Netherlands

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Why visit The Netherlands?

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The Netherlands is a densely populated country in part reclaimed from the sea with about half of its land lying below sea level. Many tourists only come to the Netherlands to visit Amsterdam. But Holland has plenty to offer outside its capital. Crisscrossed with canals, the flat landscape is perfect for cycling with historic town centers, classic windmills and other tourist spots sprinkled across the country. In the west and north, the long coastline is marked by mile upon mile of protective dunes and sandy beaches. During springtime, the flower gardens become great tourist attractions in the Netherlands providing a bold spectacle of vivid colors.

What does The Netherlands bring in mind?

Canals of Amsterdam

Amsterdam began building its famous canals in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age. The three main canals: Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht form concentric belts around the city, known as the grachtengordel. Today there are over 100 km of canals and 1500 bridges. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings.

Leiden canals Also known for the oldest university in the Netherlands, the birthplace of Rembrandt and its beautiful canals, Leiden Canals are the two branches of the Old Rhine enter Leiden on the east and unite in the city center which also contains several smaller canals. The old center of Leiden is one of the largest 17th century town centers in the Netherlands, second only to Amsterdam.

The West Frisian Islands

Known as Waddeneilanden in Dutch are a chain of islands in the North Sea off the Dutch coast. They continue further east as the German East Frisian Islands. The islands separate the North Sea from the shallow Wadden Sea, with tidal mud flats. Under the supervision of licensed guides, several islands can be reached by walking on the mudflats during low tides. On the islands cycling is the most favorable means of transport.

Delft city hall The City Hall in Delft is a Renaissance style building on the Market square across from the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). Originally designed by the Dutch architect Hendrick de Keyser, it was heavily changed over the centuries and was restored in the 20th century to its Renaissance appearance.

Keukenhof Gardens

The world’s largest flower garden and actually a promotion for the Dutch flower industry. Approximately seven million flower bulbs are planted annually in the park with not only tulips, but also hyacinths, daffodils and other spring flowers on display. The gardens are open from the last week in March to mid-May. Keukenhof is one of the most visit tourist attractions in the Netherlands

The Hoge Veluwe Park is one of the largest continuous nature reserves in the Netherlands, consisting of heath-lands, sand dunes, and woodlands. The Kröller-Müller Museum with its large collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh is located within the park. Bicycles are available for free to visitors of the Hoge Veluwe.

Kinderdijk

More than 1000 old windmills still exist in the Netherlands. The largest concentration of Dutch windmills can be found near the village of Kinderdijk. To drain the excess water from the polders, which are situated below sea-levels, 19 windmills were built around 1740. They have been well preserved to the present day and are now popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands.

The Rijksmuseum The largest and most prestigious museum for art and history in the Netherlands; it has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age including works by Vermeer and Rembrandt. Until 2013, the museum is being completely renovated, but the major masterpieces are still on show.

Maastricht Vrijthof The Vrijthof is the best- known city square in Maastricht, a city in the southernmost part of the Netherlands. It features the massive Saint Servatius Church and Saint Jan’s Cathedral. The Vrijthof regularly hosts large festivals at various times throughout the year, including autumn and winter festivals.

Delta Project

Works are a series of constructions built between 1950 and 1997 in the provinces of Zeeland and South Holland to protect large areas of land from the sea. The works consist of dams, sluices, locks, dikes, and storm surge barriers. They have been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Things you shouldn’t miss in Holland

• De Efteling: It is by far the most popular attraction in the Netherlands. It is also one of the oldest theme parks in the world.

• Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

• Zaanse Schans: It is famous worldwide for its eight historic windmills, which were built in the mid-to-late 16th century and its 35 historical houses.

• Burgers Zoo

• Diergaarde Blijdorp is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands, and also one of the most popular. Among its many attractions are the Oceanium (voyage through the bottom of the sea), African Gorilla Island, Crocodile River, Taman Indah (elephants and rhinos), and Ice Cave (polar bears).

• Attractiepark Slagharen is an adventure theme park located in Slagharen. It features six geographic-inspired themed sites: Indian, Yellowstone, New Orleans, Mexican, Wild West, and Jules Adventureland (after Jules Verne).

