Top 15 Interesting Places to Visit in the Netherlands
Old Port of Rotterdam
The Netherlands is a small country in comparison to the United States, but is
still full of extremely interesting places. So many in fact, that it can get a
bit overwhelming to pick which ones to visit. From their museums boasting rich
cultural Dutch heritage to their amusement parks and zoos, there are plenty of
spots to enjoy. If you are the adventurous type who likes playing water sports,
there are Netherlands' beautiful beaches. If you are the quiet type that would
rather visit all the historic landmarks, this guide will help not miss all the essential locations in the Netherlands.
Buckle up and get ready to take notes, because you are not going to believe
how much there is to see and do in The Netherlands.
15) Anne Frank House
Anne Frank is a well-known figure of World War II and the Holocaust. The story of how she and
her family, along with four other Jews hid from Nazi execution, is one of
the most known tales of this extremely dark period in modern history.
By Hide-sp (Hide-sp's file),
via Wikimedia Commons
The Anne Frank House is known in Dutch as Het Achterhuis, which translates to
“the back house” in English, and is located in the number 263-265 of Prinsengracht Canal, Amsterdam.
Both buildings were originally built by Dirk van Delft in the year 1635, and later on
were
remodeled into the domicile that Ann Frank and the other Jews hid within. It’s
the very same building where the young girl hid for two years and a month from
the Nazis. Donated by the company that owned the building to the Anne Frank
Foundation, it was turned into a museum along with the building adjacent to it. This space acts as an exhibition for Anne’s life,
showing where she hid inside the building. The museum also serves as a symbolic
structure, against all forms of persecution and discrimination.
The museum also holds a bookshop as well as a café, and even contains the Academy Award won
by Shelley Winters for her role as Auguste van Pels in the 1959 film “The Diary
of Anne Frank”. It receives over a million visitors yearly, making the museum a
must see for any travelers who finds themselves in Amsterdam
14) Utrecht Boat Trips
Utrecht is one of the four largest cities in the Netherlands, and is second only in
population to
Amsterdam. It was the country’s cultural center until the Dutch Gold Age and due
to its central position in the country, Utrecht is an important part of both the
current rail and
road transportation systems.
Utrecht
The city is ancient and was originally started as a Roman fortification
around the year 50 CE. If you are traveling with someone who really digs
architecture of all ages, they will have plenty to see. Utrechts' architectural
attractions include many
preserved ruins and buildings. A good way to see all of
these charming old locations would be taking a boat trip along the Oudegracht,
or "old canal" in English, enjoying the views from the waters of the Rhine River.
View Along the "Old Canal"
These
trips stop at some of the best places to take a look at in all of Utrecht. You can eat a
hollandaise crêpe at a pannenkoeken joint, or have a meal at some of the most
famous restaurants in the city. Enjoy a guided tour through the Stadskasteel
Oudaen beerhouse (and have a drink or two), or see a play at the quaint little Werftheater.
Utrecht in the Winter
Even the streetlamps and two-layered buildings along the canal will keep your
interest without getting off the boat, but make sure you don’t fall overboard -
especially during the colder months!
13) Euromast
There is a lot of excitement about climbing the Eiffel Tower or taking in the
windy views from the top of the Empire State Building. The Netherlands's
response: The Euromast. The Euromast is situated in the city of
Rotterdam, and has attributes that neither of the other two structures have to
offer.
Euromast and Rotterdam
After all, how many observation towers will let you go up them in the elevator
and instead of going down again the same way, let you choose rappelling as your
method of decent? Not many, or more correctly,
just this one. The Euromast was designed in 1960 by the architect Maaskant to
celebrate the Floriade, which is the international horticulture exposition held
in The Netherlands. Today, it’s still one of the most interesting places to visit in the city.
