above all the famous Dam Square, the center of gravity" informal "groups from around the world, which also are the Royal Palace with a great museum (XVII century. The royal family does not live here now), the monument of Freedom (1956 , soldered into the base of the capsule to the ground in countries where war Dutch), Nieuwe Kerk (New Church, in 1408, repeatedly rebuilt) - place the coronation of monarchs of the Netherlands, and the famous Madame Tussauds. Nearby are BERLAGA Exchange Building (1897 - 1903 gg.), Who served in the Middle Ages, mint Munthe wooden tower with a spire and Courant (1620), the zero point of reference in sea level for the whole world - Amsterdam foot rule, a complex of buildings of the East India Company, One of the most interesting buildings of the city - House of shipbuilders, the Museum of Torture and the Museum of Sex on the Damrak, as well as many picturesque houses XVI-XVII centuries.

In Amsterdam, a great number of churches, among which highlights the town's oldest church - a Gothic-Ude Kirk (1300, "old church") which holds regular organ concerts, the biggest in the Netherlands, the Renaissance Church - Westerkerk ( "West", 1619, Mr. .) with the tomb of Rembrandt, the first Protestant Church of the country - Zyudkerk ( "South"), Norderkerk ( "Northern", 1620-23 gg.), and once the world's largest Portuguese Synagogue (1675), as well as one of the largest Catholic cathedrals of Europe - Amstelkring (XVII century.), which now houses the Museum.

Amsterdam - one of the largest art museums and centers of the world. You can visit the largest art museum of the Netherlands and one of the best in Europe - Reyksmyuzeum (in 1885, Flemish painting XV - XVII cc.) Dutch historical museum in the east wing Reyksmyuzeuma, Museum of Contemporary Art Stedeliyk (contemporary art), the Van Gogh Museum with the most world's largest collection of his works (some 200 paintings and 580 drawings), Rembrandt museum in the building of the XVII century. on Yodenbreystraat, the Historical Museum of Amsterdam, the famous Museum of the Tropics, the Anne Frank museum, numerous museums diamond factories, the Museum of the brewing company Heineken, the Cabinet of cats, the Jewish Historical Museum in the joint building of the 4 synagogues, Europe's only Museum of hashish, marijuana and hemp in Udeziyds Ahterbyurgval, and located next door at the Museum of tattoos and many others, not less original assembly.

In addition to historic and cultural monuments, many guests are attracted by the famous red-light district, across from Central Station and great selling points of the city - from flea markets and Vatrelupleyn area of Spain, "the flower markets" along the single and the monetary area (Myuntpleyn), to luxury jeweler Coster Diamonds shops, Amsterdam Center for the Diamonds and others. Traditional places for shopping are areas of streets Kalverstrat, Nieuwe-Vendiyk, Rokin, Damstrat, Leydsestrat and Viyzelstrat, as well as parts of Jordan and the Magna Plaza. Market Complex Zwart Markt, located 15 km. north of the city, is considered the largest market in Europe.

In Zandame, which lies 20 km. to the north of Amsterdam, be sure to visit the house of Peter I and architectural open-air museum "Zaandam in the XVII century.". Zandama located north of the famous Alkmaar ( "surrounded by water") - the only city in the world, where to this day preserved medieval cheese fairs and even guild "cheese porters". Of interest are the narrow medieval streets, the city's numerous canals, the cathedral of St. Lawrence and the Gothic Town Hall. It also works fine cheese museum, a museum complex Tsaans Chance, the National Museum of beer in the building of the old brewery, Netherlands Kiln Museum and the Municipal Museum of History and Art.

Lying to the west of the city of Amsterdam, Haarlem from the XI to XIII century. Dutch was the residence of the Palatinate, and so full of monuments of history and culture is not less than Amsterdam or The Hague. City Center - Grote Markt square, surrounded by picturesque medieval buildings. Here are Town Hall, Sint Bavo church with the tomb of Frans Hals and the famous organ (1738), stands near the old almshouse harlemskaya (1608), which is now housed City Museum Khalsa. Interesting Bishop Museum, Museum of Industrial Art in the XVIII century castle., Church-Grote Kerk (XV - XVI centuries.) And the old "meat ranks" (XVII cent.).