• The Van Gogh Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the collected works of famous artist Vincent Van Gogh and his contemporaries.

• Natura Artis Magistra: It is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands. Along with its vast display of animals, it also has a planetarium, an aquarium, an arboretum, several historic cultural buildings, and its own art collection.

• Attractiepark Duinrell (or Duinrell) is an all-in-one amusement park, water park, and indoor playground. It features roller coasters, one kilometer of water slides, and even its own camping site. The roller coasters, Falcon and Mad Mill, are must-ride attractions.

• The Anne Frank House is the former location of the annex that housed famed World War II diarist, Anne Frank, and her family during German occupation of the Netherlands. It has since been turned into an amazing historical museum showcasing Anne Frank’s life, the secret annex, and an exhibition on discrimination and persecution.

• Ouwehands Dierenpark (Ouwehand Zoo) is a zoo located in the province of Utrecht. It houses and cares for tigers, warthogs, mandrills, bongos, sea lions, yaks, and more.

• Keukenhof can be found in Lisse and is the world’s second largest flower garden. Approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted each year inside the park. The park is open each year from mid-March to mid-May.

• Walibi Holland (Six Flags Holland) is a theme park in Biddinghuizen that features various attractions for the entire family. Among its most notable attractions are its exhilarating roller coasters: Speed of Sound, Xpress, Goliath, Robin Hood, and El Condor.

• Madam Tussauds Amsterdam is a branch of the famed London wax museum located in the heart of Amsterdam. Its displayed wax figures include various sports stars, A-list celebrities, famous historical figures, infamous criminals, and royal figureheads.

Top Tourist destinations in The Netherlands

Amsterdam

Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht are the three primary canals in Amsterdam, and these concentric belts form a circle around the city and are where most of the action takes place. With over 1500 fabulous monumental buildings and just as many bridges, visitors to Amsterdam spend much of their time exploring the eccentricities and marvelous museums dotting the 60 miles of canals across the city. The Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum Museum are the most popular stops for history and art seekers, while the Prinsengracht area is one of the best places for shopping, gallery viewing, pub crawling, and checking out the unique coffee shops in Amsterdam.

Rotterdam

Once a mere 13th century fishing village, Rotterdam is the Netherland’s most modern city today. Very bike friendly like Amsterdam, Rotterdam boasts several historic districts for visitors to explore. The popular Delfshaven district is where the pilgrims launched sail from in 1620, and the summertime festivals and carnivals there attract visitors from nearby European countries every year. Erasmus Bridge is highly unique and imposing, but highly regarded as a work of art, as it soars over Europe’s largest harbor. By far, the most popular visitor stop is at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, where artworks on display span from the Middle Ages to modern times, including masterpieces by Dali, Van Gogh, Bosch, and Rembrandt.

The Hague

Best known for the contemporary art exhibits at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag and the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague is arguably one of the most extraordinary places to visit in the Netherlands. Known as the Royal City by the Sea due to its Dutch Royalty citizens, visitors often enjoy spending time along the North Sea in the warmer months at the sea town of Scheveningen. Several notable monuments and historic districts are easily traversable in The Hague, and travelers can peruse the luxury department stores, cozy shops, and international art galleries with ease.

Maastricht

Best known for its dynamic city square, the Vrijthof, Maastricht in southern Holland is home to the impressive Saint Servatius Church, the Saint Jan’s Cathedral, and the old fortifications, or Vestigingswerkens, are huge draws for visitors here. Many annual festivals take place at the Vrijthof, with local favorites arriving in autumn and winter, and this bustling town square also boasts amazing cafes, hip bars, and interesting galleries and shops. Other popular attractions in Maastricht include the St. Pietersburg Caves and the Helpoort, the oldest surviving town gate of its kind in the Netherlands.

Leiden

The picturesque city of Leiden is a great place to visit for its scenic, tree-lined canals that are marked with old windmills, wooden bridges and lush parks. A boat ride down one of these lovely canals makes for an unforgettable experience. Attractions in Leiden include the numerous museums that range from science and natural history to museums dedicated to windmills and Egyptian antiquities.