15 Most Beautiful Places in the Netherlands That Will Leave You in Awe
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Looking for the best and most beautiful places in the Netherlands? Well, you’ve found the right article.
For a country that can be crossed east to west by train before lunchtime, the Netherlands is home to a surprisingly large number of beautiful cities and locales. And you might not know about many of them!
Whether you love history, nature, books, or architecture, there’s something wonderful for every taste. Be ready to take some serious notes; we’re going to talk about the most beautiful places in the Netherlands.
Most beautiful places in the Netherlands
Groningen
The Netherlands’ largest northern city, Groningen is a study in contrasts. It just may be the most beautiful city in the Netherlands. This is a city that looks towards the future while also working to preserve the hundreds of years of history that form its foundation.
Groningen is relatively small in terms of major cities in the Netherlands, but the sights you can see here are numerous and unforgettable.
From the stunning inner workings of ancient St. Martin’s Church to the beautiful modern Forum that houses the Storyworld museum, the city library, and offers the most incredible views of Groningen, and more… you won’t know what to feast your eyes on next.
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Amsterdam
The capital of the Netherlands, held together by a lacy network of canals and crammed with interestingly askew buildings, is a city like few others.
From the moment you step out of Centraal Station, you’re faced with one iconic Amsterdam sight after another–floating houseboats, gabled row houses, ornate churches, and canals awash with passenger boats of all sizes, just to name a few!
The unique beauty of Amsterdam isn’t confined to her architecture and infrastructure, of course. Time spent drinking in the art in Amsterdam’s many museums is always time well-spent.
And if you like fresh air, Amsterdam has a number of attractive parks that are wonderful for whiling away an afternoon in.
Zaanse Schans
Tiny, charming Zaanse Schans may be one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands.
Created as an open-air museum dedicated to preserving the aesthetic of Zaan architecture, the village was constructed by having original windmills and colorful wooden buildings picked up and moved to what would become Zaanse Schans.
The relocated structures underwent a painstaking restoration period in the 60s, and today, the entire village stands as a beautiful living monument to a unique point in Dutch architecture and history.
Located about a 20-minute drive from central Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is not to be missed.
Rotterdam
As Dutch cities go, Rotterdam is a bit of an outlier–the city center here is not a preserved historical site but rather an impressively modern metropolis.
Due to the beating it took in World War II, Rotterdam lost much historical ground, forcing significant rebuilding over the last near-century.
As a result, Europe’s largest seaport has both a deep and rich history as well as a necessarily keen eye on its future.
Rotterdam has interesting and beautiful sights catering to any taste you can imagine, from unusual buildings like Piet Blom’s Cube Houses to the stunning 20-acre Arboretum Trompenburg.
And there’s the Delfshaven, one of the remaining historic pockets of the city, where you can admire classic Dutch Golden Age architecture and restored historical ships.
Bourtange
Seen from above, the tiny village of Bourtange is shaped like a star. This is due to the fact that originally, Bourtange was Fort Bourtange, built in the 16th century as an impregnable point of defense in the Eighty Years War.
Eventually, it became an agricultural village but was restored into a stunning open-air museum in the 1960s.
Today, visitors to Bourtange–whose tiny population is comprised of residents running the museum and associated shops and businesses–can roam the reconstructed fort and village, admiring the star-shaped structure of the land and the incredible detail of the restored buildings and windmills.
The attention and care to the restoration of Bourtange truly make it one of the more beautiful and interesting villages in the Netherlands.
Utrecht
It is often said that if you want to see all of the pretty canals and interesting row houses of Amsterdam with less of a crowd, then the university city of Utrecht is where you’ll want to go. Of course, Utrecht has much more to offer than simply existing as something of a Little Amsterdam!
Besides the lovely canals and houses, you can also roam the historic city center and make your way to the Domtoren, part of the imposing St. Martin’s Cathedral.
