Best attractions in Netherlands: Top 25

Western European country of the Netherlands has its own identity and a lot of unique features. The country of windmills and countless tulips, located on the North Sea, has a peculiar climate - it is moderately cool in summer and warm in winter. This weather is ideal for visiting the many Dutch cities, full of a variety of attractions. Free country with a rich European culture is surprisingly friendly and safe for its guests. Another unusual feature of the Netherlands is that almost half of the area of the state is below sea level, so along the coastline, where the land is washed by the North Sea, there are numerous constructions, designed to protect the country from the water. Do not know what to see in the Netherlands? Especially for you we have compiled a list of popular places of this country, which includes the most interesting sights of the Netherlands.

What to see in the Netherlands first of all

Every city in this country is unique, so a fascinating trip is guaranteed, and if you want to learn more about the locals and legends, guides in the Netherlands will help. You can, of course, drive through the sights yourself, but once you appreciate their diversity thanks to the list, you will realize that it is much better to hire a guide.

1. Canals of Amsterdam

One of the canals of Amsterdam

As a rule, a trip to the Netherlands begins with the capital city, Amsterdam. The main attraction of the Netherlands in the capital are the numerous water canals of Amsterdam - in total there are more than a hundred. The multitude of man-made canals along with hundreds of intricate bridges and catwalks create a unique picture of the city that makes it recognizable among thousands of other cities. You can wander its endless embankments for hours marveling at the city’s intricate architecture.

The whole system of canals in Amsterdam is a complex of waterways formed by one big river - Amstel. The creation of this system began back in 1658 with the “Plan of the Three Canals”, designed by architect Hendrik van Keisker. Today the number of canals is 165, and over a thousand and a half bridges are laid across them. If you look at the city panorama from above, all of these canals form four semicircles, as if “embedded” in each other and encircling the city.

Because of the large area occupied by the lakes, in the city preferable mode of transport, and for overland travelers are widespread bicycles, which are convenient to cross the numerous bridges. Therefore, if you are looking for something to see in the Netherlands, once in Amsterdam, visit one of the tours along the city’s many canals.

Official website: http://www.hetgrachtenhuis.nl/en/



2. Nemo Museum (Amsterdam)

The Nemo Museum in Amsterdam

Tourists with children have a lot to visit in the Netherlands, namely in their capital city. In Amsterdam, about 15 minutes walk from the Central Station, there is an interesting object, which looks like a huge green ship with two bridges leading to it. This is the Nemo Museum - an interesting attraction in the Netherlands, a visit to which will turn into a cognitive journey into the world of science, technology, information technology and biomedicine, and will allow you to learn a lot of interesting things about simple and everyday things.

Entering the museum lobby, you can immediately see a cafe and a souvenir store, which sells many scale models of some of the attractions of the museum. The museum includes 5 floors, each of which represents a particular theme.

  • The main theme of the first floor is DNA and molecular chain reactions, which are visually represented by large intricate structures, including huge dominoes, a flying car and a large bell.
  • The second floor is a factory of plastic balls, which participants sort by color, weight and size.
  • The third floor is a large science lab where visitors can conduct and observe some experiments with their own hands.
  • On the fourth floor, visitors can attend a lecture on the human brain, have their memory tested and assess their brain function.
  • Finally, on the fifth floor there is a café, a playground, a game room, and an observation deck overlooking the city’s surroundings.

Official website: https://www.nemosciencemuseum



3. De Hoge Veluwe National Park (Gelderland Province)

Golden Autumn in De Hooge-Weluwe Park

The Dutch province of Gelderland has a lot to see in the Netherlands - De Hoge Veluwe National Park offers so much to see that sometimes its visitors don’t have a whole day to go around and explore all its interesting places. The founders of this famous attraction in the Netherlands, a married couple of businessmen Krøller, once used this land for hunting, but over time, financial difficulties forced them to sell the land to the state. Today, on an area of about a thousand square meters there are many walking trails, horse and bicycle paths, a sculpture garden, a number of restaurants and three unique museums. Thus, among them is the only one of its kind museum of underground life. Descending deeper and deeper into the ground on its stairs, you can find the root system of an old tree, which is up to fifteen hundred years old, and rare rocks and even the bones of animals that died out more than a thousand years ago.

