The Netherlands also known as Holland to most people is an European country located on the Western part of the European continent. It boarders Belgium to the south, Germany to the east and the North Sea to the north. In addition to the vast territory there are three other islands located in the Caribbean.
The term Netherlands means “lower countries”, owing to It’s low land and flat geography. As a result, the country is a favorite and popular tourist destination as it’s easy to explore especially through bike rides. Bicycles are valued assets of the Dutch people and are also an important part of the Dutch culture. Most tourist resorts in the Netherlands therefore provide bicycle services to tourists for free or on cheap prices.
Apart from the many museums and art galleries found in the capital which are popular with most tourists, there are other major tourist attractions in the countryside that are not so famous and await to be explored.
The countryside is dotted with many fascinating traditional Dutch villages and towns that are a breathtaking sight to see. Most of the Dutch people living in these villages are welcoming and hospitable to the tourists hence more and more tourists have come visiting each year. Here therefore are the top ten best places to visit in Netherlands.
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1. A visit And Walk In The City Of Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the largest and most beautiful cities on the European continent. It’s a city characterized by beautiful clusters of river canals that enable one to take breathtaking boat rides through the city. From the moment you land in the city you will be in a position to experience the rich cultures and entertainment spots that Amsterdam offers. For one to have a complete experience in the Amsterdam cosmopolitan area, some of the most amazing places that one cannot miss to visit include the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. A visit to these museums enables tourist reconnect with Netherlands past rich history as well as their rich cultures. Along the river canals that run through the city are also the canal houses that were built in the 17th century. Tourists who are in love with amazing architectural masterpieces cannot help but visit the area. Further on along this canals is the Red light district that is today famous for It’s art studios as well as It’s super cool restaurants and hangout joints.
2. The Wadden Sea
Commonly referred to as the Waddenzee, the area is one of the most important and most protected nature reserves in the Netherlands. It’s also one of the world’s largest remaining wetlands ecosystems today. The area is located in the Groningen province along the Dutch coast. It is famous for large variety of wildlife and different species of birds. Among some of the most abundant animals that you will find here are seals, different species of fish as well as migratory birds that call the area home. The Waddenzee is a nature paradise and any tourist visiting the Netherlands on vacation should not miss the opportunity to explore this magical land.
3. The Old Windmills Of Kinderdijk
Nothing characterizes the traditional Dutch landscapes better than It’s ancient windmills that are still in existence in many parts of the country up to date. However the most renowned of this ancient windmills are the 19 windmills in Kinderdijk that are under the protection of UNESCO. The windmills are some of the most famous sights in Netherlands. Many tourists from different parts of the world visit this windmills to learn more about water management using this massive windmills that were designed in 1740 with the aim of draining water from the Alblasserwaard Polders. Kinderdijk is found on the southern part of Holland and is easily accessible by car, bus or train. It’s about 15 kilometers east of Rotterdam.
4. The Hoge Veluwe National park
The park is found in the Dutch province of Gelderland and covers an area of 5,400 hectares making it one of the largest nature reserves in Holland. The park is home to a variety of wildlife as well as geographical formations such as sand dunes and extensive cover of dense woodlands. Some of the most famous , renowned and attractive attractions of the park include the Kroller-Muller Museum which houses the largest collection of Van Gogh collection in the world as well as the Museonder commonly known as the underground museum which houses some of the finest sculpture gardens in the world. The park is easy to explore for all tourists who visit as there is a collection of close to 1,700 bicycles which are free for everyone to use.
5. The Keukenhof Gardens
Second in size in the world after the Dubai miracle Garden, the keukenhof gardens are among the country’s greatest attractions. They are often referred to as “The garden of Europe” as they are extensive gardens filled with various types of flowers. The best time to visit the Bulb region where these flowers are planted is in autumn and spring when the area is dominated by different scents and colors making the whole area appear magnificently beautiful. One of the most memorable moments for any tourist who visits the region is the short walks or bike rides through the gardens as well as having lunch on several onsite restaurants in the area.
6. Haarlem (North Holland)
Harlem is the capital of North Holland, located about 20 kilometers west of Amsterdam. Famous with tourists due to It’s large concentration of Museums in It’s outskirts. Harlem is a great city to visit for those tourists who want to reconnect with history and culture. Harlem is also one of the best place to do some shopping while in the Netherlands owing numerous shopping malls and stores. The restaurants in the area do not also disappoint and many tourists opt to sample the wide variety of Dutch cuisine found at this restaurants.
7. The Hague
The Hague is a cosmopolitan city found on the western part of the country. It’s dubbed as the “Judicial Capital of the World” as it is home to the International Criminal court. The city is famous with tourists for Its golden sandy beaches, fine art as well as It’s outstanding architecture that includes beautiful and magnificent skyscrapers. The major and most notable of these attractions include the prison gate museum, The Madurodam which is iconic as a miniature city in Scheveningen, the Royal picture gallery as well as the amazing beautiful beach resort of scheveningen.
