25 Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands

25 Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands! The Netherlands has some extremely fascinating history and landmarks as well as beautiful scenery to enjoy. If you are a big fan of architecture, this country certainly has quite a lot to offer.
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There are many cultural centres that have theatres, museums and other places that you are bound to love. The kingdom with a high quality of life offers its visitors a large number of attractive tourist sites, historical monuments, works of art and unlimited entertainment. The typical flat landscape is interwoven with watercourses, dotted with flower fields and windmills. Take a look at our 25 places in the Netherlands, which you must not miss!

Madurodam – a miniature city in Scheveningen, The Hague, the Netherlands by Anna & Michal
Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands
1. Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and for good reason. This city has lots of amazing attractions, including the Ann Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum.
It also has an incredible nightlife scene with plenty of fun bars and clubs. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy in this city.
Top things to do in Amsterdam
- Rijksmuseum
- Dam Square
- Van Gogh Museum
- Kalverstraat and Vlooienmarkt
- Royal Palace
- Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands by Ernest McGray, Jr. / Flickr
- Dam Square, Amsterdam, Netherlands by Andrei Rosca / Flickr
- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands by rinuseversen1 / Flickr
- Shopping in Kalverstraat and Vlooienmarkt, Amsterdam, Netherlands by nhong / Pixabay
2. Alkmaar
Alkmaar has a very rich history and lots of amazing architecture that you won’t be able to take your eyes off of. The Broeker Veiling Museum has a number of interesting exhibits that you should try to get to while you are here.
There is also the Market Square, which has some great shopping and even a Cheese Museum.

Alkmaar, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands Lucy Downey
Top things to do in Alkmaar
- Alkmaar Cheese market
- Grote Sint Laurenskerk
- Molen van Groot
- Alkmaar canals
- Stedelijk Museum
- Alkmaar Cheese market, Alkmaar, Netherlands by Javier Lastras / Flickr
- Grote Sint Laurenskerk, Alkmaar, Netherlands by A. J. van der Wal / Wikimedia Commons
- Molen van Groot, Alkmaar, Netherlands by dovadi / Pixabay
- Alkmaar canals, Alkmaar, Netherlands by EvgeniT / Pixabay
3. Arnhem
Arnhem is a lovely town with a small town feel and some beautiful towering gothic cathedrals and other buildings. The Open Air Museum will give you the opportunity to learn all about Dutch history.
There is also the Kroller-Muller Museum, which has some incredible Van Gogh pieces on display. The city centre offers some great shopping and historic sites to visit.

Arnhem, Kroller-Muller Museum, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands bert knottenbeld
Top things to do in Arnhem
- Netherlands Open Air Museum
- Sonsbeek Park
- The John Frost Bridge: The Bridge to Liberation
- Burger’s Zoo
- Arnhem’s Old City Center
- Netherlands Open Air Museum, Arnhem, Netherlands by bert knottenbeld / Flickr
- Sonsbeek Park, Arnhem, Netherlands by inkennis / Pixabay
- The John Frost Bridge, The Bridge to Liberation, Arnhem, Netherlands by bert knottenbeld / Flickr
- Burger’s Zoo, Arnhem, Netherlands by Ronald van der Graaf / Flickr
4. Breda
The city of Breda also has a lot of interesting history and amazing architecture that is very visually striking. The Gothic Grote Kerk and Breda Castle data back to the 1300s.
There are numerous museums where you can learn about the history of this area. The numerous hiking and cycling trails allow you to spend some time in nature.

