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Introduction to the Netherlands

Most visitors tend to focus on Amsterdam – and for good reason; the largest city is also home to most of its attractions, like museums, shopping, galleries, luxury hotels and entertainment. It is a city where you can experience the artworks of Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer, or reflect on the legacy of war at Anne Frank House.

But the rest of the country should not be ignored. There are many other cultural and historic attractions to be discovered in other cities, and the open spaces to the north are perfect for a relaxing getaway where you can enjoy walking, cycling, watersports, luxury retreats and some amazing scenery and flowers.

Wherever you go, the people of the Netherlands will welcome you. The Dutch are a friendly, outgoing and modern people who love to show off their country and offer hospitality to visitors.

This is also a city where relaxing at a coffee shop, shopping in boutiques or enjoying an evening meal are essential activities for visitors. Amsterdam does, of course, have its famous red light areas and busy bars, but these are only part of the city and easily avoided.

History of the Netherlands

Utrecht, Leiden, Rotterdam and The Hague are also good bases, with plenty of hotels to choose from, history and culture to enjoy, and an easy transport network to the rest of the country (The Hague tends to be more businesslike). Eindhoven and Maastricht are also easy to get to and offer good accommodation options, if a little more distant from Amsterdam.

For a more rural escape, the north of the Netherlands offers the perfect getaway. It’s not all about windmills and tulips, but they do exist. Towns like Juliandorp, Petten, and even the Frisian Islands have quiet, boutique hotels, clean beaches and plenty of open spaces to explore.

In Zeeland, in the south west of the country, is another area of rural beauty and beaches, with many small villages and resorts. The historic seafaring town of Middelburg is a perfect base, and Zouteland offers beaches and family fun.

Of Amsterdam’s luxury hotels, the finest include the Hotel Victoria (operated by Park Plaza) with its plush Carstens restaurant, The Ambassade – a favourite with authors, set in traditional canal houses, the boutique The Dylan hotel in the shopping district, or The Pulitzer which has been created from 25 different 17^th centurty canalside houses.

In Rotterdam, the nhow Hotel offers skyscraper chic overlooking the river, while in The Hague you can’t go far wrong with a stay at the Hotel Indigo Palace Noordeinde set in a former bank building.

Eindhoven has some great boutique hotels, like the quirky Inntel Hotels Art Eindhoven, and Maastricht has the unique 5-star Kruisherenhotel set in a 15^th century church.

In the north of the Netherlands, try the Hotel Schimmelpenninck Huys in Groningen, set in a Napoleonic- Era mansion, or one of the many wonderful B&Bs and self-catering cottages on the West Frisian Islands.

In Zeeland, some of the best hotels include the Boutique Hotel by Juuls in Domberg, near the beaches, The Roosevelt in Middelburg, or rural Hof van Alexander Boutiquehotel on the island Schouwen-Duiveland.

The university city of Utrecht is also a short distance south of Amsterdam. It’s Middle Age centre is built with a canal system and boasts many historic buildings as well as a thriving nightlife.

Rotterdam is another of the Netherlands’ most important cities, and a great place for exploring the southern part of the country. Its centre mixes modern with historic, and is a great centre for shopping, hotels and dining. In the southern part of the city is the Delfshaven harbour area lined with pretty buildings, cafes and home to many carnivals and outdoor events in the summer. Across the water is the preserved Rotterdam cruise liner.

Almost joined to Rotterdam is The Hague – the capital of the Netherlands and famous as the home of the Dutch Royal Family and the International Court of Justice. Its main attractions include the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis and the GEM Museum of Contemporary Art. In fact, there are many museums, galleries and historic buildings to explore here.

Just to the north of Rotterdam is Gouda which is easy to do in a day trip. It is an old, traditional Dutch city with a historic core ringed by canals, and with cycles everywhere. It is most famous for the cheese which bears its name and is exported all over the world, and you can discover more at the Thursday Gouda Cheese Market on Markt Square.

Also between Rotterdam and The Hague is Delft, which is one of the Netherlands’ most unspoiled towns. It has buildings of traditional architecture, a museum to the Eighty Years War, and the Johannes Vermeer Centrum is dedicated to the life of the artist. Naturally the Royal Delft earthenware factory is also worth a visit, with a museum and tours.

South west of Rotterdam is the coastal island region of Zeeland. Popular in the summer, its beaches attract locals as well as tourists, and there are many little villages, historic towns, family attractions and scenic views to enjoy. Easily reached by road from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, you can make a day of it, or stay longer.

At the most southern point of the Netherlands, surrounded by neighbouring countries, is the city of Maastricht. The focus of its historic centre is the Vrijthof, a large square ringed by pretty outdoor cafes and the large St Servatius Basilica. The city boasts many other museums, galleries and historic buildings, like the old fortifications which are best seen in the many parks which surround the city.

The northern part of the Netherlands is more rural and less visited, but it is a place of great beauty with beaches and small coastal towns to enjoy in the summer, like Makkum, Eggmond aan Zee and Pieterburen.

A trip across to the West Frisian Islands is also worth it for getting away from it all. Texel is the largest and most developed, and includes a national park and great beaches. There are many places to stay, and the historic town of Den Burg to explore. Ameland is another island worth visiting, with a large sandy beach along its northern shore.

Groningen is the largest city in the northern Netherlands. A university town, it is also an attractive place to visit with old buildings, canals, shopping, cafes and many small museums. Try the Groninger Museum which is a really unusual building built over the main canal.

