7 Days HOLLAND

7 Days HOLLAND

The European kingdom of Holland, known also as the Netherlands, was until relatively recently a powerful trading nation that possessed many colonies. Most of this land of tulips, windmills and canals is located below sea level and in the 17th century was the most prosperous country in Europe. Amsterdam is Holland`s splendid metropolis, a city of canals and gables where almost anything is permitted as long as it does no harm. Today the view across the main square and royal castle gives little hint that the city is supported by stakes and is the largest lakeland village in the world. In a huge open-air area between Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport, every ten years an international exhibition of garden architecture is held, the Floriade. It features hundreds of blossoming show gardens that are admired by millions of visitors from all over the world.In the 16th century life on the ocean wave brought glorious times for the city of Edam that is now world famous for its cheese of the same name. More than thirty shipyards once prospered in the city and the fleet of legendary Dutch hero, Michiel De Ruyter,was built there. Mijmegen lies proudly on the banks of the River Waal. The origins of Holland's oldest city are to be found in the Roman settlement of Noviomagum. The triangular market square of this university and Hanseatic town is dominated by the Waag House, a red-bricked building of Renaissance design. The Molens Van Kinderdijk is a fascinating landscape of windmills and a Unesco World Heritage Sight. Its nineteen windmills are world famous and of course typical of Holland.The fascination of old cities, dreamy fairytale-like villages, paintings by some of the world's greatest artists, bicycles and windmill: Holland is very much a land of the familiar and also the exotic.

MOLENS VAN KINDERDIJK NETHERLANDS

MOLENS VAN KINDERDIJK NETHERLANDS

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SCHOKLAND NETHERLANDS

SCHOKLAND NETHERLANDS

This is part of a series, Planet Terra, which when licensed allows you to add your own custom narration to meet you specific marketing needs. Contact us at TravelVideoStore.com for more details about licensing this episode or any of the 365 other episodes to destinations around the world.

Global Treasures - Schokland - The Netherlands

Global Treasures - Schokland - The Netherlands

Where the waters of the Ijsel Sea once flowed is today the vast, flat land of the youngest Dutch province of Flevoland. Only a few kilometres east of Ens, the small village of Schokland emerges from the landscape. This region is an extraordinary example of the historical reclamation of the land from the sea and Schokland is a symbol of the past struggles of its people to reclaim and protect their land from the power of Nature. Even the ancient Romans reported the rising sea levels of this area that caused severe flooding of the land.

Following several disastrous floods, in 1859 the last remaining villages were evacuated by Royal Decree. Thus the inhabitants of this small island of fishermen were forced to leave their homes but, due to the modern construction methods of the 20th century, the area around Schokland was reclaimed from the sea and once again made habitable.

The architecture of Schoklands old Waterstaats Church was influenced by Calvinism and today it is a museum.Close by, on the former island of Urk, strict Calvinistic customs are still observed and on Sundays some of the villages inhabitants still wear traditional costume.

In 1986, Flevoland became the Netherlands12th and youngest province. The reclaiming of the Zuiderzee created more than 165,000 hectares of new land and due to its long fought though successful struggle with the sea, Schokland can once more be approached from all sides!

Global Treasures MOLENS VAN KINDERDIJK The Windmills of Kin

Global Treasures MOLENS VAN KINDERDIJK The Windmills of Kin

Twenty kilometres east of the large Dutch port of Rotterdam is an exceptional and captivating landscape of windmills, Kinderdijk. For many centuries the windmills played an important role in the drainage and subsequent reclamation of land in the Netherlands.

Up until the 19th century there were more than ten thousand windmills in Holland and even though only a fraction of them still exist they are still an important resource.

The nineteen windmills in the Kinderdijk area were built in the 18th century along the waterways of Lek and Noord. In the past the sails of the redundant windmills were used as a means of communication: the position of the sails indicated if there was reason to celebrate or to grieve or if the operators of the mill had taken a short break.

The traditions of the Dutch windmill are still kept very much alive by several millers keen to continue the rich heritage created by previous generations.

Gardens of the World A COLOURFUL DUTCH GARDEN

Gardens of the World A COLOURFUL DUTCH GARDEN

Man's interpretation and focus on various locations that capture the spirit of Nature, as with music, have their own individual 'accent' in each country of the world, depending upon the climate and the amount of expertise, flair and imagination that has gone into their creation. Some of these natural wonders are simple affairs, whilst others are great symphonies of design, colour and passion.

Experience this magnificent Dutch garden and feel the inner power created by the sensitive combination of nature and music.

A truly relaxing feast of both vision and sound!

Vista Point AMSTERDAM Holland

Vista Point AMSTERDAM Holland

Amsterdam is a captivating metropolis, a city of canals in which anything is allowed as long as it does no harm.

In 1567 the much-travelled Italian, Lodovico Guicciardini, referred to Amsterdam as 'The Venice of the north'. Today the view across the main square and royal castle gives little hint that the city is supported by stakes and that Amsterdam is the largest lakeland village in the world.

The bicycle is one of the city's main features and indeed parking spaces have been designed specially for this mode of transport that shows that even in a large city there is an alternative way of getting about.

In the city centre there are nearly seven thousand protected houses and warehouses most of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and the three hundred year old Magere Brug is of wood construction and is one of the most beautiful drawbridges in the world.

The Bloemenmarkt has been in existence since the 17th century and in bygone days fresh flowers were delivered by boat and sold on board. Here a great variety of colourful tulips and bulbs is offered for sale as well as many exotic plants and seeds.

New Church is almost six hundred years old but due to it's lack of worshippers it is now used as a venue for exhibitions and concerts which fund its continued maintenance. Built in around 1300 A.D., Old Church is the oldest religious building in the city. During the Middle Ages it served as a refuge for vagrants but today it is surrounded by a seedy sex and entertainment district.

In 1682 the city fathers decided to create a leisure area in the east of the city in the centre of which the Artis Zoo was subsequently established, the oldest zoo on the European continent.

Amsterdam possesses an inescapable charm that is adored by both aged hippies and trendy teenagers alike. It is Europe's irresistible 'Capital of Cool!

Gardens of the World HOLLAND'S TULIP GARDENS

Gardens of the World HOLLAND'S TULIP GARDENS

Man's interpretation and focus on various locations that capture the spirit of Nature, as with music, have their own individual 'accent' in each country of the world, depending upon the climate and the amount of expertise, flair and imagination that has gone into their creation. Some of these natural wonders are simple affairs, whilst others are great symphonies of design, colour and passion.

Experience the beauty of Holland's tulip gardens and feel the inner power created by the sensitive combination of nature and music.

A truly relaxing feast of both vision and sound!