10 best places to visit in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is always a good place in case you are unsure where to go for a holiday. This country is so versatile, you can enjoy the crazy nightlife but also breathtaking nature, depending on where you go. We have gathered the 10 best places to visit in Netherlands, must visit places in Netherlands, beautiful places in Netherlands. Of course, Amsterdam had to be one of them, however, that is on everyone’s bucket list. We also mentioned places to visit around Netherlands, such as a national park or even an Island!

10 best places to visit in the Netherlands

The best places to visit in Netherlands will make you fall in love and you will want to come back for more. I would say this country is quite unique geographically too. All of the mills, the huge fields, big city life and also small-town life are all part of Netherlands places to visit. On the list of Netherlands places to visit in summer, you will find many interesting towns with amazing architecture and history. Let’s dive in on the 10 best places to visit in Netherlands.

1. Amsterdam

One of the places to visit in Netherlands is Amsterdam. The capital city is usually one of the must visit places in Netherlands for many people, and for a good reason. There are so many things you can do here, from shopping to visiting museums, getting to know the local culture and food, even meeting new people. Amsterdam is perfect for day and nighttime visits.

Amsterdam is on our list of best places to visit in Netherlands and Netherlands places to visit in Summer as you can go for bike rides, discover the streets and cafes of the city. What would the capital be without museums? Here’s more of Netherlands places to visit.

The Rijkmuseum holds a collection of Dutch masterworks from the golden age. The Anne Frank Museum is in the building Where Anne Frank and her family hid from the nazis for two years. The Van Gogh museum is dedicated to his work of contemporaries. And don’t forget to try out some of the street foods in Foodhallen. You can do everything in Amsterdam!

2. Beemster Polder

Netherlands is not just famous for Amsterdam. We have this next beauty and must visit places in Netherlands called Beemester Polder. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Netherlands and a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.

The original name Droogmakerij de Beemester was actually an experiment in Holland in the 1612s as it reclaimed agricultural grounds from the water. The land was mainly used for farming and many people from Amsterdam would build their second home here.

As you see the canals, the roads, the grounds, and the farming houses are a part of a 17th-century masterplan. This is the reason why it became a UNESCO site as it took a lot of creative planning to realize something like this. If you’re looking for places to visit around Netherlands, Beemester Polder is for you!

3. Utrecht

One of the best places to visit in Netherlands is Utrecht. As you know Amsterdam is famous for its many canals. Utrecht is also similar and charming with its main canal bring Oudegracht. The canals make it one of the beautiful places in Netherlands. The canals are quite unique as you can walk or sit down right next to them.

Utrecht is also very easy to get around. It feels more like a small village, yet it has all of the shops and restaurants you would need. You don’t need to take any form of transports, you can just walk and visit its landmarks and attractions. Utrecht Netherlands places to visit in Summer.

This little town is one of the best places to visit in Netherlands due to its central location. It is very close to Hague, Rotterdam, and South Holland. If you’re traveling from Germany you can stop by Utrecht and explore for a day or two.

4. De Hoge Veluwe National Park

The Hoge Veluwe National Park has made our list of places to visit in Netherlands. It is one of the top attractions and must visit places in Netherlands. The reason why this national park is so special is for its diversity in forests and high sand dunes. The Hoge is also privately owned which is very rare in Holland. It was built between 1909 to 1923, the park is home to an abundance of wildlife which includes wild boar, deer, and mouflon.

In case you are interested in bird watching the Hoge is also a great place to do this as it’s a sanctuary for birds. Not only can you observe the huge variety of animals and enjoy the 13,750 acres of land, you can also come here for cycling and hiking as there are many well-marked trails. The land itself makes it one of the most beautiful places in Netherlands.

If you thought that was it, the Hoge Veluwe National Park also has a sculpture park and art gallery which is called the Kröller-Müller Museum. You can find Van Gogh collections, masterpieces from Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso and so on. In the sculpture garden the works of Jean Dubuffet, Marta Pan, and Aristide Maillol can be found. Would the Hoge Veluwe National Park be on your list of places to visit around Netherlands?

5. Texel Island

This country couldn’t get any better, we have a whole island for the next places to visit in Netherlands and one of the most beautiful places in Netherlands. Texel Island is considered a paradise for beach lovers. It has over 30 km long sandy beach! It’s not just the beaches, you get to see seven small villages. Reaching the island is as easy as it can get, just 20 minutes with the ferry from Den Helder.

Texel Islands in Netherlands places to visit in summer when you can climb up to the red lighthouse located in the north of the island. Visiting the beach and going to the lighthouse can easily take up one day. The building is 150-year old and will mesmerize you with the view over Texel and the nearby island Vlieland.

A fun fact about Texel is that there are still beachcombers along the Dutch coast. The treasures were put in two museums in Texel. One of them is the Flora Shipwreg and the other Beachcombing Museum. You will find anything from shoes, bottled messages, toys to animal bones. Beachcombers also found an underwater archaeology department! Texel Islands is surely one of the places to visit around Netherlands.

