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Check out all the souvenir coins in the country of your choice.

Below you can find an overview of the general coin specifications that apply to the collection in this country. Scroll down to discover the coins piece by piece, or use the ‘select a coin’ box to jump directly to any specific coin that you are looking for.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands
General coin specifications

Color Diameter Thickness Edge No. coins No. variations
brass
champagne
gold
silver
 31.00 mm
 2.25 mm
 script
serrated, fine
serrated, fine with script
 52 79

THORN

Abdijkerk

The village of Thorn, with its typical white houses, evolved around an abbey founded at the end of the 10th century. In the late middle ages, the abbey and its surrounding estates became a sovereign state of the German Empire.
Thorn changed its status to "stift", a religiously focused but secular establishment. Only women with the most impeccable pedigree were accepted in Thorn, that thus became a haven for the aristocracy's unmarried daughters. They dwelled in luxury in their white houses, being attended by servants and owning property.
Today only the church remains of the abbey's original large building complex. In the 12th century it was a sturdy Romanesque building, renovated in Gothic style at the end of the 13th century. The late Baroque furnishings of the choir date from the 18th century.
THORN

FRIESLAND

Afsluitdijk

The Afsluitdijk ("Barrier Dike" or "Closure Dike") is a major dam in the Netherlands that has a length of 32 km and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level.

The Afsluitdijk links the provinces of North Holland and Friesland and it converted the Zuiderzee into an inland lake, now known as IJsselmeer. The Zuiderzee was an inland lake until Roman times, but during the early Middle Ages the level of the North Sea rose and gigantic storm tides broke through the land and made the Zuiderzee an inlet of the sea. It was not until 19th century that the technological resources for carrying through such a project became available. After severe food shortages in the Netherlands during the First World War, the government approved a plan to reclaim the land for agriculture and to prevent further penetration by the sea.

It is possible to drive over the Afsluitdijk on the A7 motorway. At approximately 6,5 km there is a monument marking the point where the dike was finally closed on May 28, 1932. There is a car park, an outlook tower with a small restaurant and a footbridge over the motorway. From the viewing platform, there is a far-ranging prospect over the sea.
FRIESLAND

ALPHEN AAN DE RIJN

Avifauna

Why is a flamingo pink? What's the weight of the smallest colibri? And what is the world's largest bird?
Go and find that out in Vogelpark Avifauna.
In Vogelpark Avifauna you can discover and experience all sorts of things with birds from all continents. From curious ostrich to fluttering colibries, and from impressive sea-eagles to wise owls.
Feed the lorikeets yourself with a cup of nectar in the Australian Lori Landing, and watch the funny penguins being fed. Visit the gracious flamingo's from closeby in the Cuban swamp, and
go on an expedition through the Philippine jungle.
Don't miss out on the bird demonstration, where you can watch predators diving to their prey and admire colourful ara's skim over the pond, while the caretakers will tell you many petty facts.
ALPHEN AAN DE RIJN

GROESBEEK

Bevrijdingsmuseum

Set in one of the most beautiful locations in the Netherlands, a landscape of hills and forests, is the National Liberation Museum 1944-1945.
This museum, close to Arnhem, Nijmegen and the German border, is a place where history comes to life. The smells of the 1940s, tableaux, original film footage, lectures and music let you experience the liberation of the Netherlands and Europe at first hand.
The museum presents aspects of WWII and the liberation in clear and informative ways based on photos, objects, text, dioramas and various moments of experience. There are, for example, typical forties smells, film footage, sound fragments, and a replica of an air raid shelter during a bombardment.
The museum demonstrates the real meaning of freedom, democracy and human rights to young and old alike.
GROESBEEK

AMSTERDAM

Canal cruise

What better way could there be of exploring Amsterdam’s ancient city center than by going on a tour through the city’s canals? This is definitely an experience not to be missed during a visit to Amsterdam.

The first pleasure cruise in the history of the Amsterdam canals took place in 1621 when
Queen Elisabeth Stuart of Bohemia was welcomed into the city in a parade of festively
decorated admiralty sloops, with thousands of Amsterdammers cheering on bridges and
canal-sides.Treating visiting royals and other VIP's to a cruise on our canals became a tradition that lives on till today. From Winston Crurchill to the Beatles and Nelson Mandela, almost all our famous guests have made their acquaintance with the city from the deck of a canal cruise
boat.

No longer exclusive Royal privilege, canal cruises in Amsterdam are now the most popular
tourist attraction in the country, with over 3 million passengers a year.

AMSTERDAM

ZEELAND

Deltapark Neeltje-Jans

The Delta Works are a number of constructions that were built between 1950 and 1997 in the southwest of the Netherlands to protect a large area of land from the sea. The works consist of dams, sluices, locks, dykes and storm surge barriers. The aim was to shorten the Dutch coastline and limit the amount of dikes that were to be heightened.

The nine kilometre-long Oosterscheldekering (Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier) was initially designed, and partly built, as a closed dam, but after public protest huge sluice-gate-type doors were installed in the remaining four kilometres. These doors are normally open, but can be closed under adverse weather conditions. In this way the saltwater marine life behind the dam is preserved while the land behind the dam is safe from the water.

