Introduction
The Netherlands—often mistakenly called "Holland" (which refers to just two of its twelve provinces)—is a compact country of windmills, canals, cycling paths, and world-class museums. Despite its small size (roughly twice the area of New Jersey), it packs an extraordinary density of experiences: from the tulip fields of Lisse to the medieval streets of Utrecht, from the modern architecture of Rotterdam to the serene Wadden Sea islands. This guide covers 12 essential attractions, with verifiable specifics on costs, transport, and logistics. All prices are in EUR (€) and reflect 2025 rates unless noted.
Top Attractions
1. Anne Frank House (Amsterdam)
Why go: The secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during WWII is one of the most moving historical sites in Europe. The museum preserves the original rooms and tells the story through artifacts, photos, and video.
Details:
- Address: Prinsengracht 263-267, 1016 GV Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 9:00–22:00 (hours vary seasonally; check website)
- Admission: €16 adults; €7 ages 10–17; free for children under 10. Museumkaart holders enter free.
- Booking: Mandatory online tickets only (no on-site sales). Book at least 2–3 weeks in advance; summer slots sell out months ahead. Tickets released 6 weeks before visit date.
- Transport: Tram 13, 14, or 17 to Westermarkt stop. From Centraal Station, it's a 20-minute walk along Prinsengracht canal.
- Tip: Allow 90 minutes. No photography inside the annex.
2. Keukenhof Gardens (Lisse)
Why go: The world’s largest flower garden, with 7 million bulbs planted annually across 32 hectares. Open only for 8 weeks each spring (mid-March to mid-May), it’s the ultimate tulip experience.
Details:
- Address: Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse
- Opening hours: 2025 season: March 20 – May 11, daily 8:00–19:30 (last entry 18:00)
- Admission: €19.50 adults; €9 children 4–17; free under 4. Online discount: €18 if booked 3+ days ahead.
- Transport from Amsterdam: Bus 852 "Keukenhof Express" from Amsterdam RAI station (€14 round trip, 35 min). Or train to Leiden Centraal (€11 one-way, 40 min), then bus 854 to Keukenhof (€5.50 one-way).
- Parking: €15 per car if driving.
- Tip: Go on a weekday before 10:30 or after 15:00 to avoid crowds. The best tulip fields are outside the park—rent a bike (€15/day) from the entrance.
3. Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
Why go: The national museum of the Netherlands houses masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s The Milkmaid. The 2023 renovation added a new Asian pavilion.
Details:
- Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam
- Opening hours: Daily 9:00–17:00
- Admission: €22.50 adults; free for under 18. Museumkaart holders free.
- Transport: Tram 2, 5, or 12 to Rijksmuseum stop. From Centraal Station, tram 2 (15 min).
- Tip: Book online to skip the queue (€1 surcharge). Audio guide €5. Allow 2–3 hours. Visit the Philips Wing for modern photography exhibits.
4. Canal Cruise (Amsterdam)
Why go: Amsterdam’s 17th-century canal ring (UNESCO World Heritage) is best seen from the water. Several companies offer 60- to 90-minute narrated cruises.
Details:
- Operators: Lovers Canal Cruises, Blue Boat Company, Stromma
- Prices: €16–25 adults; €8–12 children 4–12; free under 4. Evening cruises with drinks: €28–35.
- Departure points: Centraal Station (east side), Leidseplein, Rijksmuseum. Most run every 30 minutes 10:00–21:00.
- Tip: Book online for a 10% discount. For a quieter experience, take the 17:00 cruise. Avoid hop-on-hop-off boats (overpriced, slow).
5. Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam)
Why go: The world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s works, including Sunflowers, The Bedroom, and Irises. The museum also features works by his contemporaries like Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Details:
- Address: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam (next to Rijksmuseum)
- Opening hours: Daily 9:00–17:00 (Fridays until 21:00)
- Admission: €21 adults; free for under 18. Museumkaart holders free.
- Transport: Same as Rijksmuseum (tram 2, 5, 12).
