The 10 essential experiences in the Netherlands

The Netherlands offers a wealth of attractions within its small area—from majestic cities to lush parks, charming waterways, and extensive coastlines—allowing for countless unique and unforgettable experiences, even during a brief visit.

Here are the top 10 highlights to enjoy during your trip to the Netherlands.

1. Take charge of an electric boat to navigate Amsterdam’s canals

By renting a boat for a few hours, you can explore Amsterdam’s enchanting waterways at your leisure. Glide through the UNESCO-listed canal ring and nearby waterways, including the Amstel River that gave the city its name. Marvel at sights like the Westerkerk’s belltower near the Anne Frank Huis, picturesque bridges, charming canal houses with delightful shops, cozy eateries, and vibrant docks. Choose a sunny day, pack a picnic from local street markets, and set sail.

Tip for planning: Electric boats are eco-friendly and quiet, requiring no license or prior experience (instructions provided at pickup). Consider booking with companies like Boaty or Eco Boats Amsterdam.

Keep these tips for the best free activities in Amsterdam to stretch your budget further.

2. Admire Van Gogh's masterpieces in Hoge Veluwe National Park

A stunning landscape of pine forests, heathlands, grasslands, and sandy dunes, home to red and roe deer, mouflon, and wild boar, the 135-acre (55 sq km) Hoge Veluwe National Park features a network of hiking and biking trails. Nestled within its woodlands is the remarkable Kröller-Müller Museum, which boasts the largest collection of Van Gogh’s masterpieces outside Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum, including iconic works like The Potato Eaters, alongside pieces by Monet, Renoir, Seurat, Picasso, and Mondriaan. The museum's gardens are adorned with around 160 sculptures from renowned artists such as Rodin, Henry Moore, and Barbara Hepworth.

At the northern edge of the park, near the lake, lies the exquisite Jachthuis Sint Hubertus, a residence built in the 1920s for the founders, Helene Kröller-Müller and her husband Anton, which is also open to visitors.

Planning tip: Be sure to purchase your national park tickets in advance or at the entrances. Time-slot tickets for the Kröller-Müller Museum and guided tours of Jachthuis Sint Hubertus should be booked online ahead of time.

3. Experience a Mudwalk on the Wadden Sea

While trudging through thick mud may not sound appealing at first, wadlopen (or “mudwalking”) across expansive mudflats, where crabs, clams, and cockles squish beneath your feet and gulls call from above, offers a captivating and immersive experience in nature. During low tide, the Wadden Sea, the largest uninterrupted intertidal zone in the world, unveils its seabed, allowing you to trek to the Frisian islands of Ameland and Schiermonnikoog (or opt for shorter, easier trails).

Planning tip: Located north of Groningen, Pieterburen serves as a key base for wadlopen. It's essential to embark with a trained guide and wear suitable seasonal clothing (many rental spots provide footwear to protect your own).

4. Explore the Fairytale Castle of Muiderslot

Resembling a scene from a fairytale, with its round turreted towers and encircling moat, Muiderslot was built in the 13th century by Count Floris V. The castle was fortified in the 17th century, enhancing its lush gardens, which include a beech avenue, a kitchen garden, and a plum orchard established by the historian, poet, and playwright PC Hooft, who entertained prominent writers, artists, and scientists here. After being restored by architect Pierre Cuypers (famous for Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and Centraal Station), it has served as a national museum since 1878. Themed audio tours breathe life into the castle's rich history. Outside the walls, Muiden’s charming pleasure port is bustling with boats and bordered by inviting waterside cafés.

Planning tip: From April to October, consider taking a ferry from Amsterdam’s reclaimed island district of IJburg for a delightful journey here. During those months, ferries also service the late 19th-century UNESCO-listed fortress island of Pampus.

5. Sample Trappist beer and tour the abbey near Tilburg

Trappist brewing methods are typically kept under wraps, but a visit to La Trappe offers a unique opportunity to see behind the curtain. Nestled in a picturesque pastoral landscape on the outskirts of Tilburg in southeastern Netherlands, monks have been crafting beer at Koningshoeven Abbey since 1884. During a guided tour, you’ll explore the brewing process, the abbey’s buildings, and savor its exquisite ales.

6. Bike through the tulip fields in the Bollenstreek

Experience a feast for the senses as you ride past vibrant flower fields in the Bollenstreek (Bulb Region) along the 21-mile (35km) Bloemenroute. Cycling this aromatic 'Flower Route' takes about two to three hours. In spring, you’ll witness the Netherlands’ iconic tulips alongside jonquils and daffodils, while summer brings a display of dahlias and sunflowers.

Highlights of the Bollenstreek include Lisse’s fascinating Museum De Zwarte Tulp (Museum of the Black Tulip) and the stunning Keukenhof Gardens, along with the nearby flower farm De Tulperij in Voorhout.

Planning tip: Leiden is a perfect base for exploring the tulip fields, with numerous rental shops available in the city (and throughout the region). Downloadable route maps indicate which flowers are blooming throughout the season.

Dinogo Planet's Brian Healy shares his top tips for viewing tulips from a recent trip.

7. Explore a museum storage facility in Rotterdam

Although Rotterdam’s leading art venue, the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, is undergoing renovations until 2029, you can still experience its remarkable collections. The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen features a striking bowl-shaped design adorned with 1,664 reflective glass panels and serves as the storage for the entire 154,000-piece collection. For the first time ever, the public can access its treasure trove of paintings, sculptures, and photographs housed in climate-controlled spaces. The building’s rooftop terrace, complete with trees, offers sweeping views of the vibrant skyline of the Netherlands’ second-largest city.

Detour: Other artistic spots in the city include Kunsthal, known for its rotating exhibitions, and TENT and Kunstinstituut Melly, which focus on contemporary art. For serious art enthusiasts, the royal collection at Den Haag’s Mauritshuis, just 15 miles north of Rotterdam, is also worth a visit.

8. Stroll past windmills at Kinderdijk

Windmills are an iconic part of the Dutch landscape, with approximately 1,200 traditional structures scattered throughout the countryside. At the UNESCO World Heritage site Kinderdijk, located 15 miles southeast of Rotterdam, 19 historic brick and timber mills remain operational, towering over serene waterways and polders (drained land areas). You can explore the canals’ towpaths on foot or by bike, visit informative museums, and enjoy a boat ride beneath the mills’ turning sails.

Detour: About 20 miles north of Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is a charming working village filled with windmills, quaint shops, and traditional crafts, where millers can explain the mechanics of wind power.

Why road trip when you can cycle? Discover the top 11 cycling routes in the Netherlands.

9. Explore underground caves and passages in Maastricht

To grasp the rich history of the vibrant southeastern city of Maastricht, begin by taking in the view from the impressive Fort Sint Pieter. This imposing fortress, constructed in 1701, is nestled within a deep, dry moat. Wander the paths around it, then embark on an underground tour with Maastricht Underground to explore the city’s intricate network of caves and passages, revealing its Roman, Napoleonic, and WWII heritage.

10. Savor cheese in Edam

Edam is famous for its round, red-rind, mild cow's milk cheese, and the town offers numerous opportunities to indulge—whether at restaurants, fragrant shops (like Henri Willig in a charming 16th-century building), or its atmospheric cheese market. This market, held on Wednesday mornings in summer, features locals in costume reenacting historical trading, allowing you to purchase cheeses made from local farms.

Beyond cheese, Edam is a delightful town to wander, featuring narrow streets that echo its rich shipbuilding past and scenic waterways to explore.

Planning tip: Edam is just a pleasant 14-mile (22km) bike ride north of Amsterdam.