The Netherlands (also popularly, though inaccurately, called Holland in English, in Dutch Nederland) is a small monarchy in the Northwest of Europe, between the North Sea, Belgium and Germany, known for much more than cheese, windmills, tulips.

Because of its size and flatness The Netherlands is a great country to travel by bicycle. Public transport is another good option because parking is problematic in most town centers. Trains and buses provide excellent transport in the entire country, though in the northern part it sometimes pays off to rent a car.

The young mainly visit The Netherlands for two characteristics: the permissive attitude towards erotics (prostitution is legal) and drugs (possession of small quantities of softdrugs for personal use is legal, and marihuana - in small quantities for personal use - is for sale legally in 'coffee shops' throughout the country). This, however, does not mean harddrugs are tolerated - nor is illegal prostitution. Both examples of leniency were instituted to better control these problems. The result is less crime and better working conditions for legal prositutes - a recipe slowly being picked up by the rest of the world. The Dutch always try to stay one step ahead though, and for several years now gay couples have been allowed to marry legally and properly, like any couple.