8 Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands

1. 5. Maastricht

1.1. Best known for its dynamic city square the Vrijthof, Maastricht

1.1.1. in southern Holland is home to the impressive

1.1.1.1. Saint Servatius Church

1.1.1.2. the Saint Jan’s Cathedral

1.1.1.3. and the old fortifications, or Vestigingswerkens

1.2. Many annual festivals take place at the Vrijthof

1.2.1. with local favorites arriving in autumn and winter

1.3. Vrijthof, this bustling town square also boasts

1.3.1. cafes

1.3.2. hip bars

1.3.3. and interesting galleries

1.3.4. and shops

1.4. Other popular attractions in Maastricht include

1.4.1. the St. Pietersberg Caves

1.4.2. and the Helpoort

2. 6. The Hague

2.1. Best known for the contemporary art exhibits at

2.1.1. the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

2.1.2. and the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis

2.2. Known as the Royal City by the Sea

2.2.1. due to its Dutch Royalty citizens

2.3. visitors often enjoy spending time along the North Sea

2.3.1. in the warmer months at the sea town of Scheveningen.

2.4. travelers can peruse

2.4.1. the luxury department stores

2.4.2. cozy shops

2.4.3. and international art galleries with ease

2.5. The Binnenhof, the seat of the government of the Netherlands

2.5.1. is also located in The Hague

2.5.1.1. even though Amsterdam is the capital

2.6. Other attractions in The Hague include

2.6.1. the miniature city

2.6.2. Madurodam

2.6.3. and a 360 degree panoramic view of the Scheveningen Sea

2.6.3.1. in the 19th century at Panorama Mesdag.

3. 7. Amsterdam

3.1. visitors to Amsterdam spend much of their time exploring

3.1.1. the eccentricities and marvelous museums

3.1.1.1. dotting the 60 miles of canals across the city

3.2. The Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum Museum

3.2.1. are the most popular stops for history and art seekers

3.3. The Prinsengracht area is one of the best places for

3.3.1. shopping

3.3.2. gallery viewing

3.3.3. pub crawling

3.3.4. and checking out the unique coffee shops

4. 8. Leiden

4.1. The picturesque city of Leiden is a great place to visit for its

4.1.1. scenic

4.1.2. tree-lined canals

4.1.2.1. that are marked with old windmills

4.1.3. wooden bridges

4.1.4. and lush parks

4.2. Attractions in Leiden include the numerous museums

4.2.1. that range from science and natural history to museums

4.2.1.1. dedicated to windmills and Egyptian antiquities

4.3. The Hortus Botanicus offers

4.3.1. sprawling botanical gardens

4.3.2. and the world’s oldest academical observatory

4.4. Visitors can also admire the beautiful architecture of the 16th century

4.4.1. Church of St. Peter and check out its association with several historic people

4.4.1.1. including the American pilgrims.

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6. 1. Rotterdam

6.1. Once a mere 13th century fishing village

6.1.1. Rotterdam is the Netherlands most modern city today

6.2. The popular Delfshaven district

6.2.1. is where the pilgrims launched sail from in 1620

6.3. the summertime festivals and carnivals

6.3.1. there attract visitors from nearby European countries every year

6.4. Erasmus Bridge is highly unique and imposing

6.4.1. but highly regarded as a work of art

6.4.1.1. as it soars over Europe’s largest harbor

6.5. the most popular visitor stop is at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

6.5.1. where artworks on display span

6.5.1.1. from the Middle Ages to modern times

7. 2. Gouda

7.1. Gouda is a typical Dutch city

7.1.1. with lots of old buildings and pretty canals

7.2. The city is famous for

7.2.1. cheese

7.2.2. stroopwafels

7.2.3. candles

7.2.4. and clay pipes

7.3. Attractions in Gouda include

7.3.1. the beautiful 15th century town hall

7.3.2. and the amazing glass windows in St. Janskerk

7.4. The compact city center is entirely ringed by canals

7.4.1. and is a mere five minutes’ walk from the station.

8. 3. Groningen

8.1. Groningen is a city in the northern Netherlands

8.2. Museum lovers never tire in Groningen

8.2.1. As there are several museums to view which include

8.2.1.1. Groninger Museum

8.2.1.2. graphical museum

8.2.1.3. comics museum

8.2.1.4. maritime museum

8.2.1.5. and a university museum

8.3. Music and theater abound in Groningen

8.3.1. and many street cafes feature live entertainment

8.4. Because of its high student population

8.4.1. nightlife hotspots are a huge attraction which include

8.4.1.1. The Grote Markt

8.4.1.2. the Peperstraat

8.4.1.3. and the Vismarkt

9. 4. Haarlem

9.1. Haarlem is unofficially dubbed Bloemenstad

9.1.1. which means ‘flower city’ and

9.1.1.1. is naturally the home of the Annual Bloemencorso Parade

9.2. This quiet bedroom community lies along

9.2.1. the shoreline of the Spaarne River

9.2.2. and boasts numerous intact medieval structures around town

9.3. Visitors enjoy shopping and perusing the stunning architecture

9.3.1. and museums along the Grote Markt city center

9.4. Haarlem include the oldest museum in the country

9.4.1. the Teylers Museum

9.4.1.1. which specializes in natural history, art, and science exhibits

9.5. Art aficionados find themselves drawn

9.5.1. to the Franz Hals Museum

9.5.1.1. where many Dutch masters’ works rest.