The Netherlands is a small country nestled between Belgium and Germany and surrounded by water. One third of the country lies below sea level and uses dikes, dunes and pumps- often powered by windmills, to keep the North Sea out. The picturesque country offers incredible architecture and dotted with beautiful tulips, windmills, canals, cheese factories and more.

The Dutch are the pioneers in wind energy as there are more than 1,000 windmills throughout the Netherlands, we visited Zaanse Schans just north of Amsterdam. This open-air museum has 13 fully functional windmills that are used for water pumping, grinding spices, milling grain and making pigments for paint.

Our journey throughout Holland continued with a stay in Amsterdam, a city known for its canals and bridges. Thousands of historical bridges connect the city making it accessible to walk, bike or cruise the city. Those canals also create unique opportunities for lodging like the canal boat we stayed in. Here are attractions we recommend you visit:

Van Gogh Museum – Discover the life and work of Vincent Van Gogh. The museum houses the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh.

Anne Frank Haus – This is the home where a young Jewish girl and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II. It offers the history and a collection of over 1,100 original items, all linked to Anne Frank’s history. Make sure to purchase your tickets on-line and ahead of time.

Red Light District– a district in the city surrounded by canals and alleyways filled with adult shops and entertainment, businesses, coffee shops and bars.

Rijksmuseum Museum – the museum houses 800 years of Dutch history, among them Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh.

The Dutch love their food and are known for Pannenkoeken a thin pancake, Poffertjes, a small puffy clouds of dough served with powdered sugar and butter, and Kaas – cheeses such as Gouda, Edam and Masdammer. In the heart of the Jewish quarterin Noordermarkt, is Winkel 43 the best piece of fresh apple pie.

Wander alongside historical canals, explore the enchanting streets, cozy cafes and restaurants, and iconic museums making it a prefect ESCAPADITA.