Things to do and see in the Netherlands

Commonly known by the name of its historic region, called Holland, the official name of this country is the Netherlands. The Netherlands is famous for its windmills and the pleasant pace of its canal-crossed cities; a perfect blend of history, rich culture and breathtaking natural scenery. Read on as we tell you all about what to see in the Netherlands.

As you may already know, Passporter helps you create your travel itineraries quickly and easily. You can also draw inspiration from the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most and add them to your route.

Cities to see in the Netherlands

Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the most visited capitals in the world, and with good reason. Famous for its windmills and the canals that run throughout the city. Amsterdam is a city that invites you to lose yourself in its art-filled corners.

Walking along the Brouwersgacht canal, you’ll find one of the city’s most bohemian and multicultural neighbourhoods: the Jordaan. Formerly known as the city’s Jewish quarter, it’s a great place to enjoy a coffee or do some souvenir shopping.

And, as we mentioned, Amsterdam is full of canals. So, it’s common to see lots of boats and even houseboats and floating shops. In fact, there is a flower market, the Bloemenmarkt, which is located on different boats moored on the banks of the Singel channel. It’s a charming market that we recommend you add to your list of things to see in Holland.

After your tour of the Dutch capital, you should definitely check out Dam Square. Amsterdam has many squares. But here you’ll find a number of monuments that are not to be missed. Including the 22-metre-high monument that stands in the middle of the square and commemorates the Dutch victims of the Second World War.

You’ll also be able to admire the Royal Palace, a monumental neoclassical palace, which you can enter for as little as €10.

Don’t forget to visit one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful churches nearby, the Neuwe Kerk. The New Church of Amsterdam is a small church dating back to the 15th century. The place where Dutch kings were once crowned.

We’ll tell you all about the capital: Things to do in Amsterdam

Haarlem

At the edge of the sea and full of monuments that have stood the test of time is the city of Haarlem. And the first stop on your visit to this unique city is none other than its central station.

As soon as you step off the train, you’ll come across one of the city’s attractions. It’s an impressive station, decorated with art nouveau elements that give it a unique charm. Its brick façade in the purest Dutch style leaves no one indifferent, either.

If you don’t want to miss out on some impressive sights to see in Holland, we recommend that you head for the Grote Markt. Haarlem’s central square is the nerve centre of the city. As well as being home to monuments such as the Stadhuis (the city hall) and St. Bavo’s Church.

The Stadhuis was built in the 14th century, where once stood a noble castle that burned down in a fire. It also once housed the Frans Hal museum and the city’s public library. So, it’s definitely a must-see monument in the Netherlands.

As for St Bavo’s Church, this beautiful Gothic church deserves a separate mention. It was originally a Catholic Church and was the main religious representation of the town. Later, they converted it into a Protestant church. Don’t forget to go inside, as there’s an organ inside that is rumoured to have been played by Mozart himself.

And if you visit the city of Haarlem when the weather is good, a great option is to go to the beach at Zandvoort and Zee. It’s a beach close to the city where you can enjoy the sun. That only comes out for a few months in the Netherlands.

Discover Haarlem with Passporter

The Hague, the other capital to see in the Netherlands

Although Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, The Hague is a city of great administrative importance. And it is therefore considered to be another capital. Not only that, The Hague’s streets are lined with stately buildings, as well as beautiful natural areas, making it unforgivable to miss.

Among the most impressive sights is the castle of Binnenhof, which is home to the Parliament of the Netherlands. This is a beautiful complex dating from the 13th century with a huge lake next to it, called the Court Spring.

Next to the castle, we find the Ridderzal, a monumental building known as the Hall of the Knights. This Gothic-style building was built in the 13th century and has two beautiful towers, which undoubtedly stand out from the rest of the complex.

After leaving this area behind, take a stroll along the city’s canals to Nordeinde Street. This shopping area is home to the shops of the most renowned clothing brands, but it also conceals a unique detail. On this street you’ll also find a must-see monument in Holland, the Royal Palace of The Hague.

Finally, if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, head to Scheveningse Forest. It’s a huge park in one of the highest altitude areas of The Hague.

And if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also find the Marudoram miniature museum, a unique museum to see in the Netherlands, which is especially popular with the younger children.

Further reading: Things to do in The Hague, The Netherlands

Utrecht

Because of the famous Treaty of Utrecht, this city has nothing to envy from cities like The Hague or Amsterdam. Start your tour at Domplein Square, an enclave where all the life of the city takes place and where, many centuries ago, a Roman settlement of great importance once stood.

In fact, you can delve into the depths of the square to discover the DOMunder and all about the Roman origins of the city of Utrecht on a guided tour of one of the best archaeological exhibits to see in the Netherlands.

After going underground, we recommend you climb to the top of the Dom Tower, as it is the tallest and oldest tower to see in Holland. It is 112 metres high and has an impressive belfry with 13 bells, which can weigh up to tons.