Another museum located in the northern part of the park is the hunting lodge of Hubertus, who, according to legend, after seeing a glowing cross on the forehead of a deer, gave up the habit of killing animals and went to the monastery.

The park’s landscapes are varied, with alternating wet and dry deserts, flood meadows, and sandy depressions. The park’s flat terrain is perfect for biking, especially since the park provides special, signature white bikes for this purpose, which are easily adjustable in height and guarantee a comfortable ride. You can also go horseback riding in the park or even take a ride in a real horse-drawn carriage.

Official website: https://www.hogeveluwe.nl/en

4. De Haar Castle in Utrecht

De Haar Castle, surrounded by a lake

In one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Netherlands is located a beautifully magnificent landmark of the Netherlands - De Haar Castle. Outwardly the castle looks like a historical monument of the Middle Ages, but in fact it is a mansion, equipped with the most advanced developments.

More than once De Haar has literally risen from the ashes. In 1391, the stone castle served as the fiefdom of the De Haar family. In 1482, the castle was burned, of which only ruins and minor defensive structures remained. In the early 16th century the castle was rebuilt, and in 1890 it was inherited by a descendant of the de Haar family. His wealthy wife put a lot of effort and money into the restoration of the family nest. It took the architect Kuipers about 20 years to restore the castle: electricity, steam heating, and elevators were installed. But all technical innovations were skillfully hidden from view so as not to disturb the external splendor of medieval interiors. When restoring the premises of the castle, the boundary between the old and new walls was smoothed out with the help of multicolored bricks. The interior abounds with carvings in the Roman Catholic style, even the original design of dishes was developed.

The picturesque gardens of De Harrah’s, often compared to Versailles, are spread out near the castle. It is almost 7 thousand trees, which were brought here from all over the country. Numerous romantic gazebos adorn the park, and the nearby village has been lined in a pseudo-medieval style to complete the picture.

Official website: https://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/

5. Binnenhof Castle (The Hague)

Binnenhof Castle on the shore of Lake Hoffeifer

In the heart of The Hague sits an amazingly beautiful, ancient castle that has rightfully become one of the most luxurious sights in the Netherlands. The strictness and at the same time the refinement of its forms, combined with the waters of the lake, on the shore of which it is located, leaves a strong and vivid aesthetic impression. If you are staying in one of the hotels in The Hague, you will definitely find something to visit in the Netherlands, because you will definitely be offered an excursion to the Binnenhof.

Founded in 1247 as a hunting castle, today the Binnenhof is a system of unique buildings and structures in the elegant medieval style.

The Ridderzaal is a Gothic-style building with an unusual triangular façade and two towers.

Torentier Tower - An 8-angled tower that serves as the residence of the Prime Minister and can be accessed through the Grenadier Gate;

Hoffeiver Pond, a palace pond in the courtyard, created as early as 1350;

Wilhelm II Fountain - the fountain in front of the Knights’ Hall, created in 1885 according to the design of architect Kuipers.

Feel the atmosphere of the Netherlands in this beautiful video!

6. Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

For more than two hundred years the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam has been one of the most visited and interesting museums in the world. Hundreds and thousands of tourists visit this museum every day - every morning residents of Amsterdam see a huge queue of those who want to see the famous Dutch landmark with their own eyes.

Originally the collection, which became the basis of the Rijksmuseum, was in The Hague until 1800, then Napoleon’s brother Louis Bonaparte took it to Amsterdam and placed it in the palace. When the collection was enlarged in 1863, the question of constructing a museum building arose, and it was not until 1876 that Petrus Kuipers was identified as the designer of the future museum.

Since the construction of the museum was repeatedly completed, restoration work was carried out, its collection was replenished and continues to be replenished. Among its exhibits are recognized world masterpieces such as:

  • A collection of artists of the Golden Age of Dutch Painting (17th century) - Vermeer, Jan Steen, Hals and other famous authors;
  • Rembrandt’s famous “Night Watch”, for which an entire museum hall is even dedicated;
  • Delft porcelain - gorgeous vases, royal sets, statuettes and other utensils;
  • a collection of ship models that allows you to comprehend the main points of the history of shipbuilding in the country;
  • a hall of dollhouses, the oldest of which was made in 1676;
  • the museum’s quietest room, a library full of antique folios.

