The places, most named first
From the 8 guides that rank for "best places to visit in netherlands"
Named by 8 of 81. AmsterdamThe canal-lined center draws millions of visitors a year.Canal walks, the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House are among the most popular sights.Best time to visit Amsterdam
Named by 4 of 82. GiethoornA village with no roads, where people travel by boat, bike or on foot.Busy in summer but easier in spring or autumn.
Named by 3 of 83. KeukenhofOpen only from mid-March to mid-May.Peak tulip bloom is the third week of April, per this guide.
Named by 3 of 84. UtrechtAbout 30 minutes from Amsterdam by train, with canals and a student atmosphere.Dinner along the Oudegracht canal is a draw.
Named by 3 of 85. Zaanse SchansA preserved set of windmills, wooden houses and workshops 15 km north of Amsterdam.Arriving at opening time avoids the coach groups.Named by 3 of 86. RotterdamRebuilt after 1940, so it looks different from the rest of the country.Known for the Cube Houses, Markthal, Erasmus Bridge and harbour waterfront.
Named by 2 of 87. Hoge Veluwe National ParkA 5,500-hectare park of forest, heath and dunes with the Kröller-Müller Museum.Free bikes are available in the park; plan a full day.
Named by 2 of 88. Kinderdijk19 windmills form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Busy in July and August, so going outside peak summer is suggested.
Named by 2 of 89. LeidenCanals, the Museum Boerhaave and Rembrandt's birthplace.Part of the Randstad ring of western cities.
Named by 2 of 810. MaastrichtSits alone in the far south, nearer Belgium and Germany than Amsterdam.A mix of Dutch and Belgian culture.
11. The HagueMuseums such as the Mauritshuis, with beaches nearby.The seat of the Dutch government.
12. GroningenAbout a quarter of residents are students.Views from the Forum or the Martinitoren.
13. DordrechtDescribed as the oldest city in Holland.De Biesbosch National Park is next to the city.
14. ZwolleA Hanseatic city with a protected historic center.Canals surround the old center.
15. ArnhemMixes historic sights, including the Airborne Museum, with a modern side.Close to hiking trails and national parks on the Veluwe.
16. DelftKnown for Delftware blue pottery.
17. NijmegenFounded by the Romans, one of the oldest Dutch cities.
18. AlkmaarPopular for its cheese market.
19. HindeloopenA tiny, walkable town with canals and historic houses on the IJsselmeer.
20. CadzandA coastal spot with sandy beaches and seafood.
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When to go
Travel guides most often name April to May and September to October as the best time to visit the Netherlands.
Questions people ask
- What is the best month to go to the Netherlands?
- For tulips, one guide points to the third week of April; Keukenhof is open from mid-March to mid-May.
- What is the prettiest part of the Netherlands?
- A Dutch writer calls Hindeloopen, a small Friesland town on the IJsselmeer, one of the most beautiful places in the country.
- What is Netherlands most known for?
- One guide lists tall people, sprinkles on bread at breakfast and tulip fields in season.
