Netherlands attractions

Even in a city with lots of out-of-the-ordinary architecture, Rotterdam’s Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen manage to stand out from the crowd. Designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom and built in the early 1980s, these yellow-and-gray cubic houses are perched at a 45-degree-angle, creating unusual lines and strangely shaped interiors.

Microscopic organisms take their turn in the spotlight—or, rather, under the microscope—at Micropia, the first museum in the world devoted entirely to microbes. Part of Amsterdam’s ARTIS Park, Micropia’s main goal is to enlighten visitors on the positive role microbes play in daily life. The interactive exhibits offer engaging activities for both young and old and will challenge the worldviews of even the biggest germophobe.

The Wereldmuseum, or World Museum, is a merging of two separate anthropological collections—Amsterdam’s former Tropenmuseum and Rotterdam’s own Wereldmuseum—that reopened to much fanfare in 2023. Occupying a monumental 20th-century building at the entrance to the sprawling Oosterpark, the Amsterdam branch of the museum affords a fresh perspective on Dutch colonialism, providing an insight into world cultures from four different continents.

Famed for its namesake blue-and-white pottery and for being the birthplace of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, Delft is ringed by scenic canals and offers a much more tranquil atmosphere than nearby Amsterdam. The quaint Dutch town is also notable for its medieval buildings and its lively market, which is the perfect place to people-watch and enjoy a traditional stroopwafel (caramel-smothered waffle).

Built to protect Amsterdam and other coastal towns from sea flooding, the Enclosing Dike (Afsluitdijk) is an amazing feat of Dutch engineering. Stretching 20 miles (32 kilometers) across the water, Afsluitdijk is both a dam and a motorway connecting the province of Noord-Holland with Friesland. The damming of the sea also created a freshwater lake called Ijsselmeer, which has become a hot spot for water sports.

Dating back to 1653, Royal Delft (Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles) is the world’s best-known manufacturer of the Netherlands’ iconic blue-and-white porcelain goods. The factory—the only such manufactory that remains from the 17th century—is open to travelers looking to learn about this one-of-a-kind hand-painted stoneware.

Amsterdam’s Museum Het Schip is dedicated to the early 20th-century Amsterdam School style of architecture. The museum is located inside the Het Schip—a massive social housing project designed by Michel de Klerk. De Klerk designed the building to resemble a grand ocean liner, and the museum tells the history of the building through the social and political context that led to its creation.

Transformed from a farmhouse into a stately home in 1533, Noordeinde Palace (Paleis Noordeinde) in The Hague was presented to William of Orange’s widow in recognition of her husband’s service to the Netherlands. Noordeinde Palace is one of four palaces across the country owned by the Dutch royal family and serves as the office of King Willem-Alexander.

Hailed by many as Amsterdam’s most beautiful market, Albert Cuyp Market has welcomed shoppers since 1905, when it started as a collection of street traders. Named after the 17th-century painter, today's market features around 260 stalls piled high with food, clothes, and more. It also boasts the title of Europe’s biggest market, making it a must-visit when in the Dutch capital.

In their heyday, this group of 18th-century windmills in Kinderdijk formed part of an essential water management system for locals who struggled to keep their feet dry. Today, visitors can learn about the windmills at a visitor center—formerly the village pumping station—and visit two windmills that have been converted into museums. Photography opportunities abound, as these wood-and-stone windmills have become an iconic Dutch sight.

Most of Rotterdam’s historic buildings were destroyed by World War II bombing, with a few notable exceptions, including the city’s grand City Hall (Stadhuis). Built in the first two decades of the 20th century, this massive Beaux Art-style palace features four wings around an interior courtyard and a soaring clock and bell tower.

One of the trendiest corners of Rotterdam, Old Harbor (Oude Haven) was the city’s first port, dating back to 1350. Today, this vibrant area along the north bank of the Meuse River is a mix of historical and modern architecture—including Piet Blom’s famous Cube Houses—where visitors can experience the best dining and nightlife in the city.

Madurodam, a mini-kingdom on a 1:25 scale, lets you tour the entirety of the Netherlands in an hour. One of Holland’s most popular attractions since its development in The Hague in 1952, it highlights the epitomes of Dutch culture in scale-model replicas of perfectly ornamented bridges, canals, windmills, and national landmarks. There is also a range of rides and themed attractions.

Mauritshuis is home to one of the best collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings in the world. Often referred to as "the jewel box," the ornately elegant 17th-century mansion is a textbook example of Dutch classical architecture, built as the private residence of John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen.

Art fans in Delft flock to the Museum Prinsenhof to see its large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. Other museum highlights include tapestries, period furniture, housewares, and plenty of fine examples of Delft's blue-and-white ceramics. The museum's 15th-century building holds interest, too.