After you get up to the top of the tower, make sure to take in the view and
even snap a few pictures. On
a clear day, you can even see the Flemish city of Ambers. Don’t be too rushed to
get on with your extreme repelling. If you are visiting with your significant other,
than having a romantic dinner at the restaurant or even spending the night in
one of their suites may be a lot more special than an extreme experience down
the face of the tower.
12) Zaanse Schans Windmills
One trademark landmark of The Netherlands is it's landmark windmills. Filling painting
after painting and postcard after postcard, they are a sight worth seeing for
yourself. Situated in the province of North Holland and pretty close to Amsterdam, lies the city of Zaandam and it's
famous windmills. As one of the most touristy attractions in the entire area, they are part of the European Route of Industrial
Heritage, according to the official website.
Windmills at Zaanse Schans
Don’t think that this region only has to offer some views of windmills and
water There are restaurants, river cruisers,
museums, shops, and traditional crafts stores. Time will fly during your stay
because there is so much more to do than just snapping a few pictures of the
windmills. There are a total of eight
windmills you can see at the Zaanse Schans, with six of them being industrial
windmills, while the other two are smaller ones. Have fun guessing which one is
which, since they each have names, like “The Cat”, “The Ox”, or “The Young
Sheep”.
Zaanse Schans
There are group rates available as well as guided tours and activities
for children that you should definitely check out. Lots of discounts means you
can stretch your Euro pretty far, making the best out
of visiting this region that is right out of the seventeenth century.
11) Ijssel Lake
Ijssel Lake offers some interesting options if you want to see everything The
Netherlands has to
offer. One of these options is a bike route around its ports and fishing towns,
and it is well worth the physical effort due to the amazing views. Squeeze in a
little physical activity
while seeing some of the prettiest landscapes in all of The Netherlands. Using
only your bike as transportation, you will stop at some of the prettiest and oldest fishing towns
of the Zuiderzee, or "Southern Sea." Hot spots to hit during your bike
route are Spakenburg and Harderwijk.
Harderwijk was once part of the Hansa Association, a merchant’s guild formed in
North Europe between the XIII and XVII centuries.
Highway E22 - Serves as the Border of this Artificial Lake
Crossing the Voluwe Forest, you can visit the Woudagemeaal Vapor Pump, the oldest in
the world still in operation. In the
Frisian region, you’ll be able to hear the local’s own language, which is closer to
English than it is to actual Dutch. While you are there make sure to visit some old battlefields
and commemorative places. Some of these historical landmarks date all the way back to the year 1345.
Woudagemeaal Vapor Pump
By Reboelje,
via Wikimedia Commons
Then you can take the ferry in Stavoren to Enkhuizen, and this trip will
require you to cross Ijssel Lake. The trip takes about an hour and a
half to get completely across. Formerly Ijssel Lake was part of the Southern Sea, but it later became a
freshwater lake when a dam was built in the year 1932 to prevent the floods from
destroying the coastal towns.
Woudagemaal Dam Sea Side
By Reboelje,
via Wikimedia Commons
10) Wadden Islands
While we are talking about the ZuiderZee, it’s worth mentioning the Wadden
Islands. Situated on the coast line of the Wadden Sea, these five islands (five that
belong to the Netherlands, that is) offer each one its own unique atmosphere and
sightseeing spots. The islands are named Texel (the larger one), Vlieland,
Terschelling, Ameland (also known as “Wadden’s diamond”) and Schiermonnikoog.
Aerial View of the Wadden Region
By Mogens Engelund,
via Wikimedia Commons
Texel Island
The flow of the tides dominates this area, which makes a dynamic mix of the
terrain made up of sea and sand.
You can explore the vast, beautiful beaches of dunes and sand, while observing the rich
and lively fauna the Wadden Islands have to offer. This includes a variety of
fish, birds and sea lions that all thrive in these shallow areas. All of this
nature can be comfortably be viewed from a fancy terrace, enjoying the sights
all while keeping relatively clean and dry. While staying in the Wadden Islands,
make sure to take a chance at crossing the marshes by foot when the tide is low,
having the wonderful chance of walking on the sea floor. You can even
cross from island to island this way, depending on the tide. These excursions have different levels of
difficulty, which is measured by their duration. There is a beginner, advanced and expert
trek so no matter your athletic capabilities, you will still have a chance to
enjoy this attraction. Talk
to a guide before picking an option. Or take a ferry and see them all in one
sitting, if you are not the walking type.