At the artificial island Neeltje-Jans, at one end of the barrier, a plaque is installed with the words: "Hier gaan over het tij, de wind, de maan en wij" ("Here the tide is ruled, by the wind, the moon and us (man)"). You can relive history at Deltapark Neeltje Jans: from the flood disaster to the construction of the Delta Works. Exhibitions, films and a visit to the storm surge barrier itself will give you an impression of the stupendous power of water.
ZEELAND

ROTTERDAM

Diergaarde Blijdorp

Diergaarde Blijdorp, located in the northwest of Rotterdam, is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands.
The original Rotterdam zoo was lost in the bombing of Rotterdam in World War II, which also destroyed most of the city centre. Some streetnames still remember to the old zoo, such as 'Diergaardesingel' ('Zoolane'). 'Blijdorp' was rebuilt slightly to the north, its current location.
With its visitor count of around 1.5 million people a year (2005), Diergaarde Blijdorp is certainly one of the biggest attractions in the Netherlands. But it is certainly more than simply a tourist attraction. Nature conservation, recreation, education and applied scientific research are what Rotterdam Zoo places at the top of its priorities.
ROTTERDAM

UTRECHT

Domkerk

The Cathedral of Saint Martin or Dom Church was the Cathedral of the diocese of Utrecht during the Middle Ages. Once the country's largest and only cathedral, it is the one church in the Netherlands that closely resembles the original French Gothic style, despite its contrast to its French predecessors in having only one tower.

Construction of the current gothic structure was started in 1254, and continued well into the 16th century. The impressive Dom Tower, 112 m high and undoubtedly the major feature in the Utrecht skyline, was finished in 1382.

In August 1674, the still unfinished and insufficiently supported nave collapsed during a hurricane. Over the subsequent centuries, much of the enormous building fell into further neglect. The pitiable state of the Dom led to some small restoration activities in the nineteenth century, followed by major renovations in the early twentieth century with the aim of returning the Cathedral to its original state.
What remains of the Dom Church today are the choir, the transept and the Dom Tower. The central nave of the cathedral which collapsed in the hurricane of 1674 is now a square with large trees, the Domplein. Stones in various colours indicate the original outlines of the church in the pavement.
UTRECHT

VAALS

Drielandenpunt

On Mount Vaals, southwest of Aachen, the borders of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet.
At 323m above sealevel, the highest elevation in the Netherlands is only a few meters from the three border point. On the Belgian side, there is a tower with a panoramic view of the three countries. Most tourist attractions are in the Netherlands: A Labyrinth, a playground, clay pigeon shooting, souvenir shops and restaurants. The German side is a forest.
The Three Country Point is accessible by car from Gemmenich in Belgium and Vaals in the Netherlands. The borders are marked on the ground surrounding the boundary marker. The fourth line within the Belgian segment hints at the area "Neutral-Moresnet", which was established in 1816 due to a dispute over a zinc mine, but became part of Belgium in 1919.
VAALS

DROUWEN

Drouwenerzand

Drouwenerzand is a charming family amusement park near Drouwen in the Northern part of the Netherlands.
The most distinguishing aspect of the park is that the entrance fee includes... everything. Attractions, food, beverages, toilets... it's already been paid for when you enter the park. Which makes Drouwenerzand an interesting destination for those who want a fun day out with the family without having to worry about their budget.
The park offers a wide range of attractions for all ages, such as the brand new Rolling Stones, Wild West Swing, Pirates ship, Spinning Coaster, and many more.
DROUWEN

THE NETHERLANDS

Dutch Highlights

Windmills, clogs and tulips. The Netherlands are so closely associated with these items, that it's often the first fact people recall about the country.

The Dutch built windmills for many centuries for corn milling, land drainage, saw milling and other industrial purposes. At present there are still about 1200 windmills remaining. The 19 windmills of Kinderdijk are one of the best known Dutch tourist sites, placed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997.

Clogs are the traditional, all wooden, footwear and are associated with the touristic image of the Netherlands, where they are seen as a form of national dress. Dutch clogs have been officially labelled as safety shoes, passing European standards for the CE mark with flying colours. Today, Dutch clogs are available in many tourist shops. Wearing clogs is considered to be healthy for the feet.

The tulip, introduced in Europe in middle of the 16th century, experienced a strong growth in popularity in the United Provinces (now the Netherlands), boosted by competition between members of the upper classes for possession of the rarest tulips. Competition escalated until prices reached extremely high levels and eventually resulted in what is known as the'Tulip Crash'. The tulip has come to be a loved symbol of the Netherlands, and many tourists visit the country to see the bright coloured flower and the astonishing view over the bulb fields.
  • Location information

  • Coin available at Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Alkmaar

THE NETHERLANDS

EINDHOVEN

Eindhoven

Eindhoven has grown from a little village in 1232 to one of the bigger cities in the Netherlands.

In 1891, the Philips brothers founded a small light bulb factory that would grow into one of the largest electronics firms in the world. Philips' presence is probably the largest single contributing factor to the major growth of Eindhoven in the 20th century. It attracted and spun off many hi-tech companies, making Eindhoven a major technology and industrial hub.

Large-scale air raids in World War II (including the preliminary bombing during Operation Market Garden to aid the paratroopers in securing the bridges in and around the town) destroyed large parts of the city. The Church of Saint Catherine (Sint Catharinakerk) was also heavily damaged, but was later restored. The church is famous for its many impressive stained-glass windows.

