Netherlands · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Netherlands
These are our picks across the Netherlands, from brown cafés and herring stands to Golden Age masterpieces, windmills, markets and dune walks. Opening hours change with the seasons, so check before you go.
Places to Visit in Amsterdam
Arts and Culture
- Rijksmuseum (Museumplein)
Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid lead the country's greatest collection of Dutch art. - Van Gogh Museum (Museumplein)
The world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and letters, best booked well ahead. - Anne Frank House (Prinsengracht)
The hiding place of Anne Frank and her family, a moving visit that sells out online. - Stedelijk Museum (Museumplein)
Modern and contemporary art and design, from Mondrian and Malevich to today. - Museum Our Lord in the Attic (Oudezijds Voorburgwal)
A secret Catholic church hidden in the attic of a seventeenth century canal house. - NEMO Science Museum (Oosterdok)
Hands-on science in a green ship-shaped building with a rooftop terrace and city views. - Begijnhof (Centrum)
A peaceful hidden courtyard of almshouses and Amsterdam's oldest surviving wooden house. - Het Scheepvaartmuseum (Kattenburgerplein)
The national maritime museum, with a full-size replica of an East India Company ship. - EYE Film Museum (Noord)
A striking white film museum and cinema across the IJ, reached by the free ferry. - Wereldmuseum Amsterdam (Oost)
A grand museum of world cultures that also confronts Dutch colonial history.
Things to Do
- A'DAM Lookout (Noord)
Views over the city from a tower with a swing that hangs you over the edge. - Free GVB ferry across the IJ (Behind Centraal)
Free ferries run day and night to Amsterdam Noord, with harbour views on the way. - Canal cruise on a small open boat (Canal Belt)
Seeing the UNESCO canal ring from the water at dusk is the city's most romantic hour. - Westerkerk Tower (Jordaan)
Climb the tower beside Anne Frank's house for views over the Jordaan rooftops. - Zaanse Schans (Zaandam)
Working windmills, a clog workshop and cheese farm a short train ride from the city. - Haarlem Grote Markt (Haarlem)
A handsome market square and Frans Hals Museum fifteen minutes by train from Amsterdam.
Nature and Outdoors
- Vondelpark (Oud-Zuid)
The city's favourite park for picnics, cycling, people watching and summer open-air shows. - Amsterdamse Bos (Amstelveen)
A huge forest park with a goat farm, rowing lake and walking trails just outside the city. - Westerpark (Westerpark)
A park and old gasworks turned cultural hub, with cafés, markets and a cinema. - Keukenhof (Lisse)
The world-famous spring flower garden, open only for about eight weeks around April.
Shopping and Markets
- Albert Cuyp Market (De Pijp)
The city's most famous street market, great for fresh stroopwafels and herring. - Noordermarkt (Jordaan)
A Monday flea market and Saturday organic farmers' market by a seventeenth century church. - De Negen Straatjes (Canal Belt)
Nine small streets of independent boutiques, vintage shops and cafés across the canals. - Dappermarkt (Oost)
A local, multicultural market with food and fabrics from across the world.
Cafés
- Café 't Smalle (Jordaan)
A tiny canal-side brown café with a terrace right on the water. - Winkel 43 (Jordaan)
Famous for its warm, tall apple pie with cream on the corner of the Noordermarkt. - Café de Sluyswacht (Jodenbreestraat)
A crooked little lock-keeper's house turned café with a terrace on the water.
Bars and Nightlife
- Brouwerij 't IJ (Oost)
A craft brewery at the foot of a windmill, with a busy terrace in good weather. - Wynand Fockink (Centrum)
A historic tasting house for Dutch genever and liqueurs, tucked down an alley off Dam Square. - Café Hoppe (Spui)
One of the city's oldest brown cafés, with sand on the floor and locals spilling outside.
Restaurants
- Foodhallen (Oud-West)
An indoor food hall in a former tram depot with dozens of stalls for every taste. - Moeders (Oud-West)
Hearty Dutch home cooking in a room covered with photos of customers' mothers. - Restaurant Blauw (Oud-West)
An Indonesian rijsttafel feast of many small dishes, a delicious link to Dutch colonial history. - Febo (Centrum)
Grab a hot kroket from the wall vending machines for a classic late-night Dutch snack. - De Kas (Frankendael)
Seasonal set menus served in a tall glass greenhouse in a park.
Events
- King's Day (Citywide)
On 27 April the city turns orange with street parties, boat parades and a huge free market. - Amsterdam Light Festival (Canal Belt)
Winter light art along the canals, best seen from a boat or on foot.
Stays
- Pulitzer Amsterdam (Canal Belt)
A luxury hotel spread across twenty-five canal houses with a hidden garden. - Sweets Hotel (Citywide)
Rooms inside former bridge keepers' houses on the canals, each one unique. - ClinkNOORD (Noord)
A friendly hostel in an old laboratory across the IJ with private rooms and dorms.
Places to Visit in Rotterdam
Shopping and Markets
- Markthal (Blaak)
A giant arched market hall with food stalls under a vast painted ceiling. - Blaak Market (Blaak)
A large open-air market on Tuesdays and Saturdays beside the Markthal.
