Spending holidays in the Netherlands is an experience that will make your dreams come
true.
Visit with us its extremely popular capital Amsterdam, fairy-tale towns and villages and
the most iconic places.
You will fall in love with its romantic channels and traditions which you cannot find anywhere
else.
No matter if you are looking for beautiful nature, world’s top museums or extraordinary
tourist attractions, the Netherlands has it all.
Haven’t you already decided where to go on your visit to the Netherlands?
Discover with us the best places to see in this beautiful country which offers endless
tourist attractions.
Number one.
Utrecht.
Utrecht is a lively city with a picturesque old town full of historical buildings.
It is impossible to overlook the 112 meter high Dom Tower.
Built in the 14th century, it is the oldest and highest church tower in Holland.
The canals in Utrecht are unbelievably magical and the most famous one is Oudegracht meaning
Old Canal.
Along the canal you can find restaurants, cafes and private houses.
To experience an entirely different view of the city, take a boat tour or discover Utrecht
paddling kayaks with a local guide and make your stay in this medieval city unforgettable.
For train lovers interested in the history of the Dutch railways, there is the Dutch
national railway museum established in 1927.
The collection contains many exhibits including waiting rooms, steam, electric and diesel
locomotives as well as train and freight cars and trams.
Would you like to take a rest?
Visit Wilhelmina Park which is an ideal place for picnics or barbecues and sunbathing in
summer.
Relax watching geese and ducks enjoying the park right next to you.
Welcome to beautiful De Haar Castle which is the largest castle in Holland.
It has turrets, gates, suspension bridges and is surrounded not only by the ponds and
canals but also 135 acres of parks and gardens.
You can visit the castle’s interior and admire the main hall as well as some of its
rooms.
This luxurious castle was renovated between 1892 and 1912 and has 200 rooms.
Number two.
Zaanse Schans.
If you look for a one-day trip outside Amsterdam, visit the village of Zaanse Schans.
You can get here by public transport, by car and even by bicycle.
Visiting this village is like a journey through the centuries as this place represents the
life in Holland in 17th and 18th century.
You will see 11 authentic windmills, houses and handicraft factories.
Windmills are the most popular attraction of this place and you can also visit them
inside to see how wind-powered machines work.
Some of these windmills were constructed to saw wood, others produced oil, cocoa or paint.
You can also see how famous traditional Dutch footwear – clogs – are made thanks to
vintage machine tools.
Their history dates back to the 13th century, they adapt to your feet and are very comfortable.
You can see Zaanse Schans on foot, on bike or from the water as there is a number of
boats sailing along the river from which you can even see cows pasturing on the meadows.
Number three.
Marken.
Marken used to be a fishing village and belongs to the most charming places in the Netherlands
especially thanks to its characteristic little wooden houses.
Because of frequent floods, up until the 17th century the Dutch used to build their houses
on artificially built hills, and then on stakes.
You cannot find these houses anywhere else.
Today, thanks to the 32-kilometer long water engineering construction named The Afsluitdijk,
which is located approximately only 1 hour from Marken, there are no more floods in the
village.
It belongs to the most popular tourist attractions in Holland and was built between 1927 and
1933.
Marken used to be an island and has become a peninsula thanks to 1,6 km long embankment
completed in 1957.
You can cross it by car, bicycle or on foot.
While walking through Marken, do not miss the “Wave“, which is a memorial commemorating
the terrifying flood which hit the village in 1916.
Another must-visit palce is a wooden Shoe Factory where you see how wooden clogs were
and still are made.
You can also buy a pair.
Do not miss 'Paard van Marken' Lighthouse, which means Horse of Marken.
It was completed in 1839 and it still operating.
Even though you cannot visit the interior, its white tower, red dome and breathtaking
landscape are a dream of every photographer.
Number four.
Keukenhof.
If you like Dutch tulips and beautiful flowers, Keukenhof – also known as the Garden of
Europe - is the right place for you.
The largest flower park in the world, open since 1949, it is a home of more than 7 million
flowers.
Its gardeners plant the bulbs manually every year.
These gardens contain also other flowers such as orchids, roses, lilies, irises and many
others.
The gardens are open only 53 days per year, from mid-March to mid-May so if you plan a
visit you must come during this period.
It is because the flowering time of tulips and other flowers is limited.
You can reach the park easily from Amsterdam by public transport or if you like a long
bicycle ride, this can work too, as it is a 2 hour bike ride to get there.
Buy the tickets in advance in order to avoid waiting in line.
Number five.
Groningen.
Groningen belongs to the most picturesque cities in the Netherlands especially in winter
when you can enjoy ice skating on the frozen canal in the city center.
Groningen is dominated by the 15th century Martini Tower.
You can climb this 97-meter-high building and enjoy stunning views of the city.
The tower is connected to the 13th century Martini church which is the oldest in the
city.
The must visit place is The Groninger Museum containing collections of modern and contemporary
art of Dutch and international artists.
If you want to enjoy nature in the city, visit Noorderplantsoen English landscape-style park.
You can jog, walk, or lay on the grass or discover its ponds which used to be canals
before this place was converted into a park in 19th century.
Less than an hour drive east from Groningen you can find the star-shaped fortress Bourtange.
Completed in the late 16th century, it is a home to a historical museum today.
You will be enchanted by its medieval atmosphere.
If you are in Groningen on December 5, do not miss the Saint Nicholas parade in the
streets.
Large crowds of children and adults greet Saint Nicholas and his entourage.
Number six.
Rotterdam.
Welcome to Rotterdam, the architecture city of Holland.
If you want to enjoy a spectacular view of the city, visit the Euromast – a 185 meter
high tower completed in 1960 which is surrounded by the English style Het Park.
