Get your bearings
Bordering Germany to the east and Belgium to the south, the low-lying Netherlands is a blend of scenic backdrops, lively cities and 300km of windswept North Sea coastline along the north and west. Lakes and rivers criss-cross the mainly flat landscape with bustling capital
Amsterdam at the country’s cultural and commercial heart. To the west is pretty
Haarlem, seat of government
The Hague and the country’s famous bulb fields. The forest of
Arnhem breaks up the central stretch with
Rotterdam and
Eindhoven in the south.
Cultural gems
The Netherlands’ 17th-century golden age comes alive in the arts hub of its capital
Amsterdam. See world-class art in the Museum Quarter or visit the Amsterdams Historisch Museum for a glimpse into the country’s past. In
The Hague, Vermeer masterpieces take pride of place in Mauritshuis museum while the port city
Rotterdam is home to the Boijmans, the Netherlands’ only museum with paintings by Dutch painter Bosch. Visit 2,000-year-old
Utrecht’s Museum Quarter with its centuries-old almshouses and Dom Tower. See the Netherlands’ 18th-century windmills lining the canals in the UNESCO town
Kinderdijk near Rotterdam.
Out and about
A mainly flat landscape makes cycling holidays in the Netherlands a popular option. Cycle-friendly routes in
Amsterdam and skating tours around
Vondelpark are part of local life.
Haarlem and
Sassenheim (near Leiden) in southern Netherlands provides views of vibrantly coloured bulb fields while the UNESCO
Wadden Sea is home to several islands off the north coast, a haven for walkers and beach lovers. There’s hilly country too in
South Limburg, southern Netherlands, for more challenging strolls, and sailing, boat cruises and canoeing are popular in the Netherlands’ waterways. There are also over 150 golf courses and eastern Holland’s
Achterhoek region has numerous in-line skating routes.
Regional dining
Eating and drinking are part of any Netherlands holiday. Cuisine is eclectic with Dutch cheese like
edam and
gouda making frequent appearances. Alkmaar’s Friday cheese market in northern Holland is a cheese lover’s paradise. Dutch cuisine is relatively unified but regional specialities include
Groningen cake from in the northern Groningen region and
Frisian rye bread with soused herring in coastal Friesland. In coastal Zeeland, try
filled lobster and
mussel soup. Amsterdam is particularly renowned for its ethnic restaurants, particularly
Asian and
Indonesian.
Retail therapy
Innovative designers, diamond dealers and characterful antiques are part of the shopping experience in the Netherlands. The capital
Amsterdam is a shopper’s paradise with quirky shops in the
Jordaan district and Dutch and global fashions in the central area.
Antwerp’s world-renowned diamonds are big business and it’s home to the 1,000 square metre
DiamondLand showroom. Ask your Netherlands hotel about reputable dealers. Exclusive fashion, art and antique shops line
Noordeinde in
The Hague. For gifts, take home Dutch cheeses and syrupy
stroopwafel waffle biscuits.
