17 Places to Visit in the Netherlands That Aren't Amsterdam
Amsterdam is probably the first stop on anyone's trip to the Netherlands—and for good reason. But there is so much more to this small country (about one-third the size of Pennsylvania) than its capital city. Think rows of windmills, fields of tulips, and cities bursting with culture and charm. Luckily for you, it's all just a short drive or train ride away from that main city hub. Here's a list to get you started.
This piece was originally published in May 2018. It has been updated with new information.
GettyGiethoorn
Affectionately referred to as the "Venice of the Netherlands," this village's thatched roof farmhouses and wooden arch bridges can be explored via bike lanes or canals—either by boat, or by ice skating during the frozen winter months.
GettyBeemster Polder
About thirteen miles north of Amsterdam, the Beemster region is an example of a Dutch polder—a flat piece of green farmland formed by draining a body of water. Aside from its cultural significance (it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999), Beemster Polder is a gorgeous landscape, complete with little canals, windmills, and lush, green fields. Make sure to stop by Middenbeemster, which, like most towns in the country, is impossibly charming.
GettyUtrecht
The canals of Utrecht have two stories, where centuries-old wharf cellars now serve as spots to enjoy food and drinks at water level—something unique to this city. You can also enjoy the towering churches and cozy cafes of Utrecht via cycling, as it's one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. It's also the perfect place for history buffs, with sites like the Dom Tower and Centraal Museum offering glimpses into the country's past.
GettyDe Hoge Veluwe National Park
This park is one of the largest in Holland, and within its 13,343 acres, counts rare wildlife, some of the most iconic buildings in the Netherlands, and the Kröller-Müller museum, which showcases a collection of nineteenth and twentieth century art in addition to the largest private collection of Van Goghs. Zoom around on a (free) white bike—the park has 1,800 available for rent.
- InspirationThe 10 Best Places to Travel in June
- Islands & BeachesThe 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast
GettyDelft
Many people flock to Delft for its eponymous blue pottery, but don't overlook the unspoiled town's Renaissance architecture and Vermeer Centre museum (the Dutch painter, famous for such works as Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Milkmaid, was born and died here).
GettyTexel Island
Texel is the largest and most populated of the West Frisian Islands, also known as the Wadden Islands, due to their location in the Wadden Sea. The island offers landscapes unlike anything else on the mainland, including sweeping sand dunes, salt marshes filled with lavender, and beaches lined with bungalows.
- InspirationThe 10 Best Places to Travel in June
- Islands & BeachesThe 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast
GettyRotterdam
Beloved by photographers and available to rent on Airbnb, the Piet Blom-designed cube houses are reason enough to visit the country's second-largest city. But so are the bars and restaurants, soaring Erasmus Bridge, and LED-lit Market Hall.
GettyKinderdijk
The village of Kinderdijk is probably what comes to mind when you imagine a bucolic Dutch countryside—in other words, lots of windmills. The 19 monumental mills were built in the early eighteenth century to prevent flooding and keep soil dry, and the mill network has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.
- InspirationThe 10 Best Places to Travel in June
- Islands & BeachesThe 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast
GettyThorn
Located in the province of Limburg (near the Belgian border), Thorn is postcard-pretty with cobblestone roads and white-washed brick buildings. Its can't-miss attraction is the tenth-century abbey church in the town center.
GettyZaanse Schans
If you're looking for a snapshot of Dutch history, head to Zaanse Schans: Here, in this collection of windmills and houses, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are brought to life. Don't miss the cheese factory.
- InspirationThe 10 Best Places to Travel in June
- Islands & BeachesThe 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast
GettyThe Hague
Amsterdam may be the capital, but the Dutch parliament meets in this stunning city on the North Sea. Within its Gothic Inner Court lie some of the country's best museums, including an homage to M.C. Escher and the Mauritshuis (which houses Girl with the Pearl Earring).
GettyAlkmaar
Alkmaar has many intriguing museums and lots of medieval architecture worth checking out, but most travelers flock here for one reason: cheese. The town is known for its traditional cheese market, which takes place on Friday mornings from April to early September.
- InspirationThe 10 Best Places to Travel in June
- Islands & BeachesThe 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast
GettyLisse
You can't visit Holland and not expect to see some technicolor tulips. There are many places around the country to view the beautiful flowers, but the Keukenhof Gardens (open from March to May) and sprawling fields around the town of Lisse are a sure thing.
- InspirationThe 10 Best Places to Travel in June
- Islands & BeachesThe 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast
GettyVolendam
This picturesque fishing village is Holland’s best-known for a reason: it's filled with colorful wooden houses, bobbing fishing boats, and seafood stall after seafood stall dishing up fish and chips, smoked eel, and pickled herring piled high with onions.
GettyWadden Sea
This coastal wetland—a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the "largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world"—is home to a number of animal species including the harbor seal, grey seal, and harbor porpoise. There are some 50 islands here; the Netherlands "owns" five of them.
- InspirationThe 10 Best Places to Travel in June
- Islands & BeachesThe 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast
GettyEindhoven
If you like technology and design, head to Eindhoven. Don't miss the Van Abbemuseum (modern and contemporary art), Strijp-S (a creative and cultural center housed in an industrial park), and the Inkijkmuseum (a micro museum located in a former washhouse). Looks can be deceiving: Cutting-edge Eindhoven is one of the oldest cities in Holland.