9) Artis Zoo
The Artis Zoo is right in the center of Amsterdam, and has the honor of being
the first zoo ever to be built in The Netherlands. The Artis Zoo was founded in the year 1838.
This means that not only the animals are worth seeing like at any zoo, but also the buildings
are worth checking out as well. Some of the buildings that are used by the zoo
are even older than the actual zoo. For example, the wolf house was formerly an
inn that was converted into a zoo property.
Artis Zoo Entrance
You can visit the aquarium and be amazed at the wonders of underwater
life, explore the rainforest, tropical reefs, or the real Amsterdam Canal. In
the Butterfly Pavilion, you will be witness to some of the prettiest butterflies
you'll ever see fluttering all around you, with newly metamorphosed butterflies
being released twice a day. In the Planetarium, you can see films on their
curved 2,060 square foot dome. Shows are in Dutch.
You can also visit the Insectarium, which would be especially cool if bugs are your thing. September is a great month
to visit the zoo, as there is a 25 percent discount on tickets for all ages. And
remember, never feed the animals!
8) Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum was closed between 2003 and April 2013. Now that it has its
doors open again, it becomes an automatic “must see” in The Netherlands. It
doesn’t only boast paintings, drawings, porcelain, and furniture from the Dutch
Golden Age, all neatly placed next to each other for your enjoyment. It's
collection is not limited to pieces by famous painters as Rembrandt or Van Gogh.
It also has an impressive Asian Art pavilion that is brand new, and open to explore to your heart’s content.
By Danbu14 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
The museum has historically relevant pieces ranging from the Middle Ages to
modern times, special collections with famous and unique historic artifacts,
art, science, and history pieces. From silver miniatures to musical instruments,
including national relics, armor, and ship models. Here is an example of artwork
from the museum below:
The Nightwatch by Rembrandt
The Cuypers Library will make some of you drool. It’s the oldest, largest art
library in the country. It has been restored to its prime condition after
intensive restoration work. The library houses a great collection of books,
auction catalogues, and journals. Visitors are free to browse them, as well
as use the open Wi-Fi and iPads to explore the digitalized versions of the
curated works. After the ten year restoration process, and with the addition of
plenty of new acquisitions during this period, the Rijksmuseum is well worth
getting lost in for a few hours.
7) Flower Fields
Another central subject of all postcards from the Netherlands are the flower
fields that are full of blooming tulips. They are truly places to visit, with thousands
of brightly colored flowers blossoming beautifully in the peak of spring.
The blooming starts at the end of March and lasts until May, so your best
chance at seeing it at its prettiest is the second half of April. Usually,
saffron starts blooming first, followed by narcissus, smaller early tulips, and
jacinth flowers. Last but not least are the tulips, showing their best colors to
visitors who most likely made the journey to The Netherlands just to see them.
The first ever financial crash was dictated by the tulip bulb market price. The best fields are located beyond the dunes in the Northern Sea,
between the cities of Leiden and Den Helder. Other nice fields can be found near
Enkhuizen and in the Flevoland province.
Keukenhof Park
By Tiago Fioreze,
via Wikimedia Commons
The Keukenhof park must be seen if you are in Holland, boasting a
grand 2,700 trees and more than 32 hectares of blooming flowers and gardens.
Attractions also include flower shows in pavilions that will take you breath
away. The Keukenhof de Lisse gardens are famous too, and you won’t want to miss
them. Keep your calendar close, since they open only from the middle of March to
the second week of May.
