The Netherlands is a treasure trove of gorgeous towns and cities full of art, canals, windmills, and tulip fields, in addition to brand-new, environmentally friendly urban surroundings and breathtaking natural scenery, islands, and coasts. Even though it’s a tiny country in Europe—you could travel the whole length of it in a few days—deciding where to spend your time requires preparation.
These are the ideal spots for you to start your research.
1.] The Best City For Culture Is AMSTERDAM.
The Dutch city is a cultural gem, ribboned by UNESCO-listed 17th-century canals that are flanked by leaning gabled structures that comprise its centre core.
Amsterdam is overflowing with museums, including the internationally renowned Rijksmuseum, the nearby Van Gogh Museum, the modern art Stedelijk Museum, the Wereldmuseum Museum of World Cultures, and countless more obscure gems like sustainable fashion or piano-player pianolas.
From classical to EDM, music emanates from historic cathedrals, revered concert halls (the Concertgebouw boasts almost flawless acoustics), iconic locations like Melkweg, and outdoor areas like the stage in the verdant Vondelpark.
Planning tip: By travelling to less-visited neighbourhoods, you may easily avoid overtourism and get away from the throng. With its cutting-edge film museum, largest street art museum in the world, large art “breeding ground” in repurposed shipping warehouses (NDSM-Loods), and environmentally conscious cafes and bars (many constructed from recycled materials), Amsterdam Noord is a great place to start.
2.] The Best City For Modern Architecture Is ROTTERDAM.
Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe and the second-biggest city in the Netherlands, has overcome the horrors of World War II to become a living museum of modern architecture and public art. Notable buildings include the soaring, horseshoe-shaped Markthal with its original food stalls and restaurants, the Overblaak “forest” of tilted cube-shaped houses (one housing the Kijk-Kubus museum), and the shining, mirror-ball-shaped Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first open-access art storage facility. There are several repurposed places, such the Schieblock, a former mid-century office block that has been transformed into creative studios and has a harvestable roof terrace on top.
Planning advice: Taking a water taxi across the harbour is an exciting way to observe the cityscape that is constantly changing. Even the famous 1960 opening of Rotterdam’s Euromast observation tower is a daredevil’s paradise: an abseil of 100 metres (328 feet).
3.] The Best Place To Go Outdoor Activities Is TEXEL.
Nestled less than two miles off the Dutch coast, the picturesque Wadden Sea island of Texel (pronounced “Tes-sel”) is surrounded by expansive white-sand beaches and topped by a red lighthouse. Texel is a nature lover’s dream, with rolling hills, natural reserves, and verdant meadows grazed by fluffy sheep (valued for their wool) and dairy cows (whose milk is used in homemade cheeses, chocolates, and ice cream, combined with fresh picked berries). The island is covered in bike paths, and there are skydiving and horseback riding opportunities. Kitesurfing and sailing are examples of water sports.
Ten thousand seals swim in the nearby waters; boat tours and the seal sanctuary at Ecomare are good places to see them.
Planning advice: Ferries travel 20 minutes to transport automobiles, bikes, and foot passengers from mainland Den Helder to Texel. Additionally, a service connects Texel to the Frisian island of Vlieland throughout the summer.
4.]DELFT Is The Best For Traditional Street Scenes And Creative Customs.
With its network of tiny canals and charming, vibrant buildings beside them, charming little Delft appears to have been preserved in a bygone period. Located at the heart of its mediaeval Markt, one of Europe’s largest market squares (where markets are still held on Thursdays), the town is crowned by the lopsided spire of its Oude Kerk (Old Church) from the 14th century and the completed Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) from the 17th century. Climbing the 376 spiral steps of the tower offers breathtaking views of the town.
Across the canal in Hooikade, the renowned View of Delft, painted by the Deft-born artist Vermeer in the 17th century, offers a less demanding although no less lovely impression. The Vermeer Centrum Delft features information on Vermeer’s life and methods.
The world-famous Delftware—a blue-and-white-painted pottery—was another lasting legacy left by workers in the 17th century. Opened in 1653, Royal Delft offers excursions behind the scenes.
5.] DEN HAAG (THE HAGUE) Best For Performing Arts And Regal Museums.
Stately The third-largest city in the Netherlands, Den Haag (The Hague), is home to both monarchy and the government; Amsterdam serves as the country’s capital. The lit Hofvijver pond symbolises the Gothic-style Binnenhof (Inner Court), the permanent residence of the Dutch parliament (moved temporarily until 2022 renovations are completed, about 2028). The king of the nation, King Willem-Alexander, resides in the neighbouring palace Huis ten Bosch and works out of the adjacent Noordeinde Palace.
