The Netherlands (also called Holland) is located in northwestern Europe and borders the North Sea, Belgium and Germany. The history of the country is characterized by the emergence of the Netherlands as an independent state in the 16th century to the colonial period and the importance as a trading nation. Typical for the country are the flat landscape, the numerous waterways and the characteristic windmills. Among the most famous sights are the Keukenhof, the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, the Euromast in Rotterdam and the Binnenhof in The Hague.
