Sitting above Belgium, with Germany to the east and the North Sea to the west, the Netherlands is one of Europe’s powerhouses when it comes to art and culture.

Also known informally as Holland, the Netherlands – which translates as ‘lower lands’ – has a truly remarkable landscape. More than half the country is below sea level, and much of it has been reclaimed from the sea. Drainage ditches and canals are a common sight in the Netherlands and as you might expect, it is incredibly flat. The North Sea winds rush in from the west and churns the turbines of the windmills that are dotted across the landscape. Amsterdam is inspirational, a charming, 17th-century city of small European buildings, sparkling canals, intimate market squares and fascinating cultural highlights.

There are more museums packed into Amsterdam than any other city in the world, from the Rijksmuseum to the Anne Frank House. You explore the city’s secrets as well. You might visit a hidden tasting room in a 1679 liqueur distillery and learn the proper way to drink jenever, or see what is thought to be the world’s narrowest house, with a façade just 3’3” wide.

Beyond Amsterdam, The Netherlands is teeming with beauty and charm. Windmills that dot the countryside are nestled within flower fields bursting with color. Tiny villages exude European charm. Small towns like Haarlem, with its cobblestone streets, historic buildings and grand churches are waiting to be explored. In Alkmaar, discover why the town’s 1573 resistance of occupying Spanish troops ultimately led to its world-famous cheese market.