Breda,Grote Kerk, Best Places to Visit in the NetherlandsMatthew Black
Top things to do in Breda
- Old Town Breda
- Breda Castle
- Spaniard’s Hole
- Begijnhof Museum
- Reptile House Earth
- Old Town, Breda, Netherlands by bert knottenbeld / Flickr
- Breda Castle, Breda, Netherlands by Paul van de Velde / Flickr
- Spaniard’s Hole, Breda, Netherlands by Michel Curi / Flickr
- Begijnhof Museum, Breda, Netherlands by Ciao Anita! / Flickr
5. De Biesbosch National Park
De Biesbosch National Park is a beautiful area with endless acres of incredible scenery. If you want to spend the day outside in nature, you couldn’t pick a better place than this.
There are lots of paths for hiking, walking, and cycling. You will also have three visitors centres that you can visit for a guided canoe tour.
Top things to do in De Biesbosch National Park
- Biesbosch MuseumEiland
- Boating
- Biking
- Hiking
- Wildlife watching
- Biesbosch MuseumEiland, De Biesbosch National Park, Netherlands by Wouter Hagens / Wikimedia Commons
- Boating, De Biesbosch National Park, Netherlands by Jam Willem Doormembal / Flickr
- Biking, De Biesbosch National Park, Netherlands by Paul van de Velde / Flickr
- Wildlife watching, De Biesbosch National Park, Netherlands by leopoldo de castro / Flickr
6. Delft
Delft is a beautiful small town on the western side of the Netherlands that is great for a day trip or romantic week-long getaway. It is known for its unique crockery and old 13th-century buildings that have been impressively maintained over the years.
There is also the Science Center and Tobacco Museum that you can visit here.
Top things to do in Delft
- Take a Tour of Royal Delft – Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles
- Nieuwe Kerk
- Old Church (Oude Kerk)
- Museum Prinsenhof Delft
- The Eastern Gate (Oostpoort)
- Take a Tour of Royal Delft – Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles, Delft, Netherlands by Ellen26 / Pixabay
- Nieuwe Kerk, Delft, Netherlands by Warren LeMay / Flickr
- Old Church (Oude Kerk), Delft, Netherlands by bert knottenbeld / Flickr
- Museum Prinsenhof Delft, Delft, Netherlands by henkschenkels / Pixabay
7. Edam
The city of Edam has an old look and feel to it, which is due to the historic buildings that can be found all over the place. This town was founded in the 12th century, and there are lots of structures from the 1800s still standing today.
The Edam Museum is worth visiting, as is the Grote Kerk Cathedral.

Edam, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands tak.wing
Top things to do in Edam
- Cheese Market
- Fort bij Edam
- Grote Kerk
- Edams Museum
- The canals
- Cheese Market, Edam, Netherlands by MrsBrown / Pixabay
- Fort bij Edam, Netherlands by Defence Line Amsterdam / Flickr
- Grote Kerk, Edam, Netherlands by Hnapel / Wikimedia Commons
- The canals, Edam, Netherlands by Herman Pijpers / Flickr
8. Eindhoven
Eindhoven is home to many talented artists and boasts a number of great museums. The Philips Museum and the Van Abbe museum are just a couple of places where you can go to see some magnificent works of art.
This is a great place to visit if you have a love of culture and history. There are guided walking and cycling tours as well.

Eindhoven, Van Abbe Museum, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands bert knottenbeld
Top things to do in Eindhoven
- PSV Eindhoven Museum
- Eindhoven Museum
- Evoluon
- Philips Museum
- St. Catherine’s Church
- PSV Eindhoven Museum, Eindhoven, Netherlands by Jos Dielis / Flickr
- Eindhoven Museum, Eindhoven, Netherlands by Lennart Tange / Flickr
- Evoluon, Eindhoven, Netherlands by Tnarik Innael / Flickr
- Philips Museum, Eindhoven, Netherlands by John Lord / Flickr
9. Giethoorn
When you visit the city of Giethoorn, it is difficult not to feel relaxed and at peace. This city has a small town charm with beautiful canals that you can drift along for hours.
The food is excellent and there are bicycle trails that you can ride along to explore. This is a great place for a romantic weekend trip.

Giethoorn, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands piotr iłowiecki
Top things to do in Giethoorn
- Museum Giethoorn ‘t Olde Maat Uus
- Binnenpad
- Weerribben Wieden National Park
- Canal Cruise
- Cycling
- Binnenpad, Giethoorn, Netherlands by Zheng Zeng /Flickr
- Weerribben Wieden National Park, Giethoorn, Netherlands by Dominicus Johannes Bergsma / Wikimedia Commons
- Canal Cruise, Giethoorn, Netherlands by bert knottenbeld / Flickr
- Cycling, Giethoorn, Netherlands by bert knottenbeld / Flickr
10. Gouda
Gouda is best known for its cheese, though it does have a lot more to offer than just that. There are some very old buildings with beautiful gothic architecture.
The cheese market has also been around for a very long time, and it is one place you must visit when you are here. There are also canal cruises with wine and beer tastings.

