Netherlands Travel Guide

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GALLERY

The Netherlands really is a land of windmills, tulips, and canals, while being a progressive 21st-century nation. The capital, Amsterdam, is famous for its waterways and its laid-back atmosphere. The Hague is home to the queen and a center for international diplomacy. And Delft and Haarlem are smaller, character-rich cities.

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Amsterdam

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not

Canal Rings

Forming an area of unparalleled historical beauty, the famous Grachtengordel (Canal Ring) is located to the west, south, and east of the old

Centrum

As you walk down the Damrak from Centraal Station, you'll be heading toward the commercial center of Amsterdam and the place where most visitors

Rotterdam

Rotterdam looks to the future like almost nowhere else. The decision to leave the past behind wasn't made entirely through choice however—the

The Hague

It's easy to see The Hague as nothing more than Amsterdam's prissy maiden aunt—it's the Netherlands' seat of government, home to the Dutch royal

Museum District

Rembrandts, Van Goghs, and Mondrians are all on evocative display in Amsterdam’s three main art museums, all in close proximity: the Rijksmuseum

Jordaan

Pronounced "Yore- dahn, " probably from the French for garden ( jardin ), the Jordaan was long ago a working-class neighborhood, but has become

Delft

For many travelers, few spots in Holland are as intimate and attractive as this charming little town. With time-burnished canals and cobblestone

De Pijp

For boho-chic done the Dutch way, head to De Pijp, where many streets are named after painters, including the main thoroughfare, Ferdinand Bolstraat

Leidseplein

The Leidseplein is one of the main tourist centers of Amsterdam and, like Rembrandtplein, is surrounded by neon-lighted eateries and bars, their

Utrecht

Birthplace of the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI, Utrecht has been a powerful bishopric since the 7th century and is still a major religious center

Haarlem

A breath of fresh air just a short train ride from throbbing downtown Amsterdam, Haarlem was the very first center of Dutch art. Walking past

Red Light District

Forming a rough triangle from Centraal Station bordered by Warmoesstraat, Damstraat, and Zeedijk, this famous district incorporates the two

Nieuwmarkt

At the bottom of the Zeedijk and bordering the Red Light District lies Nieuwmarkt Square and the brooding Waag, or weigh house, a former city

Oosterdok

Directly east of Centraal Station is the body of water called the Oosterdok, which was created in 1832 when this part of the IJ was closed off

Oud-West

This hip neighborhood, with its fun restaurants, trendy boutiques, and concept stores, is the place to be if you want to mix with the locals

Amsterdam-Oost

Amsterdam-Oost, or Eastern Amsterdam, is a large, mainly residential neighborhood. The area has several nice parks, including the elegant late

Plantage

With its wide boulevards, parks, and elegant 19th-century architecture, the Plantage, only a short walk from Waterlooplein (follow the tram

Oud-Zuid

This mostly residential neighborhood is home to Amsterdam's "Gold Coast," the posh neighborhood around stately Apollolaan. There are several

Amsterdam-Noord

A two-minute ride on the free NDSM ferry behind Centraal Station will get you to a revitalized waterfront area north of the IJ. Once a bleak

Western Islands

A short walk west of Centraal Station are three hidden islands—known in Dutch as De Westelijke Eilanden—that were built on landfill back in

Nijmegen

If every cloud has a silver lining, then Nijmegen is no exception. Ravaged by World War II—so close to the German border, it was inadvertently

Hoorn

Hoorn's development came to an abrupt halt in the 17th century, when England—not limited to flat-bottom boats that could clear the sandbars

Enkhuizen

Like Amsterdam and its near neighbor, Hoorn, some 19 km (12 miles) to the west, Enkhuizen was one of the principal harbors of the Dutch East

Dordrecht

Claiming to be the oldest town in the province of Zuid Holland, Dordrecht lies just east of the main road leading south to Antwerp and Brussels

Otterlo/De Hoge Veluwe

When German heiress Hélène Müller married Dutch industrialist Anton Kröller at the turn of the 20th century, their combined wealth and complementary

Arnhem

In war log and movie terms, Arnhem may be known as the basis for A Bridge Too Far, but this historic city is certainly not out of reach for

Veere

Put quite simply, Veere is one of the prettiest towns in the Netherlands, and well worth a stop to explore its quiet streets and admire its

Lisse

On arrival in Lisse in springtime, you will be in no doubt that this is the center of the Netherlands' biggest tourist attraction, with bumper

Volendam

Assuming that other visitors don't block your view, you can stare to your heart's content at the residents of Volendam still wearing traditional

Aalsmeer

Thanks to an auction that sells around 12½ billion cut flowers and plants a year, this small town just north of Schiphol Airport, on the edge

Monnickendam

This is a bustling little town without the full-on folkloric ex–fishing village effect of its neighbors Marken and Volendam, but no less charming