Arts and Culture
- Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen (Museumpark)
A mirrored public art depot where you can see how a huge collection is stored and restored. - Kunsthal (Museumpark)
A lively exhibition hall by Rem Koolhaas with changing shows of art, design and fashion. - Fenix (Katendrecht)
A former warehouse turned museum about migration, topped by a looping viewing tornado. - Van Nelle Factory (Spaanse Polder)
A UNESCO-listed modernist factory open on guided tours and special days. - Maritime Museum Rotterdam (Leuvehaven)
Ships, harbour history and a great children's area right on the old harbour. - Kunstinstituut Melly (Centrum)
A contemporary art space known for daring exhibitions.
Things to Do
- Cube Houses (Blaak)
Piet Blom's tilted yellow houses, with one show home you can step inside. - Euromast (Het Park)
The city's observation tower, with sweeping views over the port and skyline. - Spido Harbour Tour (Willemsplein)
A boat tour through Europe's largest port, a good way to grasp the city's scale. - Delfshaven (Delfshaven)
An old harbour quarter that survived the war, where the Pilgrims set sail in 1620. - Kinderdijk (Kinderdijk)
Nineteen UNESCO-listed windmills along the polders, reachable by waterbus in season.
Bars and Nightlife
- Kaapse Brouwers (Katendrecht)
A craft brewery and beer hall in the Fenix building on the waterfront. - Witte de Withstraat (Centrum)
A street of bars, galleries and restaurants that buzzes late into the evening.
Cafés
- Hotel New York (Kop van Zuid)
The old Holland America Line headquarters, now a hotel with a grand café and harbour views.
Stays
- Hotel New York (Kop van Zuid)
Stay in the historic shipping line building with views back across the Maas. - SS Rotterdam (Katendrecht)
Sleep aboard a restored ocean liner moored in the city.
Nature and Outdoors
- Kralingse Plas (Kralingen)
A lake and woods with windmills, beaches and paths on the east side of the city.
Events
- North Sea Jazz Festival (Ahoy)
One of the world's biggest jazz and soul festivals every July. - Rotterdam Summer Carnival (Centrum)
A Caribbean street parade with music and costumes every summer.
Places to Visit in The Hague
Arts and Culture
- Mauritshuis (Centrum)
Girl with a Pearl Earring and other Dutch masters in an intimate seventeenth century palace. - Kunstmuseum Den Haag (Statenkwartier)
The world's largest Mondrian collection in a beautiful Art Deco building. - Panorama Mesdag (Zeeheldenkwartier)
A vast circular painting of the Scheveningen coast in 1881 that surrounds you. - Escher in the Palace (Lange Voorhout)
M.C. Escher's mind-bending prints in a former royal winter palace. - Museum Prinsenhof Delft (Delft)
Where William of Orange was assassinated, with the bullet holes still visible. - Vermeer Centrum Delft (Delft)
An introduction to Vermeer's life and techniques in his hometown.
Things to Do
- Peace Palace Visitor Centre (Zorgvliet)
Learn about international justice at the home of the International Court of Justice. - Madurodam (Scheveningen)
A miniature Netherlands of famous buildings that children love. - Royal Delft (Delft)
The last surviving seventeenth century Delft Blue pottery factory, with painters at work. - Delft Markt (Delft)
A beautiful square between the New Church and the town hall in Vermeer's town.
Nature and Outdoors
- Scheveningen Beach (Scheveningen)
A wide sandy beach with a pier, a promenade and beach clubs in summer. - Meijendel (Wassenaar)
Wild dunes and woods north of the city with walking and cycling trails. - Kijkduin (Kijkduin)
A quieter beach backed by dunes, popular with local families.
Shopping and Markets
- Haagse Markt (Schilderswijk)
One of Europe's largest outdoor markets, full of food from around the world.
Restaurants
- Scheveningen harbour fish stands (Scheveningen)
Fresh kibbeling and herring straight from the fishing harbour.
Stays
- Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus (Scheveningen)
The grand old seaside palace hotel right on Scheveningen beach. - Hotel Des Indes (Lange Voorhout)
A grand nineteenth century hotel on the city's most elegant avenue.
Bars and Nightlife
- De Zwarte Ruiter (Grote Markt)
A busy grand café on the Grote Markt with a big terrace.
Cafés
- De Boterwaag (Grote Markt)
A grand café in a seventeenth century butter weighing house.
Places to Visit in Utrecht
Things to Do
- Dom Tower (Domplein)
Climb the country's tallest church tower on a guided tour for huge views. - DOMunder (Domplein)
Explore archaeology from Roman times beneath the square with a flashlight. - Oudegracht wharves (Binnenstad)
Eat at water level in old canal cellars along the city's signature canal. - Castle De Haar (Haarzuilens)
The country's largest castle, a fairy tale building with formal gardens outside the city. - Utrecht Centraal bike parking (Stationsplein)
The world's largest bicycle garage is a sight in itself.
