Top 10 must-see places in the Netherlands
Note: This article is a guest post by Ask the Dutch Guy.
The Netherlands is one of the most fascinating countries in Europe. It is famous for its canals, museums, windmills, tulip blooms, wooden clogs, beer, historic cities, and friendly people. Several of its towns, villages, and landmarks are postcard-worthy and Instagrammable.
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The Netherlands is relatively small. Its three most popular cities are the eclectic capital city of Amsterdam, lively Rotterdam, and historic The Hague, but there are definitely more spots to explore. When it comes to absorbing local beauty and travelling back in time to understand a foreign land, the Netherlands takes tourism to another level.
When visiting, prepare to do lots of different activities – hiking, strolling, cycling, sightseeing, picture-taking, boating, sailing, dining, relaxing, and shopping – in a wide variety of places. To be more specific, here are the Top 10 must-see places in the Netherlands:
1. Romantic Amsterdam canals
The capital city is always the first stop, and its canals are always the most popular attractions. The pretty waterways are so romantic. Similar to many other cities that sit over water such as Venice, Amsterdam has a vibrant canal system that never fails to draw in both local and international tourists.
You can explore pretty much all the major city hot spots, including Amsterdam’s infamous “Red Light” district, by taking a canal boat tour along the city’s idyllic water routes.
Another way to enjoy the canals is simply strolling along their banks and discovering the many shops and restaurants nearby.
Find your accommodations in Amsterdam here.
2. More canals in Giethoorn, only quieter
While the capital city is always hectic and dynamic, the tiny village of Giethoorn promises a blissful boat ride along canals that pass through historic Dutch farms, thatched-roofed cottages, and lovely wooden arch bridges. It’s a vision of how the Dutch used to live long ago.
Giethoorn is located in the Dutch province of Overijssel, about two hours away from Amsterdam by train and bus. It is popular for not allowing cars to enter the village and maintaining the peace and quiet.
Rachel’s Ruminations has lots more articles on the Netherlands!
Locals and tourists make their way to the stores, shops, and other establishments on a canoe or “whisper” boat. It is definitely a unique and different style of living in this quaint historic village.
Look for accommodations in Giethoorn.
3. Charming Zaanse Schans
Like Giethoorn, Zaanse Schans lets you travel back in time, particularly to the 17th and 18th centuries. Situated around 15 kilometers to the north of Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood in the Dutch town of Zaandam. It was built and styled like an open-air museum. You can walk around to see a traditional Dutch village and experience how craftsmen would have worked in the days before automation.
Walk by some windmills, a sawmill, oil mill, shipyard, grocery store, pewter factory, and some really distinctive green wooden houses that are a perfect backdrop for your selfie.
The Zaans Museum displays regional costumes, model windmills and interactive exhibits on chocolate-making. Several artisan workshops demonstrate how wooden clogs are carved, how barrels are made, and pewters cast.
4. In the springtime: Keukenhof
When visiting in spring, immerse yourself in seven million tulips in full bloom in Keukenhof Gardens, the largest and most famous flower park in the world. Located in Lisse, not far from Amsterdam, Keukenhof is composed of four pavilions spread over 70 acres. They hold an exquisite collection of tulips as well as roses, daffodils, hyacinths, orchids, carnations, irises, lilies, and many others.
Also referred to as the “Garden of Europe,” there is no other park like this in the world, which explains why it attracts over a million visitors every year, even though Keukenhof only opens from mid-March to mid-May when the tulips are in bloom. Tulips are the signature flowers of the Netherlands.
Because it’s so popular and only open for a short time, you should book your tickets far ahead – months ahead is better than weeks. Book the shuttle from Amsterdam and the tickets here.
5. The serenity of De Weerribben-Wieden National Park
De Weerribben-Wieden National Park is the largest bog in northwest Europe. While the Netherlands is home to several nature reserves, this one is known for its mystery and serenity.
While here, you can experience amazing wildlife, make your way along several lakes, ponds, swamps, and a wide meadow of flowers, and once again enjoy a peaceful boat ride on the park’s canals. De Weerribben-Wieden National Park is popular amongst hikers, campers, and nature lovers.
“This park is one of the best kept secrets in Holland, certainly when a village like Giethoorn is a part of it,” according to an online visitor review. “Plenty of nature, plenty of lovely villages, plenty of places to eat and plenty of places to stay whatever fancies you the most. You could easily spend three or four days in this park and still haven’t seen it all.”
6. The Van Gogh Museum
From the beauty of nature to beauty created by a renowned master, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam does not disappoint.
Van Gogh is one of the greatest artists to have ever lived. It’s not a surprise that the Van Gogh Museum is regularly voted as one of the best art museums in the world. About 1.5 million visitors make their way here each year, and you should definitely check this out when in Amsterdam.
The Van Gogh Museum boasts of having the most extensive collection of Van Gogh pieces in the world – 200 beautiful paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters.
Make sure to reserve your ticket ahead of time or you might not be allowed in.
Don’t forget to book your Amsterdam accommodations as well!
