The Netherlands sit in Western Europe, sharing borders with Belgium in the south and Germany in the east, and with a coastline stretching 451km along the North Sea. The country - often incorrectly referred to as Holland - is incredibly flat and a great deal of it has been reclaimed from the sea, which encourages the trademark bike rides and walking activities which so many people travel to the Netherlands to partake in. The land is home to some wonderful natural beauty - probably not what one would expect from one of the most densely populated countries in Europe, but the tulip fields haven't become a stereotypical view of the country for no reason. The Netherlands has been a popular tourist destination for many people from different walks of life for a great number of years, and the open, liberal, forward-thinking nature of the country juxtaposes with an overlying air of staid sincerity, which has helped make the country one of the most popular in Europe for short breaks, as well as one of the main hubs of European legislation and law.

Originally inhabited by tribal groups, the basic foundations of the modern Netherlands were put in place around the 16^th century, and independence from Spanish rule was declared in 1581 - though it wasn't formally recognised until the end of the Eighty Years' War in 1648. The Dutch Republic, which had been formed when the nation initially claimed independence, grew from a coalition of localised provinces to become one of the major seafaring nations of the world by the 17^th century, using the Dutch East India Company as both a source of trade and colonisation - trading ports were established throughout Asia, and colonies were founded in Indonesia, the Cape of Good Hope, the Antilles, New Amsterdam (today's New York), the Antilles and Surinam. Life during this Golden Period was good for the Dutch, with a high quality of life and artistry and free-thinking encouraged. By 1795 the Netherlands became a unitary state modelled after the French Republic, but by 1806 and the arrival of Napoleon, the country became the Kingdom of Holland. After a few puppet leaders and a couple of invasions followed by the defeat of Napoleon, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815, encompassing Belgium and Luxembourg under its sphere of influence. This union wasn't to last long, however, and 1830 saw Belgium leave the union - by 1890 Luxembourg had also left. Recent history saw the Netherlands retreat from being a global force, with the country remaining neutral during the First World War, but by World War II they could not keep out of the picture, and the country saw years of brutal occupation by the Nazis and the annihilation of a great deal of the Jewish natives. Following the end of the Second World War the Dutch pursued a route of openness and cooperation with their European neighbours, and the Netherlands became one of the founding members of both NATO and (what is now) the EU. Recent times have seen the liberal standing of the country put to question in a very public sense, with the assassination of a prominent right-wing politician, as well as the murder of a filmmaker by an immigrant making headlines around the country and the rest of the world. It hasn't dented the country's reputation, however, and the Dutch people are still widely regarded as some of the most forward-thinking and liberally-minded people in all of Europe.

Owning a property in the Netherlands would be a great idea for any investor that could afford it - the country is incredibly beautiful, the standard of living is very high and the infrastructure in place is second to none. Potential off plan investors aren't likely to find themselves a huge amount of bargains in the country, but those that look hard enough will at least find something to tickle their fancy. The Dutch economy is solid and has been for many years, and the industrialised nation is one that is sure to be an economic powerhouse for many years to come - it doesn't carry the sheer clout of some other Western European neighbours, but it does have enough financial clobber to hold its own - basically, an investment in the country isn't likely to fall apart any time soon. Plus moving to the Netherlands is a bona fide opportunity to wear clogs every day, so that's something that shouldn't be passed up!

The standards of healthcare in the Netherlands are very good. Reciprocal agreements are in place with EU countries and Switzerland, and free (or reduced-cost) treatment is available on production of a European Health Insurance Card. Though this is the case, health insurance is still recommended for visitors from any country.

Mobile phone coverage stretches across the country, though coverage in more rural regions cannot be guaranteed. Landlines are widely available and lines are of a good standard. Internet cafes are widespread, and free access is available in some libraries.