8. The Efteling Theme Park
The Efteling theme park established in 1952 is the oldest of It’s kind in Europe. It is located in south Netherlands in the town of Kaatsheuvel. It’s almost similar to Disney land in California but twice as large. The theme park is divided up into four different realms comprising of different themes. It’s popular with tourists especially those who want family outings and fun days with their family members. The theme park has a wide range of attractions ranging from top of the class hotels and restaurants, open green gardens as well as the occasional theatrical performances.
9. The Alkmaar Cheese Market
For many years the Netherlands has been famous for livestock production especially in cattle rearing. As a result the Alkmaar cheese market in Waagplein has been held for many years since It’s inception in 1593,The market has there developed to become an important part of the Dutch culture and tradition. The market is held each year beginning in the first Friday of April each year and ends in the first Friday of September. In this market , one is able to sample and buy the different variety of top class Dutch cheese. Alkamar is situated 40 kilometers northwest of Amsterdam.
10. A Trip Through Rotterdam
Located in the province of south Holland, Rotterdam is the second largest city in Holland and is famous for It’s amazing waterside setting, iconic architectural masterpieces as well as It’s place as a leading commercial center in Europe. Rotterdam is home to one of the most famous, largest and busiest ports in the world. For tourists who are visiting with a passion of discovering new business ventures the city of Rotterdam does not disappoint. The nightlife in Rotterdam does not also disappoint owing to It’s numerous nightspots such as clubs, bars and restaurants where tourists can have fun.
11. A Trip through Delft city
Located in the province of south Holland, Delft is a typical Dutch city famous for It’s fine art as well as It’s blue and white pottery. The city has wonderful attractions to see such as museums, wonderful parks, historic sites and buildings built along the canals as well as lovely bars and restaurants. The weather and climate in Delft is also welcoming to most tourists who visit the area.
12. The city of Maastricht
The city lies on the South Eastern part of the country near the border of both Belgium and Germany. It’s the capital of Limburg province and was once a Roman settlement. As a result the city is home to multiple and attractive tourist historical sites dating back to the roman empire rule. It’s therefore rich in museum’s as well as having ancient medieval town within It’s environs. The city has also plenty of cobble stone streets with abundant luxurious restaurants and pubs.
13. The City of Leiden
Among the most beautiful cities in Holland is the city of Leiden. The city is characterized by the scenic tree lined canals that interlock beautifully with wooden bridges, lush parks as well as the old Dutch windmills. The most notable tourist attractions in Leiden include the old beautiful museums that have dedicated to the preservation of old Dutch wind mills which are great scientific inventions that led to Dutch land reclamation success as well as in the preservation of Egyptian Antiquities. The city also offers numerous sprawling botanical gardens with the most renowned being the Hortus Botanicus. The architectural masterpieces in the city do not also disappoint. Visitors can marvel at beautiful architectural buildings such as the 16th century Church of St Peters.
14. A Trip Through The City Of Gouda
No trip in the Netherlands is complete without a visit through Gouda. Owing to It’s fantastic railway lines, Gouda offers some of the best scenic sites of a Dutch city and countryside. The city is famous for It’s cheese, candles, clay pipes as well as It’s stroopwafels often referred to as the syrup waffles. Other major tourist attractions in the city include the 15th century old town halls. The city is also so rounded by beautiful canals.
15. The New Dutch waterline
Since ancient times the Dutch are famous for their fierce fight against their enemies. The Dutch waterline is a 135 kilometer long fort that is made up of 45 strongholds that so round the cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht. The fort is therefore an architectural marvel to many tourists visiting the area. Other breathtaking views and scenery in the area include the traditional villages in the vicinity, rivers, museums and numerous castles. The fort provides a great area for adventurers to explore.
16. The City of Groningen
The city is smaller than the four main cities of Holland, However the city is never short of tourist attractions within It’s vicinity. The city boast of two famous colleges making it a favorite destination for many tourists to visit in the northern part of Holland especially for visiting students who want to familiarize themselves with Dutch curriculum. It’s also famous for It’s fine art , music as well as museums. The city boasts of various types of museums such as the comics museum, maritime museum graphical museum and the university museum. Because of It’s centers of higher learning, the city boasts of a high student population hence the nightlife is always active. The city has some of the best entertainment joints in Holland hence many tourists opt to reside in the town while on a tour of north Holland.
Final Words
The Netherlands is a Paradise on earth with amazing tourist attractions for one to explore. There are numerous hotels and lodges that offer cheap accommodation major restaurants where one can sample the Dutch cuisines as well as flexible and comfortable transport system for easy travel that comprises of buses, boats, taxis and trains. Holland is also home to a variety of wildlife such as different species of birds, various types of fish as well as wild animals such as deer, wolves and many others. There also exist numerous types of flora such as native plants. It’s a dream tourist destination that never disappoints. If you have been wondering where you could travel to take the next summer vacation, think no more, Visit Holland for a life time memorable vacation!
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