The large-scale sculptural installation 'Flying Pins', by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, depicts a bowling ball that has just hit ten pins with a 'lucky strike'. Another remarkable place of interest is the Van Abbemuseum with its whimsical extention building, which has a collection of modern and contemporary art including works by Picasso and Chagall. The Evoluon, a spectacular building in the shape of a flying saucer, is another well known building in Eindhoven.
EINDHOVEN

ROTTERDAM

Euromast

The Euromast is a tower in Rotterdam, designed by Hugh Maaskant and constructed between 1958 and 1960. It is a concrete building with an internal diameter of 9 meters and a wall thickness of 30 centimetres. For stability it is built on a concrete block of 1.900.000 kilograms so that the centre of gravity is below ground.

The Euromast has a "crow's nest" observation platform and a restaurant 96 meters above-ground. Originally 101 meters in height it was the tallest building in Rotterdam. It lost this position for a while, but regained it when the "Space Tower" was added to the top of the building in 1970, giving it an additional 85 meters. Euromast is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers.

Anyone who is not afraid of heights can come along with the rotating elevator to the 185 m high top of the Euromast. On a clear day you can see Madurodam and the cooling towers of Antwerp. During the opening hours of the Euromast you can step into the Euroscoop outside on the platform (depending on the weather conditions).

Only for the very brave: Anyone at least 18 years or older may step over the railing to go abseiling straight down. At a height of 100 m you just step over the railing to go straight down. Piece of cake? Not really, because there's no wall to put your feet against. The Euromast is the only place in Europe where abseiling is possible in this way.

ROTTERDAM

BERGEN OP ZOOM

Fortified city

Bergen op Zoom was probably already granted city status in 1266. During the early modern period, Bergen op Zoom was a very strong fortress and one of the main armories and arsenals of the United Provinces. It had a remarkable natural defensive site, surrounded as it was by marshes and easily-floodable polders. Furthermore, it could receive reinforcements and supplies by sea, if the besieging army did not have a fleet to blockade its port. Due to these features, the city was one of the strategic points held by the revolting Dutch in the Eighty Years War.
Bergen op Zoom will be host to the "Dutch fortified city days" on May 2-3 2009. Festivities will include city walks, monument visits, open-air performances, and will be spiced with pageant-plays, troubadours, and bird of prey demonstrations.
BERGEN OP ZOOM

HULST

H. Willibrordusbasiliek

The Saint Willibrordusbasilica is founded in the 10th century and situated in the center of the Dutch city Hulst.
The basilica is dedicated to Saint Willibrordus, he was a Northumbrian missionary. Saint Willibrordus was known as the 'Apostle to the Frisians' in the Modern Netherlands.
He became the first Bishop of Utrecht.

In may 2009 the Dutch radioshow 'NCRV' gave the award of 'Most Beautiful Church' to the Saint Willibrordusbasilica.
HULST

HOORN

Hoofdtoren

Hoorn is a charming town in the province of Noord Holland, located at the IJsselmeer.

Founded in 716, Hoorn rapidly grew to become a major harbour town. During Holland's 'Golden Age', Hoorn was an important home base for the Dutch East India Company and a very prosperous centre of trade.

The Hoorn fleet plied the seven seas and returned laden with precious commodities. Exotic spices such as pepper, nutmeg, cloves, and mace were sold at vast profits. With their skill in trade and seafaring, sons of Hoorn established the town's name far and wide. In 1616, the explorer Willem Corneliszoon Schouten braved furious storms as he rounded the southernmost tip of South America. He named it Kaap Hoorn (Cape Horn) in honour of his home town.

HOORN

LOEVESTEIN

Hugo de Groot

Hugo Grotius, or Hugo de Groot (1583-1645) worked as a jurist in the Dutch Republic.He was also a philosopher, Christian apologist, playwriter and poet.
One of the pioneering natural rights theorists of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Grotius defined natural law as a perceptive judgement in which things are good or bad by their own nature. This was a break from Calvinist ideals, in that God was no longer the only source of ethical qualities. He publicly claimed that Calvinist beliefs could have political and religious dangers to Protestantism.
This ultimately led to his imprisonment in the castle of Loevestein. In 1621, with the help of his wife and maidservant, Grotius managed to escape the castle in a book chest and fled to Paris. In the Netherlands today, he is mainly famous for this daring escape.
LOEVESTEIN

LOEVESTEIN

Hugo de Groot, 400 years naval law

The seventeenth century was the Golden Age of the Netherlands. After revolting against the oppressive rule of Spain to achieve independence, the seven United Provinces of the Protestant Netherlands entered a period of great wealth and power, much of it based on trade.
 
In 1602 the Dutch formed the Dutch East India Company to conduct trade with the East. In 1621 they established the West India Company, which soon controlled lands in Brazil, the Caribbean, and North America. Amsterdam became the financial and commercial capital of Europe. The Dutch also built a powerful navy to protect their commerce.

Hugo Grotius wrote pioneering treatises on the freedom of the seas and the laws of war and peace, for which he became known as the father of international law. In The Free Sea (Mare Liberum) Grotius formulated the new principle that the sea was international territory and all nations were free to use it for seafaring trade.

England, competing fiercely with the Dutch for domination of world trade, opposed this idea and adopted the Act of Navigation in 1651, forbidding any goods from entering England except on English ships. The Act subsequently led to the First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-1654).
LOEVESTEIN

HULST

Hulst vestingstad

The community of Hulst is located in the most south-easterly part of Zeeland, situated between the Western Scheldt and Flanders. This location is also a distinguishing factor for its character, as Hulst offers an appealing mix of Dutch and Flemish atmosphere.

