Netherlands Travel Guide

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Fodor's Amsterdam: with the Best of the Netherlands
Whether you want to cruise the canals, tour the Van Gogh Museum, or bike along...

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The Netherlands really is a land of windmills, tulips, and canals, while being a progressive 21st-century nation. The capital, Amsterdam, is famous for its waterways and its laid-back atmosphere. The Hague is home to the queen and a center for international diplomacy. And Delft and Haarlem are smaller, character-rich cities.

Fodor's Amsterdam: with the Best of the Netherlands
Whether you want to cruise the canals, tour the Van Gogh Museum, or bike along...

View Details

FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Europe

The Dylan Amsterdam, Netherlands

Find a Hotel

FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Europe

The Dylan Amsterdam, Netherlands

Find a Hotel

FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Europe

The Dylan Amsterdam, Netherlands

Top Destinations

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Amsterdam

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention...

The Randstad

The towns and cities of Zuid-Holland (South Holland) cluster around Amsterdam like filings round the end of a magnet. Each has prospered and grown independently...

Rotterdam

Rotterdam looks to the future like almost nowhere else. The decision to leave the past behind wasn't made entirely through choice however—the old town disappeared...

The Hague

It's easy to see The Hague as nothing more than Amsterdam's prissy maiden aunt—it's the Netherlands' seat of government, home to the Dutch royal family...

Utrecht

Birthplace of the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI, Utrecht has been a powerful bishopric since the 7th century and is still a major religious center...

Delft

For many travelers, few spots in Holland are as intimate and attractive as this charming little town. With time-burnished canals and cobblestone streets, Delft possesses...

Haarlem

A breath of fresh air just a short train ride from throbbing downtown Amsterdam, Haarlem was the very first center of Dutch art. Walking past...

Day Trips from Amsterdam

The Netherlands is such a small country that there's practically no excuse not to explore a little farther afield—and the payoff is immense. A short...

Otterlo/De Hoge Veluwe

When German heiress Hélène Müller married Dutch industrialist Anton Kröller at the turn of the 20th century, their combined wealth and complementary tastes were destined...

Nijmegen

If every cloud has a silver lining, then Nijmegen is no exception. Ravaged by World War II—so close to the German border, it was inadvertently...

Arnhem

In war log and movie terms, Arnhem may be known as the basis for A Bridge Too Far, but this historic city is certainly not...

Hoorn

Hoorn's development came to an abrupt halt in the 17th century, when England—not limited to flat-bottom boats that could clear the sandbars of the Zuider...

Enkhuizen

Like Amsterdam and its near neighbor, Hoorn, some 19 km (12 miles) to the west, Enkhuizen was one of the principal harbors of the Dutch...

Dordrecht

Claiming to be the oldest town in the province of Zuid Holland, Dordrecht lies just east of the main road leading south to Antwerp and...

Veere

Put quite simply, Veere is one of the prettiest towns in the Netherlands, and well worth a stop to explore its quiet streets and admire...

Middelburg

Middelburg, ancient capital of the province of Zeeland, has one great advantage that has helped ensure its safety in this water-dominated area: it is on...

Broek-in-Waterland

With a centuries-old reputation of being "the cleanest town in all the Netherlands," Broek-in-Waterland is still mostly immaculate—so much so that visitors are tempted to...

Kinderdijk

The windmills of Kinderdijk are some of the most photographed sights in Holland. A visit here can feel touristy, but it's also unquestionably beautiful and...

Marken

The former island of Marken was once an isolated fishing village, but today it's filled with sightseers riding over the causeway to view the characteristic...

Monnickendam

This is a bustling little town without the full-on folkloric ex–fishing village effect of its neighbors Marken and Volendam, but no less charming for that...

Volendam

...

Lisse

...

Aalsmeer

...

Amsterdam

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention...

The Randstad

The towns and cities of Zuid-Holland (South Holland) cluster around Amsterdam like filings round the end of a magnet. Each has prospered and grown independently...

Rotterdam

Rotterdam looks to the future like almost nowhere else. The decision to leave the past behind wasn't made entirely through choice however—the old town disappeared...

