Holland’s culture is varied and lively. Dutch people themselves take immense delight in their cultural heritage. Arts of every form flourish in Holland. When it comes to culture, the country is possibly most renowned for its painters who were amongst the greatest in the world. Holland’s cultural life attained an international reputation during the 17th century, which is often referred to as the country’s Golden Age. Well-known figures of the Golden Age include the great 17th-century Dutch artists Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and Jan Steen. The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed the emergence of artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Pieter Cornelis Mondrian.
Holland has exceptional museums and a remarkable variety of classical and innovative music and theatre. With almost 1,000 museums, the Netherlands has the highest museum density in the world. Some of the most famous are the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam and the Mauritshuis in The Hague. The Het Loo palace in Apeldoorn is of significance to those interested in architecture, gardening and history.