The Netherlands is one of the smaller countries in Europe, yet there are still many compelling reasons to travel there. Visits to the most incredible Dutch cities are among the top things to do in the Netherlands. Are you aware of the renown of these best cities in the Netherlands? Note down this list!
Amsterdam is one of the best cities in the Netherlands
Millions of tourists visit Amsterdam, the Dutch capital. The country’s most populated metropolis was once a fishing town. What makes Amsterdam so famous?
Canals – The Dutch have a great water system, so Amsterdam has several canals. International legislation maintains the city’s over 165 400-year-old waterways. It preserves their cultural and historical value.
Bikes – Amsterdam and the Netherlands are the Bicycle Capital of the World. Surprisingly, Amsterdam has more bikes than residents.
Amsterdam’s Anne Frank House attracts tourists. Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who fled the Nazis during World War II, is well known. According to her diary, she and other family and friends hid in a house annex for two years. She died in the battle, but her diary became a historical treasure that recounts WW2.
Red Light District – The city’s red-light district draws tourists from around the world to discover what it’s all about. Even if sex tourism isn’t your thing, you may find yourself walking the streets at night.
Stroopwafels, a Dutch specialty, are available everywhere in Amsterdam. These sweet waffles are stuck together with syrup. They’re cheap and go great with hot drinks in Amsterdam in winter. It can be addicting, so you could acquire a lot of weight in the city.
The city has many prominent museums, including the Rijksmuseum. Next to the Van Gogh Museum on Museum Square. The museum has Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Jan Steen works.
Tulips—The Netherlands is known for its tulips. Visit one of Amsterdam’s tulip museums or the market, especially in the off-season. Tulips are always in the market.
Utrecht
Utrecht, the Netherlands’ fourth-largest city and headquarters of the same-named province, is on the fenlands-sandy heathlands split. Utrecht was a major Dutch political, economic, and cultural center from the start.
St. Martin’s Cathedral is in Utrecht’s Cathedral Square, the Domplein. Locals call this beautiful church the Dom Church (Domkerk).
De Haar Castle – PJH Cuypers’ fairy-tale-like De Haar Castle (Kasteel De Haar) is the Netherlands’ largest and most beautiful castle.
Utrecht’s Oudegracht is a must-see (Old canal). This engineering marvel runs through the city center and is great for a stroll or, if you have time, a sightseeing boat or kayak trip.
Maastricht, Netherlands
Maastricht, Limburg’s capital, is a stunning Dutch city. It’s one of the country’s busiest commercial and tourism areas on both sides of the Maas.
Valkenburg, 13 kilometers east of Maastricht, is known for its baths and hilltop castle. Enjoy exploring the historic town. The 17th-century Huis Den Halder and 15th-century Huis Ost are among the old town’s many beautiful historic homes.
City Hall/Market Square Maastricht’s pedestrian-friendly streets and lanes are great for exploring. Start your walking tour at the city’s busy center (Market Square). Maastricht’s Dutch Baroque city hall is here.
The oldest church in the Netherlands, the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. Servaaskerk, was built in the 6th century over the burial of St. Servatius, the first Bishop of Maastricht. The Imperial Hall and Imperial Gallery, built between 1165 and 1677, and the Bergportaal, a 13th-century south entryway with Biblical statues, are highlights of a visit.
Bonnefanten Museum – Maastricht’s best art is displayed in the Bonnefanten Museum, a futuristic edifice on the Maas River.
Delft
Delft, between The Hague and Rotterdam, is lovely. Delft (map) is a Dutch cultural and historic center despite its tiny size. Delft’s tiny town center is the best way to experience the town’s various attractions.
Delft’s town center is best explored on foot. This will pass lily-filled canals, charming squares, and majestic churches, manors, and other historic sites.
Markt – Delft’s main square, Markt, housing the Nieuwe Kerk (‘New Church’) and Stadhuis (‘Town Hall’). The Nieuwe Kerk’s 109-meter bell-tower was finished in 1496! Climb the bell tower for Delft and Rotterdam views.
