The Netherlands travel (2024)

Tradition and innovation intertwine here: artistic masterpieces, centuries-old windmills, tulip fields and romantic candlelit cafés coexist with visionary architecture, cutting-edge design and phenomenal nightlife.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions

Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam
This wonderful museum traces Van Gogh's life and artistic development via the world's largest collection of his work. More than 200 canvases are on…
Vondelpark
Amsterdam
Attracting over 12 million visitors per year, Amsterdam’s favorite playground is the green expanse of Vondelpark, with its 116 acres (47 hectares) of…
Anne Frank Huis
Western Canal Ring
Visiting the Anne Frank Huis is one of Amsterdam's most profound experiences. Tragically, of the 107,000 Jewish adults and children deported from the…
Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam
The Netherlands’ top treasure house, the Rijksmuseum (pronounced ‘rikes’), is among the world's finest art museums. With over 1.5km of galleries, it packs…
Museum het Rembrandthuis
Amsterdam
Housed in Rembrandt's former home on lively Jodenbreestraat, this evocative museum provides an unparalleled insight into one of the Netherlands’ greatest…
Van Nelle Fabriek
Rotterdam
Designed and built between 1925 and 1931, this modernist World Heritage–listed factory northwest of the city centre is an icon of 20th-century industrial…
Mauritshuis
Den Haag
Offering a wonderful introduction to Dutch and Flemish art, this splendid museum is set in a 17th-century mansion built for wealthy sugar trader Johan…
Sint Janskerk
South Holland
Impressive for both its size and its magnificent stained-glass windows, Sint Janskerk had chequered beginnings: previous incarnations of the building…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

The 21 best free things to do in Amsterdam

Curated by

Catherine Le Nevez

Oosterpark
Amsterdam
The lush greenery of Oosterpark, with wild parakeets in the trees and herons stalking the large ponds, brings an almost tropical richness to this diverse…
Poezenboot
Western Canal Ring
Cat-lovers may want to check out this quirky boat on the Singel. It was founded in 1966 by a local woman who became legendary for looking after several…
De Duif
Southern Canal Ring
In 1796, following the French-installed government’s proclamation of religious freedom, De Duif became the Netherlands’ first Catholic church to be built…
Below the Surface
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
During the construction of Amsterdam's 2018-opened Noord/Zuidlijn (North–South metro line), more than 134,000 archaeological finds were unearthed from…
Frankendael House
Amsterdam
This area was rolling countryside several centuries ago. In the 18th century, wealthy Amsterdammers would pass their summers and weekends in large country…
OBA: Centrale Bibliotheek Amsterdam
Amsterdam
This being Amsterdam, it has one of the coolest libraries you can imagine, built in 2007 and spread over multiple light, bright floors. The basem*nt is…
Concertgebouw
Amsterdam
The Concert Hall was built in 1888 by AL van Gendt, who managed to engineer its near-perfect acoustics. Bernard Haitink, former conductor of the Royal…
NEMO Science Museum
Amsterdam
Perched atop the entrance to the IJ Tunnel is this unmissable green-copper building with a slanted roof, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and…
Albert Cuypmarkt
De Pijp
Some 260 stalls fill the Albert Cuypmarkt, Amsterdam's largest and busiest market. Vendors loudly tout their array of gadgets, homewares, flowers, fruit,…
Begijnhof
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
Dating from the early 14th century, this enclosed former convent is a peaceful haven, with tiny houses and postage-stamp gardens around a well-kept…
See Also
Discover the remarkable side of the Netherlands: unique destinations and hidden gems | Holland.com
Stadsarchief
Southern Canal Ring
A distinctive striped building dating from 1923, this former bank now houses 23km of shelving storing Amsterdam archives. Fascinating displays of archive…
Bloemenmarkt
Southern Canal Ring
Flowers are not treats, but essentials in Amsterdam. Ever since 1860, this famous flower market has been located at the spot where nurserymen and women,…
Vondelpark
Amsterdam
Attracting over 12 million visitors per year, Amsterdam’s favorite playground is the green expanse of Vondelpark, with its 116 acres (47 hectares) of…
Cannabis College
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
This nonprofit centre offers visitors tips and tricks for having a positive smoking experience and provides the low-down on local cannabis laws. There are…
Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam
The Netherlands’ top treasure house, the Rijksmuseum (pronounced ‘rikes’), is among the world's finest art museums. With over 1.5km of galleries, it packs…
Bimhuis
Amsterdam
On the IJ riverbank, Bimhuis is the Netherlands' most important jazz venue. Its stylish digs are at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ and it draws international…

Articles

Latest stories from The Netherlands

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Cycling

How to experience Holland's tulip fields by bike

Mar 21, 2024 • 8 min read

Four days. Seventy-five miles. Millions of tulips.

Budget Travel
The 21 best free things to do in Amsterdam
Mar 13, 2024 • 7 min read
COVID-19
The Netherlands is easing lockdown - here's what travelers need to know
Jan 17, 2022 • 3 min read
Air Travel
Vaccinated US tourists can once again visit the Netherlands as it reverses entry ban
Sep 16, 2021 • 3 min read
Festivals & Events
The best time to go to the Netherlands
Apr 22, 2021 • 5 min read
Art
Smell fragrant and foul scents of the 17th century at this Dutch art exhibition
Mar 19, 2021 • 2 min read
Air Travel
Airline launches quarantine-free travel to Amsterdam from the US
Dec 8, 2020 • 2 min read
Train Travel
This whale tail sculpture saved a train that went off the rails
Nov 4, 2020 • 2 min read
Family Travel
The Netherlands' 11 best cycling routes and locations
Aug 20, 2020 • 4 min read
Cycling
The Netherlands’ newest bike garage is like an enormous space-age airport for cyclists
Aug 3, 2020 • 2 min read