The tower and cathedral–separated by a 17th-century storm that collapsed the nave of the church–stand guard over Utrecht and make for a beautiful backdrop in photographs from many angles.
An interesting and underrated stop on your Utrecht itinerary would be the Bibliotheek Neude–this library, established in an old post office that resembles a church inside, is not only a beautiful piece of architecture to admire it also offers some great views of Utrecht from its many windows.
Giethoorn
The village of Giethoorn is known as the Venice of the Netherlands–a fitting name, given that much of it can only be accessed by small boats!
But don’t let the Venetian association fool you; Giethoorn can be crowded in the summertime, but the preservation of peace is encouraged here so as to allow visitors to enjoy the lapping water and sweet birdcalls.
Dreamy summer afternoons can be spent here in rental boats–you can pilot your own or join a cruise–enjoying the general peace and quiet of the village.
Tiny bridges, charming Dutch gardening, and lovely little old houses make this one of the most beautiful villages of the Netherlands.
Delft
The city of Delft is familiar to fans of the Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer, who lived there for much of his life. It’s also well-known as the home of Delftware, the lovely blue and white pottery produced here since the 17th century.
A bicycle ride through the pretty green expanse of the Wilhelminapark is a rewarding sight, with plenty of charming paths to explore.
But the most unforgettable sight in this beautiful city–besides her many canals lined with lovely old homes and very pretty bridges–is the Markt square.
Anchored by the impressive Nieuwe Kerk at one end and the Delft city hall at the other, the Markt is a well-preserved glimpse into Delft’s past. It’s worth grabbing a cafe table and spending a few hours here admiring the architecture and history on display.
Don’t forget to explore the area around the Nieuwe Kerk. Between this church and the smaller Catholic one that stands where Vermeer’s last home once existed is the Blue Heart of Delft, a large cobalt-blue glass sculpture meant to represent Delft’s past as the capital of Delftware and its present as a technical university hub.
Kasteel De Haar
The largest castle in the Netherlands is a breathtaking sight to behold inside and out. Once the permanent residence of the Van Zuylen family, Kasteel de Haar today is a beautifully curated living museum, park, and wedding venue.
Outside, the castle is straight out of a fairytale with perfectly manicured grounds, impeccably restored bridges and drawbridges, and a series of turrets rising majestically into the sky. The parks of the Kasteel de Haar are among the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands.
Inside, you’ll find luxury like nowhere else in the Netherlands. This is a rich, opulent setting with exquisite artwork, ornate carvings, antique furniture and more.
Guests like Maria Callas and Roger Moore have visited here, and annually, the Van Zuylen family adds to this rarified roster of jet-set guests during their September sabbaticals to the castle.
Haarlem
Haarlem is known as a city of culture in the Netherlands, with the highest number of museums per inhabitant in the country. It also claims to be ‘The City That Has Everything,’ and it’s hard to refute the claim; they have a lot of evidence to back it up!
Museums, churches, classic Dutch canals and houses, windmills, breweries and more, you’ll need to spend a week in Haarlem to make a dent in all there is on offer.
Perhaps the prettiest sight in Haarlem is the picturesque Gouden Straatje, an assortment of seven streets offering everything from Instagram-worthy photo settings to eclectic shopping, dining, and cultural experiences.
And while Haarlem is not part of the Bollenstreek tulip field route, in the springtime, the city is transformed into a tulip paradise, with flower stalls and picking gardens as far as the eye can see. It’s also the terminus of the annual Bloemencorso tulip parade, a sight that cannot be missed.
Maastricht
One of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, Maastricht sits astride the river Meuse very near the Belgian border.
Maastricht’s roots in the Roman settlement and medieval eras play a large part in why, after Amsterdam, it’s a city with one of the largest concentrations of national heritage buildings in the country.
This strong foundation in historical preservation has helped to shape Maastricht into one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands.
In Maastricht, you can step back in time on the lovely and ancient St. Servatius Bridge, the oldest pedestrian bridge in the Netherlands, and take in a view of Maastricht that goes back for many centuries.
