Top Netherlands Culture

Spend less time wandering and more time admiring the masterpieces of the Rijksmuseum on a small-group guided tour. Designed with time-pressed travelers in mind, this tour takes you straight to the highlights to admire paintings by European masters such as Rembrandt and Hals, and offers insight into European art history that you’re unlikely to find in the guidebooks. Plus, a small group means that you have plenty of opportunities to ask your guide questions.

Learn about Amsterdam’s World War II history and gain insight into Anne Frank's life on this small-group walking tour of the Jewish Quarter. See the Jewish Historical Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, and the Auschwitz Monument. Learn about events such as the February Strike and the Winter of Hunger from a local perspective.

Understanding Amsterdam’s Red Light District (De Wallen) can be difficult without local context, but this private walking tour offers a clear, informed introduction with a guide leading the way. Travel along Zeedijk Street and through Chinatown, all while learning about how the area has evolved. As you walk past red-lit windows and adult entertainment venues, your guide separates fact from fiction and explains the social history of the district, including how prostitution was legalized in the Netherlands in 2000, and the culture surrounding coffee shops (licensed venues where cannabis is legally sold and consumed).

Eat your way around Amsterdam on this small-group food walking tour that covers 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of the city. It includes over 10 delicious tastings at five local eateries that most travelers miss. At each venue, try Dutch delicacies, from freshly-made stroopwafels (syrup-filled waffles) to artisanal Gouda cheese. As you take a leisurely stroll between locations, see the canals that Amsterdam is famous for, and ask your guide for recommendations.

Step into history on this guided tour of Maastricht’s Zonneberg Caves, where locals sought refuge during WWII. Explore the fascinating grid-like tunnels, discover old charcoal drawings, and hear stories that bring the caves’ history and significance to life. With your entry guaranteed, you can skip the long ticket lines and head straight inside to explore this popular attraction, learning more than you would alone.

Discover Rotterdam with a guide to take you through the city on this small-group walking tour. Learn all about Rotterdam’s culture, history, and architecture from a local guide who calls the city their home. See Markthal, Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, the port of Leuvehaven, and much more, without worrying about getting lost or missing out on the stories behind the landmarks.

The best way to explore the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal Ring is indisputably by a small electric boat that can access the narrow historic canals that larger tour boats can't reach. Get a different perspective of the Dutch capital while avoiding the crowds on land during this relaxing cruise through the Red Light District, Anne Frank House, and the Skinny Bridge (depending on the route chosen). When the weather is good, enjoy an open-air boat ride as well as heated seats during the winter or bad weather.

Skip the line at the Royal Delft museum when you purchase your ticket in advance.  Guaranteed entry allows you to make the most of your time inside the museum. Discover nearly 400 years of Delft Blue history at your own pace. With no restrictive tour group, you’re free to explore independently and only visit areas that interest you.

Discover the story of the Red Light District, Amsterdam’s most famous neighborhood, on this walking tour around the district's periphery. A guide shows you around this fascinating area of Amsterdam, takes you to places most tourists don’t get to see, and reveals the history of sex work in Amsterdam and its lasting influence on the city. Note that Amsterdam limits Red Light District tours to its periphery.

See a different side to Amsterdam and step back in time with a ticket to the Our Lord in the Attic Museum (Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder). The well-preserved canal side house is a European Heritage Site and dates to the 17th century. Upstairs, find a complete church in the attic—where Catholics once held mass in secret.

Amsterdam’s museums are some of the most popular attractions in the city and often have ticket lines to match. Optimize your time by booking your Moco Museum ticket in advance, to avoid long ticket lines. Head there at a time that suits you. Widen your perspective of European and international modern and contemporary art through works by Banksy, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama, and many others.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world, including famous masterpieces such as “Sunflowers” and “The Potato Eaters.” Tickets must be purchased in advance, so avoid disappointment by pre-booking your preferred timeslot and reserving a multimedia tour available in multiple languages. Upgrade to a guided tour for a deep dive into one of the Netherlands' most enigmatic artists.

