THE NETHERLANDS

This week I briefly visited the Netherlands landing Amsterdam in particular so wanted to share my impressions. Two things struck me immediately. I found absolutely charming the narrow arty streets with fragrances and aromas both foreign and familiar, like the people themselves. Diverse and interesting. Now I understand why my fellow Ukrainians love to go to the Netherlands. Those little houses each with their own individuality definitely gives a character to the streets, making them cozy and looking attractive.

The other thing I really noticed was all sorts of bikes on those streets, a reminder that because this small country is flat, pedaling is a preferred mode of transportation. While I was there, I learned that the country is in fact the cycling capital of Europe. There is an interesting YouTube video about urban planning by a Canadian who moved his family to Amsterdam for its livability called Just Bikes Why We Won’t Raise Our Kids in Suburbia (and moved to the Netherlands instead)

From the air, when landing in Amsterdam, I saw that Holland is full of waterways. It seemed to me that the heart of the country has all those rivers and lakes as its arteries . I actually found out it is the densest network of waterways in Europe, connecting all of the cities and major towns. Waterways of Netherlands

Some of the areas here are below sea level so Dutch people had to build dikes and create polders. How the Netherlands Reclaimed Land From the Sea Going by train through green fields, I saw a few canals. On the whole it reminded me a bit of English views too with its never-ending green lands.

Looking forward to spending more time here.