The Netherlands is so much more than Amsterdam

Travel 5 Minutes

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Slide 1 of 10: This magical little town has streets made of water, proving that fairytales do exist! When you first arrive, you'll think you're in some kind of a movie set for a latest Disney film because of the surreal and beautiful scenery. This storybook town is often called Little Venice or the Venice of the North, as mainly boats are used for transportation. Even the post is delivered by boat because some houses can only be reached via the town's waterways. With almost 200 bridges, traditional Dutch houses and an amazing countryside, this village is best explored by a boat tour. But if you're feeling adventurous, rent your own vessel and do the tour on your own!

Giethoorn

This magical little town has streets made of water, proving that fairytales do exist! When you first arrive, you’ll think you’re in some kind of a movie set for a latest Disney film because of the surreal and beautiful scenery. This storybook town is often called Little Venice or the Venice of the North, as mainly boats are used for transportation. Even the post is delivered by boat because some houses can only be reached via the town’s waterways. With almost 200 bridges, traditional Dutch houses and an amazing countryside, this village is best explored by a boat tour. But if you’re feeling adventurous, rent your own vessel and do the tour on your own!

Slide 2 of 10: This historic harbor town located in the north on the shores of the Wadden Sea will amaze you with its picturesque canal houses and historic warehouses. During summer, the beach is nice for swimming and a hub for kite surfers, kayakers and surfers. The well-loved Harlingen Pottery & Tiles originate here, producing clay handicrafts entirely by hand. For those seeking adventure, stay the night in a lifeboat, a lighthouse or a harbor crane.

2/10 SLIDES © Jeannette Tas/123RF

Harlingen

This historic harbor town located in the north on the shores of the Wadden Sea will amaze you with its picturesque canal houses and historic warehouses. During summer, the beach is nice for swimming and a hub for kite surfers, kayakers and surfers. The well-loved Harlingen Pottery & Tiles originate here, producing clay handicrafts entirely by hand. For those seeking adventure, stay the night in a lifeboat, a lighthouse or a harbor crane.
Slide 3 of 10: Before it was surpassed by Amsterdam, Utrecht was the most important city in Netherlands. Sometimes referred to as Amsterdam's sister, this city is also filled with canals, medieval churches, antique shops, cafes and classical Dutch houses, just without the tourist crowds. Take a river cruise to explore the city, and for a spectacular view climb to the top of the Dom Tower, the tallest bell tower in Netherlands. This hidden gem has something to satisfy every taste, from fine dining to lively bars and pubs. Utrecht is also home to one of the biggest and most prestigious universities in Netherlands. Lots of students mean lots of great parties, so it won't take too long to find a good club or a bar around here.
3/10 SLIDES © Christian Müller/123RF

Utrecht

Before it was surpassed by Amsterdam, Utrecht was the most important city in Netherlands. Sometimes referred to as Amsterdam’s sister, this city is also filled with canals, medieval churches, antique shops, cafes and classical Dutch houses, just without the tourist crowds. Take a river cruise to explore the city, and for a spectacular view climb to the top of the Dom Tower, the tallest bell tower in Netherlands. This hidden gem has something to satisfy every taste, from fine dining to lively bars and pubs.
Utrecht is also home to one of the biggest and most prestigious universities in Netherlands. Lots of students mean lots of great parties, so it won’t take too long to find a good club or a bar around here.
Slide 4 of 10: Home to the oldest university in the country, Leiden is also a vibrant university city. Leiden University is more than 400 years old and even Albert Einstein taught classes here. The city is famous for its many museums and is often referred as the Museum City, which makes sense since it's the birthplace of world famous Dutch painter, Rembrandt van Rijn. If you're an art lover, make sure to visit the Musem de Lakenhal, exhibiting Rembrandt's earliest surviving painting and dozens of other works from the Dutch Golden Age. After Amsterdam, Leiden has the greatest number of bridges and canals, ideal for taking romantic boat rides or strolls around the city. With a historical city center featuring 17th century buildings, windmills, university buildings and churches, Leiden feels like a life-sized museum.
4/10 SLIDES © Boris Breytman/123RF

