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The Netherlands are commonly referred to as Holland which was a former county that is now divided into two provinces - North Holland (Noord Holland) and South Holland (Zuid Holland). This small nation has had an enormous influence internationally, especially in the history of art and commerce.
Many of the world's most famous artists were born in the Netherlands with Rembrandt, van Gogh, Hieronymus Bosch and Jan Vermeer coming readily to mind.
Capital: Amsterdam is the official capital, but The Hague (Den Haag) is the administrative seat of government
Currency: The Euro (€) is the official currency. For the current rate of exchange visit the Olson and Anderson web site.
Languages: Dutch, but many people in Holland have some fluency in English, German and French.
Visit the CIA World Fact Book for a large variety of particulars regarding the Netherlands.
Travel Advisories: Travelers should check the web sites listed on our international pages that provide advice of possible security and health risks when visiting this region.
The web site for the Royal Netherlands Embassies in Washington, DC and London, England have information of interest to travelers including passport and visa particulars and a list of consular offices. There is also information about Holland and links to government agencies and other related web sites.
The Dutch Royal Family web site has information (Dutch and English) about the history and members of the family.
The web site of the Netherlands Board of Tourism is an excellent resource to begin planning for a trip to Holland.
There are seven sites in the Netherlands that are listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Visit the Dutch Youth Hostel Association web site for information about hostels and low-cost accommodations in the Netherlands.
Museum.nl has a collection of museums in the Netherlands on its web site which has Dutch and English versions.
The National Parks web site has information about the many and varied national parks in the Netherlands. This site has a very good map showing the locations of these parks. Links to these national parks are provided on the appropriate provincial pages of this section.
Recommended Reading: Baedeker - Amsterdam | Netherlands; The Blue Guide to Amsterdam; the Blue Guide to the Netherlands; Eyewitness Travel Guide to Amsterdam; Let's Go - Amsterdam Map Guide; Lonely Planet - Amsterdam; Rough Guides - Amsterdam | Dutch phrasebook | Holland