The Hague

It's easy to see The Hague as nothing more than Amsterdam's prissy maiden aunt—it's the Netherlands' seat of government, home to the Dutch royal family...

Utrecht

Birthplace of the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI, Utrecht has been a powerful bishopric since the 7th century and is still a major religious center...

Delft

For many travelers, few spots in Holland are as intimate and attractive as this charming little town. With time-burnished canals and cobblestone streets, Delft possesses...

Haarlem

A breath of fresh air just a short train ride from throbbing downtown Amsterdam, Haarlem was the very first center of Dutch art. Walking past...

Day Trips from Amsterdam

The Netherlands is such a small country that there's practically no excuse not to explore a little farther afield—and the payoff is immense. A short...

Otterlo/De Hoge Veluwe

When German heiress Hélène Müller married Dutch industrialist Anton Kröller at the turn of the 20th century, their combined wealth and complementary tastes were destined...

Nijmegen

If every cloud has a silver lining, then Nijmegen is no exception. Ravaged by World War II—so close to the German border, it was inadvertently...

Arnhem

In war log and movie terms, Arnhem may be known as the basis for A Bridge Too Far, but this historic city is certainly not...

Hoorn

Hoorn's development came to an abrupt halt in the 17th century, when England—not limited to flat-bottom boats that could clear the sandbars of the Zuider...

Enkhuizen

Like Amsterdam and its near neighbor, Hoorn, some 19 km (12 miles) to the west, Enkhuizen was one of the principal harbors of the Dutch...

Dordrecht

Claiming to be the oldest town in the province of Zuid Holland, Dordrecht lies just east of the main road leading south to Antwerp and...

Veere

Put quite simply, Veere is one of the prettiest towns in the Netherlands, and well worth a stop to explore its quiet streets and admire...

Middelburg

Middelburg, ancient capital of the province of Zeeland, has one great advantage that has helped ensure its safety in this water-dominated area: it is on...

Broek-in-Waterland

With a centuries-old reputation of being "the cleanest town in all the Netherlands," Broek-in-Waterland is still mostly immaculate—so much so that visitors are tempted to...

Kinderdijk

The windmills of Kinderdijk are some of the most photographed sights in Holland. A visit here can feel touristy, but it's also unquestionably beautiful and...

Marken

The former island of Marken was once an isolated fishing village, but today it's filled with sightseers riding over the causeway to view the characteristic...

Monnickendam

This is a bustling little town without the full-on folkloric ex–fishing village effect of its neighbors Marken and Volendam, but no less charming for that...

Volendam

...

Lisse

...

Aalsmeer

...

Amsterdam

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention...

Rotterdam

Rotterdam looks to the future like almost nowhere else. The decision to leave the past behind wasn't made entirely through choice however—the old town disappeared...

The Hague

It's easy to see The Hague as nothing more than Amsterdam's prissy maiden aunt—it's the Netherlands' seat of government, home to the Dutch royal family...

Utrecht

Birthplace of the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI, Utrecht has been a powerful bishopric since the 7th century and is still a major religious center...

Delft

For many travelers, few spots in Holland are as intimate and attractive as this charming little town. With time-burnished canals and cobblestone streets, Delft possesses...

Haarlem

A breath of fresh air just a short train ride from throbbing downtown Amsterdam, Haarlem was the very first center of Dutch art. Walking past...

Otterlo/De Hoge Veluwe

When German heiress Hélène Müller married Dutch industrialist Anton Kröller at the turn of the 20th century, their combined wealth and complementary tastes were destined...

Nijmegen

If every cloud has a silver lining, then Nijmegen is no exception. Ravaged by World War II—so close to the German border, it was inadvertently...

Arnhem

In war log and movie terms, Arnhem may be known as the basis for A Bridge Too Far, but this historic city is certainly not...

Hoorn

Hoorn's development came to an abrupt halt in the 17th century, when England—not limited to flat-bottom boats that could clear the sandbars of the Zuider...

Enkhuizen

Like Amsterdam and its near neighbor, Hoorn, some 19 km (12 miles) to the west, Enkhuizen was one of the principal harbors of the Dutch...

Dordrecht

Claiming to be the oldest town in the province of Zuid Holland, Dordrecht lies just east of the main road leading south to Antwerp and...