Official website: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en

7. Kockenhof Flower Park (Lisse)

The multi-colored tulip beds in the Kockenhof Flower Garden in Lisse

Connoisseurs will certainly find something to see in the Netherlands, because this is where one of the most famous flower gardens in the world, the Kockenhof, which means “kitchen park” in Russian, is located. It belongs to the local royal dynasty and also has a second name - Garden of Europe, which reflects its location, in the heart of the Old World, between The Hague and Amsterdam.

The park once housed a count’s estate, where herbs for the court kitchen were grown - hence the origin of the name of the park. The park itself was laid out in 1857, with observance of English principles of park construction.

The area of the park is huge - about 32 hectares. Nowhere in the world you will not see as many flowers as you will see in this park. The climate here as nowhere else is favorable to the cultivation of flowers - a lot of precipitation, small temperature contrasts are ideal for plant growth. Every year a flower show is held here. The most common flowers of the park are tulips of the most varied varieties, numbering more than 5 million. There are a total of three huge greenhouses in the park, one of which features tulips, lilacs and daffodils, the second - orchids, the third - roses.

In addition to flowers, the park will delight you with a variety of scenic ponds, sprawling trees, fountains, and canals. Also, the park has a farm of pets, which creates a kind of entourage of the countryside. For visitors work cafes, restaurants, for children the world of children’s entertainment is presented.

Official site: https://keukenhof.nl/en/

8. City Hall in Delft

Ratusha on Markt Square in Delft

One of the oldest attractions in the Netherlands is located in the ancient Dutch city of Delft. The old town hall building, built in the southwestern part of the Market Square in the 17th century, was the benchmark for the Dutch Renaissance style. It also includes the old prison tower, erected around 1300. This tower, miraculously preserved even after the terrible fire of 1536, survived to this day and today is considered the oldest surviving structure in the city. In the 16th century the tower was decorated with a clock, the four faces of which looked at different sides of the world.

Originally the town hall was built at the beginning of the 13th century, but later during the centuries it was repeatedly changed and had to be restored. For example, the building was destroyed by fire in 1618, and then was rebuilt virtually from the old foundations by 1620 according to the design of the Dutch architect Hendrik de Keizer. Over time, the appearance of the building changed, and only by the 20th century was its original Renaissance architectural style fully restored.

The town hall contains portraits of the Princes of Orange-Nassau and a museum dedicated to medieval instruments of torture.

The Town Hall stands out brightly against the monotonous brick buildings of the city, its ancient style of decoration and elegance of architectural forms delight the eye.

9. Red Light District (Amsterdam)

Evening Red Light Quarter

Amsterdam is an amazing city, especially for visitors who are not used to so many “forbidden” hot activities, which are quite legal here. The Red Light District is a world-famous Dutch landmark that attracts millions of tourists to the Dutch capital. In the daytime, the Red Light District is almost indistinguishable from other neighborhoods of the city - everything here looks mundane and ordinary. But when it gets dark, the streets light up with vicious lights and around 900 female workers and bedbuilders come out to “hunt”. Most of them sell their bodies, while the rest work here as attendants.

The Red Light District consists of about 20 streets. A string of glass showcases flank Red Light Streets at night, where sexy bikini-clad drag queens flicker their semi-naked bodies. The windows open to the public indicate that the lady in that window is vacant and waiting for her client. While she is waiting, she may be doing quite ordinary things, like sipping a cup of coffee, smoking a cigarette, or flirting with passersby.

Behind the glass you can meet a girl or woman of any age and build for every taste. To agree on a deal with a partner you just need to open the glass door and start a dialogue.

The Red Light District is an Amsterdam landmark just like many other historic sites in the city. Most visitors to this quarter come here simply to contemplate unusual spectacles, and only a few are willing to enter the bargain.