Gouda, The cheese market, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlandsbert knottenbeld
Top things to do in Gouda
- Gouda Cheese Market
- Stadhuis van Gouda
- Syrup Waffle Factory
- Waag (Weighing House)
- Red Lion Windmill
- Stadhuis van Gouda, Gouda, Netherlands by Samuel Mudrík / Wikimedia Commons
- Syrup Waffle Factory, Gouda, Netherlands by Takeaway / Wikimedia Commons
- Waag (Weighing House), Gouda, Netherlands by Sven Wusch / Flickr
- Red Lion Windmill, Gouda, Netherlands by Henk Monster / Wikimedia Commons
11. Groningen
Groningen is a fun university town that can be found in the northern region of the country. It is packed with all sorts of museums and historic sites.
The Graphic Museum and Tea Museum are just a couple of great places you should think about visiting. There are also flour mills, sawmills, and water mills here.
Top things to do in Groningen
- Old Town
- Forum Groningen
- Hoge de A and Lage de A
- Groninger Museum
- Martinitoren
- Forum Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands by Nanda Sluijsmans / Flickr
- Hoge de A and Lage de A, Groningen, Netherlands by mel_88 / Pixabay
- Groninger Museum, Groningen, Netherlands by Zachtleven / Pixabay
- Martinitoren, Groningen, Netherlands by Helena / Flickr
12. Hoge Veluwe National Park
Hoge Veluwe National Park will provide you with the perfect opportunity to spend some time in nature. This park has all sorts of different animals that you could see, and there are plenty of trails for hiking and cycling.
The flora here is also quite remarkable. If you are going to visit the Netherlands, this place makes for the perfect day trip.

Hoge Veluwe National Park, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by edwin hoek
Top things to do in Hoge Veluwe National Park
- Museonder
- Kröller-Müller Museum
- Jachtslot St. Hubertus
- Biking
- Hiking
- Museonder, Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands by debs-eye / Flickr
- Kröller-Müller Museum, Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands by SofiLayla / Pixabay
- Jachtslot St. Hubertus, Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands by Filippo Diotalevi / Flickr
- Biking, Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands by Edmund Vermeulen / Flickr
13. Leeuwarden
The town of Leeuwarden is not frequented by tourists like Amsterdam and other places in this country. It has a really nice historic center with some beautiful architecture and museums.
Then the Fries Museum is an interesting place to visit and displays some amazing artwork. You should also consider stopping by the National Museum of Ceramics.
Top things to do in Leeuwarden
- Oldehove (tower)
- De Waag and Waagplein
- Aquazoo Friesland
- Blokhuispoort
- De Groene Ster
- Oldehove (tower), Leeuwarden, Netherlands by larsjuh / Flickr
- De Waag and Waagplein, Leeuwarden, Netherlands by Nicoline Wouterlood / Flickr
- Aquazoo Friesland, Leeuwarden, Netherlands by Elsemargriet / Pixabay
- Blokhuispoort, Leeuwarden, Netherlands by mringenoldus / Flickr
14. Leiden
Leiden is an incredibly beautiful city that draws in many tourists due to its picturesque landscape. The National Museum of Antiquities and botanical gardens are just a couple of the best things you will find here.
It has some nice old historic churches, windmills, and other structures, some of which are hundreds of years old.

Leiden, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by Roman Boed
Top things to do in Leiden
- Burcht van Leiden
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center
- Museum De Valk
- Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
- Botanical Gardens
- Burcht van Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands by C messier / Wikimedia Commons
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands by Photographer: Henk Caspers/Naturalis / Wikimedia Commons
- Museum De Valk, Leiden, Netherlands by kiddopedia / Pixabay
- Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden, Netherlands by Urville Djasim / Flickr
15. Lisse
Lisse is another popular place for tourists, and it is known for its acres of colourful tulips and numerous windmills. It is a rural area that you could spend all day driving around.
It is home to the largest flower gardens in the world. When you want to see all of the beauty that the Netherlands has to offer, you don’t want to miss this place.

Lisse, tulip fields, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by François Philipp
Top things to do in Lisse
- Keukenhof Castle
- ‘t Huys Dever
- Sint Agathakerk
- Salemkerk Lisse
- Old Zandvliet Farm
- Keukenhof Castle, Lisse, Netherlands by Dmitry Djouce / Flickr
- ‘t Huys Dever, Lisse, Netherlands by Kasteelbeer / Wikimedia Commons
- Sint Agathakerk, Lisse, Netherlands by Michielverbeek / Wikimedia Commons
- Salemkerk Lisse, Lisse, Netherlands by Joris / Wikimedia Commons
16. Maastricht
Maastricht is home to a university and has an interesting combination of old and new architecture. There are lots of beautiful historic landmarks to visit, including St. Peter’s Fortress.
There is also St. Peter’s Caves that you can explore. The medieval architecture in this town is really second to none. The Bonnefanten Art Museum is a wonderful place if you love art and culture.

