The Netherlands, a tiny nation, has a lot of wonderful things to offer. The lowlands are the ideal destination for anyone with a thirst for adventure because of their rich culture, fascinating history, beautiful architecture, and expansive fields. Here are the 8 best experiences you won’t forget when traveling to the Netherlands.
1. Discover the nightlife in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is renowned for having outstanding nightlife, with numerous fantastic clubs located all around the city.
You’ll have a terrific night out if you move your body to popular music (Lady Gaga, Sia, Eelke Kleijn, anyone?) or discover more alternative genres.
OT301, housed in a former Dutch Film Academy, is one of the most well-known clubs in Amsterdam. Another is Radion, which features events and techno music. Also, you’ll discover that all kinds of individuals are welcomed and congregated in Nyx or encounter a different atmosphere at Vondelbunker.
2. Observe museums
Visit one of the numerous top-notch museums in the Netherlands to learn about the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Browse well-known pieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh, or learn about the vibrant contemporary art scene in the Netherlands.
While the museum town of Leiden offers in-depth explorations of fascinating objects like the Weaver’s House, the American Pilgrim Museum, and the Academic History Museum, the Dutch capital can highlight some of the most significant moments in Dutch history.
3. Have a mudflat hike
Mudflat trekking can be the perfect activity for you if you enjoy being outside. Hiking through enormous mudflats while taking in the fauna of the Netherlands is exactly what it sounds like.
It can be a difficult trek, battling strong winds and all the other forces of nature, because it is located in the Wadden Sea.
The Wadden Sea is a wide area of undeveloped land. With experienced guides escorting you through the natural reserve, you can experience it the way it was intended to be.
Mudflat hiking can be very demanding, but the opportunity to discover new islands and observe rare fauna makes it well worth it.
4. Explore the mountains
If you enjoy being outside but don’t necessarily want to get dirty on the mudflat, check out the lovely “mountain” hiking areas.
The Vaalserberg, which has a height of just over 322.7 meters (so it’s really more of a hill, but we’ll take it), is the highest peak in the Netherlands. In the Drielandenpunt, this “mountain” divides Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands (three-country-point).
Try the Saint Pietersberg walk, a mountain rising to a height of just over 171 meters, if you want a shorter hike with more history. It is a historic location with a fortress and 80 kilometers of underground tunnels you can visit as part of a guided tour where citizens of Maastricht hid during World War II.
5. Adventure in a castle
We all have fantasies about embarking on an expedition and finding richly treasured ancient ruins. We all harbor the same aspiration of discovering lost treasure, much like Gonzo in this Gonzo’s Quest review, who searches for El Dorado or Indiana Jones, who discovers fresh ruins.
Exploring the Dutch castles is a great option, even though they are not adorned with gold and jewels. These majestic castles will take you back in time and provide you with a window into life as a royal.
De Haar Castle, Muiderslot Castle, Doorwerth Castle, and the Royal Palace in Amsterdam are famous castles.
6. Play wacky sports
If you enjoy sports, you’ve come to the correct place to take part in some of the strangest ones around. There are a lot of common sports, like hockey, football, and ice skating, but there are also some fairly bizarre ones.
Paalzitten is one instance that involves sitting on a pole as long as you can. Firljeppen is another strange sport that is exclusive to the Netherlands.
In this activity, you race toward an 8–13-meter long pole that is submerged in the canal, leap on it, and climb as high as you can with the goal of utilizing the pole to land on the opposite side of the canal.
7. Enjoy typical food
It’s basically a tourist guideline that you must eat the local cuisine while visiting a new place. You may sample a variety of regional cuisines in the Netherlands, like poffertjes, miniature pancakes, and stroopwafels, a sandwich made with syrup.
Bitterballen is a need for people who enjoy fried dishes. Why? These are breaded meatballs that have been deep-fried. The Dutch equivalent of a doughnut, oliebollen, is another must-try fried delight.
If you’re in The Hague, try Botanica, which serves traditional Dutch food centered on local seasonal vegetables. Another choice is the excellent, meaty establishment Just Meet in Leiden.
8. Take a cruise through the canals
Along waterways, several Dutch cities were constructed. The cityscapes of Alkmaar, Utrecht, Dordrecht, Leiden, Groningen, Leeuwarden, and Amersfoort are distinguished by elegant waterways. Naturally, Amsterdam has the most well-known canal system.
The city has even been dubbed the “Venice of the North” due to the inclusion of the Amsterdam Canal District on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Take a boat around the canals to see Holland from a different angle.