10. Royal Palace (Amsterdam)

The Royal Palace on Dam Square

The Royal Palace in Amsterdam is what every self-respecting traveler should see in the Netherlands, because even the Dutch themselves respectfully call this structure “the eighth wonder of the world”. Monumental building with a huge dome topped with an ancient weathervane, has become one of the main and the main attractions of the Netherlands, which is worth starting acquaintance with this wonderful country.

The first stone of the Royal Palace, once the town hall, was laid in 1648, and the construction period lasted for 17 years, until 1665. The ground on which the foundation of the future palace was laid was characterized by quicksand and muddy ground, so the stability of this majestic building was ensured by the installation of about 14 thousand piles. The building was originally erected to house the city hall, and during that role, the Amsterdam city hall was considered to be the largest in the world.

Today the Royal Palace is at the disposal of the Dutch rulers - it hosts major events and prestigious exhibitions.

All the interior rooms are richly decorated - the marble and gold decoration is impressive in its luxury. The interior is decorated with antique antique furniture in the intricately flamboyant Empire style, massive crystal chandeliers and paintings of famous Dutch painters.

Official website: https://www.paleisamsterdam.nl/en/

Sightseeing in the Netherlands: What else to visit while in the Netherlands

Make the most of your vacation time by taking excursions in the Netherlands by yourself or with a professional guide! We have included the most interesting attractions for travelers, collecting reliable and relevant information that will come in handy for any tourist when planning a trip.

11. The mill in Haarlem

Adrian Windmill

True connoisseurs of Gothic medieval architecture have something to see in the Netherlands - the small old Dutch town of Haarlem combines modern urban conveniences with provincial charm. On the banks of the river Sparne in Haarlem is another famous sight in the Netherlands - the famous Hadrian’s Windmill. Today the windmill is a reconstruction of an old structure on the original drawings. Originally the windmill was built on the foundations of the old tower, once part of the fortress wall, by the Dutch entrepreneur Adriaan de Beuys. It was he who acquired the ownership of the old tower and its surroundings in 1778 and in his honor was named the mill, which began operating as early as 1779 - a large structure over 30 meters high was intended primarily for the production of cement.

For 25 years Adriaan de Beuys was the leading cement manufacturer in Haarlem, but eventually the cement business was no longer profitable enough and in 1802 the entrepreneur sold the mill to Cornelius Craan who took over a tobacco factory there. However, even this enterprise was not profitable, and in 1925 the building was purchased by the organization, the purpose of which was the preservation of windmills. In 1932, the building was burned to the ground in a serious fire, and it was not until 2002 that Hadrian’s Mill was rebuilt. Since then, it has been an important historical site and is available for visits on weekends and holidays.

12. Euromast (Rotterdam)

Euromast in Rotterdam

One of the most recognizable symbols of Rotterdam has become a relatively young landmark in the Netherlands - the Euromast, or Euromast in Dutch. A huge and tall concrete construction towers over the outskirts of Rotterdam and is visible from almost every corner of the city. Construction began in 1958 and was associated with the opening of the Floriade Rotterdam flower festival.

Euromast is a concrete structure, which reaches a height of 185 meters and a diameter of 9 meters. Since the walls of the tower are not more than 30 centimeters thick, it was necessary to reinforce it at the very base. Therefore, 1.9 thousand tons of reinforced concrete were poured into the foundation of the Euromast for stability.

The original height of the Euromast was only 101 meters, but even this figure allowed the tower to be the highest among other structures in Rotterdam. At the top of the building, at a height of 100 meters, a huge section with a restaurant and an observation deck, nicknamed by locals “the crow’s nest” because of its visual resemblance to a nest, was created. However, in 1970 the “Space Tower” was built on top of this compartment, increasing the height of the Euromast by another 84 meters.

Today at the very top of the Euromast there is a fascinating attraction - the Euroscope, which is a rotating panoramic cabin with transparent walls, which rises from a height of 112 to 185 meters. In the crow’s nest there is also a hotel with dizzying panoramic views of the city.

