South Holland 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Hague’s Square 1813 (Plein 1813) consists of a 2-lane roundabout that surrounds the country’s largest 19th-century statue. Named the Independence Monument, it commemorates two significant 1813 events: the Netherlands’ victory over Napolean and the consequent establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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.

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.

Note: The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is temporarily closed. Rotterdam’s premier art museum began with bequests from two wealthy Dutch art lovers: Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans donated his collection to the city in 1847, and Daniel George van Deuningenfollowed suit in 1955. From 16th-century paintings to contemporary glassware, the museum’s displays of western works are constantly changing; it has featured 20th-century bodies of work by German Expressionist Max Beckmann and French surrealist Yves Tanguy, as well as pieces from hundreds of years earlier. Highlights of this expansive 140,000-work collection include Pieter Bruegel’s peerless Old Testament offering The Tower of Babel (1553), which warrants close inspection for all its detailed activity; scores of delicate drawings by Renaissance artist Fra Bartolommeo; Rembrandt’s winsome Titus at his Desk; and a collection of Gerrit Rietveld’s distinct colored wooden furniture. The many other artists represented here include Rubens, Dalí, Da Vinci, Monet, Picasso, Van Eyck, and Man Ray. All works are housed in a stylish red-brick building designed by Adrianus Van der Steur, now updated with airy glass galleries and surrounded by a sculpture park and fountains. Free temporary exhibitions are on display in the Willem van der Vorm gallery and Serra Hall just inside the main entrance.

The Prison Gate Museum (Gevangenpoort) is the former prison of the Court of Holland, and housed both criminals and innocents for four centuries beginning in 1428. Visitors today can view the medieval cells and interrogation chambers, instruments of torture, and other vestiges of this prison’s grisly past.

Leiden's Museum De Lakenhal collection and the building it is housed in (Laecken-Halle) are among the best examples of Dutch Golden Age art and architecture in the Netherlands. Admire the museum’s preserved original facade, then step inside to marvel at works by Rembrandt and other Leiden-born masters.

Once an abandoned port area on the south bank of the Nieuwe Maas River, Kop van Zuid has since been revitalized to become a modern urban renewal success story. An eclectic mix of modern skyscrapers and restored historic warehouses, the neighborhood is now a vibrant business, residential, dining, cultural, and entertainment destination.

Gouda is famous for more than just its delicious cheeses. At Museum Gouda, learn all about the Dutch Masters who created fine Dutch pottery and paintings from the 16th to the 20th Century. Wander the streets where Erasmus grew up and see another side to this quaint city.

A visit to Kunsthal Rotterdam, one of the city’s most prestigious museums, offers the opportunity to appreciate both art and architecture. The dynamic institution is known for its ever-changing and intriguing exhibition program displayed in an architecturally inspired multifloored building, designed by famed Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp) is known for its successful conservation and breeding programs. Visit the zoo for the chance to see creatures from all around the globe, from African pygmy hippos to Asiatic lions, North American polar bears to Australian swamp wallabies. There’s even an on-site aquarium and butterfly garden.

The Hague’s seaside suburb of Scheveningen is a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer promenade backing a sandy beach and the waters of the North Sea. This popular resort community had its heyday in the 19th century but recent injections of cash have spruced the town up to its former gentility.

Kids and adults alike delight at the miniature cities and landscapes recreated in meticulous detail at Miniworld Rotterdam, the largest indoor miniature park in the Netherlands. Marvel at tiny versions of polders, old towns and modern skylines, harbors, and even model trains that chug along more than a mile (2 kilometers) of tracks.

Founded in 1866, Kunstmuseum Den Haag houses a large collection of modern art along with collections dedicated to pottery and glass, prints, fashion, and music. Here you'll find extensive works by the likes of Picasso and Degas, the world's largest collection of Piet Mondrian art, and musical instruments from around the world.

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.

This museum holds the private car collection of the Louwmans, a Dutch family with strong ties to the automobile industry. View more than 230 vehicles—including rare antiques and groundbreaking designs—such as an 1886 three-wheeler widely regarded as the first modern automobile; and a 2004 Toyota Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid car.

Channel Rotterdam’s maritime spirit on the SS Rotterdam, the vintage Holland America Line cruise ship that has been docked in the city’s harbor since 2010 and now houses a floating hotel, restaurant, and event center. Explore this flagship ocean liner's decks, engine rooms, bridge, and other areas with a guided or audio tour.

Secreted away in a quiet Den Haag side street, Panorama Mesdag is the largest painting in the Netherlands, at more than 45 feet by 400 feet (14 meters by 120 meters). The sea, sand dunes, buildings, churches, lighthouses, and fishing boats of 19th-century Scheveningen are all represented in minute, accurate detail.

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.

Artist Vincent van Gogh spent two years living in Nuenen—often called Van Gogh Village—and today this Dutch town serves as an open-air museum in his honor. The local Vincentre hosts a multimedia exhibition documenting Van Gogh’s time in Nuenen, and a cycling route connects a number of locations linked to the artist's years there.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.