Netherlands Travel Guide:

Best Places to Visit in The Netherlands

Map of the leading tourist destinations in The Netherlands

Our  new road map of the Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands is based on Google Maps.   You can use it to route between places, find out the distance between locations, or how long it would take to drive between places.  In addition, using the map's "Hybrid" button you can see satellite imagery of the country.  Use the zoom bar to see a high level of detail in Amsterdam and other areas of the Netherlands.

• Amsterdam  (click for our mini-guide)   

  • Tourist Amsterdam is a compact area that includes scenic canals, world class art museums, great shopping, the city's famed "Red Light District", and trendy restaurants and bars.  When in Amsterdam be sure to visit the Anne Frank Huis,Van Gogh Museum and the Riijksmuseum.

    
    

    • If you have a taste for Falafel, Amsterdam has some of the best this side of the Middle East.

    • One specific Amsterdam caution: the residents of the city commute on bicycles and do not yield the right of way to pedestrians.

      • stepping into the bicycle lane without looking can be dangerous.

      
      

• Delft

  • Delft is one of the best-preserved, "historic" towns in the Netherlands.  It is known for its canals, walkways, and Delft Pottery.  Most visitors spend time at the Koninlijke Porceleyne Fles (the Royal Dutch Delftware Factory).The Markt features many shops selling pottery of various quality (beware of imitations) and a number of good restaurants. 

    • See both the Oude Kerk (Old Church) and Nieuwe Kerk (with the tomb of William of Orange). The city's best museum is the Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenof (Municipal Museum Het Prinsenof) that features a fine collection of Dutch decorative arts.

    • You will also find a Vermeer Trail, named after the famous artist who was born and painted in Delft

  
  

• Rotterdam

  • One of Europe's major ports, Rotterdam is  a working city that has been rebuilt since the devastation of World War II. The boat tour of the harbor is popular but the real draw is the Netherlands' best art museum, the Boymans van Beuningen Museum, in the Museumpark section of the city.

  
  

• Arnhem

  • Arnhem  is the city in the book and movie "a Bridge Too Far", a World War II battle for a bridge crossing the Rhine between the Netherlands and Germany. In addition, Arnhem features the Open Air Museum (Openlucht) which replicates how the Dutch lived, farmed and built homes and windmills in the past.

  
  

• Hoge De Veluwe  National Park. 

  • You can reach this beautiful park by bus from Appledorn's train station. The Park can be toured on white bicycles, which you are free to use once you have paid your admission.  Aside from the fantastic scenery, the Park is the site of the Kröller-Müller Museum, which currently displays a collection of nineteenth and twentieth century  art including forty-six paintings by Van Gogh.  The museum's Sculpture Garden features whimsical sculptures in a multi-acre outdoor setting that is a pleasant place to spend an hour or two. (Admissions for the Museum and Park are separate.)

    
    

• Haarlem (Click for our mini-guide)

  • A short train ride from Amsterdam; Haarlem makes a good day trip for those tired of the city.  Haarlem's city center is an architectural delight and the city's museums are worth a look. Be sure to visit St. Bavo's Cathedral.

    
    

• Utrecht 

  • A notable place in history, Utrecht has a pleasant "Old Town", fine canals, good restaurants and  interesting antique stores.  Be sure to see the Domkerk featuring the highest and oldest church tower in the country. The Dom Tower was built in the 14th century and you can climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city

    • If you are a fan of the Modern Movement in architecture, Utrecht provides the Rietveld- Schröderhus, designed by Gerrit Rietveld who also designed the furniture for the house.  In addition, the Central Museum in Utrecht has the world's largest collection of Rietveld, along with a fine collection of painting from the Caravaggists (known as the Utrecht Masters) from the 16th and 17th century.  Visit the Central Museum's website for more details.

  
  

• Leiden 

  • A historic university town, Leiden has an attractive "Old Town" that hugs its main canal and a number of small but interesting museums.  Leiden is, also, the birthplace of the famous artist Rembrandt.  If you have time, take a boat trip on Leiden's scenic canals.

     

    • If you are in The Netherlands at the time of the Spring Bulb Festivals at Keukenhof  , you may want to use Leiden as your base.

  
  

• Maastricht 

  • Maastricht's importance has grown since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 that laid the groundwork for the adoption of the Euro.  If you are driving south through The Netherlands, this fortified medieval town is a pleasant stop; however, unless you are in the area, there is little reason to place Maastricht on your itinerary.

    • Maastricht's Old Town is a great place to take-in this city. Visit the Bonnefantenm Museum (for painting by the Dutch Masters) and the St. Pietersberg Caves (take a sweater) that underlay the city. 
    • Next, visit Fort St. Pieter and the town's casemates to see  how historical  Maastricht gained the reputation as a regional stronghold.
    • The local V V V tourist office provides tours of all the attractions mentioned. You can find their informative site here.

  
  

• The Hague

  • The Hague has a scenic core with a well-preserved history. The city has a slower pulse than Amsterdam and its gentrified neighborhoods make for great touring.  Den Haag (The Hague) is "Royal" Netherlands as the royal family lives here.  In addition, The Hague is the center for government and diplomacy in the Netherlands.  ;

    • The Hague has several interesting museums, including the Municipal Museum of the Hague, which features a significant collection of painting by Piet Mondrian.  See the Museum's website for more details.  

    • The Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery is housed in a beautiful building that contains paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other Masters. See the Museum's website for more information.

If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web

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