NOORD HOLLAND. 44. Route. 409 (Havenstoombootdienst ; p. 366), starting at 40.15 and 10.30 a.m. daily from April to Oct. from the De Ruyter-Kade (pier 9) and re- turning at 5.15 and 6.30 p. m. (return-ticket 3 fl.; restaurant on board). The steamers sail through the North Holland Canal (p. 405), touching at Buiksloot, Brock, Monnikendam, and Volendam (see p. 408), and return vid the Zuiderzee. 2. Coox’s SteaMER(p. 364), rey ng the above route, starts daily from the De Ruyter-Kade (pier 6) 9.30 a.m., returning at 4.45 p.m. (return -ticket 2, or incl. luncheon, 4 fi.). — 3. Tramway Rours (Noordhollandsche Tramweg - Maatschappy Steam-boat from the Stations - Plein 2) thrice daily from May 4st to Sept. 30th. across the Y to ting-point of the steam -tramway (Pl. E, 1); by tramway »ek to Monnikendam (see p. 408); and thence to (1/2 hr.) Marken by sailing-boat (botter) or motor-boat. From Marken we return by sailing-boat or motor-boat to Volendam (p. 408), thence proceed either by steam-tramway (10 min.), by ‘trek chuit’ (canal- boat), or on foot (1/p hr.), to Edam, and thence by steam-tramway to Amsterdam. Instead of alighting at Monnikendam on the out- ward journey, we may go on by tramway to Edam, returning to Amsterdam via Volendam, Marken, and Monnikendam. The com- bined circular-ticket by this route costs 1st cl. Qt/4, 2nd cl. 13/4 fl. From May 15th to Sept. 15th there is an extra trip daily at 10 a.m., returning at 4.45 p.m. (fare 3 fl., incl. guide). 44, From Amsterdam and Haarlem to Helder. North Holland. Ra sy from Amsterdam to Helder, vid Zaandam, 50!/2 M., in ILW A1/o-2/o hrs.; from Haarlem via Uitgeest, A7M., in the same time. — As far as Alkmaar (steam-tramway No. 3, see p. 366) it is preferable to take the STEAMER (starting from the De Rt -Kade, piers 1 and 2) via Zaan- dam (p 6), and thence by the canalized Zaan and the North Holland Canal (23/4 hrs. for the trip; fare 75 or 40 c.). Steamer to Niewwediep, see p. 366. The province of Noord Holland, 50 M. in length and 25-28 M. in width, the N. part of which at one time belonged to West Friesland, has been surrounded on three sides by the North Sea and the Zuiderzee since the inundation of 1287. A great part of the district lies 12-15 ft. below the level of the sea, from which it is protected on the W. side by the dunes, and on the by lofty embankments. Agriculture and cattle-rearing are brought to a high stage of development. The towns of Hoorn, Enkhuizen, and Alkmaar contain many important buildings of their palmy days in the 17-18th cent., while Helder- Niewwediep is interesting as the station of the Dutch navy, and for its dykes. The inhabitants are more primitive in their habits than those of Southern Holland, and adhere more tenaciously to the picturesque costumes of their ancestors. The headdress of the women is often curious. It consists of a broad band of silver-gilt in the shape of a horseshoe across the forehead, serv- ing to keep the hair back, and decorated at the sides with large rosettes or oval plates of gold. Above this is worn a cap or veil of rich lace, witl wings hanging down to the neck.