Hulst is one of the best kept fortified towns in the Netherlands. The town ramparts, about 3,5 km long, are an attraction all by themselves. The moat runs right around the ramparts, on top of which you can enjoy a first class view over the historic inner town. Hulst boasts 4 town gates.
Visitors will discover many old house fronts and buildings when wandering through the inner town, which are all witness to a history that dates back for centuries.

The Willibrordus Basilica, the town hall and the many other monumental buildings have turned Hulst into a large, yet dynamic, open air museum.

Hulst will be submerged in a Medieval atmosphere during the "Fortified Town Days" on August 23-24/2008. The town, completely decorated with flags and banners, will offer visitors a whole range of activities, such as pageants, town walks, expositions, music, demonstrations of old trades & crafts, street shows, and many more.
HULST

BORGER

Hunebedcentrum

A hunebed is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal capstone. These imposing thombs were raised by communities of farmers, more than 5000 years ago, and have stood the test of time.

By looking at a hunebed, one is actually looking back in prehistory. The Hunebedcentre in Borger lets you experience how the Hunebed builders lived thousands of years ago, and how they managed to construct those impressive structures. The sensational exposition takes you right back to their rugged era through movies, multimedia productions and reconstructions.

BORGER

BORGER

Hunebedcentrum, Oek

A hunebed is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of three or more upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal capstone. These imposing thombs were raised by communities of farmers, more than 5000 years ago, and have stood the test of time.

By looking at a hunebed, one is actually looking back in prehistory. The Hunebedcentre in Borger lets you experience how the Hunebed builders lived thousands of years ago, and how they managed to construct those impressive structures. The sensational exposition takes you right back to their rugged era through movies, multimedia productions and reconstructions.

Oek, a prehistoric boy, is the Hunebed centre's mascotte who guides you for a walk through his life in this bygone era.
BORGER

AMSTERDAM

I Amsterdam

'I amsterdam' is the promotional slogan that has been used by the city of Amsterdam over the last couple of years to enhance its international profile. The motto is said to epitomize the typical Amsterdam character and pride.
The huge three-dimensional metal 'I amsterdam' letters are without any doubt one of the most eye-catching initiatives in Amsterdam's city marketing campaign.
These letters have already been stationed at many of the cities' places-to-see, and have become a very popular and countlessly photographed tourist attraction in itself.
AMSTERDAM

ALKMAAR

Kaasmarkt

Alkmaar's cheese market at the Waagplein is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. The cheese market traditionally takes place on the first Friday in April and the last market of the season is the first Friday in September.

Every Friday morning the Waagplein is the decor of this traditional cheesemarket. After the old fashion way of hand clap trading, traders and carriers will weigh the cheeses. It is one of only four traditional Dutch cheese markets still in existence.

The Alkmaar cheese carriers’ guild is responsible for moving and weighing cheese during the cheese market on Fridays. The cheese carriers wear the traditional costume: a white suit and a straw hat with a ribbon in the colour of their own veem.

The traditional fare of this cheese market are those cheeses made in the local area. It is not actually possible to buy cheese at the market itself, which is really only a demonstration of how this merchants' market operated in times gone by. However, the demonstration, which takes place in front of the medieval weighing house, is surrounded by many specialized stalls where it is possible to buy all kinds of cheese related products.

The Waag is also home to the local tourist office and a cheese museum.
ALKMAAR

HAARZUILENS

Kasteel De Haar

De Haar Castle in Haarzuilens is the largest castle in the Netherlands. The Gothic castle was built from 1892 till 1912 with incorporation of the large 15th century ruins of the original castle.

De Haar Castle was first mentioned in 1391. Originally the owner of De Haar Castle was a member of the Van de Haar family, who - as a manservant of the Prince-bishop of Utrecht - had enough prestige to have a fortified residence built for himself and his family.

In 1892 the rebuilding of the castle started in a neo-Gothic interpretation of the medieval De Haar Castle we see today. The castle is now surrounded by a large park and the interior is luxuriously decorated with a large collection of valuable antiques from all over the world.

HAARZUILENS

HAARZUILENS

Kasteel De Haar, little princes

De Haar Castle in Haarzuilens is the largest castle in the Netherlands. The Gothic castle was built from 1892 till 1912 with incorporation of the large 15th century ruins of the original castle.

De Haar Castle was first mentioned in 1391. Originally the owner of De Haar Castle was a member of the Van de Haar family, who - as a manservant of the Prince-bishop of Utrecht - had enough prestige to have a fortified residence built for himself and his family.

In 1892 the rebuilding of the castle started in a neo-Gothic interpretation of the medieval De Haar Castle we see today. The castle is now surrounded by a large park and the interior is luxuriously decorated with a large collection of valuable antiques from all over the world.

HAARZUILENS

LISSE

Keukenhof

Keukenhof is the world's largest flower garden. According to the official website there are approximately seven million flower bulbs planted annually at the park.
The flower garden was the idea in 1949 of the then-mayor of Lisse, a small town south of Amsterdam. The idea was to have a flower exhibit where growers from all over the Netherlands and Europe could show off their hybrids which will help the Netherlands as it is the world's largest exporter of flowers.

The combination of acres of flowers, floral exhibitions, art and various activities has since then drawn millions of visitors. Strategically laid out paths weave their way through different sections of the park, guiding the visitor through spectacular flower displays, themed gardens, shady tree-lined lanes and hothouses. Even the children are catered for, the Bollenbozen route, a fun filled treasure trail takes the children on a voyage of discovery through the park.

