The Netherlands is a land of fairy tale settings. Imagine idyllic hamlets with towering windmills, tulip fields that pale the rainbow in comparison, and wide and narrow bridges over pretty canals. Add world-class art museums and cheese markets, and you have a list of some of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands.
Explore our guide to spending a perfect day in Amsterdam.
While Amsterdam is the country’s crown jewel, don’t miss the charming villages of Kinderdijk, known for 18th-century windmills, Edam for its cheese, and Giethoorn, known as the Venice of the North. Soak in the vibes of Zaanse Schans with its traditional wooden houses and consider including historic towns like Maastricht and Alkmaar in your itinerary. The pretty Keukenhof Gardens and the De Hoge Veluwe Nature Reserve are a treat for the eyes. Plan your next holiday with our carefully curated selection of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands.
Best time to visit the beautiful places in the Netherlands
April to October is considered the best time to visit the Netherlands, as the tulip season starts around late March, and Autumn is equally pleasant with stunning fall colours. The peak tourist season begins in the summer, June to August, while winter brings in some rain and respite from crowds.
Here’s our guide to the best times to visit Amsterdam for great weather, smaller crowds, and tulips.
Most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands
Canals of Amsterdam
The best and the most mesmerising way to experience the capital city of the Netherlands is on a canal cruise. Float along the 17th-century iconic canals of Amsterdam, taking in the history and the beauty of the landscapes around you, crossing over 90 islands with 1,500 bridges. The labyrinthine maze of canals that slice and dice the city, covering 100 km and 1,500 gabled monuments on its banks, is a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands. The three main canals – Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Herengracht – along with Jordaan, form the canal ring of Amsterdam. There are numerous cruises, from the classic one-hour rides to sunset cruises with live music, wine and cheese. If you feel like cruising beyond Amsterdam, consider a day trip to Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans Windmills.
Venture beyond the canals and explore more of this beautiful city with our selection of the best things to do in Amsterdam.
Best time to explore: March-August
Best hotels: Hotel Pulitzer, Amsterdam, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam.
How to reach: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is approximately 14 km from the city centre and the main canal.
Book your stay at Pulitzer Amsterdam via Booking.com
Book your stay at Pulitzer Amsterdam via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam via Booking.com
Book your stay at Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam via Agoda.com
Windmills of Kinderdijk
Step inside a dreamy picture postcard at the bucolic village of Kinderdijk, known for its monumental windmills standing on the Alblasserwaard polder. Of the 19 traditional windmills dating to the 17th century, a couple called Nederwaard and Blokweer mills are museums as well. Bike around the pretty canals, head to the Visitor Centre, once a pumping station, and lose yourself in the fascinating sight of the spinning majestic sails. This UNESCO Heritage Site is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands. You can visit Kinderdijk on a day trip from Amsterdam. There is an entry fee to the museums.
Here’s why shoulder season is the best time to visit Amsterdam.
Best time to explore: March-October
Best hotels: BnB’t Ambacht, Bed and Breakfast ‘De Ouwebeer.
How to reach: Rotterdam Airport is approximately 48 km away.
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Book your stay at BnB 't Ambacht via Agoda.com
Keukenhof Gardens
As spring dawns, the Keukenhof Gardens bloom with a riot of colours with the onset of the tulip season. The Garden of Europe, one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands, is located in Lisee and can be experienced as a day trip from Amsterdam. Spread over 32 hectares with millions of bulbs planted annually, the gardens are open to the public only during spring.
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Choose among a variety of themed gardens from Hilltop Heaven and Beach Garden to Sounds of Spring and Romantic Mystery. You can go on guided tours, cycle along the pretty pathways, visit a traditional mill or just wake up and smell the tulips. While entry is free, you need to book tickets and slots to avoid crowds. Head to the 17th-century castle and museum for a peek into their history.
Here’s how you can cover the tulip fields across the Netherlands by train.
Best time to explore: March-May
Best hotels: Boutique Suites Lisse, and B7B.
How to reach: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is approximately 20 km away.
Book your stay at Boutique Suites Lisse via Booking.com
Book your stay at Boutique Suites Lisse via Agoda.com
De Hoge Veluwe National Park
Bike and hike through this green heartland of the Netherlands boasting a mesmerising and diverse landscape of woodlands, heaths and dunes spread over 13,000 acres rich in endemic flora and fauna. Say hello to the red deer and mouflon, spot the black woodpecker, lose yourself in the fens filled with moor frogs and natterjack toads, and look out for the wolves in the national park while admiring the colourful and rare flora that thrive in this ecosystem. Rent the iconic white bike and ride through the 40 designated trails in the national park. But there is more than just nature. Immerse yourself in the art, architecture and cultural heritage as you admire the private Van Gogh collection at the Kröller-Müller museum, a must for art enthusiasts.
