In the Netherlands, not only Amsterdam is worth visiting, but the countryside also offers many natural beauties for visitors.
Officially, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a northwest European country, which also possesses overseas territories in the Caribbean region. It is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the east and Belgium to the south.
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Best places in Netherlands
Amsterdam
Many consider the Dutch capital as the land of freedom and cyclists, which is true. I have never seen as many bicycles as here. 😊
The city, crisscrossed with canals, has a great atmosphere. The downtown area is walkable, allowing most of the attractions to be seen this way.
Keukenhof Garden
Located between Amsterdam and The Hague in Lisse, Keukenhof Castle and its gardens are famous.
This is the world’s largest flower garden, where approximately seven million flower bulbs bloom over 32 hectares each spring. Nearly 100 varieties of tulips can be found.
The garden paths total 15 kilometers, where, alongside the flowers, many sculptures can also be admired.
The park is open annually from the last week of March to mid-May. The most spectacular time is during the tulip bloom in mid-April.
Hague
The city is known for its courts, but it also offers attractions that make it worth visiting for tourists.
Three notable palaces can be admired. Paleis Noordeinde is the royal family’s, Paleis Kneuterdijk houses the State Council, and Vredespaleis is the seat of the International Court of Justice.
In the Scheveningen district, Madurodam showcases miniature versions of famous Dutch buildings (such as Amsterdam’s Dam Square, the Royal Palace, Rotterdam’s port, Utrecht’s historic city center).
Volendam
Located about 20 km northeast of Amsterdam, this former fishing village attracts tourists with its colorful houses along the harbor.
The town’s atmosphere has historically attracted artists. Both Picasso and Renoir lived and worked in Volendam.
Giethoorn
A popular village in the northern part of the country, also known as the Venice of the Netherlands.
As you can guess, numerous canals run through the village. Transportation is only possible by boat and on foot, with more than 170 bridges in the area. When here, be sure to go on a boat tour!
Utrecht
Its central location made it an important city since medieval times, evidenced by housing the largest university in the Netherlands.
Utrecht’s two most famous attractions are the Dom Tower, which once belonged to St. Martin’s Cathedral, and the city’s canal network. Much of the city center has retained its medieval street layout.
Since the 8th century, the city has also been a religious center, which is why several monumental churches can be found, such as the Romanesque St. Peter’s and St. John’s churches, the Gothic St. James’ and St. Nicholas’ churches, and the so-called Buurkerk, which now operates as a museum.
Kasteel de Haar
Located not far from the city of Utrecht, Kasteel de Haar is the largest castle in the Netherlands.
Today, the castle is still inhabited and owned by the Van Zuylen van Nijevelt family. Since the complex is open to visitors, you can see the family’s life in action.
The interior is adorned with beautiful wood carvings and Flemish tapestries. Notable is the Rothschild collection, which includes Japanese and Chinese porcelains and old Flemish paintings.
Rotterdam
Nestled at the mouth of the Rhine River, Rotterdam is the Netherlands’ second-largest city and Europe’s largest port.
The city was almost completely destroyed during World War II but has been successfully rebuilt. Thus, visitors find themselves in a modern metropolis. Alongside skyscrapers, you can admire architectural wonders like the Cube Houses, consisting of 38 houses.
To see the old part of Rotterdam, head to the Delfshaven district. Here, you can take lovely walks among the old houses along the canals.
Rotterdam attractions, museums, weather
Valkenburg aan de Geul
This small town near the German-Belgian border is known for its touristic attractions, limestone houses, and hilly countryside.
The town and its surroundings are home to numerous castles, manor houses, and watermills. In the town itself, you can see the remains of the castle, parts of the city walls, and two city gates.
Kinderdijk-Elshout Windmill Complex
Located between the two villages, this complex of mills is a World Heritage Site.
It perfectly demonstrates the features associated with water management technology: dikes, reservoirs, pumping stations, administrative buildings, and a beautifully preserved row of windmills.
