The Netherlands is a country to visit. It has a lot to offer beyond the tourist spots. Many American travelers go to Amsterdam spend a days and then leave.. They have only seen a small part of the country.
The Netherlands is a country, about the size of West Virginia. It is easy to get with a good train network and bike paths. The country has a lot of character outside of Amsterdam.
This guide will cover the 10 places to visit in the Netherlands. We will look at the ones and some that you may not have heard of.
1. Amsterdam. More Than the Clichés Suggest
Amsterdam is a city but it needs a certain kind of traveler. It can be very crowded in the summer.. If you are willing to explore you will find that it has a lot to offer.
* The canal ring is a UNESCO-listed network of 17th-century waterways. It is a place to walk or bike.
* The Rijksmuseum has a collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings, including Rembrandts Night Watch.
* The Anne Frank House is a museum that shows where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II.
* The Van Gogh Museum has a collection of Van Goghs work.
Things to do in Amsterdam:
* Visit the Jordaan neighborhood, which's a great place to find independent shops and cafes.
* Go to the Albert Cuyp Market, which's a large outdoor market.
* Take a bike ride along the canals.
Getting around Amsterdam:
* Walk and cycle. The citys bike rental infrastructure is well-developed.
Recommended time: 3–4 days.
2. Keukenhof and the Tulip Fields. The Image You Came For
The fields in the Netherlands are real and beautiful.. The best time to see them is limited from mid-March to late April.
* Keukenhof in Lisse is a garden with tulips, daffodils and other flowers. It is a place to visit but it can be crowded.
* The Bollenstreek is a region with tulip fields. It is a place to cycle or drive and see the tulips.
Getting there:
* Keukenhof is 40 minutes from Amsterdam by bus.
Recommended time:
* 1 day for Keukenhof 1 day for the bulb fields.
3. Haarlem. Amsterdams Better-Proportioned Neighbor
Haarlem is a city, about 20 minutes from Amsterdam by train. It has a lot of character. Is less crowded than Amsterdam.
* The historic center is compact. Has a lot of great cafes and restaurants.
* The Frans Hals Museum has a collection of Frans Hals work.
Things to do in Haarlem:
* Visit the Grote Markt, which's a large market square.
* Go to the North Sea beaches at Zandvoort.
Getting there:
* trains from Amsterdam.
Recommended time:
* 1–2 days.
4. The Hague. Power, Art and the Sea
The Hague is a city with a lot of history and culture. It is the seat of the government and has many great museums.
* The Mauritshuis has a collection of art including Vermeers Girl with a Pearl Earring.
* The Escher in Het Paleis museum has a collection of M.C. Eschers work.
Things to do in The Hague:
* Visit the Peace Palace, which's a great example of neo-Renaissance architecture.
* Go to the beach at Scheveningen.
Getting there:
* trains from Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Recommended time:
* 2 days.
5. Delft. The Blue and White City
Delft is a city with a lot of character. It is famous, for its white pottery.
* The canal network is small but picturesque.
* The Royal Delft factory is a place to learn about the history of Delftware.
Things to do in Delft:
* Take a boat tour of the canals.
* Visit the market square.
*No changes were made to nouns, names, positions, places, emails, phone numbers, date, time and similarly short phrases under 4-5 words.*
Delft is where Johannes Vermeer was born worked and died. He lived there for 43 years. The Vermeer Centrum shows his life and work. Most of his paintings are in other museums like the Rijksmuseum and the Mauritshuis. If you like century Dutch painting Delft is a great place to visit.
The Nieuwe Kerk on the market square has the mausoleum of William of Orange who started the Dutch Republic. The Oude Kerk is a bit strange. It leans two meters off vertical because of the ground.
Here's how to get to Delft:
* 10 minutes by train from The Hague
* 1 hour from Amsterdam
You should spend a day in Delft.
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6. Rotterdam. A City That's Different from Amsterdam
Rotterdam is the Netherlands second city. It's not like Amsterdam all. The city center was bombed flat in 1940. Rebuilt from scratch. Now it has some of the interesting modern architecture in Europe.
The Cube Houses on Overblaak Street are really famous. They're a bunch of houses that are tilted 45 degrees and balanced on pylons. One of them is open to visitors. They're weird inside and out.
The Markthal is a market with apartments on top. It has a digital artwork on the ceiling. You can buy food from lots of stalls.
The Erasmusbrug is a bridge thats like a symbol of the city. Its nicknamed "the Swan".
Rotterdam is also a port. You can take a boat tour to see the part of the city.
The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is a building that opened in 2021. It's a place where you can see 151,000 artworks from the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum. The building itself is really cool.
