Amsterdam's Allard Pierson is an archaeology museum featuring a large collection of artifacts from ancient Mediterranean civilizations, with antiquities dating as far back as 4,000 BC. Here, you'll find everything from Etruscan statues to Egyptian sarcophagi, Greek pottery, and models of ancient temples. It’s all housed in a gorgeous multistory building overlooking the canal, with views of riverboats going by.
To glimpse life in the Netherlands more than a century ago, head to the Van Gijn House in Dordrecht. This stately home once belonged to banker Simon van Gijn, an active art and interior decor collector, and great efforts have been made to ensure it retains its original beauty and flair.
St. John's Church was built in Gouda in the 15th Century to honor the city’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist. Commanding respect from all directions thanks to its tall spires and Gothic architecture, the church is an important Dutch monument. The main reason visitors make the trip here is to see the church’s stained glass windows.
Dom Tower, the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, stands high above the rooftops of Utrecht. This icon of Utrecht has watched over the city for nearly 700 years, delighting visitors with its unparalleled views, Gothic architecture, and its chorus of bells. Visitors to the city won’t find a better place to get the lay of the land.
Just over an hour from Amsterdam, Efteling Theme Park is a fantasy-themed extravaganza filled with high-octane roller coasters, rides, and shows to suit all ages. The biggest theme park in the Netherlands, Efteling also features impressive architecture, fairytale characters such as Cinderella, and an impressive water and light show.
Amsterdam’s answer to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, Tony’s Chocolonely Super Store is the perfect destination for anyone with a sweet tooth. Located in the historic Beurs van Berlage building—where cocoa was traded a century ago—the Fairtrade chocolate brand’s retail outlet includes a wealth of sweet treats, souvenirs, and much more. You’ll spot a rainbow of colorfully wrapped chocolate bars stacked to the high ceilings, and get to watch as automated machines mix, pour, and package the customized chocolate bars that visitors can make.
SEA LIFE® Scheveningen is an indoor/outdoor aquarium with a wide variety of underwater creatures, from fish, sharks, and sea turtles to otters and penguins. Here, visitors of all ages can learn about life under the sea, watch feedings, or even interact with sea life through a variety of educational experiences.
When it first opened in 1987, the Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum was highly controversial, and was shuttered after just one day. After successfully challenging the shutdown, the museum returned, and today, you’ll find a range of exhibits committed to providing education on cannabis, including an art gallery, a collection of consumption paraphernalia, and exhibits on the global history of hemp.
Dating back to the 17th century, Delft Pottery de Delftse Pauw is a factory and showroom dedicated to creating and selling Delft's internationally celebrated blue-and-white pottery. Come here to learn about the history of the iconic products and see how they are produced through free educational tours; it’s also a great place to pick up some Delftware of your own.
Situated at the base of Cauberg Hill, Gemeentegrot or Cauberg Cavern is an expansive network of old caves that have been used as wartime shelters throughout the ages. Descend into the caves to learn its history and see its murals and sculptures, many from the Cold War.
One of the latest additions to Amsterdam’s theatrical venues is the glass-front Theater Amsterdam, situated along the IJ Waterfront. The purpose-built theater opened its doors in 2014 for the premiere of ANNE, a play about the latter years of Anne Frank’s life in Amsterdam. Today, it hosts a variety of contemporary plays, concerts, and shows, as well as corporate events and galas.
Easily accessible from Amsterdam by car or public transport, South Kennemerland National Park is a nature reserve of sand dunes, coastal forests, wetlands, and beaches. Visit to enjoy the park’s bird-watching opportunities, nature trails, and cycling paths. This easy day trip from Amsterdam is one of Holland's most popular national parks.
Set along the popular Scheveningen beach, Sculptures by the Sea (Museum Beelden aan Zee) offers a surprising pop of culture in The Hague’s seaside resort area. This museum and sculpture garden are home to a collection of works by Dutch and international artists displayed in and around a 19th-century royal pavilion along the water.
Trippy and surreal though it might be, Amsterdam’s The Upside Down is not a Stranger Things tribute act. Instead, it’s one of Europe’s largest social media extravaganzas, serving up mind-bending illusions, interactive fun, and wacky selfie fodder across 25 separate rooms. You can capture the Insta-magic in a pink private jet, a ball pit, a Mondrian-inspired room, an upside-down throne room, and more.
One of Belgium’s top outlet shopping destinations, Maasmechelen Village is home to over 100 boutiques and restaurants, with designer duds trading at 30 to 60% off list price. Individual buildings mimic local architectural styles, creating a characterful open-air feel that’s miles away from the traditional covered mall.