In 2009 Keukenhof is celebrating its 60th birthday and will be open from March 19 to May 21 The best time to view the tulips is around mid-April.
LISSE

KINDERDIJK

Kinderdijk windmills #1

The Netherlands is famous for its windmills. Today there are still more than 1.000 mills. Nowhere in the world you will find as many windmills as near Kinderdijk. Around 1740 no less than 19 sturdy mills were built here. They have been well preserved to the present day, and are a symbol of the way the Netherlands manages its water.

The mills drain the excess water from the Alblasserwaard polders - which are situated below sea-level - after which the water is sluiced into the river Lek. The powerful mill sails serve to transmit the force of the wind on to large paddle-wheels which scoop up the water. Nowadays power-driven pumping engines do the job, including one of the largest water screw pumping-station in Europe.
The foundation "Wereld Erfgoed Kinderdijk" maintains and preserves the windmills in Kinderdijk. The preservation is not limited to the windmills themselves, but also covers the area in which the windmills are situated.

In 1997 the mills of Kinderdijk were put on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
KINDERDIJK

KINDERDIJK

Kinderdijk windmills #2

The Netherlands is famous for its windmills. Today there are still more than 1.000 mills. Nowhere in the world you will find as many windmills as near Kinderdijk. Around 1740 no less than 19 sturdy mills were built here. They have been well preserved to the present day, and are a symbol of the way the Netherlands manages its water.

The mills drain the excess water from the Alblasserwaard polders - which are situated below sea-level - after which the water is sluiced into the river Lek. The powerful mill sails serve to transmit the force of the wind on to large paddle-wheels which scoop up the water. Nowadays power-driven pumping engines do the job, including one of the largest water screw pumping-station in Europe.
The foundation "Wereld Erfgoed Kinderdijk" maintains and preserves the windmills in Kinderdijk. The preservation is not limited to the windmills themselves, but also covers the area in which the windmills are situated.

In 1997 the mills of Kinderdijk were put on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

KINDERDIJK

SCHEVENINGEN

Kurhaus

From the start in 1885, the history of the Kurhaus in Scheveningen has been a colourful one, due not only to the construction, the fire, the renovation and rebuilding of this imposing building, but more importantly to its rich variety of special guests. The Kurhaus enjoyed and still enjoys global repute thanks to visits from heads of state, royalty, politicians, musicians, film stars, painters and poets.
With its stunning Concert Hall, the Kurhaus was a popular venue for world-famous entertainers, as can be seen in today's bar which features a gallery of portraits of all those who ever made an appearance here - including such names as Marlène Dietrich, Duke Ellington, Vladimir Horowitz and Maria Callas. So, too, the Rolling Stones, whose performance in the Kurhaus, though notorious, was the shortest they ever gave.

Nowadays, the Kurhaus is a versatile hospitality centre that comprises a luxury hotel, conference and event facilities, restaurants and bars.
SCHEVENINGEN

MIDDELBURG

Lange Jan

The city of Middelburg dates back to the early 9th century or possibly the late 8th century.
The first mention of Middelburg was as one of three fortified towns erected on Walcheren
(then an island) to guard against Viking raids.

Middelburg was granted city rights in 1217. During the Middle Ages, it became an important trading centre in the trade between England and the cities of Flanders. Later, in the 17th century (the Dutch Golden Age), it was an important centre for the Dutch East India Company.

Much of the old city center was bombed flat on May 17, 1940 by the German Luftwaffe, to force the surrender of the Dutch armies in Zeeland. After the war, much of the centre was rebuilt as much as possible along prewar lines. The city's archives, however, were lost to the flames. After the reconstruction, modern Middelburg has re-gained much of its historic character. There are lavish 17th and 18th century merchant houses and storehouses standing along canals, of a similar style as found in cities like Amsterdam.

MIDDELBURG

OVERLOON

Liberty Park

Freedom cannot be taken for granted. As a visitor of Liberty Park, situated in a beautiful wooded park in Overloon, you are invited to think about war and oppression. How far is one allowed to go for winning back freedom?

In 1944, the biggest tank battle in Dutch history took place at Overloon. The tanks, guns and other vehicles that had been left behind were brought together on the battlefield after the war, on the same soil where the infantry fought, man to man…

The Dutch National War and Resistance Museum presents the history of the Second World War. Here, you will discover how it came that, in a period of five years, more than fifty million people lost their lives. But also how the oppressed population managed to cope with restrictions and shortages in a resourceful way. Attention is given to the resistance in those days, but also to the persecution. And finally, of course, to the liberation, with special attention to the Battle at Overloon.

The Marshall Museum displays more than 150 historical vehicles, vessels and aircraft, which provide an excellent overview of the military efforts during the Second World War. The collection had been kept outdoors for many years when the decision was made to relocate it indoors. You will also find layouts that provide you with a picture of the invasion in Normandy on D-Day, and also of the Battle at Arnhem and the Battle in the Ardennes.
OVERLOON

SCHEVENINGEN

Madurodam

Madurodam is a miniature theme park located in Scheveningen. It is composed of typical Dutch buildings and landmarks, as are found at various locations in the country, on a 1:25 scale.

This major tourist attraction was built in 1952 and has been visited by tens of millions of visitors since then. The miniature city was named after George Maduro, a law student from Curaçao who fought the Nazi occupation forces as a member of the Dutch resistance and died at Dachau concentration camp in 1945. His parents donated the money to start the Madurodam project.

