TOP 5 CASINOS IN THE NETHERLANDS

Let's take a few minutes to be brutally honest about ourselves as citizens of the United States of America. Compared to our friends in Europe, we are hopelessly unsophisticated a number of ways. Don't get me wrong, there is no more ardent patriot then Floyd Manning. If you have read any number of my previous essays in which I have ruminated on the greatness of the United States, you certainly will not question my patriotism even for a fleeting, misguided moment.

It is because I am so proud and comfortable with my status as an American citizen than I am able to make a realistic critique about the strengths and weaknesses that go with such a designation. Therefore, I reiterate that Europeans have definitely got the upper hand on us in a number of cultural arenas.

Need an example? Let's take a look at the Dutch. These folks seem to have mastered a very tricky balancing act which combines strictly regulated societal norms and a healthy sense of sensual liberation. The individuals who formed the Netherlands seemed to understand that by attempting to repress certain urges and impulses in the human character, the most common unintended side effect is to simply exacerbate them. Whenever steam begins to build up, there must be a release valve which deflates the pressure and keeps things running at a moderated pace. So it is with machinery, and so it is with the complicated mechanisms known as you and me.

Thus, when strolling down the streets of Amsterdam you will find numerous opportunities to engage in activities which would land you behind bars in our own nation. Certainly, these activities are taken to excess on occasion, but in general there seems to be a fairly healthy equilibrium between the wild and mild sides of the Dutch people.

In such a hedonistic environment, one would certainly expect to find a wide range of gambling options, and this is certainly the case in the Netherlands. So when you make your next trip to that fine nation, be sure to check out the five casinos I am about to name.

1. Holland Casino Amsterdam is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, and is open daily 1:30pm-3am. The gigantic 92,664-square foot casino features 576 slots and 55 table games. The property has one restaurant.

2. Fair Play Center - Colosseum is a casino in Brunssum The casino features 96 slots and is constantly packed with ravenous gamblers.

3. Swiss Leisure - The Hague is a casino in Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, and is open daily 9am-1:30am. The 15,070-square foot casino features 207 raging slots.

4. Holland Casino Scheveningen is in Den Haag, Zuid-Holland. The awesome 97,000 square foot casino features 650 slots and 42 table games. The property has two restaurants with fine dining.

5. Fair Play Center is in Rotterdam. The casino features 166 slots and is one of the hottest place to play in the nation. Get over there as soon as you can.