This complex of 19 massive mills, built around the 1740s, is now the largest of its kind in the Netherlands.
Marken
Located 20 km from Amsterdam on a small island in the Markermeer.
The village’s location is already charming, but its distinctive colorful wooden houses make it even more picturesque. It’s often referred to as a living museum village.
Delft
A few kilometers from The Hague, this town was one of the leading cities of medieval Netherlands. Ships of the Dutch East India Company set sail from here.
Delft is famous for its blue pottery. Delftware was developed in the 17th century as a substitute for Chinese porcelain. The Pottery Museum showcases this history.
Culture has also been integral to the town. Its most famous native is the painter Jan Vermeer van Delft, who lived and worked here in the 17th century. He is one of the most renowned Dutch painters alongside Rembrandt.
Baarle
Last is one of the „strangest” attractions. Part of the town is under Belgian authority, while another part is under Dutch. Walking through the town, you can cross into the other country several times.
This unique situation dates back to medieval land exchanges and sales. The resolution took a long time, but it was eventually left as is to boost tourism.
Borders are marked with white crosses painted on the asphalt, with NL and B signs on either side. You can even see doors through which this imaginary line passes, making the residents subject to the laws of both countries.
Eindhoven
A significant center of technological and industrial innovation. It was here that the Philips company was founded in 1891, which had a tremendous impact on the development of the city.
The city hosts numerous cultural institutions, among which the Van Abbemuseum stands out. It is one of the most important art galleries in the Netherlands, especially in the field of modern and contemporary art. The Strijp-S district, a former Philips factory area, is today a center of creative and cultural activities, full of workshops, studios, shops, and restaurants.
One of its most famous events is GLOW Eindhoven, an international light festival that illuminates many parts of the city with special light installations.
Eindhoven attractions, museums, weather
Maastricht
One of the oldest cities in Europe, over time the city was an important commercial and military center.
There are numerous well-preserved medieval buildings, including the imposing Saint Servatius Basilica and the Saint John’s Church. The Jekerkwartier district is full of historical buildings, art galleries, and cozy cafés.
The people of Maastricht are known for their Burgundian lifestyle, a cuisine that combines French and Belgian culinary traditions. The city is popular among shopping tourists.
It also played a prominent role in the history of the European Union. The Maastricht Treaty was signed here in 1992, establishing the European Union and introducing the euro as a common currency.
Leeuwarden
In the northern part of the country, one of the eleven historical Frisian cities.
Known for its characteristic canals, historical buildings, and extensive cultural offerings. The Frisian Museum is the most important museum of Frisian culture and history, while the Keramiekmuseum Princessehof showcases ceramic art.
The city center features the iconic Oldehove, a leaning tower. Originally built straight, it became leaning due to the sinking of its foundations.
Leeuwarden hosts the country’s largest cattle market, and on Ascension Thursday, it holds the largest flower market in the Netherlands.
Thorn
Often referred to as „The White Town” because of its whitewashed houses and historical buildings.
Some stories suggest that the town’s residents whitewashed their houses at the end of the 18th century, following the French revolutionary wars, to cover the brick structures and differences in the condition of the buildings, thus suggesting equality and unity.
Over time, tourists discovered the settlement, making the white houses a popular attraction today.
Haarlem
Also known as the city of flowers since tulips were commercially cultivated here in the 17th century.
The city near Amsterdam is a center of cultural and artistic life: there are a total of 22 museums and galleries. The Teylers Museum, located on the Spaarne river, opened in 1784, making it the oldest museum in the Netherlands.
The Frans Hals Museum is also world-famous. It presents a rich collection from the golden age of Dutch painting, including works by its namesake, Frans Hals.
Bourtange
A real fortress near the German border.
The star-shaped fortress was built in the 16th century as part of the Dutch defensive line during the war for independence from Spanish rule. It includes several moats, embankments reinforced with earth, gates, and five symmetrically arranged bastions.
The buildings, including the church, school, and various residential houses, have been restored to reflect their 17th-18th century condition.