On July 2, 1952, teenaged princess Beatrix was appointed mayor of Madurodam, after which she was given a tour of her town. When Beatrix became queen of the Netherlands, she relinquished this function. Today, the mayor of Madurodam is elected by a youth municipal council consisting of 25 pupils from schools in the region.
SCHEVENINGEN

DELFT

Nieuwe Kerk

On the east side of the spacious Market Square of the town of Delft stands the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), a Gothic church built between 1396 and 1496. The 108m/354ft high tower is in Brabantine Gothic style, with a carillon of 1663, and offers a splendid view on this charming city and surroundings.In 1584, William the Silent was entombed here in a mausoleum designed by Hendrick and Pieter de Keyser. Since then, members of the House of Orange-Nassau have been entombed in the royal crypt. The latest are Queen Juliana (Queen of the Netherlands from 1948-1980) and her husband Prince Bernhard in 2004.
DELFT

DELFT

Oude Kerk

The Oude Kerk (Old Church) is a Gothic church in the old city center of Delft, the Netherlands. Its most recognizable feature is a 75-meter-high brick tower that leans about two meters from the vertical.

The Oude Kerk was founded in the year 1246, on the site of previous churches dating back up to two centuries earlier. The layout followed that of a traditional basilica, with a nave flanked by two smaller aisles. The tower with its central spire and four corner turrets was added between 1325-50, and dominated the townscape for a century and a half until it was surpassed in height by the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church).

The great fire, iconoclasm, weather, and the explosion of the town's gunpowder store in 1654 took their toll on the church and its furnishings. During one renovation, the tower turrets were rebuilt in a more vertical alignment than the leaning body below, giving the tower as a whole a slightly kinked appearance. The church possesses three pipe organs, from the years 1857 (main organ), 1873 (north aisle) and 1770 (choir).
DELFT

THE NETHERLANDS

Panorama

This coin gives you an overview of some of the most famous places in the Netherlands:

Palace on the Dam - Amsterdam
Dom church - Utrecht
Windmills - Kinderdijk
Binnenhof - Den Haag
Euromast - Rotterdam
Muiderslot - Muiden
Vuurtoren - Ameland
Waag - Gouda
THE NETHERLANDS

SCHEVENINGEN

Pier

The pier in Scheveningen is without any doubt one of the most remarkable landmarks along the Dutch coastline. With its four island-like extensions, this impressive complex stretches more than 400 meters into the North Sea.

The original pier was constructed around 1900 and was in those days connected with the nearby Kurhaus by a bridge over the esplanade. After being destructed by the German forces during the second world war, the present pier was built in 1961.

Visitors can enjoy a stroll over the promenade and get a breath of fresh sea air (known in Dutch as 'pierewaaien') and watch the fishing boats go by. The pier also offers a great view on the esplanade and the monumental Kurhaus. At the end of the promenade, the different sections of the pier complex offer a wide variety of entertainment: a restaurant, a covered shopping mall, a fun arcade for the kids, a café and a casino.

One can also conquer the 300 steps of the 60 meters high tower, which offers a spledid view on the city of Scheveningen, the sand dunes and the hinterland.
SCHEVENINGEN

AMSTERDAM

Rembrandthuis

Museum het Rembrandthuis (the Rembrandt House Museum) is located in the house where Rembrandt lived and painted for a number of years. The building was constructed in 1606-1607, in a part of the city where many rich merchants and artists settled.
The museum’s collection of etchings grew steadily as a result of gifts and purchases over the decades, but few changes were made to the interior of the house. By the end of last century, the decision was taken to restore Rembrandt’s former home to its original condition. The restoration was completed in 1999.
The collection as it now stands provides an almost complete overview of Rembrandt’s graphic work. In addition to the collection of etchings, drawings and copper plates by the master himself, the Rembrandt House Museum also owns a small number of paintings by Rembrandt’s teacher, his pupils and his contemporaries.
AMSTERDAM

DEN HAAG

Ridderzaal

The Ridderzaal (Knights' Hall) is the main building at the Binnenhof in The Hague. This large 13th century Gothic hall has magnificent stained glass depicting the coats of arms of Dutch towns; particularly fine is the rose window with the arms of the principal noble families of the Netherlands.

The heavy timber roof structure with its 18m long beams has the appearance of an upturned ship.
Over the centuries, the government buildings developed around the Ridderzaal, which served a variety of purposes - a trading place for booksellers, a market hall, a promenade, a drill hall, a public record office, a hospital ward, even the offices of the state lottery.

It was restored between 1898 and 1904 to serve its present purposes: during the state opening of Parliament on the third Tuesday in September, Prinsjesdag, the Dutch monarch drives to Parliament in the Golden Carriage and delivers the speech from the throne of the Ridderzaal. The building is also used for official royal receptions, and interparliamentary conferences.
DEN HAAG

UTRECHT

Saint Martin

Saint Martin of Tours (°316 or 317 - + November 11, 397) was a native of Sabaria, Pannonia. Being the son of an officer, he had to join the army himself When he was 15 and.

The story goes that he was at the gates of the city of Amiens with his soldiers when he met a scantily dressed beggar. He impulsively cut his own military cloak in half and shared it with the beggar. That night he dreamed that Jesus came to him and returned the half cloak Martin had shared with him. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clad me." When Martin woke his cloak was restored. The miraculous cloak was preserved as a relic, and entered the relic collection of the Merovingian kings of the Franks.

