With unemployment at less than 3 percent and more than half of all foreign companies in Europe headquartered in the country, the Netherlands is on a roll. Thanks to a preservationist citizenry, Amsterdam remains an architectural wonderland, with rows of 17th-century canal houses converted into shops, hotels, restaurants and businesses. Despite this boom, the central city is eerily quiet because of strict parking laws that have severely cut back automobile traffic.
Bicycles are another matter.
The latest trend is maneuvering the handlebars with one hand while chatting on a portable with the other. After a two-year renovation, the Van Gogh Museum has reopened with the addition of a circular bunker to house temporary exhibitions. Don't miss it. The Pulitzer Hotel joins together 25 canal houses in a maze of glass-enclosed courtyards. Although there are no pool or exercise facilities, the Splash fitness center nearby has pool, sauna and exercise rooms.