6) Madurodam Miniature Park
Are you feeling like you are still missing
much of what The Netherlands has to offer? Do not worry, because there is Madurodam
and the Madurodam Miniature Park. Just an hour by car from Amsterdam, this miniature park is literally
The Netherlands. The complete country is constructed in a smaller scale, so you can play
around in the whole country in just a little bit of time. You can play
with the floodgates of the Oosterschelde, make planes take off from Schiphol
Airport, load ships in Rotterdam’s port, and hold an auction at the flower
market. In this tiny park, you can learn about the history of The Netherlands
and most of its unique buildings in both an interactive and fun way.
The Entrance to Madurodam
By Staka,
via Wikimedia Commons
And the Miniature Park
The park is divided in three areas: Old Towns, Water World, and Innovation
Island. Old Town throws you right in the middle of the country’s cities, where
you can see and explore some of its prettiest and most famous buildings from
long ago. Water World (not the movie, thank you) is all about how the water
plays an important role for the Netherlands, both as a source of wealth and as a
danger to its habitants. Innovation Island is all about how Holland has become a
source of inspiration for the rest of the world with its imaginative fashion,
sports and architecture tendencies.
5) Zeeland Beaches
The Zeeland Beaches claim to be the cleanest ones in The Netherlands, as well as
the ones with most daylight hours. With a whopping 280 miles of beaches, there
will be no problem finding the perfect spot for every traveler in your group.
Zeeland Nordzee
By Jungpionier
via Wikimedia Commons
Want to have a nice, relaxed
day with your kids? Would you rather go wild and
have fun playing water sports? With so many options and with each beach having
its own character, going from beach to beach is kind of like a vacation in
itself. Go find one of the many beaches with sports facilities and have fun!
Zeeland Beach
By Lusitana,
via Wikimedia Commons
You could also have a nice excursion on horseback and pretend you are in some
soap opera romance (or not, up to you), or take a walk or ride a bike and give
those poor horses a break. There are many snack joints, so you won’t have to walk
much if you need a break from having the time of your life. You could always sit down
with a fishing rod and see if you have any luck. Imagine how you could brag to
your friends if you catch a mermaid!
The beaches are pretty safe, with Baywatch services working at all times, so
you can leave your duck floatie (sorry, flotation safety device) back home. It's good to know that you
and your loved ones are not at any serious risk, but don’t forget the
sunscreen!
The northern sun can be pretty ruthless.
4) Efteling Theme Park
The Efteling theme park is the closest you will ever be to living in a fairy
tale. The park opened its door in the year 1952 as a nature park with a
playground, and a forest with all sorts of fairy tale paraphernalia designed by
the artist Anton Pieck.
A few decades later, it was expanded to become a park that is twice the size
of the original Disneyland in California. Inspired by myths and legends, fairy
tales and folklore, this park entices both adults and children alike. Efetling
is one of the most visited parks in the world.
Efteling Entrance Building
By Stefan Scheer,
via Wikimedia Commons
The Efteling has become a full-scale resort that includes the theme park,
hotels, a golf course, holiday village, and even a theater. There is just no
time to get bored when magic is all around you. Due to the rural area the park
is settled in, there is tons of greenery all around, making it feel more like
you are in a natural park than an amusement park. Gardeners work hard to keep
the flowers and plants looking perfect for the visitors to enjoy, and there are
plenty of resting spots by the gardens and ponds. So you can sit down and relax if you
get tired of the excitement. Check out some of the rides you will find here:
The Flying Dutchman, Modern Water Coaster
By Stefan Scheer,
via Wikimedia Commons
Python Roller Coaster
By Hullie,
via Wikimedia Commons
Haunted Castle Ride
By Pacfrodo,
via Wikimedia Commons
The Piraña, a River Rafting Ride in a pre-Columbian
Atmosphere
By Stefan Scheer,
via Wikimedia Commons
3) Canals of Amsterdam
Since Amsterdam is often called “the Venice of the North”, every visitor should
take the time to see it's canal system. There is a lot to see considering the
canal has more than 62 miles that connect Amsterdam like a
road system.
