Thousands and thousands of vacationers come to the Netherlands yearly, and most of them restrict their go to to Amsterdam and maybe Keukenhof tulip backyard. However there are such a lot of issues to see within the Netherlands in addition to Amsterdam!
I’ve lived within the Netherlands for 3 years and travelled loads across the nation throughout this time. There are such a lot of issues to see and expertise within the Netherlands. Its cities, quite a few museums and galleries, castles, parks, meals, structure, tulips, windmills, canals and boats.
So when you’ve got a couple of days to spend within the Netherlands, right here is the listing from an area (nicely, nearly an area) of the most effective issues to see within the Netherlands in addition to Amsterdam.
See additionally: Finest Issues to Do on Texel, Netherlands (Together with The place to Keep and What to Eat)
Giant vibrant cities within the Netherlands
In addition to Amsterdam, the Netherlands has different giant cities value visiting equivalent to Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second largest metropolis within the Netherlands. Spend a day strolling within the metropolis to see among the main landmarks equivalent to Market Corridor, Dice Homes, Witte Huis, Erasmus bridge, Metropolis Corridor and others.
Ensure to go to Oude Haven (Outdated Harbour) with its previous basin and restored boats. Get to the viewing platform of Euromast – the tallest constructing within the Netherlands. Take a ship tour to see town from the water and to take a look at Europort – the most important seaport in Europe.
Associated tour: Rotterdam: River Cruise and Euromast Entrance Ticket
The Hague
The Hague metropolis will not be solely the house of the United Nations’ Worldwide Court docket of Justice, but additionally the house of Dutch authorities and Dutch royal household. When within the Hague, take a look at the Dutch parliament constructing complicated – Binnenhof – with its internal yard and large pond in entrance of the complicated.
See work by the world well-known artists in Mauritshuis museum. Go to Madurodam – a park of miniatures with replicas of Dutch cities and landmarks, outside exhibitions and actions for the entire household. Take a tram to Scheveningen – the Hague’s well-known seaside and promenade with many cafes and eating places.
See additionally: Issues to Do in The Hague: A Native’s Information
Utrecht
Utrecht is the fourth largest metropolis within the Netherlands and well-known for its medieval metropolis middle, previous canals and the tallest church tower within the nation – Domtoren. Stroll the previous streets of Utrecht downtown, stroll alongside the Oudegracht and dine in one of many many eating places by the water.
Admire cathedral tower of Domtoren, gothic-style cathedral of Domkerk and cosy previous backyard of Pandhof. Go to museum Speelklok with its giant assortment of self-playing musical devices or Spoorwegmuseum – an superior railway museum, particularly if travelling with kids.
Small cosy cities to go to within the Netherlands
Don’t underestimate the smaller cities within the Netherlands. Small Dutch cities have among the most attention-grabbing points of interest within the nation. As a result of they’re small and compact, it’s straightforward to go to the smaller cities as a day journey from Amsterdam. Listed below are among the small cities within the Netherlands I’d suggest visiting.
Delft
Metropolis of Delft is known for its Delftware – Delft blue pottery. You possibly can visit a Delftware factory and be taught in regards to the historical past and strategy of the Delftware manufacturing. Again within the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries Delft was really one of many main cities within the Netherlands and the residence of Dutch prince of Orange.
Although these days town is small, it’s nonetheless wealthy on Dutch historical past and has many historic monuments and museums value visiting. Delft was additionally a house to the well-known Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (‘The Milkmaid’ and ‘Woman with a Pearl Earring’ are just some of his works that you just would possibly know).
Maastricht
Although Maastricht is about 2 hours away from all the key cities of the Netherlands (which is taken into account far on this small nation), I’d nonetheless suggest visiting it. Maastricht is well-known in Europe because the birthplace of the European Union and ‘euro’ forex.
Within the Netherlands it’s generally known as one of many oldest cities and locations to go for nice meals and eating places. You will see that right here the oldest bridge and the oldest metropolis gate within the Netherlands. An iconic bookshop – Dominicanenkerk – situated within the historic constructing of the thirteenth century church. Historic squares with many high quality cafes and eating places. These are simply among the issues to see in Maastricht.
Haarlem
Haarlem is a metropolis situated quarter-hour away from Amsterdam. It’s small and cosy and filled with appeal. Stroll to Grote Markt – central metropolis sq. and admire the gothic-style Cathedral of St. Bavo. Go to a few of Haarlem’s Hofjes – small enclosed courtyard gardens with good inexperienced areas. Discover slim streets of Haarlem’s previous city. Try Windmill De Adriaan – a museum situated within the 18th-century windmill.
Associated tour: Haarlem: 50-Minute Sightseeing Canal Cruise
Leiden
Leiden is a small Dutch city situated between Amsterdam and The Hague. In case you like visiting museums Leiden is a should see when travelling within the Netherlands.
- Go to the Nationwide Museum of Ethnology with exhibitions from world wide.
- Nationwide Museum of Antiquities – an archaeology museum with lovely collections of Egyptian, Greek & Roman artefacts.
- Naturalis Biodiversity Middle – a pure historical past museum with one of many largest pure historical past collections on the earth.
After visiting a museum, head to Beestenmarkt sq. to take pleasure in some meals in one of many cafes or to take a ship tour via the canals of Leiden.