Best time to explore: June-September
Best hotels: Hotel de Sterrenberg, and Van der Valk Hotel Arnhem.
How to reach: Weeze Airport is approximately 60 km from De Hoge Veluwe National Park.
Book your stay Hotel de Sterrenberg via Booking.com
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Book your stay at Van der Valk Hotel Arnhem via Booking.com
Book your stay at Van der Valk Hotel Arnhem via Agoda.com
Wadden Sea
Beaches, islands, coastal wetlands, dunes and polders, mud flats, and nature reserves are key natural attractions at this UNESCO Heritage Site, one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands. The Wadden Sea, stretching from the Netherlands to Germany and Denmark has some of the most unique landscapes formed by tidal movements covering the provinces of North Holland, Friesland and Groningen. Walk on the sea bed during low tide, also known as wadlopen, and feel the incredible ecosystem. The Dark Sky Parks are some of the darkest places in the Netherlands, and the Lauwersmeer National Park is the most popular amongst stargazers and astronomers. Take a cruise to Texel Island, feast on the spectacular landscapes with picturesque beaches, dunes and salt marshes and look out for marine species like seals and porpoises. A birdwatcher’s paradise, spend a night on a historic sailboat and experience the unique tidal biodiversity.
Best time to explore: April-October
Best hotels: Hotel de Walvisvaarder, and Hotel de Bank.
How to reach: The Groningen Airport Eelde is approximately 56 km away.
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Book your stay at Hotel De Walvisvaarder via Agoda.com
Book your stay at DE BANK" - Hotel Apartments via Booking.com
Book your stay at "DE BANK" - Hotel Apartments via Agoda.com
Maastricht
With over 1,500 heritage monuments, the vibrant Maastricht with its Roman history is more than just a historic town. The atmospheric capital of Limburg, the birthplace of the Euro, has a colourful and youthful vibe filled with picturesque squares, museums, basilicas, cafes and restaurants. Explore the labyrinthine Valkenburg Caves on a spooky underground guided tour. Take a selfie at the medieval St Servatius Bridge and head to the Basilica of Servaaskerk, the oldest church in the Netherlands and Basilica of Our Lady. Wander around the City Hall and Market Square, admire art at the Bonnefanten Museum and don’t miss the prettiest Boekhandel Dominicanen bookstore, nestled inside a 700-year-old church. For a dash of romance, head to Valkenburg, the only hilltop castle in the country, and indulge in some wellness rituals.
Best time to explore: May to October
Best hotels: Kruisheren Hotel Maastricht, and Design Hotel Maastricht.
How to reach: The Maastricht Aachen Airport is approximately 15 km from the city centre.
Book your stay at Kruisherenhotel Maastricht via Booking.com
Book your stay at Kruisherenhotel Maastricht via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Designhotel Maastricht via Booking.com
Book your stay at Designhotel Maastricht via Agoda.com
Giethoorn
This fairytale village looks straight out of an artist’s canvas with wooden arch bridges spanning over canals, and charming farmhouses with sloping thatched roofs dotting meadows, where tourists can only sail, bike or walk around.
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There are no roads in this “Venice Of The Netherlands” boasting hand-dug canals and tiny lush islands. One of the most incredibly beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands, this pretty hamlet, home to a few thousand people, is the perfect destination to do simply nothing. However, you can rent a boat and go sailing on your own and in winter you can even opt for ice skating on the frozen canals.
Explore the ‘Venice Of The Netherlands’ for a fairytale vacation with our ultimate travel guide to Giethoorn.
Best time to explore: April-October
Best hotels: De Dames Van De Jonge Hotel, and Kollen Giethoorn.
How to reach: The Groningen airport is approximately 55 km away.
Book your stay at De Dames Van De Jonge Hotel Restaurant via Booking.com
Book your stay at De Dames Van De Jonge Hotel Restaurant via Agoda.com
Zaanse Schans
A microcosm of the Netherlands, this little village is more of a time capsule where you can find a gallery of traditional working windmills on the River Zaan and experience life in the 17th-18th centuries. Become a slow traveller and explore the open-air art and architecture museum at your own pace. Recreated with old wooden buildings, mills and barns, you can find a community of mill workers and artisans at Zaanse Schans. Stop by to say hello to the cheese maker and the baker, head to the clog factory, and attend the workshop of the pewter smith and the weaver. Cruise on the Zaan River, visit museums, attend workshops, shop for handicrafts or bike around the tulip gardens, but don’t miss the Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm. Located in Zaandam town near Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands and a must-add to your itinerary.
