The Netherlands is the Western European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The country has a population of nearly 17 million. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south and Germany to the east. The natural heritage consists largely of flat and wet landscape with rivers, mills and polders.
The Netherlands is known for its art, which is represented by a large number of masters. Especially in the seventeenth century, the Netherlands had many great painters, including Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen and Frans Hals. Another very famous painter is Vincent Van Gogh, who lived during the 19th century.
Museums that show a large part of the cultural heritage of the Netherlands include the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Maurtishuis, the Netherlands Open Air Museum and the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum.