When you think of The Netherlands and travelling there, the first city that pops into your mind is probably Amsterdam. But what other places are there to visit in the Netherlands? The beauty of the Netherlands is that there are so many amazing towns and cities to visit that are just as beautiful as the capital!
Firstly, let's talk about a specific place to visit in the Netherlands that we have already mentioned, Amsterdam. When arriving in the Netherlands, your first stop will most likely be Amsterdam, the country’s capital and one of Europe’s most-visited cities and popular due to its picturesque buildings and historical background. The city is known for its detailed canal system and their iconic, narrow houses. In Amsterdam, you have the option to explore the city by their different modes of transport such as trams, boats, walking or doing it the Dutch way, cycling. When visiting Amsterdam, although it might look like a small city, there are so many areas with different vibes to explore such as:
- The old centre: It is definitely recommended to walk around the old centre of Amsterdam. Here you can visit the flower market called Bloemenmarkt which is open daily from 9 am - 5:30 pm. Walking down through the flower market, you will find yourself in the most popular street of all Amsterdam, Kalverstraat. Kalverstraat is a long shopping street between Dam Square, which is Amsterdam's town square, and Bloemenmarkt where you can find anything ranging from delicious traditional stroopwafel stores to clothing shops and so much more. Additionally, a must when being in the old centre of Amsterdam is to walk a bit further out to the 9 streets, also known as De 9 Straatjes. In the 9 streets, you will walk by many enchanting historical town houses. The 9 streets are worth the walk as you can find many local cafés, bars and restaurants to try!
- De Pijp: Lose yourself for hours in the hippest area in Amsterdam. De Pijp offers a mixture of cuisines, cafés, bars, vintage shops, and much more. From the beautiful and relaxing garden in Sarphatipark to the famous Albert Cuypmarkt street market, De Pijp is the place that can guarantee major attractions like the Heineken Experience, and the old Rialto cinema, or have a picnic next to the Amstel, go for a merciful brunch or sip a nice cocktail in the evening and experience the lively atmosphere.
- The Museum Quarter: Last but not least, you must visit the museums in Amsterdam. In the Museum Quarter near Spiegelgracht you can find a variety of public galleries such as modern art museums like the Stedelijk Museum, or Moco Museum, or if you want a more cultural-historical experience, you can visit the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum. Outside the museum district you can visit the Anne Frank House, Foam Museum, the Hermitage, Nemo Science museum, and many more!
Other than Amsterdam, there are so many other places to visit in the Netherlands which have a different ambience. These different places to visit in the Netherlands are very accessible by train from Amsterdam!
Places to Visit in The Netherlands
There are plenty of cities that you can visit in The Netherlands that are just as beautiful, historic and fun as Amsterdam. Here are some more beautiful cities to visit in The Netherlands.
- Utrecht: This city has loads of old architecture that is extremely well taken care of and preserved. Since Utrecht does not have much traffic, it makes it very easy to explore the city by foot! When walking through Utrecht, you should definitely focus on the old town area, also known as Binnenstad. In the Cathedral Square (Domplein) you will come across the famous St. Martin's Cathedral, also known as the Domkerk. Another great place to visit in Utrecht is 'DOMUnder'. Here you can get a tour underneath the Cathedral Square to see the rest of the old Roman fortress where the city was built. Some other interesting places to visit in Utrecht include Museum Speelklok, Centraal Museum, and the Railway Museum.
- Maastricht: In Maastricht, you will be able to walk across the wonderful Wilhelminabrug and the Sint Servaasbrug bridges that go through these wonderful cities canals. When walking along these bridges, you will encounter the medieval town walls and the market square where the old Town Hall is located. There are plenty more amazing attractions to see throughout Maastricht!
- Rotterdam: This city is a short 40 minutes away by train from Amsterdam! The port in Rotterdam is the largest and busiest port in the world. The architecture in Rotterdam is more modern due to the bombings they endured in WWII, there are still very beautiful places to see! Some of the best places to see in Rotterdam include the Erasmus Bridge, Grote of Sint-Laurenskert church, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the 185-metre-tall Euromast and the Cube Houses!
- The Hague: Also known as Den Haag, is a beautiful city that has architecture dating all the way back to the mid-13th century! Here you can visit the Knight's hall, also known as Ridderzaal, which is a very big hall that has been extremely well-preserved throughout the years. Den Haag has many great attractions, including enjoying the beach on a hot summer day!
- Haarlem: Is a beautiful small town that many describe as a smaller version of Amsterdam! It is 20 minutes away by train from Amsterdam and one of the most beautiful cities in Noord-Holland! In Haarlem, you can find the Hofje Van Bakens which is a 14th-century courtyard that has looked the same for around 700 years! Walking around the old town square is also a very fun and popular attraction and there you will be able to see the Grote Kerk which is an old church that is located in the middle of the square. Some other great places to see in Haarlem include the Teylers Museum, and the City hall!
Some other beautiful must-see cities in The Netherlands include Lisse for its beautiful tulips, Arnhem for its marvellous Open Air Museum, and Hoge Veluwe National Park, Nijmegen the oldest city in The Netherlands, Eindhoven, Groningen, and Leiden.
Travelling in The Netherlands
Travelling through The Netherlands is very simple and efficient! Of course, you can use a car to go from city to city, but when you do not have access to one, you can use the Dutch Public Transportation system! The best means of travel is either by train or bus. To use these, you must have an OV Chipcard and sufficient balance on your card. If you do not have sufficient balance, you can simply add money to your card at the ticket machines at any train/metro station. In order to use the trains, you must have at least 20 euros on the card, and for the busses you can have as little as one euro! If you don't have a card, don't worry because you can also buy tickets either at the train stops or on the bus with the driver! Sometimes you will have to change trains or busses, but you can simply check your complete step-by-step route on 9292, Moovit or Google Maps and you will be very easily guided through which stops you have to take according to your starting and final destinations!
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is The Netherlands famous for?
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What are the top 3 cities to visit in The Netherlands?
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What are the top 5 tourist attractions to visit in The Netherlands?
The Netherlands is famous for many things! Some of these include its cycling community, cheese markets, tulip fields, windmills, canals, museums and so much more!
The top three cities that are commonly visited by tourists and locals are Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam.
The top 5 tourists attractions to visit are the canals of Amsterdam, Keukenhof in Lisse where you can walk through fields of colourful blooming tulips, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Oude Haven and Windmills of Kinderdijk