The windmills and tulips of Breukelen

Standing on the edge of Kyushu, I could close my eyes and almost imagine I was back in Holland. Holland and Japan have always had strong links since the first Dutch ships arrived near these shores almost 400 years ago. In a celebration of Japanese-Dutch harmony, Huis Ten Bosch (pronounced "house ten boss") opened in 1992 on the island of Hario-Jima in Omura Bay, Nagasaki-ken. On land of about 1.52 million square meters, 400,000 trees have been planted, 300,000 flowers bloom and canals stretching to over six kilometers have been channeled to give the area that classic Dutch feeling. Like 40% of The Netherlands, the town is built on reclaimed land. Huis Ten Bosch, which means "House in the Woods," is the name of the Dutch Royal Family's residence, a complete replica of which forms the centerpiece of the town. The area is split into a number of themed zones, each with its own characteristic charm and attractions.

Breukelen and the Domtoren

Breukelen
Passing through the impressive wrought iron gates into Breukelen you are transported into beautiful rural Holland, with a sweeping view of windmills and tulip fields. Dominating the zone is the romantic Nijenrode Castle, home to the Teddy Bear Museum. Although this is mainly aimed at younger visitors, it makes an enticing break from some of the more high-tech attractions in other areas. Visitors can also browse the catalogue for the forthcoming auction of antique teddy bears which will take place on June 15. Call 0956-27-0908 for details.

Nijenrode Castle

Nieuwstad
Nieuwstad is the area with most of the high-tech attractions. Top of the list should be a trip to the Mysterious Escher theatre. Escher was a prominent Dutch artist who specialized in geometrically improbable drawings. The vivid 3D cinemascope presentation brings many of his more surreal and captivating drawings to life. An English soundtrack is available from the information desk. Close to this is the Theatre of Noah ride. This uses clever seat movements to recreate the effect of flying over the Dutch landscape. Near the theatre is the World Liquor Shop, a great place to stock up on cheap Dutch and other European beers, many of which are generally unavailable elsewhere in Japan.

Next to this is the technically impressive (and just the right side of surreal) Horizon Adventure where, after being strapped into your vibrating seat, you can experience a typically Dutch monsoon, complete with thunder and lightning. This is one attraction which should not be missed, but try to avoid sitting at the front unless you want to spend the rest of the day wandering around with embarrassingly wet trousers.

Musemstad
This area is dedicated to museums, and the nostalgic sounds of carillons and music boxes bring alive the chronicle of cultural exchange between Holland and Japan. It's also a great place to stroll leisurely and soak up the ambiance of a provincial Dutch town. The attention to detail in the park is extraordinary. No expense has been spared, even down to the cobbled streets and tulips which make Huis Ten Bosch such a colorful day out. The top attractions in this area include the Crystal Dream Theatre which, using a combination of mirrors, fountains and classical music, magically recreates the story of Pan and his love for Venus. Afterwards, why not stop off at the free multimedia cafe, where unlimited Internet access allows you to update your friends about your holiday via email.

Utrecht's Domtoren from Binnenstad

Binnenstad
What would a trip to Holland be without a trip to a cheese market? This takes place each day outside the Stradhaus (City Hall), in the bustling Prins Willem Alexanderplein. This area also hosts the colorful flower show which runs from February to April each year. It's a great place to pick up souvenirs, many of which can be had at a bargain price in the well-stocked World Bazaar.

Utrecht
Utrecht is dominated by the Domtoren. This is an exact replica of Utrecht's 105m church tower (the tallest in Holland). The 80 meter observation platform affords a stunning view over the whole park and Omura Bay. Around the base of the tower is a selection of restaurants serving food from places as diverse as Italy and India, as well as champon, the traditional food of Nagasaki. The canal-side terraces are a fine place to relax, sipping Dutch beer and watching the boats, or to see the grand 8pm evening finale - a sensational canal-boat ballet which really has to be seen to be believed. Get there early to be sure of a good view.

Sparkenburg by night

Spakenburg
This most comely area of the park, situated along the tranquil Omura Bay, is dominated by a life-size replica of the De Liefde, the first Dutch ship to arrive in Japan. The nautical theme is carried through in the Grand Voyage Theatre, where an animatronic Anjin-san narrates the tale of the voyage of De Liefde from Amsterdam to Japanese shores. Once again, an English translation is available, although it does brush over some of the more interesting Dutch slang used by the sailors.

Directly opposite is the auction house. In true Dutch fashion the bidding goes in reverse, starting at a high price and gradually reducing until someone makes a bid. Not only is this great fun, but it allows you to pick up some good bargains. Many of the items available in the shops dotted about the park can be bought at the auction at greatly reduced prices.

De Liefde forms the centerpiece for the day's spectacular grand finale. Your senses will be assaulted by a futuristic fusion of patriotic Dutch music, multicolored lasers and enough fireworks to start a revolution. This unmissable event takes place each evening at 8pm, weather permitting.

Paleis Huis Ten Bosch
Aside from the excellent Baroque gardens overlooking Omura bay, Huis Ten Bosch palace also contains a remarkable collection of seventeenth century paintings, many loaned from the Riiksmuseum in Amsterdam and the world famous Mauritshuis collection. On the second floor is a temporary exhibition space, currently celebrating 400 years of Dutch-Japanese relations with a Dick Bruner exhibition. This Dutch artist has achieved distinction in Japan as the creator of Miffy-chan and her friends, almost as ubiquitous as Hello Kitty these days. The exhibition (which runs until July 13) covers his work from the very beginning and includes some rare original sketches.