Prinsenhof – Another Delft landmark with Dutch history is the Prinsenhof. Prinsenhof was a monastery in the Middle Ages and afterwards the residence of William I, the Prince of Orange (aka William the Silent), the founder and “father” of the Netherlands. Bullet holes in a wall from William I’s 1584 assassination remain. Vermeer paintings are in the Prinsenhof museum.
Vermeer, a 17th-century Dutch painter, was born in Delft. Vermeer, best known for “Girl with the Pearl Ear Ring,” often painted the town and landscape. Delft isn’t complete without the Vermeer Centre!
Delft has many summer vintage markets. Saturdays between mid-April and late-September host the largest antique market. On Saturdays, hundreds of vendors line the canals with everything from antique ceramics to modern record collections!
Rotterdam city in Netherlands
Rotterdam has Europe’s largest seaport. Rotterdam is culturally diverse due to its marine past. Famous for its location near the Maas river and Erasmus University. Modern, sometimes aggressive architecture is famous in the city.
Market Hall (Markt), a massive office complex that debuted in 2014, is one of Rotterdam’s most popular gathering places. Locals call it “Koopboog” (Horseshoe), and its food hall’s high arched ceiling is decorated in murals of vegetables, fish, and other produce, commemorating the market’s rainbow of fresh and prepared meals.
Kinderdijk Windmills – Kinderdijk is a charming town on the Noord River 23 kilometers east of Rotterdam. The 19 perfectly maintained 18th-century windmills are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Old Harbor and Marine Museums – Rotterdam’s renovated Maritime District has a boat basin with restored historic vessels, including local houseboats.
Cube Houses – Rotterdam’s modern architecture, inspired by its waterside location and WWII damage, includes many Cube Houses. The city’s Cube Houses push architectural limits (Kubuswoningen).
Europoort, the “Gateway to Europe,” occupies half of Rotterdam’s 247 square kilometers. The world’s busiest port has miles of quays and storage facilities to serve massive freight boats.
Hague
The Hague is the Netherlands’ third-largest city and political hub. The city, like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, sits in de Randstad, a densely urbanized area accessible from much of North and South Holland.
Madurodam – This delightful tiny theme park has hundreds of scale models that precisely recreate many famous Dutch monuments and cities. The non-profit park contributes its revenues to charity.
Haagse Market – Four times a week, The Hague’s main outdoor market draws 35,000 visitors. Over 500 stalls sell food, clothing, and flowers at this attractive multicultural market.
The Hague has several music festivals annually. This calendar includes two avant-garde, electronic events, Rewire and TodaysArt, which always book a lot of cutting-edge artists, producers, and bands.
Beaches—Dutch people come to Scheveningen and Kijkduin during sunny days. Dutch summers include these beach resorts with a huge leisure pier, golden sands, and typical fish vendors.
The Binnenhof—the world’s oldest House of Parliament—has been the Netherlands’ political center for nearly 400 years. The late medieval complex predates the Dutch parliament.
Haarlem, Netherlands
Haarlem has wonderful cafés, shopping, restaurants, and culture. It has some of the Netherlands’ top museums, world-famous art, and great shopping.
Teylers Museum – The Netherlands’ oldest museum is like entering a weird new world through a cupboard. The museum’s vast collection includes superb paintings and drawings (many by painters from The Hague School or the Dutch Romantics movement), fossils and minerals, instruments, and books.
Big Market The country’s most picturesque urban plaza, Grote Markt, is Haarlem’s historic center and surrounded by cozy cafés and eateries. The Gothic Grote Kerk, or St. Bavokerk, with its 50-metre steeple has dominated Haarlem’s skyline for centuries.
Local beer – Former church-turned brewery De Jopenkerk takes beer as a religion to the extreme. Brewing Jopen artisan beers on-site using old and new recipes. Find your favorite drink in the restored vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows.
Windmills – A guided tour of the Molen de Adriaan windmill in Haarlem’s town center is a must. This tower mill on the Spaarne River has been a Haarlem landmark for decades. A museum within explores Molen Adriaan and other Dutch windmills using models and visuals.
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