Maastricht, Selexyz bookstore in the Dominican church, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by Bert Kaufmann
Top things to do in Maastricht
- Saint Pietersberg Caves (Maastricht Underground)
- Fort Sint Pieter
- Basilica of St. Servatius
- Helpoort
- Vrijthof
- Saint Pietersberg Caves (Maastricht Underground), Maastricht, Netherlands by Martin Lopatka / Flickr
- Fort Sint Pieter, Maastricht, Netherlands by Kleon3 / Wikimedia Commons
- Basilica of St. Servatius, Maastricht, Netherlands by Michielverbeek / Wikimedia Commons
- Helpoort, Maastricht, Netherlands by Luc.T / Flickr
17. Middelburg
Middelburg offers a lot of interesting and beautiful architecture that is truly stunning and one of a kind. The Gothic Town Hall also has a tremendous aesthetic that is really breathtaking.
You should try to visit the Zeeuws Museum as well as the Mini Mundi amusement park. There is something for the whole family here.
Top things to do in Middelburg
- Zeeuws Museum
- Stadsbrouwerij Middelburg
- Rijksmonument Kuiperspoort
- Mini Mundi
- Old Harbour (De Haven)
- Zeeuws Museum, Middelburg, Netherlands by bert knottenbeld / Flickr
- Rijksmonument Kuiperspoort, Middelburg, Netherlands by Rob Oo / Flickr
- Mini Mundi, Middelburg, Netherlands by Norbert Schnitzler / Flickr
- Old Harbour (De Haven), Middelburg, Netherlands by 17043032 / Pixabay
18. Nijmegen
Nijmegen can be found close to Germany, and it was founded over two thousand years ago. There are numerous walking tours that you can take to learn more about this incredible place.
The Marienburg Chapel has an amazing medieval architecture that will simply overwhelm you the first time you see it. This is a great place for history buffs to visit.

Nijmegen, Kronenburgerpark, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by Rob Oo
Top things to do in Nijmegen
- Grote Markt
- MuZIEum
- Kronenburgerpark
- Valkhof Park
- Museum Het Valkhof
- Grote Markt, Nijmegen, Netherlands by Bruce Turner / Flickr
- MuZIEum, Nijmegen, Netherlands by Dieuwertjevd / Wikimedia Commons
- Valkhof Park, Nijmegen, Netherlands by Roger Veringmeier / Wikimedia Commons
- Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen, Netherlands by Carole Raddato / Flickr
19. Rotterdam
The city of Rotterdam has a very modern look and feel, though some of the buildings date back over 150 years ago. Euromast offers a complete panoramic view of the city from the deck that you absolutely have to check out.
There is also Rotterdam Zoo and a forest park with rock climbing that is good fun for the entire family.
Top things to do in Rotterdam
- Markthal
- Rotterdam Zoo
- Erasmus Bridge
- Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk
- Euromast Tower
- Markthal, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Paul Arps / Flickr
- Rotterdam Zoo, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Jinterwas / Flickr
- Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam, Netherlands by herryway / Pixabay
- Euromast Tower, Rotterdam, Netherlands by djedj / Flickr
20. Texel
Texel is by far the biggest Frisian island, and there are plenty of fun outdoor activities to engage in. Whether it is surfing, swimming or sailing, you are bound to find something fun to do here.
The Aviation and Wartime Museum is filled with interesting artefacts and exhibits that will help you learn about this country’s history in depth.
Top things to do in Texel
- Ecomare
- Den Hoorn
- Schapenboerderij
- Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel
- Lighthouse Texel
- Ecomare, Texel, Netherlands by suju-foto / Pixabay
- Den Hoorn, Texel, Netherlands by Paul van de Velde / Flickr
- Schapenboerderij, Texel, Netherlands by congerdesign / Pixabay
- Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel, Texel, Netherlands by congerdesign / Pixabay
21. The Hague
The Hague is an impressively large building that houses parliament, the International Court of Justice, and the Dutch government. It is quite an impressive sight to behold for the very first time.
There are walking tours of this building, and the Mauritshuis Art Museum. The Duinrell Amusement Park is also nearby. There is something for everyone in this general area.

The Hague, the International Court of Justice, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by Karen Rustad Tölva
Top things to do in The Hague
- Mauritshuis Museum
- Madurodam Model City
- Binnenhof & Ridderzaal (Inner Court & Hall of the Knights)
- Escher in the Palace (Escher in Het Paleis)
- Binnenhof & Ridderzaal (Inner Court & Hall of the Knights)
- Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague, Netherlands by R Boed / Flickr
- Madurodam Model City, The Hague, Netherlands by bert knottenbeld / Flickr
- Binnenhof & Ridderzaal (Inner Court & Hall of the Knights), The Hague, Netherlands by Nanda Sluijsmans / Flickr
- Escher in the Palace (Escher in Het Paleis), The Hague, Netherlands by Guilhem Vellut / Flickr
22. Utrecht
Utrecht is situated in the middle of the Netherlands, and it is a busy town with a university. There are lots of beautiful canals and old medieval buildings that make this the perfect place to spend time, especially in the spring and autumn.
The Speelklok Museum and Railway Museum are a couple of interesting places to visit if you like history. The University Botanical Garden has some beautiful flora.

