The Kingdom Below Sea Level

The Netherlands is a very fascinating and well-known tourist destination. If we imagine how Holland feels, we probably think of two things: windmills and tulips. Like a coin that has two sides, Holland can't be separated from those objects. Windmill and tulip are the common name for The Netherlands. History of this nation is never separated with those things. 

           Although windmills didn't originally belong to the Netherlands, it has existed for many centuries, particularly since the thirteenth century. Windmill originated from Persia in the fifth century and spread to Europe. This country had 10,000 windmills in the past; however, only 1000 windmill still exist today. Many sites in Holland were still under water and those conditions allowed people using windmills to move water in order to  dry the land. Moreover, the windmills were not only used to move water, but in the seventeenth century when industrial revolution began, the Windmills were also used in other functions, such as to irrigate fields, to mill corn, to produce oil, etc. Based on their function, windmills were divided into two tasks: industry and irrigation. In fact, people gave the windmills different names  according to their functions, for example, sawmill, cornmill, postmill. However, windmill is also used as a tourist destination nowadays. Kinderdijk is the best place to see windmill because it has a lot of windmills there. Moreover, persons who go there will see beautiful views that they will never forget in their life. Also, many famous paintings or photographs are taken in this town, especially when sunset comes.

           Tulip was introduced firstly in Holland by botanist teacher in Leiden University, Charles de Luclese, in 1593. Although tulips didn't originate from the Netherlands, it has been a very famous flower for many centuries. The tulip was orginally  from Turkey and it was cultured one century ago, especially near the Black Sea. After Sultan Mehmed attacked Turkey in 1550, tulips were planted in a kingdom garden. Charles, an Austrian, was given tulip seed from an Austrian ambassador and began to plant them in Leiden. In addition, only many Europeans who were from an aristocratic family or royal community had this flower. In fact, tulip age began in 1700 and made this flower an important commodity for Holland. Tulip exhibition was firstly held in Keukenhof, a garden in Lisse - South Netherland, at 1945. Keukenhof is the biggest flower garden in the world because it has more than 7000 varieties of flower. It opens each year between March and May.

              For all the histories of windmills and tulips, the Netherlands is the most interesting tourist destination in Europe. This story will never end because Dutch people always preserve their past. 

Photo sources:

http://slaza.deviantart.com/

http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=Rites+of+Spring%3A+Keukenhof%2C+Netherlands