Here's how to get to Rotterdam:
* 40 minutes from Amsterdam by intercity train
You should spend 2 days in Rotterdam.
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7. Utrecht. A City with a Medieval Center
Utrecht is the Netherlands fourth- city. It's home to an university. The historic center is really old. It's like a town.
The canals in Utrecht are different from Amsterdams. They're below street level. There are old cellars built into the walls. Some of these cellars are now restaurants and cafes.
The Dom Tower is really 112 meters. You can climb to the top for a view.
The Rietveld Schröderhuis is a house thats a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can visit it. You have to book ahead.
Utrecht has a food and drink scene. It's also cheaper than Amsterdam.
Here's how to get to Utrecht:
* 30 minutes from Amsterdam by intercity train
You should spend 2 days in Utrecht.
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8. Giethoorn. A Village without Roads
Giethoorn is a village in the north of the Netherlands. It's really special. There are no roads, canals and footpaths.
You can get around by boat. It's like a Venice but smaller and quieter.
The village is surrounded by a park. You can. Take a boat tour to see the park.
Here's how to get to Giethoorn:
* Nearest train station is Steenwijk
* Bus connections to Giethoorn
You should spend a day in Giethoorn.
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9. Maastricht. A City thats Not Very Dutch
Maastricht is in the south of the Netherlands. It feels different from the rest of the country. It's like Belgium or France.
The city has a square called the Vrijthof. Its surrounded by cafes and two big churches.
There's a bookstore in a old church. Its been voted one of the best in the world.
The ENCI quarry is a stone quarry thats now a nature reserve. You can take a guided tour.
Maastricht has a food scene. You can try French food.
Here's how to get to Maastricht:
* 2.5 hours from Amsterdam by train
You should spend 2 days in Maastricht.
10. Kinderdijk. The Windmills that Work
Kinderdijk's, near Rotterdam. It has 19 windmills that still work. They're a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The windmills are really old. They were built between 1722 and 1761. You can visit some of them.
The visitor center explains how the Dutch manage their water. It's really interesting.
You can. Walk along the canal and take great photos.
Getting There:
* Waterbus ferry from Rotterdam Erasmusbrug. It takes 35 minutes.
*. You can take a bus from Rotterdam Centraal.
The ferry ride is more scenic. I recommend it.
Recommended Time:
* Half a day to a day. You can easily combine it with a visit to Rotterdam.
Practical Notes for American Travelers
Getting to the Netherlands:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is a hub. You can fly there directly from big American cities.
KLM, United, Delta and American Airlines offer flights.
* If you're on the East Coast your flight will take 8 hours.
* If you're on the West Coast it will take 10 to 11 hours.
Getting Around:
The Dutch train network, also called NS is very good.
* Trains, metros, trams and buses all accept an OV-chipkaart or a Netherlands travel pass.
You can buy one at any train station.
Trains between cities run every 15 to 30 minutes.
Cycling is really popular here.
* The Netherlands has over 35,000 kilometers of bike paths.
They're separate from traffic, well-maintained and clearly marked.
* You can rent a bike in any city and use it to get around.
It's cheap and practical like the Dutch do.
Currency:
The Euro is the currency used in the Netherlands.
* Most big cities are okay with card payments. Some small towns and markets still prefer cash.
So it's an idea to have some Euros with you.
You can easily find ATMs.
Language:
* Dutch is the language.
Almost everyone speaks English.
You won't have any trouble communicating.
Tipping:
Tipping is. Not required.
* Service charges are already included in restaurant bills.
Rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% is normal for service.
Best Time to Visit:
* April and May are great for season and mild weather.
* June to August is warm but also busy.
* September and October have weather and fewer tourists.
* Winter is cold and grey but cheaper.
Christmas markets in cities like Maastricht and Amsterdam are really good.
Accommodation:
* Amsterdam is the expensive city.
Rotterdam, Utrecht, Haarlem and The Hague are cheaper for similar quality.
* Staying in a city and taking day trips to Amsterdam can save you money.
Safety:
The Netherlands is one of the countries in Europe.
* Just be careful in Amsterdam like you would in any city.
Watch out for pickpockets in tourist areas. Be mindful of cyclists.
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The Honest Summary
The Netherlands has a lot to offer if you explore beyond Amsterdam.
* Rotterdam has architecture.
* Maastricht is known for its food.
* Utrecht has canals.
* Giethoorn is really unique.
* Kinderdijk is stunning at sunset.
You can see a lot in ten days.
The country is small so you can easily visit places.
It's one of the countries in Europe, for travelers.