- Tip: Book tickets at least 1 week ahead. Allow 90 minutes. The museum is organized chronologically—start on the third floor.
6. Kinderdijk (South Holland)
Why go: A UNESCO World Heritage site with 19 authentic windmills dating from 1740. Unlike touristy Zaanse Schans, Kinderdijk is a working drainage system still used to manage water levels.
Details:
- Address: Kinderdijk, 2961 AS (near Rotterdam)
- Opening hours: Site open 24/7. Visitor center and mill interiors: April–October 9:00–17:30; November–March 10:00–16:00.
- Admission: Site access free. Mill interior tour: €10 adults; €7 children 4–12. Combined ticket (mill tour + boat ride): €16 adults; €11 children.
- Transport from Amsterdam: Train to Rotterdam Centraal (€14, 40 min), then waterbus 202 (€4.50, 30 min) to Kinderdijk. Or drive (1 hour via A15).
- Tip: Rent a bike at the visitor center (€8/hour) to explore the entire site. Visit early morning for fewer crowds and better light.
7. Utrecht Canals & Dom Tower
Why go: Utrecht’s unique canal system features wharf cellars at water level, creating a two-tiered street experience. The Dom Tower (112 m) is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands.
Details:
- Dom Tower: Domplein 21, 3512 JC Utrecht. Open daily 10:00–17:00. Admission: €12.50 adults; €7.50 children 4–12. 465 steps to the top (no elevator).
- Canal cruises: Utrecht Canal Cruise (€14 adults, €9 children, 60 min). Departs from Oudegracht 167.
- Transport from Amsterdam: Train to Utrecht Centraal (€11, 30 min). From station, walk 15 min to Domplein.
- Tip: Visit the wharf cellars along Oudegracht for cozy restaurants and bars. Try the local specialty: Utrechtse kruidnoten (spiced cookies).
8. Rotterdam Markthal & Cube Houses
Why go: The Markthal is a massive indoor food market with 96 vendors under a 40-meter-high arch ceiling. Adjacent are the Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen), a 1980s architectural experiment by Piet Blom.
Details:
- Markthal: Dominee Jan Scharpstraat 298, 3011 GZ Rotterdam. Open Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun 12:00–18:00. Free entry.
- Cube Houses: Overblaak 70, 3011 MH Rotterdam. One house open as museum (€3.50 adults, €2 children).
- Transport from Amsterdam: Train to Rotterdam Centraal (€16, 40 min). From station, tram 21 or 24 to Blaak (5 min).
- Tip: Try fresh stroopwafels at the market (€3.50). For a view, take the Euromast elevator (€11 adults, €8 children, 185 m high).
9. Zaanse Schans (Zaandijk)
Why go: A living open-air museum with working windmills, wooden houses, and traditional crafts. More touristy than Kinderdijk but more accessible from Amsterdam.
Details:
- Address: Schansend 7, 1509 AW Zaandijk
- Opening hours: Site open 24/7. Windmills and museums: daily 9:00–17:00 (hours vary by season).
- Admission: Free site access. Windmill interior visits: €5–6 each. Zaans Museum: €15 adults; €10 children 4–17.
- Transport from Amsterdam: Bus 391 from Amsterdam Centraal (€6.50 one-way, 15 min). Or train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station (€4.50, 17 min), then 10-min walk.
- Tip: Visit early (before 10:00) to avoid crowds. Try the cheese tasting at the cheese farm (free samples). Clog-making demonstrations every 30 minutes.
10. Maastricht & the Caves of St. Pietersberg
Why go: Maastricht, the southernmost city, offers a different Netherlands: hilly, Catholic, and influenced by nearby Belgium and Germany. The St. Pietersberg caves are a 200-km network of underground tunnels used as a fortress and WWII hiding place.
Details:
- Caves: Slavante 1, 6212 TC Maastricht. Guided tours only: 60 min (€10 adults, €7 children) or 90 min (€12 adults, €8 children). Book online.