Billed as the world’s only floating cat sanctuary, Amsterdam’s De Poezenboot (The Cat Boat) is unlike any of the other houseboats that frequent the city’s picturesque canals. Established nearly 60 years ago, De Poezenboot takes in and rehomes hundreds of cats each year. It’s also open several times a week to cat lovers who want to greet and play with the resident felines.
One of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, Amsterdam’s Hortus Botanicus is home to more than 6,000 different types of trees and plants, including a giant water lily that’s more than 150 years old. A palm house, an orangery, a butterfly greenhouse, and the Climate House, featuring three climatic zones, mean there’s something to enjoy whatever the weather.
Muiden Castle, or Muiderslot, is one of the better-preserved medieval castles in the Netherlands. Built in 1370 about 10 miles (15 kilometers) south of Amsterdam, this square fortress comes straight out of a video game, with classic elements like towers, battlements, and a moat. It now serves as a national museum showcasing period rooms, armor collections, and beautiful gardens designed in 17th-century style.
Graffiti lovers don’t have to pound the streets of Amsterdam to find some of its best murals; many are on display at STRAAT. The museum gathers more than 180 works by nearly as many street artists under one roof. Showcasing work by both well-known artists and up-and-coming talent, STRAAT draws visitors with its exhibitions, guided tours, and hands-on workshops suitable for street artists at any level.
Celebrating its specialty, this Amsterdam museum takes you from the history of Dutch cheesemaking to, yes, free samples of some of the Netherlands’ best cheese. In fact, the majority of the experience is dedicated to cheese sampling and perusing countless styles of the good stuff, so come hungry—and leave happy.
The Vincent van Gogh Huis is a museum and art center that marks the spot where the artist was born in the Dutch town of Zundert. The original building was torn down in 1903 to make room for a new parsonage, which was later retrofitted to house Van Gogh–themed exhibitions and art workshops.
For the quintessential Dutch cheese experience, stop by the Amsterdam Cheese Company. With several locations across the city, each storefront promises a top-notch variety, with staff on hand to offer samples, direct you to new flavors, and make sure you and your palate leave familiar with the glory of Dutch cheese.
One of Amsterdam’s largest and most well-known markets, the Noordermarkt has been held in the city for 400 years, since the Dutch Golden Age. Today, the market is held twice a week on Mondays and Saturdays and comprises several areas with different specialties. It’s a popular destination for ingredients, antiques, clothes, and a highlight of Amsterdam's central Jordaan district.
Amsterdam Cruise Port is one of the Baltic's largest cargo ports, as well as a popular gateway to the Dutch city of Amsterdam. Most cruise liners dock at the Passenger Terminal in the East Docklands neighborhood, which offers good transport links with which to explore Amsterdam's principal attractions—from the famed canals and coffeeshops to the Dutch countryside.
The Nijntje Museum celebrates the children’s character Miffy (known in Dutch as nijntje) in Utrecht, the hometown of creator Dick Bruna. This family-friendly attraction serves as an interactive playground for young children rather than a regular museum, with exhibits designed to educate and engage all of their senses.
Antique self-playing instruments—with a history dating back centuries—fill the Museum Speelklok and provide its musical ambiance. This niche museum in central Utrecht celebrates the Dutch tradition of music boxes, musical clocks, and street organs, including the famous painted street organ, the “Arabier.” Learning about these intricate instruments and hearing their cheerful tunes is an experience designed for the whole family.
Offering a uniquely immersive and innovative way to experience Rembrandt’s art, the Rembrandts Amsterdam Experience invites visitors to tour a multimedia recreation of the artist’s last studio from 1663. Complete with video projections and multidimensional special effects, the experience showcases how people lived in 17th-century Amsterdam and makes Rembrandt’s work and story widely accessible. It’s a singular way for families to learn together about one of Amsterdam’s most famous artists.
A grand mansion first built in the 17th century, Huis Bartolotti is one of Amsterdam’s most splendid canal houses. With its ornate facade, array of windows, grand rococo hall, and lovely garden, it provides insight into how the city’s rich merchants lived—but the cozy, colorful kitchen reveals their domesticity as well.
While many Amsterdam visitors will stroll through the Red Light District, the Tour de BonTon offers a more real look at the city’s sex industry for those who are curious. Here, you explore the city’s more lascivious side by heading behind the scenes of a high-end gentlemen’s club with tour guides who are typically former sex workers. Ask your questions, see what it’s like, and experience a tour truly unlike any other.
One of the most high-end department store brands in the Netherlands, de Bijenkorf was founded more than 150 years ago, and grew from a small haberdashery shop to a 7-location chain. With a grand flagship location right on Amsterdam’s Dam Square, the shopping destination features hundreds of premium and designer brands across five floors, plus dining options at The Kitchen and Patisserie de Bijenkorf.
