The Netherlands is a country partly reclaimed from the waters of the North Sea, and around half of it lies at or below sea level. Land reclamation has been the dominant motif of its history, with the result a country of unique images – flat, fertile landscapes punctuated by windmills and church spires; ornately gabled terraces flanking peaceful canals; and mile upon mile of grassy dunes, backing onto stretches of pristine sandy beach.

Most people travel only to the uniquely atmospheric capital, Amsterdam. Nearby is a group of towns known collectively as the Randstad (literally "rim town"), including Haarlem and Delft with their old canal-girded centres, and Den Haag (The Hague), a stately city with fine museums and easy beach access. Outside the Randstad, life moves more slowly. In the north, Groningen is a busy cultural centre, lent verve by its large student population. To the south, the landscape undulates into heathy moorland, best experienced in the Hoge Veluwe National Park. Further south still lies the compelling city of Maastricht, squeezed between the German and Belgian borders.