Cruising Through Amsterdam Canals
The construction of the canals
started in the 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Era. Today, more than
1,500 bridges and 1550 monumental buildings can be found just along the three main
canals. Those main canals are the Herengracht, Prinsengracht (where Anne Frank’s
House is) and the Keizersgracht, and the three of them form a ring around the city
called the Grachtengordel.
Historic Buildings Along Canal System
The Herengratch’s fanciest part, the Golden Belt, has many double
wide mansions and gardens that dot the waterfront. On the Prinsengracht you can
spot notable buildings
like the Noorderkerk (Northern Church), Noordermarkt (Northern Market) and the
Homomonument (Gay Monument). Along the Zwanenburgwal canal in the center of the
city once lived the painter Rembrandt and the philosopher Spinoza. It was voted
as one of the most beautiful streets of Amsterdam in the local newspaper, Het Parool.
One of the 3 Triangles at the Homomonument
If you are in Amsterdam during September, make sure to attend the Seven Bridges
Festival, which is a jazz festival held at Reguliersgracht Bridge that is also
free to attend. It is defiantly one of the best free activities to partake in,
while staying in Amsterdam.
2) Amsterdam Red Light District
The district was formerly one of the richest parts of the city, though today
it’s more well-known for the certain kinds of businesses running in it.
Famous Landmark Moulin Rouge - Red Light District
It gets its name
from the bright red neon lights illuminating the streets. But let’s be honest
here, you are not going here to see the lights. The area is well known to have a
high concentration of sex shops and even some brothels.
Red Light District
By Massimo Catarinella,
via Wikimedia Commons
You can also visit the Red Light District to see the churches that dot the
area of course. For example, Ons’ Lieve Heer op
Solder. Formerly an illegal church, it was hidden in a house during the
Reformation, since Catholicism was forbidden to be practiced in public spaces.
Nowadays it holds several art exhibits and you can get a tour around the church
and attached house.
Another View From the Canal of the Red Light District
Another church worth seeing is the Oude Kerk, which is the oldest
church in Amsterdam and was built in the 13th century. It still holds services
on Sunday mornings, as well as regular concerts where they use their famous
organ.
Oude Kerk Church
By Andreas Praefcke,
via Wikimedia Commons
1) Van Gogh Museum
If you are in The Netherlands and don’t plan on visiting the Vincent van Gogh
museum, shame on you. Vincent van Gogh is likely the most well-known Dutch artist of all time, and one
of the most famous around the world. His unique art style makes him instantly
recognizable, and his art very well deserves to be properly appreciated.
Outside of the Van Gogh Museum
By Wladyslaw,
via Wikimedia Commons
By Warrox,
via Wikimedia Commons
Inside the Museum
By jankie,
via Wikimedia Commons
The Van Gogh Museum holds the largest collection of the artist’s works,
giving you the chance to contrast his first works to his last, as well as with
art by other artists of the era.
A Look at a Photo Shoot Inside the Museum
By Eveline de Boer from Netherlands,
via Wikimedia Commons
Last Look Inside the Museum
By tainaster@gmail.com from I live in AMS, NL,
via Wikimedia Commons
There are also plenty of other expositions on
19th century art history, permanent and temporal exhibits alike. The museum
buildings themselves will amaze you with their complex and interesting designs.
Different designers and teams worked on each building, at different time periods.
Final Words
As you can see, The Netherlands is small but have so much to offer that you
couldn’t possibly see it all in a single trip. There is an activity for every
kind of person and a sight to see at every corner, so you will never get bored.
Picking only a few sites to visit is really a gargantuan task, so if you can,
take your time. Enjoy this little unique corner or the world and see as much as
you can while you have the opportunity to visit. If your daily routine at home
is driving you nuts, check this small European country out and all it has to
offer. The Netherlands has a reputation of having some of the happiest citizens
in all of Europe.
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