The Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe, is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum. Canalside mansions and a trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the city’s 17th-century “Golden Age.Many of the residents ride bicycles for transportation in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and other cities. There are three times as many bicycles as there are cars in the Netherlands.Tourism is important to the country, and many visitors come to see Dutch art, architecture—and the flowers. Tulips are a major industry, and the Dutch produce billions of bulbs a year—more than any other country.The name Netherlands means “low countries.” The country is sometimes called Holland, but the name only applies to two provinces, North and South Holland, which border the North Sea in Amsterdam and The Hague.The Netherlands is the most densely populated country in the European Union. Animals have had to squeeze into changing habitats around the dams, dikes, and canals. Some bird species have found a haven in the watery swamps. The government has created sanctuaries to allow plants, birds, and small animals to thrive.Wooden windmills helped to drain water from the land for over 600 years. Today there are other sources of flood control and sources of power. The Dutch plan to have 10 percent of the country’s energy needs supplied by renewable energy, including wind turbines, by 2020.
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