Madurodam - The smallest city in the Netherlands

The city of Madurodam is a model of a Dutch town built at 1:25 scale in the Hague and featuring typical Dutch-style buildings and landmarks. It also has two restaurants, a shop, a picnic area and a playground.

Effort has gone into making the exhibits as life-like as possible. The windmills in the park turn and traditional-style boats sail in the miniature canals.

According to Holland's tourist board, visitors can watch a fire being extinguished in the harbour and the model railway has a track more than 4 kilometres long. Some exhibits move and make noises when coins are inserted.

Madurodam was built in 1952 and its first mayor was the then-princess of the Netherlands Beatrix. Beatrix gave up her role as park mayor when she became queen of the Netherlands and today Madurodam's mayor is elected by a municipal youth council made up of children from 25 schools in the region.