Scheveningen, Netherlands

A contemporary of the Chesapeake's New Cape Henry Lighthouse invigilates the coast of Holland. They are both cast iron towers, but the Dutch one outscores the American one on the prism spectrum. It has 12 sides. Virginia's has only eight. [1996]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Cemeteries: Cemetery space may be the last space we can call our own. Why not use it tell our story? That is the trend in memorialization, and it is well illustrated by Zorgvlied Cemetery, where an iconic Amsterdam symbol (XXX) serves as a "headstone." See also: Geographically Yours Cemeteries. [2015]

Leeuwarden. Netherlands

You can see the utter joy on these boys' faces as they milk their favorite cow. The people of Leeuwarden call her "Our Mother." She is one of Friesland's gifts to the world, a representative of the Frisian breed that, crossed with the Holstein, gives us our most productive milk cows. They are the big black-and-white ones you see all over. [1984]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

xx basilica

You arrive at Amsterdam Centraal anticipating picturesque canals and canal houses. Your hopes are high and you are ready to be astounded. Then, into view sweeps the Dutch Golden Age, a picture postcard from the 17th century, punctuated by three exclamation points from the 19th century, the three spires on the Basilica of St. Nicholas. Astounding! [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

You just don't deserve to be a photographer at all if you have to be told: "Take a picture!" But, a little bit of foolishness is appropriate for a toy store. And, speaking of foolishness, Happy April Fools' Day! Hey you guys ignoring the sign, "Ik zag je auto worden weggesleept." [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

From the Amstel River two things took their names: Amsterdam and Amstel beer. In fact, the beer was originally made from water drawn from the Amstel. [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Dutch dominated the 17th century, and much of the wealth that flowed back to Holland was invested in architecture by the merchant class. Their canal houses were tall and narrow with a pulley at the top so they could use the attic to store merchandise such as spices or cotton. Today, those pulleys are used to get furniture in and out of th upper floors. [2015]

Edam, Netherlands

Real Human Characters: He is wearing wooden shoes to be oh-so Dutch. Don't you think they look a lot like the cheese for which his hometown, Edam, is famous? [1996]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The setting is Dutch, but the actors are Arabs. They are part of the Palestinian diaspora in Europe. With a stage right in front of the Royal Palace, these Palestinians are trying to garner public support for international recognition by using photos, maps, and charged words like 'apartheid.' Above it all, flies the Palestinian standard. [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The gundi is a native of desert edges in North Africa. Cute rodents, aren't they? Cute, but known for something not so cute: Toxoplasma gondi, a disease agent that is widespread but masked in people with a healthy immune system. Gundis excel at what they're doing here, which means they are not an endangered species! [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

As a resident of Amsterdam, she developed the habit of riding her bike everywhere around the city. It began with school and continued into adult life. This may even be the way she gets to work. Why don't kids in the U.S. ride their bikes to school the way they used to? In fact, why don't they walk? There is sometimes little wisdom in school policy. [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Do you know any Bolivians? If not, just visit your local zoo and find some "blue beards" (a.k.a., blue throated macaws) like this one. As a variety of parrot, he is likely to chat you up while you are in his vicinity. He will surely tell you that his cousins back in Bolivia are critically endangered and that you should not acquire one of his kind as a pet. [2015]

Maastricht, Netherlands

The flower market. The Netherlands is famous for its flowers. In fact, it is the world's largest cut flower exporter. Don't assume, though, that these were grown in country. In fact, more and more sea containers arrive in Rotterdam (yes, by sea!) stuffed with flowers for the European market. These might have come from Colombia. [1994]

Edam, Netherlands

To raise money for the restoration of the Great Church tower, the townfolk of Edam built a church of cheese (Kerk van Kaas). What kind of cheese? Edam, of course, and it took 10,000 waxed cylinders, each with a sponsor. [2003]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Where are you: the Netherlands or the north of Thailand? They are 5,000 miles apart, but distance collapses when you start pumping up the arts. Good busking is good busking anywhere in the world. Listen to Amsterdam's straatmuzicant below, then listen to Chiang Mai's here. Think you'll see either one on American Idol this spring? [2014]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The crocus (and, of course, the tulip) arrived in Holland in the 1500s. It came from Constantinople, proliferated, and helped set the stage for the Dutch Golden Age in the 1600s. Today, come March, crocuses are ubiquitous in Amsterdam. The corms ("bulbs') from which they grow often find homes in the lower crooks of trees. [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Dutch people head to the polls today. The country has always been solidly undergirded by shared bonds of nationhood and a commitment to liberal democracy. Now, issues of minority rights and the role of the European Union could potentially send it reeling. At least they have a king as head of state, and this is where he lives when he comes to Amsterdam. [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

For those who love lemurs, Amsterdam's Artis Royal Zoo is the best. The Reds (cousins to the Ring-Tailed) are given a free-range pass around lunch time: They come out and mingle with their biped admirers. Look out! There's one at your ankles! Then, it's time to eat. [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

In the Netherlands, there are as many bicycles as there are people, and one-quarter of all commutes to work are by bike. How does each of the following factors explain the Netherlands Number 1 status in the world of cycling? (a) scale, (b) topography, (c) climate, (d) urban planning, (e) tradition. Number 2 in the world is Denmark, but it's not even close. [2015]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The National Monument, a memorial to those who lost their lives on the battlefields of World War II, was given center stage on Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam. The Netherlands surrendered to the Nazis in 1940 even before the U.S. got involved in the war. [2004]