Arts and Culture
- Centraal Museum (Museumkwartier)
Art, design and Rietveld furniture, plus timed tickets for the Rietveld Schröder House. - Rietveld Schröder House (Oost)
A UNESCO-listed De Stijl house that still looks futuristic a century later. - Miffy Museum (Museumkwartier)
A playful museum for young children based on Dick Bruna's famous rabbit. - Museum Speelklok (Binnenstad)
A joyful collection of music boxes, clocks and street organs that play for you. - Railway Museum (Maliebaan)
The national railway museum with old trains and rides for children.
Nature and Outdoors
- Amelisweerd (Bunnik)
An old forest estate east of the city, perfect for walking and cycling. - Canoe on the canals (Binnenstad)
Paddle under the bridges of the Oudegracht and Nieuwegracht at your own pace.
Shopping and Markets
- Vredenburg Market (Vredenburg)
A big Wednesday and Saturday market with fresh food and snacks. - Kanaalstraat (Lombok)
A multicultural shopping street with Turkish and Moroccan bakeries and grocers.
Cafés
- Café Ledig Erf (Tolsteeg)
A classic corner café with a big terrace where two canals meet.
Bars and Nightlife
- Belgian Beer Café Olivier (Binnenstad)
A huge selection of beer served inside a former church.
Events
- Netherlands Film Festival (Binnenstad)
The national film festival with screenings across the city each autumn.
Stays
- Grand Hotel Karel V (Binnenstad)
A historic hotel in a former knights' monastery with a quiet garden.
Places to Visit in Maastricht
Shopping and Markets
- Dominicanen bookshop (Binnenstad)
A bookshop inside a thirteenth century Gothic church, with a café in the choir. - Maastricht Market (Markt)
A big Wednesday and Friday market by the town hall, with fish and local produce.
Things to Do
- Vrijthof (Binnenstad)
The grand square of café terraces, Saint Servatius and summer concerts. - North Caves of Mount Saint Peter (Sint-Pietersberg)
Guided tours through hand-cut tunnels used as shelters for centuries. - Fort Sint Pieter (Sint-Pietersberg)
An eighteenth century fort with tunnels and views over the Maas valley. - Helpoort (Jekerkwartier)
The oldest surviving city gate in the Netherlands, at the edge of a quiet quarter. - Valkenburg caves and castle (Valkenburg)
Caves, a castle ruin and a cave Christmas market in winter. - Wine at Apostelhoeve (Cadier en Keer)
One of the country's oldest vineyards, on hills just outside the city.
Arts and Culture
- Basilica of Saint Servatius (Vrijthof)
One of the oldest churches in the country, with a rich medieval treasury. - Bonnefanten (Céramique)
A museum of old masters and contemporary art in a striking riverside building. - Wyck district (Wyck)
Boutiques, cafés and restaurants across the old bridge near the station.
Nature and Outdoors
- City walls walk (Jekerkwartier)
Stroll along the medieval walls and the river Jeker through green parks. - Geul valley (Valkenburg)
Rolling hills, half-timbered farms and trails beside the river Geul.
Cafés
- Onze Lieve Vrouweplein (Binnenstad)
A shady square of café terraces beside the basilica, ideal for a long lunch. - Bisschopsmolen (Stenebrug)
A working watermill bakery famous for its Limburg vlaai fruit tarts.
Bars and Nightlife
- Café In Den Ouden Vogelstruys (Vrijthof)
A centuries-old brown café on the corner of the Vrijthof.
Restaurants
- Café Sjiek (Sint Pieterstraat)
A cosy local café known for zuurvlees, Limburg's sweet and sour beef stew.
Events
- Maastricht Carnival (Citywide)
Days of costumes, brass bands and street parties before Lent. - TEFAF Maastricht (MECC)
A major fair of art and antiques each March.
Stays
- Kruisherenhotel (Binnenstad)
A design hotel inside a fifteenth century monastery and church.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Fenix Food Factory (Katendrecht, Rotterdam)
Local producers, beer and casual food in a warehouse with a waterside terrace. - De Ballentent (Parkhaven, Rotterdam)
A historic harbour café famous for its giant meatballs. - Tong Tong Fair (Malieveld, The Hague)
A festival of Indo-Dutch food, music and culture each spring. - Parkpop (Zuiderpark, The Hague)
A long-running free pop festival in the park in early summer. - Binnenhof tour (Centrum, The Hague)
Guided tours of the historic parliament complex, run by ProDemos during renovation. - ACU (Voorstraat, Utrecht)
A volunteer-run political and music venue with cheap vegan food. - Festival a/d Werf (Binnenstad, Utrecht)
A theatre and arts festival that fills the city each spring. - Restaurant Goesting (Veeartsenijpad, Utrecht)
Seasonal dining in a former veterinary college garden. - Stayokay Utrecht Centrum (Binnenstad, Utrecht)
A friendly hostel in a historic building near the old centre. - André Rieu Vrijthof concerts (Vrijthof, Maastricht)
Open-air summer concerts by the city's famous violinist. - Hotel Monastère (Binnenstad, Maastricht)
A small hotel in a converted monastery building near the river.