Cheese markets within the Netherlands
One of many issues the Netherlands is most well-known for is cheese. World recognized sorts of cheese – Gouda and Edam – originate from the Netherlands.
So, the place else if not on this nation to expertise cheese markets, outlets and cheese-related occasions?
The most well-liked cheese markets within the Netherlands occur between April and September in Alkmaar and Gouda. Go to a cheese market to see individuals wearing conventional Dutch garments, horse-drawn carts loaded with rolls of cheese and the old school technique to cut price cheese worth by clapping palms.
In case you’re travelling to the Netherlands exterior of the season for cheese markets, don’t fear – there are nonetheless some ways to expertise Dutch cheese making and promoting traditions. Go to a cheese museum in Amsterdam, Alkmaar or Gouda. Go to a farmers market – they occur on numerous days all around the Netherlands and all the time have cheese stalls with a wide array of Dutch cheese so that you can style and/or purchase. Or just pop into one of many many cheese shops within the nation.
Windmills within the Netherlands
One other factor the Netherlands is known for is its Windmills. There are tons of of windmills within the Netherlands and you’re sure to see a minimum of few of them. Many windmills are nonetheless operational, a few of them are open to the general public and a few had been transformed into museums.
There are a number of locations to see windmills up shut within the Netherlands.
Zaanse Schans
A good looking Dutch village of Zaanse Schans is situated solely half an hour away from Amsterdam. Zaanse Schans has typical 18th-Nineteenth century Dutch wood homes, workshops and many windmills. A lot of the windmills in Zaanse Schans are absolutely operational and open for guests. There’s a windmill for making oil, a wooden noticed windmill, a windmill to mill flour and spices, and even a windmill for making paint!
Associated tour: From Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans Windmills Half-Day Tour
Kinderdijk
Kinderdijk is an iconic Dutch village with 18th-century windmills situated not removed from Rotterdam. There are 19 windmills in Kinderdijk, and a pair of of them have museums inside. You possibly can discover the windmills of Kinderdijk by renting a motorcycle and driving round, or alternatively by taking a ship tour (or a water taxi from Rotterdam).
Associated tour: Rotterdam: Kinderdijk Windmill Village Entry Ticket
Windmills within the cities
There are additionally many windmills in Dutch cities all around the nation. Take a free tour of Molen de Ster in Utrecht – a working windmill that’s open to the general public each Saturday afternoon.
Go to Molen De Put in Leiden and purchase flour made proper there on the windmill; or additionally in Leiden go to Molen De Valk – the 18th century windmill that’s now a museum.
If you wish to see among the highest windmills on the earth then make certain to go to Schiedam close to Rotterdam, it has not one however 8 windmills within the metropolis. Go to a windmill-museum Molen de Adriaan in Haarlem to find out about windmills and their historical past within the Netherlands. These are simply among the windmills in Dutch cities you possibly can go to.
Museums within the Netherlands
The Netherlands has many museums of various sorts. There are artwork and historical past museums, science museums, cheese museums, museums in former windmills, tulip museums and plenty of extra different museums.
In case you are visiting the Netherlands and plan on visiting a number of museums I’d advise shopping for Dutch Museum Card – it’s legitimate for a yr and provides you free entry to tons of of museums throughout the nation. Listed below are among the museums within the Netherlands I’d suggest visiting:
No matter your pursuits are and whether or not you’re travelling solo, with a gaggle or with kids it’s completely value visiting among the museums the Netherlands has to supply.
Tulip fields within the Netherlands
In case you are travelling to the Netherlands in spring make certain to go to tulip fields and gardens. There are various locations to see blooming flowers within the Netherlands.
Lisse
Lisse is the most well-liked place to see blooming tulips within the Netherlands. There are fairly a couple of fields of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils round Lisse. Finest technique to expertise it’s to lease a motorcycle and cycle round to see the flower fields.
Keukenhof
Additionally situated at Lisse, the well-known Keukenhof is the most important tulip backyard on the earth. With hundreds of thousands of blooming flowers and tons of of various kinds of tulips, it’s no shock that Keukenhof is so standard with not solely vacationers however locals too.
Flevoland
The most important space of the tulip bulbs business within the Netherlands is Noordoostpolder, the province of Flevoland. You will see that many fields with all types of tulips over there. In addition to the fields you possibly can go to tulip gardens, equivalent to Pegasushof Gardens or Goldhoorn Gardens, or perhaps a tulip choosing farm – Hanneke’s Pluktuin.
North Holland
One other space to go to in the course of the tulip blooming season is North Holland. Space between Alkmaar and Den Helder has tons of of flower fields, and they’re often much less crowded than fields round Lisse. There are tulip fields round Alkmaar, Nieuwe Niedorp, Schagen, Anna Paulowna and Julianadorp. You can too go to Bloemendagen (Flower Days) in Anna Paulowna or tulip choosing farm in Julianadorp.
When having fun with tulip fields within the Netherlands, please take into account that choosing tulips within the fields will not be allowed! For that you’re greater than welcome to go to one of many devoted tulip choosing farms.
I hope my listing of the most effective issues to see within the Netherlands in addition to Amsterdam has impressed you to see extra of this lovely nation. You will see that plenty of data on travelling within the Netherlands and different international locations in my weblog – Travel By Example.
