Holland

"Holland's geography and geology are unique and have shaped its history and the character of its people. Named after the land's unusually low location above sea level, about 15% of Holland's 40, 000 square kilometres is reclaimed land. The Dutch were pioneers of dike building and drainage canals, and the country's development has always been influenced by its contagious struggle with the sea.

Wherever you are in the country, you are always reminded that you are never far away from a large expanse of water; enormous clouds and moisture in the air cause special effects. The light becomes very mellow while the sun is setting, captured majestically by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh in their paintings.

The best pictures of the exuberantly decorated facades of the old city mansions are along the 17th-century canals of Amsterdam, the vibrant, friendly capital. Imagine the original gardens and hothouses where gardeners struggled to keep alive their prized exotic plants and flowers from overseas - small beginnings of one of the world's most important horticultural industries.

The official currency of Holland is the Euro. Bank hours are 9am - 4pm, Monday to Friday, with some branches staying open until 5pm on Thursday's. 1 Euro (€) = 100 Cents (c)
- Banknote denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500
- Coin denominations: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2

Credit cards are widely accepted (mostly Visa and Mastercard), and you should have no problems using them in larger shops and restaurants. Smaller shops may ask you to pay in cash or have a minimum amount required to use credit card.

Average costs:
Soft drink/Mineral water/Coffee = €2-3.50
Salad or sandwhich lunch with drink = €10-15
Dinner at a midrange restaurant = €30-40

- There are around 22.5 million bicycles in Holland
- Holland is the third-largest exporter of agricultural produce - after the US and France - even though only 3% of the Dutch population is employed in the agriculture sector.
- The Van Gogh Museum and the Kröller-Müller Museum of Holland house the largest Van Gogh collections in the world.