Get an up-close look at the amazing complexity of human anatomy with a skip-the-line ticket to the Body Worlds exhibit in Amsterdam. Marvel at real human specimens donated to science and preserved in detail using a groundbreaking method, and learn about the effect of emotions on the body as you explore ‘The Happiness Project.’ The interactive exhibit is suitable for all ages and also includes an adults-only section.

Cruise through Amsterdam's charming canals the modern way, aboard an intimate electric boat with an onboard bar on an evening tour. A fun alternative to standing in a crowded bar, the cruise offers a sociable way to see Amsterdam's landmarks as day turns to night. Illuminated bridges and attractions like the Anne Frank House and Western Church are among the bucket-list-level sights seen.

Visiting museums enriches your and your children’s lives, but traveling and waiting in line can be challenging for kids. This private family tour offers skip-the-line access at the Van Gogh Museum. A kid-friendly, engaging guide shares fascinating facts and stories about Vincent Van Gogh, including games and activities while showing you his iconic works of art.

Amsterdam's vibrant culinary scene can be overwhelming to navigate on your own. Let a guide lead you on a small-group food and walking tour to relish the bites and cultural highlights of Amsterdam’s sophisticated Jordaan district. Visit local foodie hotspots to sample Dutch delicacies, including Gouda cheese, traditional Dutch apple pie, and herring.

Get a true insider's view of Amsterdam on this private or small-group walking tour. Your leads you to a mix of highlights and hidden gems, and offers insightful commentary that you won't get in the guidebooks. Along the way, stop and learn about some of the major sites, too. Visit such spots as Dam Square, artists' squats, leaning houses, Prinsengracht, the thinnest house, the oldest canals, and more, for a well-rounded introduction to the Dutch capital.

Hit three Netherlands signature scenic areas in a group of no more than eight travelers on this action-packed day tour, with an itinerary you couldn’t hope to cover on public transport. Tour a cheese factory and a clog factory and watch a diamond-cutting demo in Zaanse Schans, take pictures at the Enclosing Dike (Afsluitdijk), and enjoy a boat cruise and free time in Giethoorn, the Venice of the Netherlands.

Prepare for an immersive journey into the artistic mind of Vincent van Gogh and his profound admiration for Rembrandt at an exclusive exhibition held within Amsterdam's historic Noorderkerk. This isn't the Van Gogh Museum, but rather a unique experience designed to illuminate the captivating link between these two Dutch masters. The story truly unfolds around you, whether you choose to lay back in comfortable beanbags or take a leisurely stroll through the church. You'll not only see but also hear how Van Gogh found profound inspiration in Rembrandt's paintings, etchings, and the broader artistic views of the great master. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to delve deep into Van Gogh's artistic perspective, offering a fresh lens through which to view his work. You might even come away seeing Rembrandt as the original influencer of art, setting a precedent for artistic inspiration that resonated deeply with Van Gogh centuries later. Please note: this is not the Van Gogh museum.

Take advantage of the close proximity of European countries on a day trip to Bruges from Amsterdam. Ideal for travelers who want to see more of Europe in less time, this tour saves you the hassle of planning by taking care of transport. A guided walking tour of Bruges' UNESCO-listed Old Town will give you a good overview so you can later explore the city independently at your own pace.

Dive deeper into Dutch traditions and the beauty of the Netherlands with this fascinating day trip from Amsterdam. A great way to learn more about the country, this full-day tour is led by a local insider who will take you to some of the best sightseeing spots in Giethoorn. You’ll also visit the historic windmill village of Zaanse Schans and swing by a cheese factory and wooden clog workshop.

See a different side of Amsterdam as you admire its beautiful canals by night on this cruise. Give your body a break from a day of exploring and relax as you pass by landmarks such as the Westerkerk and Rijksmuseum. As you cruise, learn more about the city’s history via an audio guide, available in multiple languages so you can listen in your native language.

The Hague packs its landmarks and its best-known museum into one walkable center, but working out a route and sorting museum entry separately can slow you down. Join a local guide who leads a walking tour of the city, then heads inside the Mauritshuis for its Dutch Golden Age collection, with entry included. Upgrade to include a jenever (juniper-flavoured liquor) tasting, high tea, or a trip out to the coast at Scheveningen.