The Netherlands has long been one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, and for good reason. The country is famous not just for its tulip fields and windmills but also for its canals, cheeses, and cannabis. The beautiful countryside is dotted with charming cities and towns that provide a wealth of cultural opportunities, including access to world-class museums, unique buildings, and beautiful parks and gardens.
Situated in the northwest corner of Europe, it has a coastline along the North Sea and borders Germany and Belgium. Although it is relatively low in elevation, its lush fields and farms are protected by an innovative system of marine barriers. The Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba are considered part of its territory, along with its long and beautiful coastline and all of its dikes, dams, rivers, and lakes.
In addition to its picturesque canals and townhouses, Amsterdam is renowned for its welcoming coffeeshops, exciting nightlife, and rowdy red light district. Besides enjoying its laid-back feel and drifting around its serene waterways, you may also stop by world-class institutions, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and Anne Frank House.
Both Rotterdam and The Hague, the country’s second and third biggest cities, have unique and appealing buildings. Both have wonderful museums and nightlife, but the “judicial capital of the world” has a lot more elegant residences and old structures than the former, which is home to a busy harbour dotted with cutting-edge bridges and new skyscrapers.
Delft and Giethoorn, known as the “Venice of the North,” are tiny yet picturesque cities that attract many visitors for the same reasons that the larger university towns of Leiden, Maastricht, and Utrecht do.
While Kinderdijk and the massive outdoor Zaanse Schans museum are the locations to go if you want to take stunning photographs of traditional Dutch towns complete with wooden homes and windmills, Keukenhof is the place to go if you want to enjoy beautiful gardens full of blooming tulips.