Veere

Put quite simply, Veere is one of the prettiest towns in the Netherlands, and well worth a stop to explore its quiet streets and admire...

Middelburg

Middelburg, ancient capital of the province of Zeeland, has one great advantage that has helped ensure its safety in this water-dominated area: it is on...

Broek-in-Waterland

With a centuries-old reputation of being "the cleanest town in all the Netherlands," Broek-in-Waterland is still mostly immaculate—so much so that visitors are tempted to...

Kinderdijk

The windmills of Kinderdijk are some of the most photographed sights in Holland. A visit here can feel touristy, but it's also unquestionably beautiful and...

Marken

The former island of Marken was once an isolated fishing village, but today it's filled with sightseers riding over the causeway to view the characteristic...

Monnickendam

This is a bustling little town without the full-on folkloric ex–fishing village effect of its neighbors Marken and Volendam, but no less charming for that...

Volendam

...

Lisse

...

Aalsmeer

...

Amsterdam

Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention...

Rotterdam

Rotterdam looks to the future like almost nowhere else. The decision to leave the past behind wasn't made entirely through choice however—the old town disappeared...

The Hague

It's easy to see The Hague as nothing more than Amsterdam's prissy maiden aunt—it's the Netherlands' seat of government, home to the Dutch royal family...

Utrecht

Birthplace of the only Dutch pope, Adrian VI, Utrecht has been a powerful bishopric since the 7th century and is still a major religious center...

Delft

For many travelers, few spots in Holland are as intimate and attractive as this charming little town. With time-burnished canals and cobblestone streets, Delft possesses...

Haarlem

A breath of fresh air just a short train ride from throbbing downtown Amsterdam, Haarlem was the very first center of Dutch art. Walking past...

Otterlo/De Hoge Veluwe

When German heiress Hélène Müller married Dutch industrialist Anton Kröller at the turn of the 20th century, their combined wealth and complementary tastes were destined...

Nijmegen

If every cloud has a silver lining, then Nijmegen is no exception. Ravaged by World War II—so close to the German border, it was inadvertently...

Arnhem

In war log and movie terms, Arnhem may be known as the basis for A Bridge Too Far, but this historic city is certainly not...

Hoorn

Hoorn's development came to an abrupt halt in the 17th century, when England—not limited to flat-bottom boats that could clear the sandbars of the Zuider...

Enkhuizen

Like Amsterdam and its near neighbor, Hoorn, some 19 km (12 miles) to the west, Enkhuizen was one of the principal harbors of the Dutch...

Dordrecht

Claiming to be the oldest town in the province of Zuid Holland, Dordrecht lies just east of the main road leading south to Antwerp and...

Veere

Put quite simply, Veere is one of the prettiest towns in the Netherlands, and well worth a stop to explore its quiet streets and admire...

Middelburg

Middelburg, ancient capital of the province of Zeeland, has one great advantage that has helped ensure its safety in this water-dominated area: it is on...

Broek-in-Waterland

With a centuries-old reputation of being "the cleanest town in all the Netherlands," Broek-in-Waterland is still mostly immaculate—so much so that visitors are tempted to...

Kinderdijk

The windmills of Kinderdijk are some of the most photographed sights in Holland. A visit here can feel touristy, but it's also unquestionably beautiful and...

Marken

The former island of Marken was once an isolated fishing village, but today it's filled with sightseers riding over the causeway to view the characteristic...

Monnickendam

This is a bustling little town without the full-on folkloric ex–fishing village effect of its neighbors Marken and Volendam, but no less charming for that...

Volendam

...

Lisse

...

Aalsmeer

...

The Randstad

The towns and cities of Zuid-Holland (South Holland) cluster around Amsterdam like filings round the end of a magnet. Each has prospered and grown independently...

Day Trips from Amsterdam

The Netherlands is such a small country that there's practically no excuse not to explore a little farther afield—and the payoff is immense. A short...

The Randstad

The towns and cities of Zuid-Holland (South Holland) cluster around Amsterdam like filings round the end of a magnet. Each has prospered and grown independently...

Day Trips from Amsterdam

The Netherlands is such a small country that there's practically no excuse not to explore a little farther afield—and the payoff is immense. A short...

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