The Netherlands

Tolerance is a beautiful thing. In the Netherlands, it’s a tall, cultured, bicycle-ridding beautiful thing. The small, flat country has attained larger-than-life status through its famously liberal attitudes and policies, lending it a reputation for luring young travelers eager to let loose. But the Netherlands is a lot more than, ahem, coffeeshops and glowing red lights. Composed of culturally and linguistically diverse provinces, the Netherlands’ vibrant cities, arresting national parks and green countryside are enough to make any visitor swoon. Traverse the canals and cafes of Amsterdam, making sure to stop into its world-class museums. Rival city Rotterdam reveals the country’s grittier side, while medieval Delft still celebrates its hometown hero Johannes Vermeer. Hop over to historical Haarlem for a cobbled walk through history, or head into pan-European Maastricht for a different kind of Dutch experience. Need a little rural respite? Even amid all these cities, you’re never far from the tulip-littered, windmill-sprinkled farmlands of the Netherlands’ countryside—tailor-made of cycle-touring. Escape to the sand dunes of the North Sea beaches and let the windswept views inspire your own Van Gogh. And all the while, live easy among the easy-going.