13. Heineken Museum Amsterdam

The building of the Heineken Experience Beer Museum in Amsterdam

Beer lovers, as well as anyone interested in the history of brewing, will find a fascinating attraction in the Netherlands, because Amsterdam is home to one of the places remarkable from this point of view - the Heineken Beer Museum. The history of the museum dates back to the 1960s, when in this building entrepreneur Gerard Adriaan Heineken founded the brewery, which became famous throughout the world. Until 1988 it was producing excellent beer, after which the brewery was transformed into a museum, which even today, thanks to interactive exhibitions, reveals the history and subtleties of beer production.

The museum occupies four floors with a total area of 3000 square meters. The tour starts with a story about the Heineken dynasty, who opened their first brewery here in 1864. Along the way, visitors are shown numerous photographs of the family of Gerard Heineken, the founder of the beer corporation. To this day, about 200 kinds of drinks are produced under the Heineken brand, and the most important branded drink has been following the same recipe for 150 years.

Tour participants are also invited to see the history of advertising of the famous beer brand. Sitting in comfortable armchairs you can watch a video, consisting of a slide show and the famous advertising videos, representing the brand Heineken.

In one of the museum halls you can follow the evolution of the glass beer bottle, and in the hall Bottle Ride you can even feel yourself in the role of this bottle, where simultaneously with the green bottle standing on the interactive podium you move in unison with the video on the big screen, and the whole process is accompanied by various special effects.

Official website: https://www.heineken.com/

14. Museum of cannabis, marijuana and cannabis (Amsterdam)

Exhibit Museum of Marijuana, Hash and Hemp in Amsterdam Didier le Ger

Wondering what to visit in the Netherlands to get the most complete picture of these lands, get a vivid impression of the unusual places, then you should definitely visit the Museum of Hash, Marijuana and Hemp in Amsterdam. Of course, no one will give you the opportunity to “taste” pot here - there are many other institutions for this purpose. But there is a huge variety of smoking devices, pipes, hookahs, bongs. On your way you will be told many interesting facts and tips about growing cannabis, its useful and addictive properties, and ways to use it in your daily life. You will be acquainted with the history of hemp usage in different domestic spheres. For example, since ancient times hemp has been used to make fibers which are considered to be the most durable in the world today.

The marijuana museum consists of two parts:

  • The first part introduces visitors to the ways in which the plant is used, its basic properties and methods of processing, gives specific examples of its use in different areas of production, and presents various samples of cannabis products.
  • The second part focuses on the historical aspect, telling about the traditions and evolution of the use of hemp by different peoples in different times.

At the museum there is also a greenhouse with many varieties of hemp, and at the exit of the museum there is a store with seeds for planting and a wide range of goods for building greenhouses.

Official website: http://hashmuseum.com/en

15. Cubic Houses (Rotterdam)

Cube Houses Street

In the Dutch city of Rotterdam, unusual houses were built in 1984 and have become a striking and creative landmark in the Netherlands. A total of 38 cube-shaped buildings, which are connected to each other and represent the most ordinary living quarters. Their peculiarity is that in spite of the impressive area of each house - about 100 square meters - only about one third of the free space is actually used. The reason for this is the strong slope of the walls due to the unusual shape of the structures.

The creative cubist houses were designed by the architect Pete Blom. The very idea of the project came to the architect’s mind back in the 70s, when he turned the cube in his hands at an angle of 45 degrees, and after that he had the idea to put a “trunk” to the bottom corner of the cube. The result was a peculiar tree with a cubic “crown”, and the architect’s idea grew into the construction of a whole block of “cubic” houses-trees resembling a forest.

From the looks of these bright and unusual houses look like a picture. Each of the houses consists of several floors, the first of which are occupied by stores and office space. The interior of such houses is not easy to think through - there are practically no straight walls, so in order to create a harmonious design, you will have to beat your brains out.

In total, the cubic “forest” consists of about 40 houses united in one big triangle. Thanks to this extraordinary architectural masterpiece Overlaak Street in Rotterdam has become world famous.

