About the country
The first thing that you notice when you come to the Netherlands is quite how flat the country is.
Take a train between just about any two points in the Netherlands, and you will pass miles upon miles of utterly applanate fields. There is not even the attempt of an incline towards the horizon.
Only in the extreme south of the country does the land rise to any significant extent, where the gently rolling lowlands start to meet the Ardennes in Belgium. This is what some Dutch refer to, in jest, as the Netherlands' "mountains".
But by and large the Netherlands is extremely flat, and this is what bikes the country an attractive destination for cycling holidays. It is this flatness that has also made windmills such a fixture of the Dutch landscape. Many windmills are now open to the public to visit. Some are still in operation.
Other aspects of the Dutch culture that you are sure to encounter whilst in the country include clogs, wooden shoes that are surprisingly comfy, and tulips, which start to bloom in the Spring. There is also, of course, the country's coffeeshop culture, where you can smoke pot without fear of arrest.
The Netherlands is also famous for its art and architecture. Most large towns boast of at least one world-renowned painter, many of whose painters are displayed in the local galleries.
Other things to do include visiting Amsterdam's famous redlight district, trudging across mudflats in the north of the country and visiting a sanctuary reserve for monkeys.