7. Have you heard of Nijmegen?
This is considered by many to be one of Holland’s hidden gems. Nijmegen is home to the Renaissance-style Burchtstraat city hall, Sint-Jacobskapel chapel, and the Tower of Belvédère, which were all built in the 15th-17th century.
Not many foreign tourists come here, but those who do will enjoy shopping on Lange Hezelstraat, the oldest shopping street in the Netherlands.
Nijmegen is also home to Museum Het Valkhof, which features modern art, old masters and Roman antiquities, and the De Ooijpolder Nature Reserve, situated just outside the city to the east. Here, visitors can find idyllic villages, typical Dutch farms, wide meadows of lovely flowers, and hiking trails.
8. The magnificent windmills of Kinderdijk
The Netherlands is known for its ancient windmills and you can find them at Kinderdijk. Located on the River Noord between Rotterdam and Dordrecht, Kinderdijk is home to 19 magnificent windmills constructed by hand from 1722 to 1761.
Local residents built these impressive structures with 92-foot sails to drain the fenlands and transfer water to a higher basin that flowed into a river. The result is an extensive pumping system that has kept the land drained for hundreds of years.
The windmills of Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and very popular in the country and all over Europe. The best months to visit are from April to October when the sails of the windmills are spinning. Book your ticket ahead!
Trying to decide between visiting Zaanses Schans or Kinderdijk? Read this post.
9. Historic Valkenburg
Valkenburg in the beautiful Geul Valley is another town that is teeming with historic and bucket-list-worthy sites. It is home to the only hilltop castle in the Netherlands, which dates from the 12th century, on top of Castle Rock. Nearby is St. Nicolaaskerk Basilica, a 14th-century cathedral.
Other reasons to come here are the ancient ruins, caves, and the Christmas Market, which opens from November to December.
For a real treat, spend a couple days of indulgence at Thermae 2000, a spa hotel in a beautiful woodsy setting.
10. All of the Netherlands in Madurodam
Finally, if you haven’t got the time to see all of the Netherlands, come to Madurodam in The Hague and settle for a mini version of the country on a 1:25 scale. It’s uncanny and quite amazing. You’ll feel like a giant towering over the country’s top destinations, including the windmills, canals, main landmarks, and even bridges. You’ll also see the harbor, a railway system and an airport. Buy your tickets ahead!
Accommodations in the Hague (Den Haag).
(Last edited May 18, 2024)
Are there other locations you would add to this list of must-see places in the Netherlands? Add a comment below!
My travel recommendations
Planning travel
- Skyscanner is where I always start my flight searches.
- Booking.com is the company I use most for finding accommodations. If you prefer, Expedia offers more or less the same.
- Discover Cars offers an easy way to compare prices from all of the major car-rental companies in one place.
- Use Viator or GetYourGuide to find walking tours, day tours, airport pickups, city cards, tickets and whatever else you need at your destination.
- Bookmundi is great when you’re looking for a longer tour of a few days to a few weeks, private or with a group, pretty much anywhere in the world. Lots of different tour companies list their tours here, so you can comparison shop.
- GetTransfer is the place to book your airport-to-hotel transfers (and vice-versa). It’s so reassuring to have this all set up and paid for ahead of time, rather than having to make decisions after a long, tiring flight!
- Buy a GoCity Pass when you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing on a city trip. It can save you a lot on admissions to museums and other attractions in big cities like New York and Amsterdam.
Other travel-related items
- It’s really awkward to have to rely on WIFI when you travel overseas. I’ve tried several e-sim cards, and GigSky’s e-sim was the one that was easiest to activate and use. You buy it through their app and activate it when you need it. Use the code RACHEL10 to get a 10% discount!
- I’m a fan of SCOTTeVEST’s jackets and vests because when I wear one, I don’t have to carry a handbag. I feel like all my stuff is safer when I travel because it’s in inside pockets close to my body.
- I use ExpressVPN on my phone and laptop when I travel. It keeps me safe from hackers when I use public or hotel wifi.
Ask The Dutch Guy is your go-to guide when it comes to The Netherlands. The goal of Ask The Dutch Guy is to showcase the beauty of The Netherlands and to inspire others to explore the country. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
The Netherlands is not accommodating to visitors. You can’t even use your Visa or MC to pay for groceries.
The Dutch don’t really believe in credit, so many don’t have credit cards or only have one for travel. At the same time, it’s cheaper for businesses to accept bank cards (I’m not sure what they’re called in English, but they’re the ones that take the money straight from your bank account: a debit card?) And especially since the pandemic, you can shop EVERYWHERE with a bank card: even at the market most vendors will accept them – but you’re right, not credit cards. Make sure your debit card can work with the MAESTRO system. There’s an icon on the card if it does. Then make sure there’s enough money in the account and you’ll be able to use it everywhere.
And another thing: no checks. Don’t expect anyone to accept a check from the US – not even banks will cash them anymore – and the same goes for traveler’s checks. You’re better off with a Maestro card or just taking cash out of ATM machines.