Dutch Official Cards

I always get a lot of dutch official cards and these are all very nice! 

 NL-2011187, sent by Will.

Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly large cities in the world. In Amsterdam over 60% of trips are made by bike in the inner city and 38% of trips are made by bike overall in the greater city area. The city is one of the most important centres of bicycle culture worldwide.

Typical for Amsterdam is a wide net of traffic-calmed streets and world-class facilities for cyclists such as bike paths and bike racks, and several guarded bike storage garages (Fietsenstalling) which can be used for a nominal fee. In 2006, there were about 1,000,000 bicycles in Amsterdam.

Bicycles are used by all socio-economic groups because of their convenience, Amsterdam's small size, the 400 km of bike paths, the flat terrain, and the arguable inconvenience of driving an automobile. Each bike path (Fietspad) is coloured brown, in order to differentiate it from a footpath.

Bicycle theft in Amsterdam is widespread; in 2005, about 54,000 bicycles were stolen.

Every year between 12,000 and 15,000 bicycles are retrieved from the canals. - in: wikipedia

Photo: Renco Vellinga 

NL-2011263, sent by Jet.

This is the Brandaris, the lighthouse of Terschelling, an island in the northern Netherlands, one of the West Frisian Islands.

The first Brandaris was built in 1323, but it was destroyed in 1570. The current tower was built in 1594 and is listed as a Rijksmonument (National Heritage Site), and is rated with a very high historical value. 

 www.natuurlijkefoto.nl

NL-2040625, sent by Ine.

The Muiderslot is a castle in the Netherlands, located at the mouth of the river Vecht, some 15 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam. 

The imposing Muiderslot gives you a taste of real Dutch history. It is part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam and included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Muiderslot was built around 1285 by Count Floris V, an ally of the French Court and later of the British King Edward. While hunting with falcons one day in 1296, Floris was captured by his nobles and imprisoned in his own castle. In their flight from the advancing hordes, he was brutally murdered in the vicinity of Muiderberg.

The tour through the Golden Age with the impressive Knight’s Hall, towers and dungeon, the film in the Castle Chapel and, last but not least, the Armoury with its stunning armour collection is a fantastic experience for young and old alike. For children an interactive quest is available that will take them through a large portion of the castle.

The beautiful herb and vegetable gardens still retain the atmosphere of the Dutch Renaissance. A walk along the ramparts offers fantastic views of the water-rich environments and the Pampus island fortress. - in: http://www.muiderslot.nl/english