What are the best places to visit in The Netherlands? In this article, I’ll share the most beautiful places in my country.
I’ve lived in The Netherlands all my life. I was born in a little village near Groningen (in the north of the country), and I’ve lived in Groningen, Leeuwarden, and Amsterdam. I’ve visited lots of places in The Netherlands, and these are my favorites.
What about the big cities?
Before we dive into the list, let’s address the elephant in the room! Of course, world-famous cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague are absolutely gorgeous and should definitely be on your itinerary if it’s your first time visiting (you can read my Weekend in Amsterdam guide here and my tips for The Hague here).
However, as a local, I want to show you that there is so much more to my country than just the major cities in the Randstad area. That’s why in this list, I’m sharing 11 of my personal favorite, slightly more unique places to explore in The Netherlands.
Beautiful places to visit in The Netherlands
Are you ready? Let’s start with the place where my family is from: the gorgeous province of Friesland.
The Frisian lakes
Friesland is a province in the north and is famous because of the many lakes. A long time ago, my grandparents went on vacation each year to a small village near the lakes, and I loved visiting them. Being outside all day, incredibly peaceful, and it was absolutely awesome to go sailing. If you like water as much as I do, definitely visit the Frisian lakes for a couple of days.
Read more about the amazing province of Friesland: 15 great things to do in Friesland (The Netherlands)
Zwolle
You can find the city of Zwolle more to the center of the country. It’s a gorgeous town, with a historic city center. It also has many great restaurants (make sure to make a reservation, especially during weekends) and cafes. If you’d like to go for a stroll, make sure to check out the historic city walls.
National Park de Veluwezoom
There are several National Parks in The Netherlands and of the most beautiful is National Park De Veluwezoom. It’s quite hilly and has many beautiful hiking trails. If you visit this park during the months of August or September, you might see the heather turn into bright purple colors.
Groningen
I cannot make a list of beautiful places in The Netherlands without mentioning my home town Groningen! This is the place where I grew up and after spending 12 years in Amsterdam, I decided to move back.
There’s always something to do, thanks to the large student population. The city is home to one of the best museums in The Netherlands (Groninger Museum), and a few years ago they opened the Groninger Forum. A place to study, work, or simply enjoy the view of the city center from the roof.
National Park De Biesbosch
The second national park on this list is De Biesbosch. This is one of the largest National Parks in The Netherlands and is well-known because of the wetlands. It’s actually quite similar to the Everglades in Florida (but without the alligators). A great place to discover by boat and enjoy nature.
Vlieland
In the north of The Netherlands, there are five large islands. So far, I’ve visited four out of five, the only place I’d still love to see is Vlieland. This island has only one town (with a beautiful lighthouse) and the majority of the island consists of sand dunes. A great place to relax (it can be really quiet), go walking and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
Photo: Wieger Waardenburg | Pixabay
Kinderdijk
Kinderdijk (close to Rotterdam) is one of the most famous places in The Netherlands and has a row of historic windmills from the 18th century. When you visit Kinderdijk, I’m sure you’ll feel like you’re in The Netherlands. It’s also close to National Park de Biesbosch, so it would be perfect to combine both highlights.
Photo: Hendrik Kuterman | Unsplash
Keukenhof
The Keukenhof is one of the most famous places to visit in The Netherlands. For good reason, because who doesn’t want to see all those flowers? The Keukenhof is one big tulip festival, it’s only open for a few months a year (usually from the end of March till the beginning of May).
Make sure to visit the Keukenhof when you’re in The Netherlands during this time of year. You can find all the information on this website. If you don’t like the crowds, you can also rent a bike a go biking in the area around Lisse. You will see flower fields everywhere you look.
Important travel tip: Keukenhof is incredibly popular and tickets often sell out fast. Make sure to buy your skip-the-line tickets well in advance!
Zaanse Schans
Another historic and very Dutch place is the Zaanse Schans. You’ll find lots of iconic windmills and traditional wooden houses here. It’s essentially an open-air museum that takes you back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Such a beautiful sight!
Local tip: It gets quite busy, so I recommend going early in the morning. You can easily book a guided half-day tour from Amsterdam to make your trip completely hassle-free.
Oostvaardersplassen
When you take the train from Amsterdam to Zwolle, Groningen, or Leeuwarden, you’ll pass one of the most beautiful landscapes in The Netherlands: the Oostvaardersplassen in Nieuw Land National Park. It’s kind of a surreal landscape, with deer and wild horses. There are a couple of short hiking trails as well.
Utrecht
I highly recommend visiting Utrecht! I’ve been spending quite some time here recently, as I regularly house-sit for a former colleague (and take care of their adorable cat). It has allowed me to truly get to know the city like a local. Utrecht has a beautiful historic city center with unique canals featuring wharf cellars (werfkelders) that are now filled with cozy restaurants and cafes. It gives you that classic Amsterdam vibe, but without the massive tourist crowds. Plus, climbing the iconic Dom Tower offers the best view of the city.
Which places would you like to visit in The Netherlands?
Traveling to The Netherlands: practical tips
Would you like to visit The Netherlands? As a local, I’ve got some practical tips.
How to get to The Netherlands
It’s pretty easy to get to The Netherlands from all over the world. Within Europe, you can easily reach the country by bus or train. If you choose to arrive by plane, you’ll probably arrive at Schiphol international airport (near Amsterdam). Check Skyscanner to find the best deals.
How to get around
It’s very easy to use public transport in The Netherlands, you can practically go everywhere by train, bus, or tram. You can check Google Maps for itineraries.
Where to stay
Most people choose to stay in Amsterdam, which is the capital of The Netherlands. However, this is also the most expensive place to stay. If you’d like to see more of the country, I would suggest staying in Utrecht instead.
This city has a very central location, has one of the largest train stations in The Netherlands, and isn’t overrun by tourists. If you want a real Dutch experience, I would recommend staying in one of the smaller cities, like Zwolle, Groningen, Leiden, or Nijmegen.
Booking a hotel room, a bed in a hostel or a beautiful country house is very easy when you use Booking.com.
Best time to travel to The Netherlands
The best time to travel to The Netherlands is during Spring. You have a good chance to see the flower fields and experience King’s Day, one of the most fun holidays in The Netherlands. Of course, every other time of the year also has its charm. During summer you can go swimming in the lakes and the beaches, during autumn it’s great to see all the trees change color in the forests and in winter you might get a chance to go ice skating.
Read more about The Netherlands
Get one of these great guidebooks for more inspiration and tips:
Because I love exploring my own country, you can read more about beautiful places in the Netherlands on this website. You might like to check out these articles as well:
- 18 Hidden gems in The Netherlands: off the beaten path with a local
- A weekend in Amsterdam: 30 tips from local
- 12 beautiful cities in The Netherlands
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This article was published in March 2020. Latest update: February 2026.
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