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In the Netherlands, the storybook land of tulips, dykes and windmill continues to happily coincide with Holland's hot nightlife and liberal cafe culture.

The contrasting elements of free-wheeling and traditional, for example, are never far away in Amsterdam.

The capital city is by far one of the hippest capitals in Europe (best seen by canal boat) where art and history buffs can walk or cycle to such landmarks as the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, with a stop at the infamous Amsterdam red light district to take in the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum.

For beer drinkers, a stop at the Heineken brewery in Amsterdam is a must as visitors are treated to four levels of historical artifacts, interactive exhibits and, of course, a sample brew.

Major Amsterdam tourist attractions include the Anne Frank house (left), the world class
Van Gogh museum (middle), as well as cruising along the famous canals (right).

Popular day trips from Amsterdam include a trip back in time (it takes about 20 minutes by car) to Zaanse Schans with an impressive outdoor museum featuring picture perfect windmills and other historic buildings. With its close proximity, another popular excursion from Amsterdam lands you in Bruges, Belgium providing an easy tour of the famous medieval city and stunning Gothic architecture.

Farther afield, bikes remain the best way to see the Netherlands -- and extraordinarily flat country -- accentuated in early spring by legendary tulip fields located near Leiden. There are also thousands of acres of national park at Hoge Veluwe, home to the Kroller-Muller Museum, boasting one of the finest Van Gogh collections you're likely to see anywhere.

DID YOU KNOW? Netherlands Travel Fun Facts

In the Netherlands, English is the most popular second language after Dutch.

• Most people in the Netherlands speak another language other than Dutch. Almost 86% of the population speak English.

• Forget the ketchup. One of the most popular snacks in the Netherlands is french fries and mayonnaise.

• When in the Netherlands, give three kisses. The custom is for women to greet both men and women with a kiss on either cheek, and then back to the first in a quick pecking motion.

• There is a bike for almost very person in the Netherlands, and twice as many bicylces as cars.

• With famous brands such as Amstel and Heineken, the Dutch are the biggest beer exporters in the world, with half of it shipped to the U.S.

Christmas in Holland

More about Netherlands travel & tourism around the Web:

Amsterdam.info - The top attractions explained in words and pictures including the Anne Frank House, historical museums and places, the infamous Red Light District, plus visitor tips & maps, guides to hotels, restaurants and shopping.

Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions - The official site with news, seasonal events, pictures, travel tips, online hotel booking, city guides to Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht and more.

Netherlands Travel | Lonely Planet World Guide - How to get there and where to go, major and offbeat attractions, culture and nightlife, event calendar, maps, picture gallery.