This country of tulips, windmills and bicycles stretches out over a predominantly flat landscape of land reclaimed from the sea. Sophisticated urban centres and sleepy rural towns are contained within the expansive vistas broken here and there by canals, castle walls and dikes. Europe's most densely populated region is located within an area of the Netherlands called the Randstad. This urban hub radiates in a circle from Amsterdam and includes The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, as well as the smaller towns of Haarlem, Leiden and Delft. The metropolitan centres buzz with the activity of seasonal festivals, cultural activities, vibrant art scenes and excellent pubs and restaurants.

The cultural heritage that flavours much of Dutch life can be traced back through time. During the 1600s the Netherlands dominated the world both economically and culturally. The Dutch East India Company established trading links with the East and West Indies bringing back an abundance of merchandise and cultural influences. The Golden Age reached its zenith in the artworks of the Dutch Masters - Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Jan Vermeer. Today, their paintings hang from the walls of the cities' numerous museums and galleries.

Most people travelling to the Netherlands head for the unique experience of its capital city, Amsterdam. The other parts are largely unaffected by tourism, particularly the areas outside the Randstad. The southern parts of the country are transformed by undulating landscapes of shifting sands and heath moors, best experienced within the Hoge Veluwe National Park. Further south, tucked between the German and Belgian borders, lies the historical city of Maastricht.

Since the collapse of Napoleon's empire in 1814, the Netherlands has taken a neutral stance throughout most of the world's conflicts, including the First World War in which it took no part. In spite of this independent stance it still suffered severely in World War II during the Nazi invasion of 1940. Its neutral political position, combined with its tradition of liberalism and tolerance has made the Netherlands the logical choice for the establishment of the International Court of Justice, which is situated in The Hague.

Anne Frank House

Address: Prinsengracht 267 (Westerkerk) Amsterdam

Admission: EUR8.50 (adults), EUR4 (children aged 10 to 17) Open daily from 9am to 7pm (September 15 to March 14); and from 9am to 9pm (15 March to 14 September). Note that the queues can be long, but that tickets can be bought online in advance

Telephone: (020) 556 7105

Van Gogh Museum

Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR14 (adults), children under 17 are free Open daily from 10am to 6pm (until 10pm on Fridays)

Telephone: (020) 570 5200

The Rijksmuseum

Address: Jan Luijkenstraat 1 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR12.50 (adults). Under 18s are free and concessions are available Open daily rom 9am to 6pm (closing at 10pm on Fridays). Closed 1 January

Telephone: (020) 674 7000

Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art

Address: Post CS building, Oosterdokskade 5 (temporary location until end of 2008) Amsterdam

Admission: EUR9 (adults), EUR4.50 (children 7 to16), EUR22.50 (family pass). Other concessions available Open daily from 10am to 6pm. Closed 1 January

Telephone: (020) 573 2911

Rembrandt House

Address: Jodenbreestraat 4 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR9 (adults), EUR2.50 (children 6-15). Other concessions available Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Closed 1 January

Telephone: (020) 5200 400

Amsterdam Historisch Museum

Address: Kalverstraat 92 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR10 (adults), EUR5 (children aged 6 to 16) Open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Closed 1 January, 30 April and 25 December

Telephone: (020) 523 1822

Red Light District (De Wallen)

Address: Amsterdam

Our Dear Lord in the Attic (Museum Amstelkring)

Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR7 (adults), EUR1 (children 5-18). Other concessions are available Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm (open from 1pm on Sundays and public holidays). Closed 1 January and 30 April

Telephone: (0)20 624 6604

The Dutch Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum)

Address: Plantage Kerklaan 61 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR7.50 (adults), EUR4 (children 7-15). Other concessions available Open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm; Open Saturday, Sunday, Monday and public holidays from 12pm to 5pm

Telephone: 020 620 2535

The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis)

Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, Dam Square Amsterdam

Admission: EUR7.50 (adults), EUR6.50 (children) Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 12pm to 5pm. Guided tours can be booked by calling (020) 624 8698

Telephone: (0)20 620 4060

Maastricht

Address: Maastricht is located 133 miles (215km) from Amsterdam Amsterdam

Telephone: +31 (0)43 325 2121

International Court of Justice

Address: Carnegieplein 2 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR5 (adults) and EUR3 (children) Guided tours operate from Monday to Friday, at 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm

Telephone: (0)70 302 4242

Waterland Neeltje Jans

Address: Eiland Neeltje Jans, Faelweg 5 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR16 (adults), concessions available Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm (winter), and daily from 10am to 5.30pm (summer)

Telephone: (0)111 655 655

Royal Delftware Factory

Address: Rotterdamseweg 196, Delft Delft

Admission: EUR6.50 (adults), Children under 12 free Open daily from 9am to 5pm (25 March to 1 November), and Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5 pm (2 November to 24 March). Closed between Christmas and New Years' Day

Telephone: +31 (0)15 251 2030

National Maritime Museum

Address: Kattenburgerplein 1 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR6 Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Open on Mondays from mid-June to mid-September. Closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Queen's day (30 April)

Telephone: +31 (0)20 5232 222

Heineken Experience

Address: Stadhouderskade 78 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR16 Open daily from 11am to 7pm

Telephone: +31 (0)20 523 9222

Amsterdam Coffeeshops

Address: Amsterdam

Artis Zoo

Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38-40 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR18.95 (adults); EUR15.50 (children); EUR17.50 (senior 65+). Concessions are available. Ticket also provides admission to Planetarium, Geological Museum, Aquarium and Zoological Museum 1 April to 31 October: Open daily from 9am to 6pm; 1 November to 31 March: Open daily from 9am to 5pm

Telephone: (0)20 523 3400

Eftling

Address: Amsterdam

Admission: EUR29 (general admission); Children under 4 free. Concessions are available. Open daily between 1 April and 1 November from 10am to 6pm

Telephone: (0)41 628 8111

Madurodam

Address: George Maduroplein 1, The Hague Amsterdam

Admission: EUR14.50 (Adults), EUR10.50 (Children). Concessions are available Open daily. 4 July to 31 August from 9am to 11pm; 1 September to 31 December from 9am to 6pm; 1 January to 3 July from 9am to 8pm.

Telephone: (0)70 416 2400

Kinderkookkafé

Address: Vondelpark 6b, Kattenlaantje Amsterdam

Admission: EUR10 (cooking class); EUR5 (adult tea-party guests); EUR10 (adult dinner-party guests)

Telephone: (0)20 625 3257

TunFun

Address: Mr. Visserplein 7 Amsterdam

Admission: EUR10 (children); Adults and children under 1 year old are admitted free of charge. Open daily from 10am to 6pm. Closed 30 April and 1 January.

Telephone: (0)20 528 6054

Kinderdijk Windmills

Address: Rotterdam

Amsterdam Canal Tour

Address: Amsterdam

Hoge Veluwe National Park

Address: Amsterdam

Admission: EUR8 (adults), children under 5 are free Opening hours vary from month to month, but are generally from 9am to 8pm

Concertgebouw

Address: Amsterdam

Vondelpark

Address: Koninginneweg 34-36 Amsterdam

Haarlem

Address: Amsterdam

Blauw aan de Wal

Address: Oude Zijds, Achterburgwal 99 Amsterdam

Food Type: French

Odeon

Address: Singel 460, Rembrandtplein Amsterdam

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

D' Vijff Vlieghen

Address: Spuistraat 294-302 (opposite the Amsterdam Historical Museum) Amsterdam

Food Type: Local

Café de Jaren

Address: Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22 Amsterdam

Food Type: Gastropubs

Dynasty

Address: Reguliersdwarsstraat 30 Amsterdam

Food Type: Oriental

Pasta E Basta

Address: Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 8 Amsterdam

Food Type: Italian

Rose's Cantina

Address: Reguliersdwarsstraat 38-40 Amsterdam

Food Type: Spanish

De Silveren Spiegel

Address: Kattengat 4-6 Amsterdam

Food Type: Local

De Witte Uyl

Address: Frans Halsstraat 26 Amsterdam

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Café Luxembourg

Address: Spuistraat 24 Amsterdam

Food Type: Gastropubs

Greetje

Address: Peperstraat 23-25 Amsterdam

Food Type: Local

Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs

Address: Grimburgwal 2, Medieval Centre Amsterdam

Food Type: Local