One of the largest inland areas of beauty in the Netherlands is the De Hoge Veluwe National Park in the east of the country, near Ede and Arnhem. It is a perfect place to explore, with woodlands, sand dunes and heathlands. It is one of the country’s largest nature reserves, at 5,400 hectares, and nearly 2,000 cycles are provided free of charge to help you explore.

The Van Gogh Museum holds the largest collection of this Dutch painter’s works, as well as many of his contemporaries, and is one of the world’s most popular art museums.

Other things to do in Amsterdam include taking a boat trip along the canals, wander the Vondelpark, visit the Stedelijk Museum of art or the Rembrandt House Museum, or simply sit at a café and watch the world go by.

To the north of Amsterdam is Zaanse Schans. This is an open-air museum recreates a traditional Dutch village from original buildings, with windmills, shipyard, pewter factory and houses. Live demonstrations and activities make it a great family day out.

The Netherlands’ flower-growing industry is a major attraction to visitors. The region to the west of Amsterdam, with Haarlem at its heart, is the main bulb-growing area. The Keukenhof Gardens is the main attraction related to the flower industry, and is the world’s second largest flower garden. As well as the magnificent displays of colour, each year there are markets, parades and flower shows held here.

Something very Dutch to do on your visit is cycle. Much of the population use this mode of transport for getting around, where narrow streets and canals often preclude the use of cars. Visitors can hire bikes everywhere and explore their surroundings, which is a great way to see the sights. Some of the most cycle-friendly places in the Netherlands are Utrecht, the little picturebook town of Giethoorn, or even central Amsterdam itself.

For an alternative to the attractions of Amsterdam, visit the many small museums and historic buildings at the heart of Maastricht or The Hague, which are usually quieter and offer something different to the well-worn path.

Other family places to visit include Madurodam miniature world, Artis Royal Zoo, or Efteling – one of the world’s oldest theme parks.

Naturally the Netherlands offers a lot for outdoors enthusiasts, from wandering the miles of sandy beaches along its shores, especially in the north of the country, to watching wildlife in the De Hoge Veluwe National Park. There are also many country cycle routes, golf courses and places to enjoy watersports like sailing and kayaking.

Any trip to the Netherlands is not complete without enjoying shopping. As well as the many districts in Amsterdam, both Haarlem and Leiden have been voted the best shopping cities in the country, and, while Maastricht is known for its fashion stores. For cheese head to Edam or Gouda, and for traditional pottery head to Delft.

If you’re looking for something sweeter, stroopwafels are popular as both a dessert or a tasty treat alongside a coffee. These tiny pancake-like pastries have two sides, with a layer of sticky syrup inside. Dutch pancakes are also popular as a sweet treat. Often larger than American and French pancakes, they also usually come with a variety of interesting toppings to choose from.

When it comes to restaurants, the Netherlands has many wonderful options. In Rotterdam, the Michelin-starred Fred is considered one of the country’s best, serving the finest French cuisine. The 100-year-old Restaurant Old Dutch is another staple in Rotterdam.

In Amsterdam there are many great places to eat. Some of the more famous include Restaurant de Kas, set in an old greenhouse (with vegetables grown on site), Sazanka is Europe’s only Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant, Jansz is set in an old apothecary shop by a canal, and Stork serves some of the best seafood in the city (it’s on the north shore of the IJ river).

For a more romantic experience, you can take a dinner cruise along Amsterdam’s canals past historic houses and under bridges strung with fairy lights.

The Zeeland region has an incredible seven Michelin-star restaurants, with many naturally influenced by the sea. Try Inter Scaldes near Kruiningen.

In Maastricht you can find a mixture of influences from surrounding French, Belgian and German regions, but Beluga is a place to find food from its celebrated Dutch chef, with a delicious six-course tasting experience complemented by beer brewed on site.

In Eindhoven, it’s hard to beat the views from VANE which is located on the 13^th floor of the NH Hotel in the city centre. Start your evening with a drink in the VANE Skybar, then enjoy a meal of local ingredients and carefully selected wine pairings.

It’s easy to walk around Amsterdam, but most locals choose to cycle. Bikes can be hired from various locations, including Centraal Station, Dam Square and Leidseplein. There are many rental stores, but it’s often best to reserve one in advance from a company like A-Bike or Yellow Bike.

Because central Amsterdam is largely made up of canals, pedestrianized areas and narrow streets, there are few bus routes to get around. Taxis can be hired to get to more specific destinations, and if you need to cross the IJ there are free ferries from Centraal Station and other points.

Amsterdam also has a Metro system which is particularly useful for reaching the suburbs.

Elsewhere in the Netherlands, bus and rail networks are extensive, particularly in the central and south regions, and cities like Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Lelystad, The Hague and Breda. You can easily catch a train to northern cities like Leeuwarden and Groningen, but it’s best to hire a car to explore more rural regions along the north coast, for example.

The Friesian Islands can be reached by ferry, with crossings from Den Helder, Harlingen and Holwerd.

If you want to experience the famous tulips blooming, then the best time to visit is in the Spring, which can be combined by a cycle or road trip through the countryside to take in the colours.

Uber is available throughout the Netherlands, and is an easy way to avoid the bustle of public transport.

Many cruise operators will include Amsterdam or Rotterdam in their Northern Europe itineraries, which include visits to the main attractions of the Netherlands and guided tours.

You can expect to find the Dutch people to be hardworking, considerate, family-oriented and practical. They are fairly conservative and value their appearance, cleanliness and privacy. Etiquette is a high priority, especially around eating, meeting new people, and in business situations.

Weather in the Netherlands

Visiting the Netherlands soon? See below for the latest weather forecast for the Netherlands.

THE NETHERLANDS WEATHER