Tourism in Netherlands

Tourism is an important economic sector in Netherlands . About 10.8 million foreign guests visited Netherlands in 2010, according to figures from the Central Statistical Office(CBS). In addition stayed Dutch such a 17.7 million times in hotels, guest houses, holiday homes and campsites in own country. Most foreign tourists came from Germany, followed by Great Britain, Belgium and the United States. Foreign tourists stay especially in North Holland and South Holland, while Dutch people have a preference forGelderland and Limburg. [1]

Many foreign tourists visit Amsterdam. The city is popular for the coffee shops and the red light districtprostitute area. Numerous sightseeing boats sail daily through the canals in the historic centre. At the Museum square, the famous Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Concert Hall. Other Amsterdam tourist attractions are the flower market and the Zoo Artis. The other major cities such as the Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht are often visited.

Netherlands, however, has more to offer, such as the North Sea and the Wadden Islands with long beaches and dune areas and the IJsselmeer with an excellent opportunity for sailing yachts, and with picturesque towns like Elburgand Harderwijk . Near Harderwijk is a vast nature reserve, the largest forest in the Veluwe, Netherlands. There are severalnational parks and forests such as the Biesbosch and The weerribben.

Maastricht, a city with a separate, almost on-Dutch atmosphere, is a popular destination for Dutch tourists. Often also the villages in the Limburg hill country visited, such asValkenburg and Vaals (known for the three country point).

Many tourists come to Amsterdam for events such as Queen's day Sail, and the Amsterdam Marathon. The Rembrandt year in 2006 (the 400th anniversary of Rembrandt) was a tourist success story, with an estimated 1.75 million Rembrandt-related visits, of which 60% from abroad. [2]

Foreign tourists also often want to see something really typical Dutch, like traditional Dutch fishing villages Volendam and Marken, the cheese market in Alkmaar and Gouda and the mills of the Zaanse Schans andkinderdijk or the port of Rotterdam. The Keukenhof in Lisse is also a typical Dutch attraction, famous for the many different types of flowers. As well as Madurodam, Netherlands in miniature.

Tourism in Netherlands by Dutch people often consists of a visit to a theme park such as Efteling, Dolphinarium, Duinrell or Walibi Holland, or a visit to a Zoo like Burgers ' Zoo Artis, or Rotterdam Blijdorp Zoo.