Multicultural Maastricht is also proud of its many cultivated green spaces, a thriving arts and music scene, and the ruggedly beautiful Sphinxkwartier, where industrial history meets modern culture.
The Velvet Cave is also near Maastricht, underneath the ruins of Valkenburg Castle. Here, you can see ancient fossils, captivating murals and reliefs, and a lovely chapel where clandestine masses were held in the 18th century.
At Christmastime, one of the country’s most unusual Christmas Markets is held in the caves as well.
Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe
On the one hand, the Netherlands’ biggest national park is a beautiful, well-conserved nature park, 21 square miles of wildlife, sand dunes, woodlands, and more. On the other, uniquely for a national forest park, it also has an art museum smack in the middle of it!
De Hoge Veluwe was founded by noted art collector Helene Kröller-Müller, who is known as one of the shrewd early collectors of Vincent Van Gogh’s works. She and her husband Anton lived on the estate that eventually became the park, sculpture garden, and art museum.
Helene’s dream was to establish a vast space to celebrate the harmony of nature, art, and architecture; today, her vision stands as one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands.
Kinderdijk
Windmills have been the foundation of the Netherlands’ water management system for many centuries. Today, Kinderdijk stands as a living monument to the part windmills have played in the country’s quest to reclaim land from the sea.
Here, nineteen windmills stand in majestic formation, an iconic view that has been immortalized in many postcards and coffee table books. Visiting here will create indelible memories of one of the most beautiful villages in the Netherlands.
Dutch Frisian Islands+Waddenzee Coast
Visiting the Dutch Frisian Islands from the Netherlands is like going to a different country–just about literally!
These barrier islands–part of a longer chain of islands that stretches along the northwestern coast of the Netherlands and Germany–form part of the cultural region of Friesland.
While the West Frisians here do identify with their Dutch heritage, they still also maintain proud ties to their own language and culture.
The villages of the Waddenzee coast are also part of the region of Friesland. You’ll find cities like the beautiful harbor of Harlingen, where you can watch historical tallships at work, admire traditional Frisian pottery, and explore the large concentration of heritage buildings.
Or further inland, visiting Leeuwarden will reward you with a rich cultural experience that spans Frisian, Dutch, and other European cultures. There are eleven primary cities in mainland Friesland, all of them with their own unique beauty and history.
The Frisian Islands and the coastal villages of the Waddenzee are an important part of wetlands conservation in the Netherlands.
10,000+ species of plant and animal life thrive here, and the region is also a huge draw for birdwatchers; millions of migratory birds stop here every year, allowing avian enthusiasts to fill their journals with glee.
Deventer
A hidden gem in the province of Overijssel, Deventer is a beautiful riverside Hanseatic city with history and culture to spare.
To step into Deventer’s city center is to step back in time, as this is where visitors will find the gorgeous and imposing 15th-century Lebuïnuskerk, the ornate Museum de Waag, the charming Walstraat shopping area, and the stunning Dutch Baroque-style city hall.
So many areas of the city large and small are a true treat for the eyes, and that’s even before you get down to the river IJssel to enjoy a leisurely walk past marvelous older houses and little green pockets.
Deventer is also known for a deep, centuries-long love of all things book, with a long history of publishing and printing and a surprising number of bookshops.
Then, in August, Deventer is home to the Boekenmarkt, Europe’s largest book fair, and it’s entirely outdoors–six kilometers of book stalls covering every genre and topic you can imagine.
And in December, the city’s appreciation of Charles Dickens is celebrated with the Dickens Festival, where you can find the characters of his books brought to rich life in the city’s Bergkwartier.
Final Thoughts: Beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands
There is so much beauty to be found in the Netherlands, from culture to architecture to nature and art.
Visitors to any of these most beautiful places in the Netherlands will leave richer for the experience, having feasted visually, intellectually, and perhaps even spiritually. Memories established here will not be forgotten for a long, long time.
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