Best time to explore: March-August
Best hotels: Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam, and Zaan Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam.
How to reach: The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is approximately 38 km away.
Book your stay at Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam via Booking.com
Book your stay at Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Zaan Hotel Amsterdam via Booking.com
Book your stay at Zaan Hotel Amsterdam via Agoda.com
Edam
Think Edam and you think of cheese, cheese markets, cheese museums, and cheese warehouses that have put this little hamlet on the global map. But the quaint charm of the Dutch village has also made it one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands. Soak in the bucolic vibe of the Dutch countryside, walk along Kwakelbrug, the 18th-century wooden drawbridge, cruise along the historic canals, visit the Edam Museum and Fort Bij Edam and camp along the coastline overlooking the Markermeer sea and head to the neighbouring settlement of Volendam.
Best time to explore: June-September
Best hotels: L’Auberge Damhotel Edam, and Hotel De Fortuna.
How to reach: The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is approximately 30 km away.
Book your stay at l'Auberge Damhotel via Booking.com
Book your stay at l'Auberge Damhotel via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Hotel & Restaurant De Fortuna via Booking.com
Book your stay at Hotel & Restaurant De Fortuna via Agoda.com
Alkmaar
The traditional cheese market of Alkmaar is one of the crown jewels of this Dutch city, but the old-world charm of this medieval city makes it one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands. Go on a historic art and architectural tour, walk around the picturesque courtyards, bike around the city, admire the facades of the buildings, cruise along the canals, visit museums, and go shopping. But nothing is more spectacular than watching a square full of cheese – totally Instagram-worthy! Watch the traditional market unfold before you and say cheese as you lug a heavy piece and take a selfie. The cheese markets are open only on Friday mornings from April to September, while there are evening markets during summer as well on Tuesdays.
Best time to explore: April-September
Best hotels: Amrath Hotel, and Hotel Alkmaar.
How to reach: The Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is approximately 36 km away.
Book your stay at Amrâth Hotel Alkmaar via Booking.com
Book your stay at Amrath Hotel Alkmaar via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Hotel Alkmaar via Booking.com
Book your stay at Hotel Alkmaar via Agoda.com
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(Feature Image Credit: fokke baarssen/Shutterstock)
Related | The 55 Most Beautiful Places In The World
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-What are some of the most beautiful landmarks of the Netherlands?
The canals of Amsterdam, the Keukenhof Gardens, the windmills of Kinderdjik, the Cube Houses of Rotterdam, the Cheese Markets of Alkmaar, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam are some of the most beautiful landmarks of the Netherlands.
-Are there any picturesque beaches or waterfronts in the Netherlands?
While the Wadden Sea and the beaches around it are very picturesque, the Netherlands is known for the canals – be it in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Giethoorn Village, or Broek in Waterland are some of the places you must visit to experience the canals.
-Which parks and gardens are worth visiting in the Netherlands?
The Keukenhof Gardens, Vondelpark in Amsterdam, Dakpark in Rotterdam, Maximapark in Utrecht, and Stadspark in Maastricht are some of the best parks and gardens worth visiting in the Netherlands.
-What are some of the iconic cultural sites and museums in the Netherlands?
The Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum., Rembrandt House Village and the village of Zaanse Schans are some of the iconic cultural sites and museums in the Netherlands.
-Are there any hidden gems or lesser-known beautiful places in the Netherlands?
Delft, Groningen, Begijnhof, Leiden, Beemster Polder, Thorn, and Lisse are some of the hidden gems or lesser-known beautiful places in the Netherlands.
-What are the best locations for experiencing the Netherlands’ vibrant nightlife?
Amsterdam, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Hague and Utrecht are some destinations in the Netherlands known for vibrant nightlife.
-Are there any picturesque day trips from the Netherlands worth taking?
From Amsterdam, you can take day trips to the Keukenhof Gardens, the windmills of Kinderdjik, the villages of Zaanse Schans and Giethoorn, Haarlem, Hague, and Delft. You can also visit places in Germany and Belgium as well.
-Are there any activities besides sightseeing in these beautiful locations?
You can trek, bike, cruise and do several outdoor activities besides enjoy the culinary fares and go shopping There are several bars, restaurants, cafes and shops here.
-How can I best explore these beautiful places in the Netherlands?
While most places are connected by airports, public transport is the best way to reach these beautiful places. You can also rent a car or bike as cycling is one of the favourite pastimes of the Dutch.
Written By
Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi is passionate about everything that is local — from cultural traditions to art and architecture and believes that people make places. A slow and mindful traveller from India, you will often find her listening to stories of people or just sitting in a cafe and watching life pass by. Travelling is a way of life for this former media professional who quit her desk and decade long corporate career to become a storyteller.
