NETHERLANDS

Location - Western Europe; Capital - Amsterdam; Population - 17 million; Currency - Euro MORE NETHERLANDS

From Brussels I hopped on a train to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, from where it's a few minutes to Delft - May 2010.

Netherlands is another country in the Euro-zone

The Oude Kerk (Old Church) is certainly that - around 800 years old - Delft

A rather grainy photo of one of the canals in Delft

At the base of the Oude Kerk, Delft

Wow that's a big lean - the Oude Kerk is about 2 metres off kilter - Delft

One of the canals on the edge of central Delft

Municipal Museum het Prinsenhof is the site of Willem the Silent's assassination in the 16th century - Delft

I'm next in the queue. 'Voor de kunst' means 'For art', another way of saying please don't use it - Delft

Gemeenlandshuis van Delfland was a private house built in the early 16th century - Delft

Canals are a bit of a novelty at first, but they're virtually all over the country - Delft

On the right is the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) located in the Markt, Delft's central square

Also in the Markt is the Town Hall - Delft

Outside a shop in the Markt - Delft

A statue of Hugh Grotius faces the Town Hall - Delft

Hugo Grotius, a pioneer of international law born in Delft, stands in front of the 14th century 'New Church' - Delft

A turning off the Markt - Delft

The Beestenmarkt, a few minutes walk from the Markt, is a good place for a drink - Delft

The Beestenmarkt is lined with bars and restaurants with plenty of tables and chairs in the central square - Delft

Water water everywhere - Delft

A tree-lined canal on the way to Oostpoort - Delft

Oostpoort is the only part of Delft's original walls that survive

The Oostpoort is a lovely little area, surrounded by canals - Delft

Ducks and swans provided the entertainment at this canalside café - Delft

The Legermuseum is a military museum - Delft

Beyond Den Haag's city centre is the beach resort of Scheveningen

The true definition of 'sunbed' - Scheveningen, Den Haag

Kite-flying on the North Sea coast - Scheveningen, Den Haag

Scheveningen has plenty of restaurants right on the beach - Den Haag

A pedestrian area just off the beach at Scheveningen, Den Haag

I thought this was a government building but it's a lawyers' office. Great location - Den Haag

A shopping area in the centre of Den Haag, close to the Hofvijver

Den Haag, or The Hague, is also known as 's-Gravenhage, and is the Netherlands' seat of government

Government buildings inside the Binnenhof (Inner Court) - Den Haag

The Hague is home to, amongst many others, the United Nation's International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court - Den Haag

The buildings of the Binnenhof overlook the Hofvijver - Den Haag

Hofvijver and the Dutch government buidlings - Den Haag

The Mauritshuis is an art gallery also overlooking the Hofvijver - Den Haag

Relax at one of the cafés at Plein, Den Haag

The 'Celebrity Constellation' docked on Het IJ, next to the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ concert hall - Amsterdam

A replica sailing ship floats in front of NEMO, a science museum - Amsterdam

A canal cruise through Amsterdam

Herengracht forms part of the Canal Belt, a series of semi-circle canals south of the Centraal train station - Amsterdam

Leidseplein is a lively area both day and night - Amsterdam

A street leading off Leidseplein - Amsterdam

Reflections in an Amsterdam canal

Sculptures embedded in a wall - Amsterdam

Cyclists, joggers and vagrants are common sights at Vondelpark - Amsterdam

The large building is the 15th century Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) - Amsterdam

The Nieuwe Kerk is one of several buildings surrounding the Dam, a square that also comprises the National Monument, right, which commemorates the World War II dead - Amsterdam

Madame Tussaud's is also on the Dam - Amsterdam

The Bulldog is a coffee shop chain, this one being in the Red Light District.
In the Netherlands cafés sell coffee; coffee shops sell marijuana (and maybe even coffee) - Amsterdam

'Wad u talkin'bout Willis?' Diff'rent Strokes actor Gary Coleman.
I'm sure most people have no idea what I'm talking about - Amsterdam

It's rather bizarre to see the 14th century Oude Kerk (Old Church) surrounded by prostitute windows. There's also urinoirs (open-plan urinals, pictured on the left) a few metres from the entrance - Amsterdam

One of the canals in the Red Light District - Amsterdam

Another canal photo - Amsterdam

Amsterdam's sex museum, on Damrak, is a very popular harmless bit of fun. There's even a flasher to entertain visitors (a model one, not a human) - Amsterdam

I don't know if this pub in the Red Light District always looks like this or whether they were getting ready for the World Cup - Amsterdam

A restaurant now occupies the 15th century Waag (Weighing house) in Nieuwmarkt, a square on the outskirts of the Red Light District - Amsterdam

I thought the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum was a bit disappointing - Amsterdam

On the left, growing skunk at the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum - Amsterdam

The 85 metre high Westerkerk. This church is the resting place of Dutch painter Rembrandt - Amsterdam

The Westerkerk provides some fine views of the city - Amsterdam

The house of Anne Frank is on the right, behind the grey building at the front - Amsterdam

A closer look at the Anne Frank house - Amsterdam.
The Jewish Frank family hid here during World War II, with daughter Anne Frank writing a diary covering this period.
15-year-old Anne died in the Bergen Belsen concentration camp in 1945.

High above the Prinsengracht canal - Amsterdam

Off on a jolly - Prinsengracht canal, Amsterdam

Website and content Copyright © 2008-2011 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.

LINKS

www.holland.com - Netherlands tourist board

www.visitholland.nl

www.amsterdam.info - covering Amsterdam

www.ns.nl - Dutch trains

www.eurostar.com - Eurostar train from London to Paris, Brussels and more

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.