This lush green park close to the city center is a perfect place for barbecues or relaxing.
Continue to the historic Delfshaven district which is one of the very few areas of the
city that was not destroyed during the 1940 bombardment of Rotterdam.
It is a home to cozy cafes, restaurants and shops.
You will fall in love with its romantic atmosphere.
Rotterdam is a world port city, and you cannot miss its Maritime museum established in 1986.
It contains many attractions including a lighthouse and many old vessels such as this 228 meter
long SS Rotterdam - former flagship of the Holland-America Line.
This fascinating structure is the Market hall which consists of offices, apartments, a supermarket
and around 100 food shops.
One of Rotterdam’s most striking structures is a set of cube houses completed in 1984.
The houses consist of 3 floors, they have a living are of 100 square meters, and all
the walls are slanted.
One of the houses is open to visitors to check on the interior.
Another impressive structure is the White House completed in 1898.
This 43 meter high Art Nouveau building was the first skyscraper in Europe and you can
enjoy breathtaking views from the viewing platform on its top.
Number seven.
Texel.
If you look for beautiful nature and lovely Dutch villages, visit Texel Island.
The island has over 30 km of sandy beaches.
The Island’s most recognized landmark is Eierland Lighthouse which was completed in
1864.
Climb 118 steps to its top and enjoy sensational view from its viewing platform.
In Texel Island you can even see seals living on the mudflats, don’t worry, they are not
difficult to find.
There are a few sandbanks where large numbers of seals live during the whole year.
Make sure to keep a distance in order to not stress them.
It is said that Texel has as many sheep living on the island as inhabitants.
It is pleasing to watch the sheep and lambs grazing on the pastures.
Visit also the fishing village of Oudeschild and its harbor filled with fishing boats.
You can take a trip from here to shrimp fishing or spot seals from a different perspective.
Another worth-while attraction is the Maritime and Beachcombing Museum Flora in Den Burg.
You can see an incredible collection of objects which have been washed up on the beach of
Texel during the last 75 years.
You can reach Texel Island easily from den Helder by car.
Take the ferry which leaves every hour and takes only 20 minutes.
Number eight.
Hague.
A top starting point for travelers is The Binnenhof – the center of Dutch politics.
It belongs to the oldest Parliament buildings in the world still in use and its most impressive
part is the Knights’ Hall.
You can take a guided tour and admire its interior.
For art lovers there is the Mauritshuis which is a home to hundreds of Dutch Golden Age
paintings including world famous Vermeer’s Girl With the Pearl Earring.
Inside you can admire the masterpieces of such painters as Rembrandt or Rubens.
Step into the history of the automobile in the Louwman Museum.
It dates back to 1934 and contains over 275 historic and classic cars including this luxurious
car formerly owned by Winston Churchill, original James Bond’s car from the film “Goldfinger“
or this swan car from 1910.
Do you want to discover the most beautiful places in the Netherlands in just a few hours?
Then visit a miniature theme park Madurodam which combines amusement park, historical
heritage and world-class nature.
This interactive park was opened in 1952 and is a great place for visitors of all ages.
This is the most popular seaside resort in Holland named Scheveningen.
Located only 5 km from The Hague, it contains lovely beaches, a number of pavilions and
restaurants and 42 meter high Ferris wheel which you can board and enjoy unparalleled
views of the city, the beach and sea.
You can even have a lunch, dinner or high tea in one of its 36 closed gondolas.
Number nine.
Gouda.
The Netherlands is famous for its cheese and the most popular Dutch cheese comes from Gouda.
Visit the central square - Markt - where you can find Gouda’s cheese market where the
local farmers have been selling their cheese since 1198 . It is held every Thursday morning
from April until the end of August.
Visit De Waag – historical building completed in 1668 in which cheese products were weighed
before they were sold.
Today it is a home to a museum depicting a history of Gouda’s cheese market.
Another attraction which is also located on the Market square is the impressive gothic
Town Hall completed in 1450.
On its wall you can find a chime symbolizing the granting of the town right to Gouda by
Floris V, count of Holland.
Gouda is an extremely walkable city.
Take a seat in one of its cozy cafes and taste syrup waffles, they are delicious.
Number ten.
Amsterdam.
Welcome to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and one of the most romantic cities in the
world.
A top starting point for travelers is Dam square where you can find a number of impressive
buildings including the Royal Palace.
Originally built as a city hall in the 17th century, you can visit its interiors and admire
34 metre long and 25 metre high citizen’s hall as well as a number of representative
rooms including bedrooms.
Amsterdam is a heaven for all art lovers.
The most popular museums are Rijksmuseum established in 1798.
Inside you can admire a collection of Dutch and international art spanning throughout
8 centuries.
Other must see-museums are the Van Gogh Museum where you can find the world’s largest collection
of artworks of this Dutch Post-Impressionist painter and also The Anne Frank Museum where
you can visit a house in which this Jewish wartime diarist was hiding with her family
during the WW2.
We recommend buying tickets in advance as they are often sold out.
If you like picnics and barbeques or just want to relax, visit Vondelpark – Amsterdam’s
most popular park among locals as well as tourists.
It was opened to the public in 1865, occupies 47 hectares and you can visit it in Dutch
style - by bike.
With more than 100 km of canals, Amsterdam is the most watery city in the world.
Combined with its picturesque bridges, it is impossible not to fall in love with Amsterdam’s
cityscape.
We recommend taking one of the canal cruises, it is such a romantic experience.
If you've enjoyed this video and want to see more in the future, leave a comment, give
a like, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Thanks for watching and we'll see you in the next video.