The Hague (Grafenhage) - seat of the government, parliament and the royal court, the third largest and one of the oldest (1248) cities in the country, although the status of the city of The Hague was only in 1811 This is the city officials, diplomats and senior citizens. Here is the Palace of Peace, which operates the International Court of Justice. Around the old castle Binnenhof (1248), which now meets the country's parliament - the States-General, lies the historic city center. Before the castle, an area of Plaine, there is a monument to William I of Orange, and around - many beautiful architectural and historical monuments - the building tribunal Ridderzal (XIII cent.), A medieval prison Gevagenport (now there is the Museum of the Inquisition), Ministry of Colonies, the nation's oldest city Passage (1882 - 1885 gg.), the Ministry of Justice and the Literary Club De Witte. Nearby is the palace of the former regent of the Netherlands possessions in Brazil - Mauritshuis (1633-1644 gg.), Which houses one of the best art galleries of the world - the Royal Art Gallery with a collection of works by Dutch and Flemish painters XV - XVII centuries. - Rembrandt, Vermeer, Khalsa, Wall and others nearby, the town hall square, placed the Gothic Old Town Hall, Market Berlage and the most famous cathedral city - a church-Grote Kerk (XV - XVI cc.) Images on the front arms of the Knights of the Golden Fleece, and symbol of the city - the bell with the image of a stork.

The residence is located in the palace of Queen Keninkliyk Pale Nordeynde (1533 - 1655 gg.), Which in summer is open for free visits (the Queen herself lives in a mansion Hayes-ten-Bos). Another landmark of the city - Madurodam park, a sort of open-air museum, where a scale of 1: 25 represented almost the entire country and all its monuments, and all these clever models acting! Also interesting is an ultramodern residence quarter, which worked on creating the best architects in the world. A lot of tourists attracted built by the Walloon Church of Napoleon Bonaparte (1807), House-Museum of Spinoza, a unique museum of chocolates and candies Gaagshe Hofe, the old Catholic Church (1722), Palace of Peace (1913), Art Gallery of Prince William V, International Press Museum, Postal Museum and the Museum of Costume, and the Aquarium and the Maritime Center, which operates on the bottom of the ocean going underwater tunnel and excellent environmental exposure.

Not far from The Hague are located world-famous seaside resort of Scheveningen and the ancient city of Delft (1246) - The famous Dutch blue and white porcelain, famous for along with this its Renaissance Town Hall (1619) with sentinel baschney, the monastery of St. Agatha (XIV century .), the chapel of St. Hippolytus (1400), Church (1250) with the bell tower of the incident "(1325), as well as the National Museum Lambert van Merten and the Gothic church Nieuwe Kerk, (XIV - XV centuries). the graves of members of the royal dynasty. Say that the Market Square Delft, with the 109-meter bell tower, Nieuwe Kerk - the most beautiful in the country.

Rotterdam, Europe's largest port and second largest city, lies on one of the northern branch of the vast delta of the Rhine - p. Lek. For the first time chronicles mention it in 1238, and by the 1340 Rotterdam has been one of the great cities of Europe. Old Town was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, so the old monuments almost did not survive, but recovered modern Rotterdam amazes guests bold architectural design and business activity.

Most preserved part of the city is the port area Delft - Delftshaven saturated with narrow streets, canals, old buildings and windmills. Here is the first skyscraper in Europe - Het Witte Hayes (45 m., 1898). The territory of the old port is closely surrounded by new housing developments. In the center of the city, near the Naval Museum of Prince Hendrik, vysititsya bronze statue of "The Scream" ( "the desolate cities") in memory of the Nazis destroyed the old city, located near the Historical Museum in the palace of the XVII century., Building Kunsthal (art exhibitions XIX - XX centuries .) and building a tower with a beacon - the famous museum Boymana van Beuningen in Holland with the best collection of Flemish masters XV - XVI centuries. You can visit the city's Cathedral of Saint Lorentskerk (XVI cent.) Preceded by a monument of Erasmus of Rotterdam, or the largest in the country of the Town Hall (1920), a monument to Peter I on the bank of the Meuse, as well as Mail and Exchange. Above the town rises Gromada towers Euromast (1960, 185 m.), on top of which is revolving observation deck, which opens up a magnificent panorama of the city and a huge port. In the quarter Kralingen is a beautiful botanical garden, and reached an area of the business center, you can admire the modern high-rise buildings, banks and offices, many of which only a few meters lower than Euromast. Among the interesting museums Academy of Arts, the Conservatory, the Museum of Ethnography, Museum of Entomology, the Historical Museum of Rotterdam and a wonderful zoo.