The dream had such an impact on Saint Martin that he was baptised the next day and became a Christian. He decided to leave the army and became a monk near the city of Tours. Martin worked for the conversion to Christianity of the populace, making many preaching trips through western and central France. In the course of this work he became extremely popular, and in 371 became bishop of Tours; he refused to live in the city and instead founded a monastery for his residence a short distance outside the walls.

Nowadays Saint Martin remains a very popular patron saint and many churches in Europe are named after him.

UTRECHT

SLAGHAREN

Slagharen Themepark & Resort

With over 40 attractions, dazzling shows, live acts and pools there is plenty to discover in Amusementpark Slagharen. For example, go like a real adventurer in a tree on the wildwater river in the huge rapids, go dancing with Randy & Rosie or get carried away in a breathtaking adventure on the flying carpet Zwunka.


Looking for more adventure? Feel the performance of the G-forces in the Enterprise and the Looping Star. Step into the Free Fall and experience how it feels to be weightless and slowly turn the head in the Dream Boat. But also the youger ones among us are mostly welcome. From 3 year old children may, under supervision participate in many excitening attractions.


 

SLAGHAREN

LOEVESTEIN

Slot Loevestein

Slot Loevestein (Castle Loevestein) is a medieval castle built by the knight Dirc Loef van Horne in 1368. It was built at a strategic location in the middle of the Netherlands, where the Maas and Waal rivers come together.

Originally it was simply a large stone building, used to charge toll for boats on the rivers. In the 17th century it was expanded into a more modern fortress with earth walls, two moats, an arsenal, and housing for a commander and soldiers. The castle soon became a prison for political prisoners. A famous resident was Hugo de Groot (Hugo Grotius) who was serving out a lifelong sentence since 1619. In 1621 Hugo de Groot managed to pull off a daring and famous escape in a book-chest.

Until the Second World War Loevestein Castle was part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, the main Dutch defense line. Currently the castle is used as a medieval museum.
LOEVESTEIN

ROTTERDAM

ss Rotterdam

The fifth SS Rotterdam, the last great Dutch "ship of state" also known as "The Grande Dame", was launched by Queen Juliana in a gala ceremony on 13 September 1958, and completed the following summer.

With a career spanning forty years, she was also one of the most successful passenger ships of all time. After retiring from transatlantic service in 1969, the ten year old Rotterdam got a small refit for permanent cruising and began her new life as a full-time cruise ship. By the 1980s the ship had settled into a routine of winters in the Caribbean and summers in Alaska, with the occasional and very popular world cruise.

Much to the dismay of the ship's loyal fans, Holland America Line announced that changing safety regulations made it necessary to retire the ship. A gala finale cruise ended her final season on September 30, 1997. After years of laying idle, a new destination was found for the former SS Rotterdam in her old home port of Rotterdam where she returned on August 4, 2008. The ship is currently being converted to serve as a hotel, congress and recreation centre and will open on July 27th 2009.
ROTTERDAM

MIDDELBURG

Stadhuis Middelburg

The city of Middelburg dates back to the early 9th century or possibly the late 8th century.
The first mention of Middelburg was as one of three fortified towns erected on Walcheren
(then an island) to guard against Viking raids.

Middelburg was granted city rights in 1217. During the Middle Ages, it became an important trading centre in the trade between England and the cities of Flanders. Later, in the 17th century (the Dutch Golden Age), it was an important centre for the Dutch East India Company.

Much of the old city center was bombed flat on May 17, 1940 by the German Luftwaffe, to force the surrender of the Dutch armies in Zeeland. After the war, much of the centre was rebuilt as much as possible along prewar lines. The city's archives, however, were lost to the flames. After the reconstruction, modern Middelburg has re-gained much of its historic character. There are lavish 17th and 18th century merchant houses and storehouses standing along canals, of a similar style as found in cities like Amsterdam.

MIDDELBURG

VALKENBURG

Steenkolenmijn

Discover the world of mining in a mysterious underground environment at the Steenkolenmijn (coal mine) in Valkenburg.

First, you visit an underground cinema with a special atmosphere. There you watch a unique 1960's promotion film from 'De Staats Mijnen' (the State Mines) which provides good insight into all aspects of mining.

After the film, a former miner guides you through the world of coal extraction. Fourteen former miners, with a wealth of underground experience, now work as guides in the mine. Each guide tells his own story, with the necessary humour, reviving the atmosphere of days gone by.

Experience the hard, but impressive world of the miners as though you are travelling through time. The demonstration of mining machines, which work via a specially fitted compressed-air installation contributes to this feeling. No special clothing is necessary in this underground adventure for young and old.
VALKENBURG

TER APEL

Ter Apel Monastery

The town of Ter Apel was founded at a monastery, which from the 13th century was a chief work of the Premonstratensians and from 1465 an institution of the Order of the Holy Cross.
The monastery was closed in 1594 due to the Protestant Reformation. In 1619 ownership of Westerwolde passed to the city of Groningen, with the monastery and its grounds included. Over time the city planted forests on these grounds.

In 1933, the monastery was thoroughly restored and now functions as a museum devoted to ecclesiastic art and religious history. The fragrant herb garden located in the cloisters contains a collection of nutrient-rich herbs such as birthwort and common rue.

 

TER APEL

FLEVOLAND

Urk

Urk is a former island on the border of the IJsselmeer in the province of Flevoland. Its written history dates back to the year 966. At that time Urk was an island in the Zuiderzee, the open inner sea in the center of the Low Countries. The main livelyhood of the population was, and still is, fishery.

