Wadden Islands

• Texel is the largest of the Wadden Islands. You will find a total of eighteen miles of sandy beach here. It is also great for cycling and walking, as the island has an extensive network of walking and cycling paths. Texel is a must for bird lovers, the more unusual birds in the Netherlands can be seen here.
  
• Texel is the only Wadden Island with its own fishing fleet. Thirty-five modern North Sea cutters sail out to sea daily to catch plaice and sole.
  
• Texel is the centre of sheep farming in the Netherlands. You will find more sheep on the island than people!
  
• The oldest lighthouse in the Netherlands is found on Terschelling. It dates back to 1593 and is 180 ft tall. Its nickname is "The Brandaris".

Holland's Seaside

• Looking for a dazzling beach? The widest and whitest beach in the Netherlands is located near Callantsoog.
  
• The largest break in the range of dunes is between Petten and Camperduin. To protect the hinterland, the Pettener Sea Dike and the Hondsbosse Seawall have been constructed over a length of three miles. The seawall is made up of three dikes, one behind the other. They have been given the names: Watchman, Sleeper and Dreamer. The dike is 39 ft high and 459 ft wide.
  
• The highest and widest dunes in the Netherlands are found in the forestry area of Schoorl. Feel like climbing? At 177 ft, the Radar Dune is the highest dune in the Netherlands.
  
• The largest painting in the Netherlands is found in The Hague. It's called the "Panorama Mesdag". Standing in the middle of the room, you're surrounded by an imposing panoramic view of the North Sea, a vast beach, the dunes and the picturesque fishing village of Scheveningen in the year 1880. This gigantic circular painting, which thanks its realism to optical illusions, is 18,083 square ft large, 45 ft high and has a circumference of 393 ft.
  
• The pier at Scheveningen, juts out 984 ft into the sea. It consists of two levels, the lower level is covered and the upper level uncovered.
  
• The tallest lighthouse in Europe is located in Huisduinen. Its nickname is "Tall Jaap". This red cast iron construction towers 226 ft above the ground. You can climb the tower and enjoy the fabulous view of the Donkere Duinen nature reserve.
  
• The majority of fish in the Netherlands is sold via IJmuiden. This city not only boasts the largest fishing harbour in Europe, but also the largest fish auction in the Netherlands.
  
• Not everything about our tiny country is small. The North Sea locks near IJmuiden together form the largest sea lock complex in the world.
  

Zeeland's coast

• Want to drive onto the beach? Go to Oostvoorne, where you'll find the only beach in the Netherlands where cars and motorcycles are permitted onto the sand.
  
• Looking for a beach in southern Holland? The town of Retranchement has the southernmost beach in the Netherlands. The nature reserve is two-thirds Belgian, one-third Dutch.
  
• All the beaches in the Netherlands are on the west or north coast. There is one area, however, where you can find southern beaches, and that is between Zoutelande and Dishoek on Walcheren.
  
• Art lover? You'll find the longest work of art in Europe along the De Wielingen promenade in Cadzand. It is 3608 ft long and consists of a series of neoclassical columns and light fittings.
  
• You'll find the first lighthouse with a lighting system based on revolving mirrors in Westkapelle. The lighthouse itself is part of the Sint Willibroduskerk church, built in 1470. The lighting system was added to the church tower in 1817.
  
• Sun worshippers should definitely visit Zeeland! This province has the most hours of sunlight in the Netherlands. The sun shines 140 hours more in Zeeland than in the rest of the Netherlands.
  
• The flood barrier near Hoek van Holland is the only one of its kind in the world. The entire construction is twice as large as the Eiffel Tower and four times as heavy. With a diameter of 32 ft and weighing 680 tons, the ball-and-socket joints that enable the doors to move are the largest in the world.
  
• Want to go for a swim in a salt-water lake? It's possible in the De Grevelingen estuary. The estuary, the largest in Europe, was created upon the completion of Brouwers Dam in May 1971.
  
• You will find the longest bridge in the Netherlands between Colijnsplaat and Zierikzee. The three mile-long Zeeland Bridge takes you to the other side of the Oosterschelde.

Read more about the Dutch Delights at: http://www.1000dutchdelights.com/