The Netherlands is a treasure trove of art-filled cities and towns, canals, windmills, tulip fields and shiny new sustainable urban environments, as well as stunning natural scenery, coastline and islands. Though it’s one of Europe’s smaller countries (you can cross the whole country in a few hours), choosing where to spend your time requires some planning.
These are great places to start exploring.
Start your trip to Holland at the magnificent Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam © Mark Read / Lonely Planet
1. Amsterdam
The perfect city for culture
The Dutch capital is a cultural jewel, surrounded by UNESCO-listed 17th-century canals and lined with sloping, gabled buildings that form a central core.
Amsterdam is home to national attractions such as the Rijksmuseum, the neighbouring Van Gogh Museum and the modern art museum Stedelijk, as well as spectacular venues like the Weltmuseum, which showcases world cultures, and numerous smaller gems such as niche specialist centres such as the Pianola and sustainable fashion.
Music ranging from classical to EDM emanates from historic churches, sacred concert halls (the Concertgebouw boasts near-perfect acoustics), legendary venues like the Melkweg, and outdoor spaces like the stage in leafy Vondelpark.
Planning tip: It’s easy to avoid the tourist crowds by heading to a less-visited neighbourhood. Amsterdam Noord is a great starting point, with a cutting-edge film museum, the world’s largest street art museum, a vast art “incubation” in former shipping warehouse NDSM-Loods, and eco-conscious cafes and bars, many built from recycled materials.
Find the perfect neighborhood to base yourself in Amsterdam.
Admire the architecture of the Markthal in Rotterdam’s Blaak district © mihaiulia / Shutterstock
2. Rotterdam
The best city for contemporary architecture
Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second-largest city and Europe’s largest port, has overcome the devastation of World War II to transform itself into a veritable gallery of contemporary architecture and public art. Standout structures include the Overblaak “forest” of tilted cubic houses (one of which houses the Kijk-Kubus museum), the towering horseshoe-shaped Markthal with its original food stalls and restaurants, and the glittering, disco-ball Depot Boijmans van Beuningen, the world’s first open-access art storage facility. Repurposed spaces are legion, including a mid-century office building converted into creative studios with a harvestable rooftop terrace.
Planning tip: A water taxi ride across the harbor is an exhilarating way to watch the changing skyline, while daredevils can attempt a 100-metre (328-foot) rappel from Rotterdam’s iconic Euromast observation tower, which opened in 1960.
Save this guide to the top things to do in Rotterdam.
3. Texel
The perfect spot for outdoor activities
Less than two miles off the coast of the Netherlands, the idyllic Wadden Sea island of Texel (pronounced “Texel”) is topped by a bright red lighthouse and surrounded by white-sand beaches. With lush pastures for fluffy sheep (valued for their wool) and dairy cows (who produce milk for local cheese, chocolate, ice cream and fresh-picked berries), forests and nature reserves, Texel is an outdoor paradise. Cycle trails crisscross the island and activities include horse riding and skydiving. Water sports include sailing and kite surfing.
About 10,000 seals swim in the surrounding waters and can be seen on boat tours or at the Ecomare Seal Sanctuary.
Planning tip: Ferries take pedestrians, cars and bicycles from mainland Den Helder to Texel in just 20 minutes. In summer, there are also services connecting Texel with Friesland.
Delft’s medieval Grote Markt is one of the largest market squares in Europe © Manfred Gottschalk / Getty Images
4. Delft
Perfect for old-fashioned streets and artistic traditions
With its beautiful network of narrow canals lined with quaint, colorful buildings, the city of Delft seems like another era preserved intact. Centered around the medieval Markt, one of the largest market squares in Europe (where a market still takes place on Thursdays), the Old Church (Oude Kerk) with its uneven spires from the 14th century and the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) completed in the 17th century stand tall, and the tower’s 376 spiral steps offer beautiful views over the city.
Less difficult but equally picturesque is Hooikade across the canal, where the 17th-century Delft-born painter Vermeer painted his famous “View of Delft,” still recognisable today. Learn more about Vermeer’s life and technique at the Vermeer Centre Delft.
In the 17th century, artisans produced blue-and-white painted pottery, creating an enduring tradition known to the world as Delftware. Royal Delft, in operation since 1653, offers behind-the-scenes tours.
Beyond majestic Den Haag (The Hague) is a relaxing spot on Scheveningen Beach © Jan Kranendonk / Getty Images
5. The Hague
Perfect for luxury museums and performing arts
The Netherlands’ third-largest city, imposing Den Haag (The Hague) is not the capital – Amsterdam is – but it is the seat of government and royal family. The shimmering Hoofvijver pond reflects the Gothic Binnenhof (inner courtyard), the permanent venue of the Dutch Parliament (to which it will temporarily relocate until renovations that began in 2022 are completed around 2028). The Dutch monarch, King Willem-Alexander, works from the neighboring Noordeinde Palace and lives in the nearby Huis ten Bosch Palace.
