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Netherlands✨ 10 best things to do in Netherlands

Things to do in Netherlands

1. Cruise Amsterdam's canalsGlide past gabled merchant houses and arched bridges on the UNESCO-listed canal ring.
2. See Dutch mastersStand before Rembrandt's Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh's sunflowers nearby.
3. Visit the Anne Frank HouseStep into the secret annex where Anne Frank wrote her diary – book well ahead.
4. Cycle like a localRent a bike and ride the country's endless network of dedicated cycle paths through towns and countryside.
5. Walk among windmillsExplore the 18th-century windmills of Kinderdijk, built to keep the polders dry.
6. See the tulip fieldsWander through Keukenhof's gardens and the striped bulb fields around Lisse in spring.
7. Explore modern RotterdamAdmire bold architecture like the Cube Houses and Markthal in the rebuilt port city.
8. Stroll Delft and UtrechtEnjoy smaller canal towns with blue pottery, old churches and canal-side terraces.
9. Go mudflat hikingWalk across the Wadden Sea seabed at low tide with a certified guide.
10. Eat Dutch treatsTry raw herring, crispy stroopwafels, bitterballen and aged Gouda cheese.

Netherlands🗺️ Where to visit in Netherlands

Where to go in Netherlands

• 📍
  AmsterdamNorth Holland · canals & museumsThe vibrant capital of canals, world-class museums, markets and lively neighbourhoods like the Jordaan.
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  RotterdamSouth Holland · architectureEurope's largest port with cutting-edge design, a lively food scene and harbour tours.
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  UtrechtCentral · historic cityA charming university city with sunken canal wharves and the tall Dom Tower.
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  KinderdijkSouth Holland · windmillsA UNESCO-listed cluster of historic windmills in classic Dutch polder scenery.
• 📍
  Keukenhof & LisseBulb region · spring flowersMillions of tulips and other bulbs in bloom, open only in spring.
• 📍
  The Hague & DelftSouth Holland · cultureThe seat of government with the Mauritshuis museum, the seaside at Scheveningen and nearby historic Delft.
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  GiethoornOverijssel · water villageA thatched-roof village where canals and footbridges replace roads.
• 📍
  TexelWadden Islands · natureThe largest Wadden island, with dunes, beaches, seal watching and bike trails.

Netherlands🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Netherlands

Best time to visit Netherlands

The Netherlands has a mild maritime climate with cool summers, chilly winters and rain spread throughout the year. Weather changes quickly, and the coast and islands are windier than inland areas.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Amsterdam (approximate averages).

Netherlands🎉 Festivals & events in Netherlands

• April (27th)
  King's Day (Koningsdag)The whole country turns orange for street markets, canal parties and concerts celebrating the king's birthday.
• May (5th)
  Liberation DayFree music festivals across the country celebrate the end of the German occupation in 1945.
• July
  North Sea Jazz FestivalOne of the world's biggest jazz festivals takes over a Rotterdam venue for a weekend.
• Late July–early August
  Amsterdam PrideA colourful celebration famous for its Canal Parade of decorated boats.
• Mid-November–December 5
  SinterklaasSaint Nicholas arrives by boat in November, and families celebrate with gifts and poems on the eve of 5 December.

Netherlands🧭 Netherlands itinerary ideas

How many days in Netherlands?

Netherlands🎒 Backpacking Netherlands – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $65–95 a day

• Hostels in Amsterdam fill fast and are pricey in summer – consider staying in Haarlem, Utrecht or Rotterdam and commuting by train.
• Buy or borrow a public transport chip card, or pay by contactless card at gates – trains are fast and frequent.
• Renting a bike is the cheapest and most fun way to get around, and many cities have bike rental at stations.
• Eat cheaply with fries, kibbeling (fried fish) and snack-bar food, or pick up picnic supplies from supermarkets.
• Many museums offer evening openings or discounted passes – look into national museum passes if you plan several visits.

Netherlands🛡️ Safety & money in Netherlands

Emergency: 112 police, fire & ambulance

Netherlands🛬 Getting to Netherlands

Amsterdam Schiphol is one of Europe's main hub airports, with smaller airports at Eindhoven and Rotterdam. High-speed trains connect with Belgium, France, Germany and London, and ferries run from the UK to Hook of Holland, Rotterdam and IJmuiden.

✈️ Cheap flights to Netherlands: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Netherlands💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Netherlands

• About a quarter of the Netherlands lies below sea level, protected by dikes, dunes and pumps.
• There are more bicycles than people in the Netherlands.
• In 2001 the Netherlands became the first country to legalise same-sex marriage.
• 'Holland' officially refers to just two of the twelve provinces, North and South Holland.
• The Kingdom of the Netherlands also includes Caribbean islands such as Aruba and Curaçao.

Netherlands❓ Netherlands travel FAQ

Netherlands travel questions