In 1905 Urk was one of the first towns around the Zuiderzee to open a fish auction. In 1962 the first North Sea fish was auctioned in Urk and the market went on to become one of the top three of Europe with a turnover of 109million euro in 2002. The result of this fish trade is a flourishing fish processing industry. About 55 companies employ 1800 people.

The lighthouse, dated 1617, stands still, offering it''s visitors a wonderful view over Urk and the "IJsselmeer". When walking through the chaotic streets and alleyways of old Urk, one falls from one little surprise into another. Time has been kept still here as new houses are also built in the style of the fishermen's-architecture of centuries ago.
FLEVOLAND

VOLENDAM

Volendam

Volendam is a popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands, well-known for its old fishing boats and the traditional clothing still worn by some residents. The women's costume of Volendam, with its high, pointed bonnet, is one of the most recognizable of the Dutch traditional costumes, and is often featured on tourist postcards.

Volendam features a small museum about its history and clothing style, where visitors can have their pictures taken in traditional Dutch costumes.

Volendam is also well known for its distinctive music, which is called Palingsound in reference to Volendam's status as fishing village. During the '60s, the local group The Cats was a very popular group in the Netherlands and abroad.

VOLENDAM

MAASTRICHT

Vrijthof & St. Servaas bridge

Maastricht is a city and a municipality in the Dutch province of Limburg, of which it is the capital.
The city is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, near the Belgian and German borders. Celts lived here at least 500 years before the Romans came, at a spot where the river Meuse was shallow and therefore easy to cross. The Romans later built a bridge and a large road to connect the capitals of the Nervians and Tungri, Bavay and Tongeren, with the capital of the Ubians, Cologne.

The city did not escape World War II: it was quickly taken by the Germans on May 10, 1940 during the Battle of Maastricht, but on September 14, 1944, Maastricht was the first Dutch city to be liberated by allied forces.

Nowadays, Maastricht is widely known as a centre of tradition, history and culture, and popular with tourists for shopping and recreation. The Vrijthof, the best-known square of the city, includes the city's theatre, the Saint Servatius basilica and the tall Saint Johns church with its distinctive redish tint.
  • Location information

  • Available at souvenirshop "de Kiosk" on the St Servaas bridge.
    www.vvvmaastricht.nl

MAASTRICHT

THE NETHERLANDS

Waddenzee - UNESCO World Heritage 2009

The Wadden Sea is an intertidal zone in the southeastern part of the North Sea. It stretches from Den Helder in the Netherlands in the southwest, past the great river estuaries of Germany to its northern boundary at Skallingen north of Esbjerg in Denmark along a total length of some 500 km and a total area of about 10,000 km².

The word wad is Dutch for "mud flat". The area is typified by extensive tidal mud flats, deeper tidal creeks and the islands that are contained within this, a region continually contested by land and sea. The impact of waves and currents, carrying away sediments, is slowly changing the layout of the islands.

The Wadden Sea is famous for the rich fauna, avifauna and flora. The Governments of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany have been working together since 1978 on the protection and conservation of the Wadden Sea. 

In 2009, the Dutch and German parts of the Wadden Sea were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

THE NETHERLANDS

OUWERKERK

Watersnoodmuseum

Four concrete mega-structures in the old sea dyke near Ouwerkerk in Schouwen-Duiveland, the Phoenix caissons, accommodate the unique collection of the recently renovated Watersnoodmuseum. It was not until nine months after the flood that the last breach in the dykes of the south-westerly part of the Netherlands was closed off with these caissons. This historic site, with these silent witnesses of the flood and the following reconstruction, and the surrounding area were declared a National Monument fifty years later.

The area surrounding the museum is also a part of the National Monument. The creeks, washed out by the sea water, the marshes, the remaining part of the old sea dyke, the new sea dyke, and the nature reserve all these are the results of the Flood.

There is a small watch tower overlooking the Easter Scheldt river in front of the caissons, close to the monument of the municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland.

OUWERKERK

DELFT

Willem van Oranje

William I (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584), also widely known as William the Silent, became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau. He was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648.

A wealthy nobleman, William originally served at the court of Margaret of Parma, governor of the Spanish Netherlands. Unhappy with the lack of political power for the local nobility and the Spanish persecution of Dutch Protestants, William joined the Dutch uprising and turned against his former masters. The most influential and politically capable of the rebels, he led the Dutch to several military successes in the fight against the Spanish. Declared an outlaw by the Spanish king in 1580, he was assassinated by Balthasar Gérard in Delft at a time when William's popularity was waning.

Many of the Dutch national symbols can be traced back to William of Orange: The flag of the Netherlands (red, white and blue) is derived from the flag of the prince, which was orange, white and blue. The national anthem of the Netherlands, het Wilhelmus, was written to his honour. The national colour of the Netherlands is orange, and it is used, among many other things, in clothing of Dutch national athletes.
DELFT

ZAANDAM

Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans is a neighbourhood of Zaandam in the province of North Holland.
With its traditional green painted houses, warehouses and windmills the Zaanse Schans gives the feeling of having stepped back into the seventeenth or eighteenth century. However this is not an open air museum but a colourful living and working neighbourhood.
Of the thousand industrial windmills ever built along the banks of the river Zaan thirteen now remain, of which six can be found at the Zaanse Schans.
The Zaanse Schans also offers a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape as it was before and after the industrial revolution. This panorama makes the Zaanse Schans a vital link in the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
ZAANDAM