- Maastricht highlights: Vrijthof square, St. Servaas Basilica (€5), the Bookshop Dominicanen (a 13th-century church turned bookstore).
- Transport from Amsterdam: Train to Maastricht (€25, 2.5 hours). From station, bus 7 or 50 to "Maastricht, Via Regia" (10 min).
- Tip: Combine with a visit to the nearby Valkenburg Castle ruins (€8, 15-min train). Try vlaai (fruit pie) at a local bakery.
11. Giethoorn (Overijssel)
Why go: Known as the "Venice of the North," Giethoorn is a car-free village with canals instead of roads. Punts (flat-bottomed boats) are the primary transport.
Details:
- Address: Giethoorn, 8355 (nearest train station: Steenwijk)
- Opening hours: Village accessible 24/7. Boat rentals: April–October 9:00–18:00; limited in winter.
- Boat rental: €25–35 per hour (punt for up to 6 people). Electric motor included. No license needed.
- Transport from Amsterdam: Train to Steenwijk (€20, 1.5 hours), then bus 70 to Giethoorn (€3.50, 15 min). Or drive (1.5 hours via A6).
- Tip: Arrive by 9:00 to avoid crowds. Rent a whisper boat (silent electric). Walk the wooden footpaths for free views. Avoid weekends May–September.
12. Wadden Sea & Texel Island (North Holland)
Why go: The Wadden Sea (UNESCO World Heritage) is the world’s largest tidal flat system. Texel is the largest Dutch Wadden island, with dunes, bird reserves, and seal spotting.
Details:
- Texel ferry: From Den Helder to Texel. TESO ferry: €5.25 per adult (return), €3.75 per child 4–11. Departs every 30–60 minutes. 20-min crossing.
- Transport to Den Helder: Train from Amsterdam Centraal to Den Helder (€18, 1.5 hours). From station, bus 33 to ferry terminal (5 min).
- Wadden experience: Mudflat walking (wadlopen) guided tours: €25–35 per person, 3–4 hours. Book with Stichting Wadloopcentrum Pieterburen.
- Tip: Best visited May–September. Bring waterproof boots for mudflat walks. Seal spotting boat tours from Texel: €15 adults, €10 children (2 hours).
Practical Information
Getting Around
- Trains: NS (Dutch Railways) covers all major cities. Buy an OV-chipkaart (€7.50, non-refundable) for tap-in/out. Single fares: €4–25. Day passes: €35 (unlimited trains).
- Bikes: Rent from OV-fiets (€4.45
.45 per 24 hours) at train stations (requires OV-chipkaart). Private rentals: €12–18/day.
- Buses/Trams: GVB in Amsterdam (€3.40 single, €8.50 day pass). RET in Rotterdam (€4 single). U-OV in Utrecht (€3.60 single).
- Taxis: Expensive—€2.50/km starting fare. Use Uber (30–50% cheaper) only in major cities.
- Car rental: €40–70/day from Sixt, Hertz, or Enterprise. Tolls rare; parking €5–8/hour in cities.
Best Time to Visit
- Tulip season: Mid-March to mid-May (Keukenhof open, peak crowds)
- Summer: June–August (warmest, 20–25°C, long daylight, busiest)
- Winter: December–February (colder, 0–8°C, fewer crowds, Christmas markets)
- Shoulder: April–May and September–October (mild weather, lower prices, fewer tourists)
Budget Tips
- Museumkaart: €64.90 for one year (access to 400+ museums, including Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House). Pays for itself after 3–4 visits.
- Free attractions: Vondelpark (Amsterdam), Rotterdam's Markthal (no entry fee), Giethoorn walking paths, Kinderdijk grounds.
- Food: Broodje haring (raw herring sandwich) from street stalls: €3–4. Stroopwafels from markets: €1.50–3. Poffertjes (mini pancakes): €5–7 at cafes.
- Accommodation: Hostels €25–45/night; budget hotels €80–120; Airbnb €60–100. Stay outside city centers (e.g., Diemen near Amsterdam, Schiedam near Rotterdam) for 30–50% savings.
