Netherlands travel guide
There's much more to the Netherlands than capital Amsterdam: hire a bike and discover tranquil islands, pretty canals, bustling cities and great beer and cheese
The Netherlands, tucked away between Belgium, Germany and the North Sea, is an often-overlooked holiday destination. The best way to explore the Netherlands’ countryside is by bike. Cycle past windmills, tulip fields, rough coastlines and picture-perfect villages.
An obvious – and worthwhile – place to visit is the Netherlands’ capital Amsterdam. Admire world-famous Dutch paintings in the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, cruise or walk along Amsterdam’s canals, and finish the day in one of the city’s many buzzing bars.
Other highlights are the remote Frisian Islands and their more frequented neighbour Texel, the charming town of Maastricht with its medieval centre, and the marshes and lagoons of Biesbosch National Park. Rotterdam is a hot spot for architecture fans.
Wanderlust recommends
- Go ice-skating on frozen canals – occasionally the right climatic conditions result in a Dutch super-freeze, and the whole country shuts down, pulls on its skates and takes to the waterways.
- Visit the Van Gogh Museum and take a walk around Vondelpark during a city break in Amsterdam.
- Enjoy the sea breeze and relax on the quiet Frisian Islands in the far north, much of which is protected nature reserves.
- Hire a bike (or bring your own) and cycle one of the Netherlands’ excellent long distance routes, for example along the rivers Maas and Waal.
Wanderlust tips
Join a guided mud walk, crossing over to an island in the Wadden Sea during low tide. It’s a bit messy, but great fun and a unique nature experience. A good area is Simonszand, a sandbank between Schiermonnikoog and Rottumerplaat, home to many birds and seagulls.