Official website: http://www.kubuswoning.nl/en/

16. Frans Hals Museum (Haarlem)

Frans Hals Museum is an art museum in Haarlem Mcke

The cultural attractions of Holland are no small part of the journey through the land of tulips. Reviews of tours to the museum of Frans Hals indicate that his visit provides an excellent opportunity to get acquainted not only with the work of Hals, but also with the works of other prominent Dutch painters. It should be noted that Haarlem in the 17th and 18th centuries was a city of painting, so it preserved the richest artistic heritage of the country. No wonder that in the 19th century it was Haarlem that gave honor to the creation of the Museum of the Golden Age of Dutch Painting. The origins of the collection itself go back to the end of the 16th century, when the Reformation movement led to the city municipality owning a collection of unique paintings confiscated from the Catholic churches and monasteries in Haarlem. Before the museum opened, all these works were kept in the town hall and were an integral part of its interior.

17. The Vincent van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam)

The building of the Vincent van Gogh Museum on Museum Square in Amsterdam - Wladyslaw [Disk]

The Van Gogh Museum is one of the most popular and sought-after museums in the Netherlands, and just like the Madame Tussauds, it has gained international fame. This cultural monument traces its history back to 1973, when the nephew of the famous artist decided to organize an exhibition of his uncle’s numerous works. Especially for this purpose was built a spacious building with huge windows to the design of the architect Rietveld. The museum exhibits about two hundred paintings and five hundred drawings by Vincent van Gogh, collected in chronological order - it is the largest collection of his works. In the exposition you can also see a number of various documents of the master and even his personal correspondence. In addition to the works of Van Gogh, the museum has many paintings of other painters who were contemporaries of the famous artist.

Official website: https://www.vangog

18. Anne Frank House-Museum (Amsterdam)

Anne Frank House-Museum on the Prinsengracht Embankment in Amsterdam Dietmar Rabich

The status of Amsterdam’s most important historical attraction deserves the status of a museum of worldwide significance. The Anne Frank House is a museum dedicated to the memory of a Jewish girl who was a victim of Nazi terror. Her name became internationally known after her diary “Asylum” was published, which describes how the girl, together with her family, hid from the Nazis - she spent more than two years in the hidden rooms of the mansion. The old house, where these events took place, has existed for almost 3 centuries, and throughout its history not only lived there, but it was a warehouse and production facilities. Some of the rooms of the museum have been recreated as they were during the war years before the Nazi pogrom. A small statue in front of the museum is a monument to Anne Frank and the main exhibit of the museum is the original of her diary.

Official website: https://www.annefrank

19. Madyurodam Park of Miniatures (The Hague)

Visitors at Madurodam Miniatures Park in The Hague Michal Osmenda

Amsterdam, of course, is full of beauties and sights of all kinds, but what to see in Holland other than Amsterdam? If you don’t have a lot of time, but don’t want to miss anything in the Netherlands, there is one place where you can see the whole country in an area about the size of a shopping center. Only about an hour’s drive from Amsterdam, and you find yourself in a sort of miniature country, striking in every detail, with exact replicas of many Dutch buildings assembled at a scale of 1:25. Maturodam has three theme parts: the Center, which tells the history of the country, the Water World with the ports of Rotterdam and the mills, and the Innovation Island, which shows the most modern buildings in the Netherlands. The miniature park is dedicated to George Maduro, a Jewish student who showed heroism in the battles for his homeland during World War II.

Official website: https://www.madurodam

20. Vondel Park (Amsterdam)

Walking on a summer day in the city's Vondela Park in the southern part of Amsterdam Shizhao

When planning what to see in Holland in the spring, there are several itinerary options to choose from. Spring in Holland is a time of a riot of colors, blooming of everything that can bloom. Therefore, there are different solutions to the question of what to see in the Netherlands in April - for example, you can walk through the fascinating fields of blooming tulips. Or you could go a little further and visit the Vondel Park in Amsterdam, a place just as beautiful and varied. This park is a perfect combination of wildlife and modern recreation opportunities - not deprived of all the charms of civilization, the park remains an oasis of peace and quiet among the lush greenery, bright flowers and ponds. The park also has its own attractions, such as a cinematic museum in a pavilion on the edge of the park, or an open-air theater that hosts a variety of performances.

