DUTCH - THE NETHERLAND-THE COUTRY OF TULIPS , WINDMILLS , BIKES AND CHEESE

THE NETHERLANDS-THE COUTRY OF TULIPS , WINDMILLS , BIKES AND CHEESE

TULIPS

Originally cultivated in the Ottoman Empire ( present –day Turkey), tulips were imported into The Netherland in the sixteenth century.Today , the Netherland is still known for its tulips and other flowers, often being affectionately called the “ flower shop of  the world”.Tulips are cultivated in great fields of beautiful colour and tulip festivals abound throughout the country in the spring. 

Come to The Netherland in mid April to see the tulips in bloom in their peak season. Tulip season extends from the end of March to the middle of May, but Mid April usually sports the most prolific blossoms. Keukenhof in Lisse is covered by 7 million bulbs in the spring and is one of the best places to get a good look at many different varieties of tulip.

WINDMILLS

The first windmills were invented in antiquity, but it was the Dutch who really hit it off with this wooden giant. In a flat country, where the wind always blows, windmills sprouted from the ground like mushrooms. They were used to mill,saw, pump and press. The production of boards, paint , oil and paper , as well as bread and mustard- among other things-depended on windmills and wind. In addition, windmills were used to pump the water out of lakes and to keep reclaimed land dry.

“Unique in its kind”, announced Napolean when he arrived at the Zaanse Schans. 600 willmills made up the world’s first industrial area.Today, the 250 year old windmill park is a fascinating open air museum.

The second Saturday and Sunday in May in National Mill Day in The Netherland. On that day 950 windmills and watermills open their doors to visitors.

BIKES

The Netherland is biking and biking is The Netherland. The Dutch head for the handlebars for both small errands as well as longer trips. The country’s 16 million inhabitants own 18 million bicycles, which means that there are more bicycles than people in The Netherland. 

Of course The Netherland is the perfect places for biking thanks to this flat landscape featuring over 18000 miles of bike paths.

CHEESE

Dutch Cheese production is currently in the hands of dairy factories, which produce and export hundreds of millions of tons of cheese every year. The cheese markets in Alkmaar, Gouda and Edam remind us of the origins of a flourishing cheese trade and have become popular tourist attractions. 

The Dutch still love cheese and eat about 7 pounds of it annually per person.Just like Julius Caesar, let yourself be surprised about the many types of Dutch Cheeses and sample the country’s “yellow old”.