The Academiegebouw, another must-see building, is a true representation of the university spirit of Utrecht. It has a sober façade and next to the complex is a statue of Jan Van Nasse, the renowned figure who played an important role in the so-called Union of Utrecht, which was signed on the same spot in 1579.

Utrecht in depth: Things to do and see in Utrecht

Delft

Famous for its beautiful blue ceramics, Delft is one of the cities where you can really immerse yourself in the essence of the Dutch country. The city is full of impressive buildings that have survived the test of time and is definitely a must-see stop in Holland.

The first thing you must visit is the Oude Kerk, the Old Church of the city of Delft. In addition to its beauty, this building has a peculiar history: given its proximity to the river, after being rebuilt, its tower has been left leaning due to the lack of stability of the ground.

Follow your route to the Grote Markt, the central square of the city of Delft, where you will also find the city’s New Church and the town hall, the Stadhuis, two buildings that are of great importance to the locals of Delft.

If you want to see one of the mythical windmills that adorn the landscapes of the Netherlands, we recommend a visit to the Roos windmill.

This mill was built in 1679 and its function was to grind corn and produce different products. It has been restored to receive visits to the public, so don’t miss the opportunity to visit it.

Read all about Things to do and see in Delft

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to do in the Netherlands in 6 days

As you’ve seen, the Netherlands is a country with a lot to offer, and it’s easy to get lost in all that there is to see. That’s why we’ve put together a little summary of what you can do in 6 days, although as we always say, this is only a guide.

First day

Of course, we start our route in Amsterdam: the capital of the Netherlands. In fact, given the distances between the different cities, one recommendation is that you make Amsterdam your base camp, from which you will move each day to the next points on the route.

If you’ve visited Amsterdam before, another option is to head to the Zaanse Schans for a longer visit. We’ve included it here, because if you decide to sleep in Amsterdam every day, you’ll be able to visit all parts of the city in your free time each day.

Second day

We start the second day in Rotterdam, a city that breaks with the stereotype of a Dutch city, given its modern and avant-garde appearance.

Take the opportunity to visit the various monuments that have made Rotterdam a world architectural landmark

Third day

To continue this journey through the Netherlands, the next stop is The Hague, the second capital of the Netherlands.

You’ll pass from modern Rotterdam to a city full of historic buildings, which make this one of the most monumental cities to see in the Netherlands.

Fourth day

Utrecht is the fourth city you will visit: a city with a lot of historical significance because of the Roman settlement that took the city of Utrecht as its home.

But Utrecht is not only that, it is also home to the tallest tower in the Netherlands, as well as impressive buildings that will leave no one indifferent.

Fifth day

Blue pottery was for a long time the main driving force of the city of Delft and is now one of its main attractions.

But you’ll also find buildings that have survived the hardships of time and history, such as its Oude Kerk, a church that stands out for the particularity of being leaning.

Sixth day

We end the route in Haarlem, a miniature Amsterdam, featuring buildings such as its spectacular Gothic cathedral, where it is said that Mozart himself played the organ that adorns the main hall.

And if you fancy the sun and sea, there’s a fantastic beach just minutes from the centre. A city with a lot to offer, without a doubt.

Must-see places to visit in the Netherlands

Zaanse Schans, a village to see in The Netherlands

A few kilometres from the capital of Amsterdam, we find a bucolic village full of windmills, which give their name to the village of Zaanse Schans and are a must-see place in the Netherlands.

The windmills are the main attraction of the village and are in very good condition, as well as offering beautiful scenery alongside the wooden houses where the locals live. You can also visit a famous clog factory and eat some of the most delicious cheeses in the Netherlands.

You can take a train from Amsterdam, which will drop you off in just fifteen minutes at Zaanse Schans station.

Rotterdam

After telling you about the most important cities to see in the Netherlands, Holland, we still have to mention one city that stands out from the rest: Rotterdam.

Away from the aesthetics of the typical windmill and canal landscapes that abound in Dutch cities, Rotterdam is a city with the most modern buildings and monuments in the Netherlands. After the bombings of World War II, its inhabitants decided to reinvent the aesthetics of the city and turn it into a place of reference for its avant-garde architecture.

You should definitely check out the Cubic Houses, one of the most iconic buildings in the city of Rotterdam, which are literally houses with a cubic design and a 45-degree inclination.

Another breathtaking construction is the Erasmus Bridge, an amazing bridge that is 800 metres long and towers over 139 metres at its highest point.

Tips for your trip to the Netherlands, Holland

• The currency in the Netherlands is the euro.
• If you’re travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange currency in advance.
• We recommend you travel in spring, because of the temperatures and the vegetation that grows at that time: it’s really beautiful.
• The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
• Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel with insurance.

How to organise what to see in the Netherlands

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need, and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

If you have any doubts about how to do this, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Netherlands