the wandering chick
...Amsterdam

According to the Constitution of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is the nation's capital city. However, its government is seated in Den Haag. And it has been since 1588.

Many people ask the difference between Holland and the Netherlands. That's a simple question, but the answer is far more complicated. Both names are used pretty much interchangeably around the world. But the Netherlands is the name of the country, and Holland is a part of The Netherlands, specifically the western part. Furthermore, Holland is divided into two provinces: North Holland and South Holland. The word Holland literally meant "wood-land" and referred to the people in the northern region of the country. Over time, Holland became accepted as a name synonymous wth the Netherlands.

Amsterdam is a city of cultural diversity and artistic heritage. Its museums house works by Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer. Its known for its canal system which rivals that of Venice. In fact, it's often referred to as the Venice of the North. Another great feature of Amsterdam is its main mode of transportation: the bicycle.

Holland's capital...sort of
train statioin
Amsterdam's Centraal (train) Station
city scene
Wall Drug signs can be seen in many cities and regions of the world. The tradition started back in 1936 when Dorothy Hustead came up with the idea of placing a sign on Route 16 in South Dakota to draw people into her drug store. It grew from there, first locally, then worldwide. The signs are hand-painted, and permission is requested before a Wall Drug sign is hung in any location.
canal
canal
canal
canal
canal
canal
To see more destinations in the Netherlands, please return to the Netherlands home page.

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