Official website: https://www.hetvondelpark

21. Freithof Square (Maastricht)

Main city attractions at Freithof Square in Maastricht Sergey Ashmarin

Only 3 kilometers from the Belgian border and not far from Germany is the little town of Maastricht. The heart of Maastricht is the Freidthof Square where all the main streets of the town converge - the place where you should begin to get to know the city. The name “Freithof” itself translates from Dutch as “enclosed place” or “courtyard in front of the temple”, but the second name is more applicable: the contrasting and colorful square is adorned by the peaks of the city’s main basilica of St. Servas and the facade of the theater, which plays a new repertoire every day. Around the square there are numerous cosy cafes and restaurants, where one can relax after a busy walk. The only streetcar in Maastricht, which takes you on a fascinating guided tour of the historical center of the city, starts from the Freighthof.

22. The Jordaan district (Amsterdam)

The oldest and most picturesque Jordaan district in the western part of the city of Amsterdam

Whether you’re looking for the perfect vacation spot, the country’s cultural monuments or the attractions of Holland for children, the multifaceted Amsterdam provides recreational opportunities for all tastes and affluence. Many visitors begin their city-break with “The Womb of Amsterdam”, sometimes called the authentic Jordaan neighborhood, which still exudes the characteristic ambiance of old Holland. This picturesque neighborhood is located on the west side of the city and houses not only charming colorful houses but also upscale apartment complexes, trendy clubs and bars, as well as wide streets and canal embankments that dispose to romantic leisurely strolls. On the way you can stop in a cozy coffee shop or one of the many stores with an unusual and original range of products. It’s hard to believe that two centuries ago this was a typical poor neighborhood, with blacksmith shops, tanneries and tanneries.

23. National Heritage Museum of the Netherlands (Arnhem)

Exhibits at the Netherlands National Heritage Museum near Arnhem

In 1912, a famous Dutch historian initiated the creation of an open-air museum to preserve the cultural heritage of his native country. Fears that rapid urbanization would soon leave no trace of the ancient heritage were justified, so the idea found broad support from the public and the authorities. Thus a vast historical park grew in the vicinity of Arnhem, which opened in 1918. Today it is one of the most interesting and most visited museums in the Netherlands, on the territory of which you can find exhibits testifying centuries-old history of the country: authentic houses, farms, old workshops, windmills, forges, churches from different parts of Holland. You can also learn about how and what was once used to plow the land, grind grain, make paper, and much more.

Official website: https://openluchtmuseum

24. Zanse-Schans (Zandam)

The windmills and houses at the Zanse-Schans Museum in Zandam

May in Holland is one of the most beautiful periods of the year, when all nature has already awakened from the winter cold, the temperature is rising but not yet exhausting the summer heat, and the flowering alleys and fields give a touch of romance and charm to the holiday. The weather in May is ideal for active travel, long walks in the parks and forests. So if you are looking for something to see in the Netherlands in May, you can go to Saanse-Schans, a stunningly atmospheric place, which is an open-air museum in a picturesque landscape. On its territory there are about 30 traditional Dutch houses from all over the country, as well as museums, farms and a dozen working mills. Once in Saanse-Schans, visitors have the opportunity to go back several centuries and experience the life of old Holland - to learn how mills grind grain, bake delicious bread, make authentic Dutch cheese, sewing klompas - the traditional shoes of the Dutch.

Official website: https://www.dezaan

25. Project Delta (southwest of the Netherlands)

The impressive defenses of Project Delta in the Southwest Netherlands

Geographically, Holland is a low-lying country, so its land is extremely vulnerable to water. After one massive flood, the government began to develop the Delta, a project that took 47 years to realize. This is how two giant storm barriers were created, in the Nieuwe-Waterweg and in the Eastern Scheldt. One of the barriers, Maslantkering, is a giant gate that closes off the river in the event of a storm, and in the absence of threats is in an open position, hidden on the banks in special docks. The second barrier, Osterscheldekering, is an entire complex consisting of an artificial island, a storm barrier, and side dikes. The barrier itself is 65 giant concrete columns of 18,000 tons each, with steel gates with sluice mechanisms attached between them.

Official website: http://www.deltawerken