Leiden

Home to the oldest university in the country, Leiden is also a vibrant university city. Leiden University is more than 400 years old and even Albert Einstein taught classes here. The city is famous for its many museums and is often referred as the Museum City, which makes sense since it’s the birthplace of world famous Dutch painter, Rembrandt van Rijn. If you’re an art lover, make sure to visit the Musem de Lakenhal, exhibiting Rembrandt’s earliest surviving painting and dozens of other works from the Dutch Golden Age.
After Amsterdam, Leiden has the greatest number of bridges and canals, ideal for taking romantic boat rides or strolls around the city. With a historical city center featuring 17th century buildings, windmills, university buildings and churches, Leiden feels like a life-sized museum.
Slide 5 of 10: Home to the world famous Delft Blue pottery, Chinese porcelain with a signature blue-hued design, Delft is a charming canal-ringed town. Located just a few miles south of Hague, this beautiful city has a rich history and well-preserved cultural sights. Delftware pottery has been produced here since the 16th century, and visitors can tour the authentic workshop and see how these glorious pieces are produced up close. Also, Delft is the birthplace of painter Johannes Vermeer, most known for his painting titled "Girl with the Pearl Earring".
5/10 SLIDES © bloodua/123RF

Delft

Home to the world famous Delft Blue pottery, Chinese porcelain with a signature blue-hued design, Delft is a charming canal-ringed town. Located just a few miles south of Hague, this beautiful city has a rich history and well-preserved cultural sights. Delftware pottery has been produced here since the 16th century, and visitors can tour the authentic workshop and see how these glorious pieces are produced up close. Also, Delft is the birthplace of painter Johannes Vermeer, most known for his painting titled “Girl with the Pearl Earring”.
Slide 6 of 10: No, Gouda is not just a type of cheese, it's also an actual city in the western Netherlands. Cheese lovers will enjoy the birthplace of Gouda, and here there are samples galore of the best locally produced cheese. The famous stroopwafel, a syrup-coated Dutch waffle, also originates here, making this city a true paradise for foodies. An essential part of every visit to Gouda is visiting the cheese market, held every Thursday morning. Besides great food, this city has plenty of historic building such as the oldest town hall in the Netherlands, and the Church of Saint John, which is famous for its impressive glass windows best viewed from the inside.
6/10 SLIDES © Marcello Celli/123RF

Gouda

No, Gouda is not just a type of cheese, it’s also an actual city in the western Netherlands. Cheese lovers will enjoy the birthplace of Gouda, and here there are samples galore of the best locally produced cheese. The famous stroopwafel, a syrup-coated Dutch waffle, also originates here, making this city a true paradise for foodies. An essential part of every visit to Gouda is visiting the cheese market, held every Thursday morning. Besides great food, this city has plenty of historic building such as the oldest town hall in the Netherlands, and the Church of Saint John, which is famous for its impressive glass windows best viewed from the inside.
Slide 7 of 10: One of the most iconic symbols of the Netherlands is the windmill, and the country's finest can be found in a small village called Kinderdijk. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts 19 preserved windmills, making it the largest collection of working windmills in the entire country. Admire impressive time-worn windmills and learn more about their history on guided tours or workshops. Explore the site by walking, biking or take a boat ride to marvel at them from water. For the complete rural Dutch experience, dine at Buena Vista, a restaurant located in a historic building near the entrance of the park. Here you can try classical Dutch dishes like pancakes or taste some of the country's fish specialties.
7/10 SLIDES © Anton Foltin/123RF