You don’t need a royal invitation to visit the stunning Mauritshuis royal art gallery, home to masterpieces such as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Fabritius’ The Goldfinch. Lange Voorhout Palace, a former royal residence, displays the astonishing works of Dutch graphic artist MC Escher. Opened in 2021, the performing arts complex Amare is the city’s cultural meeting point, bringing together organisations such as the Royal Conservatory of Music and modern dance Nederlands Dans Theater across its four halls.
Planning tip: When the weather warms up, hang out with the locals in one of the laid-back beach bars along Scheveningen’s long, sandy beach.
6. Maastricht
Perfect for Roman ruins and festivals
Located in the hills of the flat southeastern part of the country, Maastricht defies most visitors to the Netherlands. Bordering Germany and Belgium and located on the ancient trade route between Cologne and Boulogne-sur-Mer, the Romans built a fort to protect the crossing of the River Meuse. Construction of the Netherlands’ oldest bridge, begun in 1280, can still be seen from the original bridge, a later arched stone footbridge called Sint-Servaasbrücke.
Maastricht’s bohemian joie de vivre dates back to the 15th century, when it was part of the vast Burgundian sphere of influence, resulting in a wealth of food, wine, beer and convivial atmosphere. The best places to work up an appetite are the Markt, Vrijthof (overlooked by the Romanesque St. Servaz-Basiliek Church) and Wermenplatz (overlooked by the Romanesque Wermenskirche).
Planning tip: Revelry reaches its peak during Carnival, the period leading up to Shrove Tuesday (February or March), when many businesses close and costumed parades and parties are held.
Want to take in festivities like Carnival or King’s Day? Here’s the best time to go.
Leiden is a city of quirky museums, gardens and fascinating history © Kisa_Markiza / Getty Images
7. Leiden
Great place for a history lesson
Whether your history interests you are academic, artistic or transatlantic, Leiden is a must-visit destination. This canal-lined city is home to Holland’s oldest and most famous university, donated by King William III in 1575. The Leiden Botanical Gardens, opened in 1590, are home to rare species from around the world.
As befits a university town, Leiden has a number of fascinating museums. Flagship museum De Laerkenhal, set in a former textile warehouse, displays works by artists such as Rembrandt, who was born in Leiden in 1606. The Pilgrims, religious refugees who fled England for Amsterdam in 1608, settled in Leiden the following year, rented a speedwell to raise funds to begin their journey to the New World in 1620. The small Leiden American Pilgrim Museum tells their story.
Planning tip: Leiden is the starting point for a spring trip to the rainbow-striped tulip fields and Keukenhof Gardens, 10 miles north of Lisse, where some 7 million bulbs bloom.
8. Utrecht
A great place to enjoy a unique perspective
Utrecht University was founded in 1636 and this lively student town is full of independent shops, bars and bakery-cafés.
The city has several unique vantage points. Climb the 465 steps to the top of Utrecht’s medieval landmark, the 112-metre (367-foot) high bell tower Domtower, where on a clear day you can see all the way to Amsterdam. The nave of the Dom Church was destroyed by a hurricane in 1674 and was never rebuilt. The DOMunder guided tour takes you underground to archaeological sites covering two millennia of history. The Paleis Lofen tour explores the underground ruins of this mansion built by the Holy Roman Emperor around AD 1020, including Roman remains.
Another distinctive feature of Utrecht are its canals. The Oudegracht and Nieuwgracht, which run through the historic centre, have double-decker towpaths at both river and ground level, where merchants unloaded their goods into the kelders (underground cellars), many of which are now cafés or accommodation. You can also hop in a boat, kayak or canoe and see another side of the canals from the water.
9. Haarlem
Great for beaches, dunes and wildlife
The magnificent city of Haarlem is a wonderful place worth visiting in itself, with its Grote Markt (Great Market) square, centuries-old churches (try listening to Müller’s organ recital in the Grote Kerk), and impressive collection of museums (especially Frans Hals and Teylers).
Once you’ve had your fill, the town is an ideal base for visiting the powder-soft, white-sand beaches of Zandvoort and Bloemendaal aan Zee, via the wildlife-rich Zuid-Kennemerland National Park. As well as birds and bats, you’ll see bison, red foxes, fallow deer and even horned Highland cattle, introduced in 2016. Bloemendaal Hill is the highest sand dune in the Netherlands, and offers views over the sea and Amsterdam (the capital is just 20 minutes from Haarlem).