Utrecht - the old university town situated in the center of the country. A characteristic feature of the city - two-tier channels connected by numerous bridges with adjacent houses, which in the Middle Ages served as warehouses - goods from the barges to warehouses shipped up directly. Now the first tier terraces converted into numerous charming cafes and restaurants, while they themselves serve as channels for the most part, for the entertainment and leisure walks. "Identity Card" in Utrecht - the oldest Gothic cathedral of the country with the highest spire in the Netherlands - Domkerk (1254 - 1517 gg.), Are also interested in City Hall (XIX cent.), A famous university (in force since the XVII century.) Coin Museum, the Museum community arts and sciences, Railway Museum, Central Museum (collection of works of art of the early XVII century.), medieval houses and one of the nation's largest collections of medieval art at the Museum of Christianity.

Maastricht, one of the oldest cities in the country and the administrative center of the province of Limburg, lies in the south, on the border with Belgium. One of the main attractions of the city - the remains of the defensive line van du Moulin (walls, ramparts, underground mine galleries, etc.), as well as a maze of 20 thousand caves in Sint-Petersburg, also used as dungeons and warehouses during the numerous sieges of the city . No less interesting are protected as architectural monuments of medieval burgher houses of the old town, narrow streets and bridges, the oldest city gate in the Netherlands (1299), City Hall (XVII - XVIII centuries.) Symbol of the city - the cathedral of Sint-Servas (Sint -Servaskerk, VI cent.), a lot of museums - Bishop, art and antiquities, art museum Bonnefanten, as well as the most beautiful Romanesque basilica of the Netherlands - the church of Onze-Liva-Frauve (or the Onze-Liva-Vrau, XII cent.) on the same-area . Near Tilburg located unique in Europe safari park and amusement park "Efteling".

Lying in the north, Groningen is famous for its churches - St. Martin (XIII - XVI centuries). To the tower (XVI cent.), Aa (XIII cent.) And the Nieuwe Kerk, (XVII cent.), As well as the remains of a Roman settlement. Maritime Museum of Groningen and the original Museum of tobacco are among the best in Europe, and in the library of the city kept the Latin translation of the New Testament, made by Erasmus of Rotterdam with the notes of Martin Luther.

Along the northern coast stretches of the island province of Friesland, and Wadd, interest, first of all, his "wild" landscapes, sand dunes, numerous lakes, pine forests, marine resorts and secluded villages, preserved their cultural uniqueness of ethnic groups living here Frisians. The provincial capital - Leeuwarden, is interesting for its ancient ramparts, Palace of Justice, City Hall, the best collection of porcelain and faience products in the country estate of Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel and unique Frisian museum on the artistic traditions and culture of this interesting province. The village is located Venkloster branch of the museum with a remarkable collection of toys. In Dokkume - another Frisian Museum of Folk Art in Franekere - a unique planetarium (XVIII cent.), His university (who was considered at one time second in importance after the Leyden), and the oldest building of the dormitory. The snack is Frisian Maritime Museum and an excellent yacht club, and in Kollume - luxury homes in a traditional style and majestic City Hall (XV).. National Park De Kennermerdyunen (kennemerskie dunes ") took more than 1000 hectares of natural dune area on the North Sea coast, as one of the few areas with natural vegetation and many small ponds, and beautiful pine and deciduous forests with the natural fauna.

The biggest national park of the country - De Hoge Velyuve-known, among other things, one of the largest in Europe, the Museum of Sculpture in Otterlo - more than 20 hectares located on the outdoor masterpieces by famous European artists of the twentieth century. As well as wealthy private art collection couple Kreller-Muller.

In the Netherlands remained a lot of medieval castles, palaces and castles. Fortress Ammersoen (XIV cent.) Famous exposition of the objects found during excavations in the Castle moat, the castle Middahten (1190 rebuilt in the XVII century.) - One of the few fully-preserved, together with all conditions of the medieval castles of the country, Valkenburg is built on the bedrock ( 1100) and is famous rasvetvlennoy system of underground tunnels leading into the vast labyrinth of caves, castles and interesting de Haar, Breda (XIV century.) etc.