Kinderdijk

One of the most iconic symbols of the Netherlands is the windmill, and the country’s finest can be found in a small village called Kinderdijk. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts 19 preserved windmills, making it the largest collection of working windmills in the entire country. Admire impressive time-worn windmills and learn more about their history on guided tours or workshops. Explore the site by walking, biking or take a boat ride to marvel at them from water. For the complete rural Dutch experience, dine at Buena Vista, a restaurant located in a historic building near the entrance of the park. Here you can try classical Dutch dishes like pancakes or taste some of the country’s fish specialties.
Slide 8 of 10: This rural area just a few miles from Amsterdam includes the three picturesque cities of Edam, Marken and Volendam. The Waterland province is the best place to get a taste of the traditional side of the Netherlands. Lush greenery, peaceful canals and traditional Dutch architecture will make you feel like you've been frozen in time. Edam might ring a bell if you're a cheese fan, because this small village is its birthplace. World renowned cheese can be bought at Edam's Wednesday morning market, when local farmers bring their wares by boat or horse and cart to the city center. When you've had enough cheese, enjoy the peaceful fishing village of Volendam. Here you'll find lots of locals dressed up in traditional costumes, ready to take pictures with you. Try smoked eel or herring from local fishermen and enjoy the old wooden houses by the canals, providing unique rural charm! Marken is the other postcard-perfect fishing village in the area, famous for its wooden houses built on stilts. Admire the traditional 16th century costumes in the Marken Museum, or tuck into kibbeling (local fish and chips).
8/10 SLIDES © Tat-Photo/123RF

The Waterland: Edam, Marken and Volendam

This rural area just a few miles from Amsterdam includes the three picturesque cities of Edam, Marken and Volendam. The Waterland province is the best place to get a taste of the traditional side of the Netherlands. Lush greenery, peaceful canals and traditional Dutch architecture will make you feel like you’ve been frozen in time.
Edam might ring a bell if you’re a cheese fan, because this small village is its birthplace. World renowned cheese can be bought at Edam’s Wednesday morning market, when local farmers bring their wares by boat or horse and cart to the city center.
When you’ve had enough cheese, enjoy the peaceful fishing village of Volendam. Here you’ll find lots of locals dressed up in traditional costumes, ready to take pictures with you. Try smoked eel or herring from local fishermen and enjoy the old wooden houses by the canals, providing unique rural charm!
Marken is the other postcard-perfect fishing village in the area, famous for its wooden houses built on stilts. Admire the traditional 16th century costumes in the Marken Museum, or tuck into kibbeling (local fish and chips).
Slide 9 of 10: Dubbed one of the cutest towns in the Netherlands, Hoorn will win you over with its pretty harbor and historic architecture. Get lost in its scenic streets, unspoiled by mass tourism. Many cute cafes and restaurants serve delicious food and some of the best Dutch specialties. The town has a rich history, as it was an important harbor town during Holland's Golden Age. History buffs will enjoy the Westfries Museum, where you can learn more about town's lengthy past.
9/10 SLIDES © Christian Müller/123RF

Hoorn

Dubbed one of the cutest towns in the Netherlands, Hoorn will win you over with its pretty harbor and historic architecture. Get lost in its scenic streets, unspoiled by mass tourism. Many cute cafes and restaurants serve delicious food and some of the best Dutch specialties. The town has a rich history, as it was an important harbor town during Holland’s Golden Age. History buffs will enjoy the Westfries Museum, where you can learn more about town’s lengthy past.
Slide 10 of 10: The medieval city of Haarlem is often nicknamed little Amsterdam for its similarity to the Dutch capital. Unlike Amsterdam, Haarlem is still flying under the radar, thus offering a less-touristy and more local experience. Catch a glimpse of local life as you stroll around cobbled streets and beautiful canals. Drink a coffee on the Grote Markt, the main square, and feel the city's relaxed vibe. On Saturdays this place gets very busy, as it hosts a famous market every week. It's a truly local experience and great place to indulge in delicious food or buy some fresh flowers!
10/10 SLIDES © ?ukasz Stefa?ski/123RF

Haarlem

The medieval city of Haarlem is often nicknamed little Amsterdam for its similarity to the Dutch capital. Unlike Amsterdam, Haarlem is still flying under the radar, thus offering a less-touristy and more local experience. Catch a glimpse of local life as you stroll around cobbled streets and beautiful canals. Drink a coffee on the Grote Markt, the main square, and feel the city’s relaxed vibe. On Saturdays this place gets very busy, as it hosts a famous market every week. It’s a truly local experience and great place to indulge in delicious food or buy some fresh flowers!
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