6. Rotterdam

The majestical city of Rotterdam is on the top of our must visit places in Netherlands and Netherlands places to visit in summer. Just like in Amsterdam, you will find many things to do here. Rotterdam is famous for its nightlife and era-defining art. You’ll be able to try out excellent cuisine and cafes around the city. It’s one of the best places to visit in Netherlands.

Let’s talk about the Erasmus Bridge first. This is a way of crossing the channel of water or railway line and it has become a part of the symbolic landscape of Rotterdam. Due to its looks, the Erasmus Bridge was nicknamed “The Swan”. We have to love the local markets, the Markthal will give you all the good produce, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, olive oils. Besides all the products, the building is worth visiting just for the design alone.

How can we mention a city without mentioning a museum? The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningenunin will amaze you with its intriguing maze of canvases and creativity. You can find art from the 15th century up until the present day. Art from Monet, Dali, Munch, and Van Gogh are all here. So what are you waiting for? Visit Rotterdam on your next trip. Netherlands places to visit.

7. Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk windmills are the most visited and photographed windmills in the world. We are always looking for beautiful landscapes and this landscape is one of the places to visit in Netherlands. Kinderdijk is one of the best places to visit in Netherlands and it does have a story behind it.

As we know the Netherlands is vulnerable to flooding, almost a third of the country is below sea level. At Kinderdijk you can learn all about water management. Everything you need to know, everything the Dutch knew and know now can be found here in one place. The windmills also made it on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and this makes it one of the best places to visit around Netherlands.

You will be able to learn about the history of Netherlands and all of its struggle against the rising water levels. There are 19 windmills left, there used to be 20 of them. The oldest one of them is the Blokker dating back to the 16th century. The sails of the windmills were used between the millers as a form of communication, which is why their location was important.

8. Zaanse Schans

The Zaanse Schans is a small town located in the North of Amsterdam. Just like Kinderdijk is it one of the places to visit in Netherlands and one of the beautiful places in Netherlands due to its amazing landscape. The windmills are by the waterside and they reflect in the water so you will be able to take amazing photos.

You are able to visit them on boats, on foot and also on a tour. Zaanse Schans is not just worth visiting because of its landscape, but also it gives you that Dutch countryside experience. There used to be over 600 windmills in total! Unfortunately today there are only 6 available. In each of them, there is a small museum and you can learn about the history of the windmills.

The windmills inside are all different. There is an ex-sawmill, old oil-mill, sawmill, another sawmill, Zaans Museum has the history of the town. De Gekroonde Poelenburg is the biggest windmill of them all. De Kat is actually the only windmill that is used for its purpose. It created pigment, grinds different materials. You get to see the whole process inside the windmill. Definitely check out Zaanse Schans, places to visit around Netherlands.

9. The Hague

The Hague is one of the must visit places in Netherlands and the best places to visit in Netherlands. This is the third-largest city and only 49% of the population is Dutch, the rest of the people in the city are international. The Hague is the seat of the Dutch national government and also a royal residence.

The Hague is called the city with two faces as you have the old, historic center on one hand, which is focused on embassies, international affairs and on the other hand you have the seaside, the perfect tourist spot, and Netherlands places to visit in summer.

Whether you are looking to roam the streets of Hague or visit the beautiful beaches you will not be disappointed. The beach is made up of 11 kilometers of coastline and there are two beach resorts: Scheveningen and Kijkduin. Besides the beach, you can also visit museums in The Hague, such as Mauritshuis and Gevangenpoort Museum, Kunstmuseum Den Haag or Louwman Museum.

10. Haarlem

The last on our list of Netherlands places to visit and the best places to visit in Netherlands is Haarlem. This is a beautiful city as well and it is worth visiting. You will find yourself in medieval times due to its medieval character, the narrow streets, all of the small shops and lovely cafes.

If you’re already in Amsterdam it takes you about 30 minutes to get to Haarlem. You can visit one of the most beautiful spots in Haarlem the Windmill de Adriaan. If you climb on top, you will see a spectacular view of Haarlem city. They are open for guided tours. In case you get hungry, there is also a restaurant next to it, the Zuidam.

You should also go to the Grote Markt where you’ll find the historic buildings, restaurants, shops, and cafes. In the middle of the Markt, you will find the monumental Church. The town center is just filled with amazing architecture, cozy streets, lots of outdoor seating where you can enjoy your food. The Hague is one of the places to visit around Netherlands, so definitely give it a go.

Best places to visit in Netherlands

We have concluded the best places to visit in Netherlands. These beautiful cities and countryside will make you fall in love with Holland and they are must visit palces in Netherlands. We are not quite sure which is our favorite. The Hague Netherlands places to visit in summer due to the beaches. The rest of the beautiful places in Netherlands include the windmills which is a symbol of Holland.

What other activities can you do in these cities/towns? Let us know in the comments in case you have visited and enjoyed any of these places!