Middelburg

Middelburg, ancient capital of the province of Zeeland, has one great advantage that has helped ensure its safety in this water-dominated area

Broek-in-Waterland

With a centuries-old reputation of being "the cleanest town in all the Netherlands," Broek-in-Waterland is still mostly immaculate—so much so

Marken

The former island of Marken was once an isolated fishing village, but today it's filled with sightseers riding over the causeway to view the

Kinderdijk

The windmills of Kinderdijk are some of the most photographed sights in Holland. A visit here can feel touristy, but it's also unquestionably

Amsterdam

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not

Rotterdam

Rotterdam looks to the future like almost nowhere else. The decision to leave the past behind wasn't made entirely through choice however—the

The Hague

It's easy to see The Hague as nothing more than Amsterdam's prissy maiden aunt—it's the Netherlands' seat of government, home to the Dutch royal

Delft

For many travelers, few spots in Holland are as intimate and attractive as this charming little town. With time-burnished canals and cobblestone

Utrecht

Birthplace of the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI, Utrecht has been a powerful bishopric since the 7th century and is still a major religious center

Haarlem

A breath of fresh air just a short train ride from throbbing downtown Amsterdam, Haarlem was the very first center of Dutch art. Walking past

Nijmegen

If every cloud has a silver lining, then Nijmegen is no exception. Ravaged by World War II—so close to the German border, it was inadvertently

Arnhem

In war log and movie terms, Arnhem may be known as the basis for A Bridge Too Far, but this historic city is certainly not out of reach for

Hoorn

Hoorn's development came to an abrupt halt in the 17th century, when England—not limited to flat-bottom boats that could clear the sandbars

Enkhuizen

Like Amsterdam and its near neighbor, Hoorn, some 19 km (12 miles) to the west, Enkhuizen was one of the principal harbors of the Dutch East

Dordrecht

Claiming to be the oldest town in the province of Zuid Holland, Dordrecht lies just east of the main road leading south to Antwerp and Brussels

Otterlo/De Hoge Veluwe

When German heiress Hélène Müller married Dutch industrialist Anton Kröller at the turn of the 20th century, their combined wealth and complementary

Veere

Put quite simply, Veere is one of the prettiest towns in the Netherlands, and well worth a stop to explore its quiet streets and admire its

Lisse

On arrival in Lisse in springtime, you will be in no doubt that this is the center of the Netherlands' biggest tourist attraction, with bumper

Volendam

Assuming that other visitors don't block your view, you can stare to your heart's content at the residents of Volendam still wearing traditional

Aalsmeer

Thanks to an auction that sells around 12½ billion cut flowers and plants a year, this small town just north of Schiphol Airport, on the edge

Middelburg

Middelburg, ancient capital of the province of Zeeland, has one great advantage that has helped ensure its safety in this water-dominated area

Monnickendam

This is a bustling little town without the full-on folkloric ex–fishing village effect of its neighbors Marken and Volendam, but no less charming

Broek-in-Waterland

With a centuries-old reputation of being "the cleanest town in all the Netherlands," Broek-in-Waterland is still mostly immaculate—so much so

Marken

The former island of Marken was once an isolated fishing village, but today it's filled with sightseers riding over the causeway to view the

Kinderdijk

The windmills of Kinderdijk are some of the most photographed sights in Holland. A visit here can feel touristy, but it's also unquestionably

The Randstad

The towns and cities of Zuid-Holland (South Holland) cluster around Amsterdam like filings round the end of a magnet. Each has prospered and

Day Trips from Amsterdam

The Netherlands is such a small country that there's practically no excuse not to explore a little farther afield—and the payoff is immense

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Amsterdam

Dordrecht

Middelburg

The Hague

Arnhem

Enkhuizen

Nijmegen

The Randstad

Day Trips from Amsterdam

Hoorn

Rotterdam

Veere

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Netherlands

Netherlands Tourism

Top Destinations

Top Destinations

Amsterdam

Canal Rings

Centrum

Rotterdam

The Hague

Museum District

Jordaan

Delft

De Pijp

Leidseplein

Utrecht

Haarlem

Red Light District

Nieuwmarkt

Oosterdok

Oud-West

Amsterdam-Oost

Plantage

Oud-Zuid

Amsterdam-Noord

Western Islands

Nijmegen

Hoorn

Enkhuizen

Dordrecht

Otterlo/De Hoge Veluwe

Arnhem

Veere

Lisse

Volendam

Aalsmeer

Monnickendam

Middelburg

Broek-in-Waterland

Marken

Kinderdijk

Amsterdam

Rotterdam

The Hague

Delft

Utrecht

Haarlem

Nijmegen

Arnhem

Hoorn

Enkhuizen

Dordrecht

Otterlo/De Hoge Veluwe

Veere

Lisse

Volendam

Aalsmeer

Middelburg

Monnickendam

Broek-in-Waterland

Marken

Kinderdijk

The Randstad

Day Trips from Amsterdam

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