Rotterdam’s Euromast observation tower—which was built in 1960—rises to 607 feet (185 meters, making it the Netherlands’ tallest building. Extended to its current height in 1970, the observation tower offers restaurants, hotel suites, abseiling experiences, a viewing platform, and a rotating Euroscoop glass elevator with panoramic views.

This magnet for cocktail lovers celebrates an Amsterdam favorite: the Bols liqueur (and genever) range, which began with a 16th-century distillery founded by the Bols family. The modern, interactive exhibition features an audio-guided tour with a cocktail in the sleek Mirror Bar, and you can also book packages that include a mixology workshop led by a pro bartender.

Holland Casino boasts several locations across the Netherlands. But don’t expect a grungy, dimly lit gambling hall, especially when it comes to the Amsterdam Centrum location. The casino, located in the heart of the Dutch capital, is known for its upscale ambiance, offering a fleet of slot machines and a mix of table games like poker and blackjack. Meanwhile, its on-site restaurant, the Global Kitchen, serves up international fare like Thai red curry and chicken gyros.

With a history dating back to the 13th century, the Great Church of St. James is one of the oldest buildings in The Hague. Dutch Royals such as King Willem-Alexander and Princess Catharina-Amalia were baptized here, but the Gothic-style church is best known for its imposing bell tower, one of the highest in the Netherlands.

The oldest museum in The Netherlands, Haarlem’s Teylers Museum is a natural history, science, and art museum founded in 1778. Today, it is known as the best-preserved 18th-century public institution for the arts and sciences in the world and is packed with everything from minerals and fossils to works by Rembrandt and Raphael.

Behind the 17th-century façade of this palace—formerly the winter home of Queen Emma of the Netherlands—lies a series of lavishly appointed rooms plus an ornate Art Nouveau staircase and stained-glass skylights. It’s also home to a startlingly eccentric collection of works of Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher.

Kalverstraat was home to a busy cattle market for centuries; hence its name, which translates as “Calf Street.” Amsterdam’s growing prosperity in the 17th century led to the arrival of mansions and guild houses, and the bustling neighborhood traded cows for shops. Today, it remains one of Amsterdam’s most famous shopping destinations, home to international clothing brands, as well as De Bijenkorf, a Dutch department store.

Johannes Vermeer is among the most celebrated Dutch Masters, particularly at the Delft Vermeer Centre (Vermeer Centrum). Here, the artist behind the "Girl With the Pearl Earring" is honored through exhibits focusing on both his work and his life in Delft.

Set in the former poorhouse where Frans Hals spent his final years, the Frans Hals Museum is home to a collection of paintings by the Dutch Golden Age masters from the 17th century, when Haarlem was known as the “City of Painters.” Admire works by Haarlem School artists, including Hals’ famed Civic Guard portraits.

If you’re intrigued by the dark side of history, Amsterdam’s Torture Museum affords a glimpse into the medieval age of crime and punishment. This grim and grisly attraction displays more than 40 instruments of torture used around Europe through the Middle Ages, including an inquisition chair, racks and stocks, a guillotine, thumbscrews, the flute of shame, a skull crusher, and a Judas Cradle.

In the eastern neighborhood of Amsterdam-Oost, the Dapper Market, or Dappermarkt, is one of Amsterdam’s oldest, liveliest, and most diverse local markets. Every day except Sunday, the century-old market sprawls along Dapperstrasse, with 250 stands selling everything from fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables to clothing and household goods. Most notably, it’s a foodie hotspot where you can purchase tasty street food and try Surinamese, Turkish, Moroccan, and other international cuisines.

The largest castle in the Netherlands, De Haar Castle, cuts a regal figure in the countryside just outside Utrecht. Its neo-Gothic look pays tribute to its centuries-long history, though it was in ruins before being rebuilt by architect Pierre Cuypers from 1892 to 1912. Formal gardens full of lawns, flowerbeds, and ponds fill the vast estate surrounding the castle, while the rooms inside showcase the opulence and riches of the Dutch Golden Age.

Housed in a traditional Amsterdam canal house and former brothel, Red Light Secrets is dedicated to the intriguing world of commercial sex work and is the only museum in the world devoted to this profession. Visitors learn the history of prostitution in the Netherlands and gain fascinating insight into the experiences and daily life of a sex worker in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

The kid-focused Maritime Museum Rotterdam is one of the world’s oldest and largest museums dedicated to naval history. Family-friendly permanent exhibitions include an interactive model of the city’s port and the Professor Splash play space; outside, several moored ships can be explored at the open-air Harbour Museum.

One of Rotterdam’s oldest areas—having escaped bombing during World War II—Delfshaven fringes the River New Meuse on the city’s western edges. Originally a harbor for the nearby city of Delft and the 1620 leaving point for the Pilgrim Fathers, its gabled houses, historical ships, and quayside shops and eateries are magnets for visitors.