Page 168 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

166  WESTERN NE THERLANDS

Western Netherlands at a Glance
Den Helder
The landscape of the Western Netherlands is strongly influenced
by the old ports and commercial towns, which claim a Wieringerwerf
prosperous past. During the 20th century, the most important
ones grew together to form the Randstad (see pp170–71). But Callantsoog
you can still find plenty of quiet outside the cities – in Europe’s
biggest coastal dune area, boasting its distinct flora and fauna; Enkhuizen
along the Vecht, with its pretty country houses; and along rivers
such as the Vlist and the Linge. Main watersports areas are
Zeeland, on the IJsselmeer and the lakes in the peat region. Hoorn
Alkmaar
NORTH
HOLLAND
The Gothic Sint Bavo Church in Haarlem (See pp174–95)
(see p188), known colloquially as the Grote Purmerend
Kerk, was built between 1400 and 1550. Zaanstad
This gigantic building dominates the Grote
Markt. Sint Bavo has one of the finest organs
in Europe, built by Christiaan Müller. Haarlem
AMSTERDAM
(See pp64–163)

Amstelveen
Aalsmeer
Hilversum
Leiden Amersfoort
Alphen aan
den Rijn UTRECHT
Utrecht (See pp196–211)
The Hague
Woerden
Delft SOUTH Gouda Veenendaal
HOLLAND
The Mauritshuis at The Hague (see pp226–7) was (See pp212–45)
built by Pieter Post in 1644 as instructed by Rhenen
Johan Maurits van Nassau, in the style of North Brielle Rotterdam
Netherlands Neo-Classicism. Since 1821 it has
been the home of the royal painting collection. Ridderkerk
This compact collection includes a number of Goedereede
first-rate works by old masters, including Hellevoetsluis
Rembrandt, Jan Steen and Johannes Vermeer. Dordecht
Westenschouwen
Zierikzee

Middelburg Goes
Vlissingen ZEELAND
(See pp246–59)

Construction of the Oosterschelde Terneuzen
Stormvloedkering (storm surge barrier) Hulst
(see pp250–51) was prompted by the disastrous Sluis
floods of 1953. To combat the water while
preserving the unique mud-flat bed of the
Oosterschelde, a half-open multiple buttress
dam with 62 sliding gates was built.
Colourful rooftops of Utrecht city, as seen from the Dom tower

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