Utrecht, The Speelklok Museum, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by bert knottenbeld
Top things to do in Utrecht
- Utrecht’s “Old Canal”
- Dom Tower
- Railway Museum (Het Spoorwegmuseum)
- DOMunder
- De Haar Castle
- Utrecht’s (Old Canal), Utrecht, Netherlands by khawkins33 / Flickr
- Dom Tower, Utrecht, Netherlands by E. Dronkert / Flickr
- Railway Museum (Het Spoorwegmuseum), Utrecht, Netherlands by Alfenaar / Flickr
- DOMunder, Utrecht, Netherlands by Romeinse Limes / Flickr
23. Venlo
Venlo is located close to Germany and has some of the oldest buildings in the country. Both Romer House and City Hall were built in the early 1500s.
This city is home to the Dutch Museum of Modern Art as well as the Limburg Museum of Natural History. Anyone who has a passion for art, culture, and history will find this place amazing.

Venlo, City Hall, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by Marco Verch
Top things to do in Venlo
- Stadhuis
- Saint Martin’s Basilica
- Holland Casino
- Limburgs Museum
- Museum van Bommel van Dam
- Saint Martin’s Basilica, Venlo, Netherlands by Harry Traber / Flickr
- Holland Casino, Venlo, Netherlands by Marco Verch / Flickr
- Limburgs Museum, Venlo, Netherlands by Werner Wittersheim / Flickr
- Museum van Bommel van Dam, Venlo, Netherlands by Rob Oo / Flickr
24. Volendam
Volendam is a smaller village that is known for its incredible tours of the beautiful scenery. If you are looking for an idyllic small town destination in the Netherlands, you simply can’t beat this city.
Its harbour is always filled with large Dutch ships and merchants plying their trades along the boardwalk. There are also some wonderful little places to eat and drink.
Top things to do in Volendam
- Rent & Event Volendam
- Volendam Marken Express
- Volendams Museum
- Wooden Shoe Factory
- De Dijk of Volendam
- Rent & Event, Volendam, Netherlands by Raghavan Prabhu / Flickr
- Volendam Marken Express, Volendam, Netherlands by JEAN ROBERT THIBAULT / Flickr
- Wooden Shoe Factory, Volendam, Netherlands by Stephen Kelly / Flickr
- De Dijk, Volendam, Netherlands by mel_88 / Pixabay
25. Zwolle
Zwolle saw its first settlers at the beginning of the Bronze Age, and it has 23 old towers that are still standing strong. The Museum de Fundatie offers a number of incredible modern art pieces.
There is also the Bonami Speelcomputer Museum for those who are interested in technology. You will also have no problem finding a place to get a nice meal here.

Zwolle, The Museum de Fundatie, Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands by Laservision / pixabay
Top things to do in Zwolle
- Dinoland
- Bonami Games & Computers Museum
- Sassenpoort
- Peperbus
- Museum de Fundatie
- Dinoland, Zwolle, Netherlands by Ziko van Dijk / Wikimedia Commons
- Bonami Games & Computers Museum, Zwolle, Netherlands by Marcin Wichary / Flickr
- Sassenpoort, Zwolle, Netherlands by Sjaak Kempe / Flickr
- Peperbus, Zwolle, Netherlands by Fransvannes / Wikimedia Commons
There are many water canals in the country which is also characterized by windmills (you’ll find around 1300 of them here). They are driven by frequent winds from the sea. The Netherlands is also known for producing excellent cheeses. Due to the flat surface, the bicycle is a practical means of transport and they have more than 13 million bicycles there.
So which places did you choose for your next trip to the Netherlands? 🙂 Leave us a comment below so that we are well informed! 🙂
The Netherlands, with its iconic windmills, picturesque canals, and vibrant cities, offers a charming travel experience. From the historic streets of Amsterdam with its world-class museums and beautiful canal houses to the tulip fields of Keukenhof in the spring, the country offers a wealth of cultural and natural delights.
Visitors can explore quaint villages like Giethoorn, known as the “Venice of the North,” and indulge in delicious Dutch cuisine, including stroopwafels and cheese. With its friendly locals, efficient public transportation, and a rich blend of art, history, and scenic landscapes, the Netherlands promises a delightful and memorable journey for travelers of all interests.