Visit the magnificent royal picture gallery, the Mauritshuis, which features works of art including Fabritius’ The Goldfinch and Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, without requiring a royal invitation. The surreal creations of Dutch graphic designer MC Escher are on display in the Lange Voorhout Palace, a former royal house. Amare, a performing arts complex set to open in 2021, brings together several organisations such as the Royal Conservatoire and Nederlands Dans Theatre, a modern dance company, over four venues, serving as the cultural hub of the city.
Planning advice: Plan to spend some time with the locals relaxing at the laid-back beach bars along Scheveningen’s long, sandy strand as the weather heats up.
6.] For Partying And Roman Relics, MAASTRICHT Is The Best.
In the hilly southeast of this mainly flat country, Maastricht challenges most visitors’ preconceptions about the Netherlands. Its location on the historic trade route between Cologne and Boulogne-sur-Mer, which borders both Germany and Belgium, led the Romans to build a fort there to control the Maas (Meuse) river crossing. The location of the original bridge may be seen from its replacement, the 1280-started, arched stone footbridge known as Sint Servaasbrug, which is the oldest bridge in the Netherlands.
Rich cuisine, flowing wine, beer, and merriment were common in the 15th century when Maastricht was a part of the huge Burgundy powerbase, which is where its unbuttoned joie de vivre originated. The city squares of Markt, Vrijthof (beside the Romanesque basilica Sint Servaasbasiliek), and Onze Lieve Vrowplein (beside the Romanesque church, Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek) are excellent locations to pique your hunger.
Planning advice: The merrymaking peaks during Carnaval, in the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday (February or March), when many establishments close and the streets are taken over by parades and parties featuring costumes.
7.] LEIDEN Is Best Spot For History Lessons.
Leiden is a must-see regardless of your interest in transatlantic history, art, or education. Surrounded by canals, it is the seat of the oldest and most prestigious university in the Netherlands, which Willem the Silent gave to Leiden in 1575. The Hortus Botanicus Leiden, the city’s botanical garden, was established in 1590 and is home to rare species from all over the world.
As befits a university town, Leiden is teeming with interesting museums. The main one, the Museum De Lakenhal, is housed in a former cloth warehouse and features artwork by renowned artists including Rembrandt, who was born in Leiden in 1606. After leaving England for Amsterdam in 1608, the religious exiles known as the Pilgrims relocated to Leiden the following year and raised enough funds to rent the Speedwell so that they could set off for the New World in 1620. Their narrative is told in the modest Leiden American Pilgrim Museum.
Planning tip: Leiden is a good starting place for springtime excursions to Keukenhof Gardens (10 miles north at Lisse), where some seven million bulbs bloom, and the rainbow-striped tulip fields.
8.] The Best Location For Distinct Viewpoints Is UTRECHT.
Founded in 1636, Utrecht is a bustling student city filled with independent stores, pubs, and bakeries.
There are some unique viewpoints in the city. On a clear day, one can see as far as Amsterdam from the summit of the 465-step-high Domtoren, Utrecht’s mediaeval monument, which stands at 112 metres (367 feet) above the city. A hurricane in 1674 damaged the nave of the Domkerk cathedral, which was never restored. You may see an underground archaeological site spanning two millennia of history with DOMunder guided tours below earth. Paleis Lofen excursions combine Roman ruins with subterranean exploration of this mansion constructed in 1020 AD by the Holy Roman Emperors.
Utrecht is distinct in that it has canals. The Oudegracht and Nieuwegracht, which sluice through the historic centre, have double-decker towpaths at street level above and river level below, where merchants offloaded goods into kelders (cellars), many of which house cafes and lodging. When you are in a boat, kayak, or canoe, you can observe them from a different angle.
9.] HAARLEM Ideal For Wildlife, Dunes, And Beaches.
With its Grote Markt (Great Market) square, centuries-old churches (don’t miss a Müller organ concert at the Grote Kerk), and an amazing collection of museums (especially the Teylers and Frans Hals museums), Haarlem is a magnificent city in and of itself.
After you’ve had your fill, the city is a great starting point for visiting the white-sand beaches at Zandvoort and Bloemendal aan Zed, which are accessible through the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park. The park is teeming with wildlife, including fallow deer, bison, red foxes, and the recently introduced horned Highland cattle. The highest dune in the Netherlands, Kopje van Bloemendaal, offers views of the ocean and Amsterdam, which is only 20 minutes away from Haarlem.
