Today, only the Antilles remain a Dutch colony and are really self ruling. Disaster hit the country in 1953 when a high spring tide accompanied by a severe storm broke the dykes in Zeeland. 1835 people drowned. To make sure such a tragedy would never occur again, the Delta Project blocked the southwest river deltas using a network of dams, dykes and an impressive 3.2km storm surge barrier. Today, the Netherlands is one of the most developed countries in the world and combines liberal attitudes with an extremely orderly society.
Prostitution is legal and the smoking of cannabis is permitted in certain cafes.
The Dutch have produced a wealth of famous painters including Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer and Mondriaan. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam showcases their work. The city of Amsterdam is one of the world s best cities. With canals and monuments, gabled houses, countless museums, arts festivals, bikes and an irrepressible joie de vivre, you ll want to stay and stay. The town of Delft is also famous for its distinctive blue and white pottery.