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Benelux
From Wikitravel
Contents
Benelux is an economic union comprising three neighbouring monarchies, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name is formed from the beginning of each country's name. It is a precursor of the European Union.
[edit] Countries
| Netherlands |
| Belgium |
| Luxembourg |
[edit] Cities
- Amsterdam — traveller magnet due to its impressive architecture, lovely canals (grachten), museums and liberal attitudes
- Antwerp — a giant cathedral, medieval streets and artistic heritage
- Brussels — unofficial capital of the EU with a nice historic centre and several museums
- Bruges — one of Europe's wealthiest cities in the 14th century, it's large and beautiful historic centre remains
- Liège — largest city of Wallonia, along a wide river, industrial cityscape with hiking and resorts in the nearby hills
- Luxembourg (city) — capital of Luxembourg, its spectacular valleys and plateaus led it to be nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the North"
- Rotterdam — modern architecture, good nightlife and the largest port of Europe
- The Hague — seat of government, royal family, judicial capital of the world and Madurodam
- Utrecht — historic center, nice antique stores and the Rietveld-Schröder House
[edit] Other destinations
- Ardennes — the most sparsely populated in Benelux, this is a hilly countryside region covered with forests
- Binche — for three days in February, the town is transported back to the 16th century for one of the most fantastic carnival festivals
- Hoge Veluwe National Park — largest national park with heathlands, sand dunes and woodlands
- Keukenhof — millions of tourists visit these enormous flower fields each Spring
- Kinderdijk — these windmills show the typical Dutch landscape in all its glory
- Pajottenland — an area of green fields and small villages, some of which have been portrayed by artists such as Pieter Bruegel
- Schokland — old island evacuated in 1859, a well-preserved ghost village remains
- Vianden — quaint small town presided over by a rather splendid château
- Waterloo Battlefield — the Waterloo Battlefield where Napoleon lost the final battle that changed Europe's face forever
[edit] Understand
Luxembourg and the East of Belgium is a hilly area, but the rest of the area is what is known as the the Low Countries; this is the delta of the rivers Scheldt, Meuse, Rhine and Ems. Originally swamp land, enterprising fishermen discovered a flair for trade when trading routes started to emerge between the grain markets of the Baltic Sea and the renaissance-bitten luxury goods markets of northern Italy. Here is where stocks were invented.
This attention to trade made Bruges one of the largest cities in Europe in its day, and the mediaeval town is still well preserved. When the secession war with Spain progressed, French and Flemish alike fled to Amsterdam, which became the new world capital of trade, which is still witnessed in the many 'Houses of the Lords' lining the famous canals.
[edit] Talk
Dutch (or Flemish) is the main language in the Netherlands and in the north of Belgium (Flanders) and is also spoken in bilingual Brussels. French is the main language in Brussels and in the south of Belgium (Wallonia). On the east side of Belgium there are a few German speaking communities. Luxembourg has three official languages: Luxembourgish, French and German. Many, especially in the Netherlands, speak English. Frisian is spoken in Friesland (Netherlands).
[edit] Get in
[edit] Get around
[edit][add listing] See
Much of the swamp land in the Low Countries has been reclaimed, resulting in some of the largest water works in the world, and in other attractions such as the wind mills of the Kinderdijk in Zuid-Holland (South-Holland). Much has not been reclaimed, resulting in interesting biotopes, such as the 'Zwin' on the coast of Belgium and the area around the 'Waddenzee' in the North of the Netherlands.
[edit] Itineraries
[edit][add listing] Do
- You will find white-water canoeing in Luxembourg and the East of Belgium.
- There are some excellent golf courses in Luxembourg and the East of Belgium.
- Rent a bike and explore Amsterdam.
[edit][add listing] Eat
- Try Moules et frites - Belgium's answer to fish and chips.
- Try speculaas, the famous Dutch cookies.
- Belgian chocolate is some of the best on the planet.
- Eat the Dutch almond fingers, rich with sugar and marzipan.
[edit][add listing] Drink
- Try the famous Belgian brewed beers!
[edit] Stay safe
[edit] Get out
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