The 10 Best Things to do in The Netherlands in 2024

The 10 best things to do, how to get here, what to eat, where to stay, interactive map and more!

(Updated 2024)

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The Netherlands also referred to as Holland (although Holland is actually only two of the twelve provinces that make up The Netherlands), is known for its picturesque wooden windmills and for being one of the most bike-friendly countries in the world. Netherlands literally means low-lying country, which is testament to the lack of hills as the country is remarkably flat. Here you’ll find lots of Dutch neo-Gothic architecture, supplemented by neo-renaissance details, medieval city centres and canal systems… lots of canal systems! There’s an unlimited amount of things to do in The Netherlands, and you could easily spend weeks exploring, but here are our top 10 things to do:

Time needed: 7-14 days.

When to go: April-June for pleasant weather and Spring flowers.

Weather: 2°C-10°C in Winter and 10°C-20°C in Summer.

Language: Dutch.

Currency: Euro.

The best things to do in The Netherlands

1) Amsterdam

The capital of The Netherlands, Amsterdam is known for its artistic heritage, narrow houses with gabled facades and its iconic elaborate canal system, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. With world-class shopping, museums, restaurants, bars and clubs, you could easily spend years exploring all Amsterdam has to offer.

If you’re blessed with nice weather, stroll through the vast Vondelpark or cruise down the canals and experience the city centre from the water. The combined length of the canal network is over 60 miles (100 kilometers) long and there are more than 160 canals in Amsterdam. Or rent a bike and enjoy some of Amsterdam’s many bike paths.

Pick up an Iamsterdam Card which gives you access to more than 70 museums, city-wide public transport, a canal cruise and bicycle rental. Art lovers can enjoy the Museum District, which houses the Van Gogh Museum, as well as works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk. Or visit the Anne Frank Museum for the most complete and up-to-date information about Anne Frank, her diary, and the Secret Annex.

2) Utrecht

Utrecht is like Amsterdam’s quieter, more beautiful little sister. Full of tree-lined canals, Christian monuments and the iconic Domtoren (Dom Tower), the car-free medieval city centre is quite charming. The central Dom Tower is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, at 112.5 metres in height, and offers panoramic city views. Opposite sits the Gothic Cathedral of St. Martin on Domplein, the central square. The venerable Utrecht University dates back to the 17th century, while historians can enjoy the Catharijneconvent Museum, which shows religious art and artefacts in a former monastery. Take a walking tour to really see the best of the city.

3) Edam

This small, authentic Dutch village is internationally renowned for its cheese and has many little cheese shops in the city centre. You can explore the 18th-century cheese warehouses, discover how this quintessentially Dutch delicacy is made and, of course, try some yourself. Here you’ll also find pleasant shopping streets and cosy terraces lining the canals throughout the historic centre.

Book your Volendam, Edam, & Zaanse Schans Day Trip here!

4) Volendam

The other half of the municipality of Edam-Volendam, Volendam is a lake-side town which sits on the Markermeer Lake. It is known for its colourful wooden houses and old fishing boats which can be found in the harbour, as well as the traditional clothing some residents still wear. Seafood vendors and sweet shops sit along the harbour, while a few museums lie close by. The Volendam Museum houses paintings, sculptures, costumes, mosaics and pottery from 1800 to present, while the Palingsound Museum chronicles the local music scene.

5) Zaanse Schans

Only 20 minutes form Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is an open air museum and residential area full of historic windmills and distinctive green wooden houses reminiscent of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Museum contains regional costumes and model windmills, while handicraft shops, artisan workshops and interactive exhibits (including one on chocolate making) can be found around the site. You can explore the area on a tour, by bike, on a boat, or on foot and it’s free to enter!

Kinderdijk village is also a great place to see these iconic 18th-century windmills if you’re closer to Rotterdam.

6) Kasteel De Haar

Kasteel De Harr (or De Haar Castle) is an impressive fairy tale castle located near Utrecht and the biggest castle in The Netherlands. You can explore the interior of the castle, which is decorated with richly ornamented woodcarvings, or the beautifully sculpted gardens.

Pre-book your De Haar Castle and Gardens Entrance Ticket, which includes a free app with reading maps, walking routes and a virtual tour!

7) Keukenhof

Also known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens. Approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted annually, including crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, roses and irises. But it’s the iconic tulip fields that most people visit to see. The best time to visit is in Spring, roughly the last two weeks of April to the first week of May each year, but this varies slightly depending on the weather.

Skip the line and secure your transport to and from Amsterdam with this ticket – the cheapest we could find online!

8) Arnhem

Located on both banks of the rivers Nederrijn and Sint-Jansbeek, Arnhem is best known as the site of one of the most infamous battles of World War II. You can learn about the Battle of Arnhem, in which the Allied Forces attempted to form a bridgehead on the northern banks of the Rhine river in September 1944, at the Airborne Museum ‘Hartenstein’. While art lovers should head to the Kröller-Müller Museum, which features works by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Picasso.

9) Cross the Border

Due to good roads and free travel throughout Europe it is really easy to daytrip to other countries from the Netherlands. From The Netherlands you can easily reach Germany and Belgium, while France, Luxembourg and Denmark can also be reached in a day.

Our top picks are Antwerp in Belgium and Xanten in Germany. Antwerp is typically Belgian, with a history dating back to the Middle Ages, a centuries-old Diamond District which houses thousands of diamond traders, cutters and polishers, and lots of Flemish Renaissance architecture. While Xanten is known for its Archaeological Park, one of the largest archaeological open air museums in the world, built on the site of the Roman settlements Colonia Ulpia Traiana.

10) Eat Poffertjes

These mini Dutch pancakes are light, fluffy and slightly fatter than your usual pancake. They’re cooked in a special pan, which has dimples for the batter, and flipped over halfway through cooking. They’re traditionally served with icing sugar and butter, but other toppings are usually offered too.