Netherlands HOLIDAYS

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OVERVIEW

Netherlands holiday packages can bring Amsterdam's canals, historic towns and countryside into one trip. The country is compact, yet its regions have distinct identities, from the flat Randstad cities to northern islands and southern Limburg. Trains make it easy to connect several places.

In Amsterdam, canal-side streets and major art collections sit alongside busy markets and cafés. Beyond the capital, Haarlem and Leiden offer historic centres, while Delft is known for its canals, blue pottery and connection to Vermeer. Rotterdam adds modern architecture and a major port.

The landscape reflects a long relationship with water. Canals, dikes and reclaimed land shape the flat countryside, while the northern and western coastlines meet dunes and sandy beaches. In spring, flower fields add a seasonal reason to travel beyond the cities.

You can plan a city stay around museums and day trips, or add cycling, beaches and nature reserves. Efficient trains connect many destinations, and cycling routes make the countryside part of the experience. Netherlands holidays can suit travellers who want art, local food and open-air activities in one itinerary.

At a glance   ⦁   Must-Do things   ⦁   Must-See places   ⦁    Must-Try food   ⦁   Must-Pack   ⦁   Other things to know   ⦁   Netherlands holiday packages

According to our Netherlands travel expert:

"The Netherlands pairs Amsterdam's canal-lined streets and Golden Age museums with cycling routes across the countryside. In spring, tulip fields draw visitors to Keukenhof, while Delft offers canals, blue pottery and Vermeer connections. Efficient trains make it easy to add Utrecht, The Hague or Rotterdam to a stay."

Netherlands at a glance

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Language

Dutch

Capital City

Amsterdam

Winter Average

6°C

Summer Average

20°C

Time Zone

GMT+1

5 Must-Do things in Netherlands

Mix active days outdoors with art, coastal scenery and easy rail journeys between historic towns and larger cities.

1

Cycle the countryside
Rent a bicycle and follow routes through the flat countryside, past canals, open fields and small towns. The country's cycling culture makes two wheels a practical way to explore beyond the main city centres.

2

Explore Dutch art
Plan time for museums devoted to Dutch masters and later artists. Amsterdam's major collections include works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh, while the Mauritshuis in The Hague is another art stop for a day beyond the capital.

3

See spring flowers
Visit Keukenhof and the surrounding flower-growing area in spring, when tulip gardens and bulb fields are in bloom. The season is also a good time to explore nearby towns such as Haarlem and Leiden by train.

4

Enjoy the coast
Head to the Dutch coast for a beach day, a walk across the dunes or water sports. Holland.com highlights beaches around the country, including Zeeland and the Wadden Islands, where coastal weather can be milder than inland.

5

Take a train day trip
Use the rail network to visit places beyond Amsterdam without changing base every night. Rick Steves notes that many destinations make easy day trips, including Delft, Haarlem, Utrecht and The Hague.

Must-See places in Netherlands

Dutch highlights range from Rembrandt's canvases and a wartime diary to historic windmills, spring gardens and a sculpture-filled national park. These specific sites give you ways to explore art, history and landscapes beyond Amsterdam's canals.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum brings Dutch art and history together in a major collection in Amsterdam. Its paintings include works by Rembrandt, and the museum gives you a focused way to explore the country's artistic heritage while staying close to the capital's canal-lined centre.
Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House marks the place where Anne Frank and others hid during the Nazi occupation. The site connects the story of her diary with Amsterdam's wartime history, offering a quieter and more reflective stop among the city's canal-side sights.
Keukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof is a spring garden known for its tulip displays and bulb flowers. It opens for a limited part of the year, so time a visit around the flowering season. The surrounding area also gives you a chance to see the wider flower-growing landscape.
Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum holds the world's largest collection of the artist's work, making it a useful stop for understanding his paintings and development. Pair it with the city's other major art collections for a day centred on Dutch masters.
Kröller-Müller Museum
Near Arnhem, the Kröller-Müller Museum is noted for its Van Gogh collection and its setting among the museums and open-air landscapes of the eastern Netherlands. It gives you a different day out from the canals and busy streets of Amsterdam.
This salted herring is often served in a small bread roll with pickle and raw onion. You can also try it Dutch-style, held by the tail. Seafood is common across the country, with regional choices including Zeeland oysters and smoked eel.
Maatjes

Must-Try food in Netherlands

Dutch cooking ranges from fish and hearty winter dishes to caramel-filled sweets. Look out for herring served with pickles and onion, mashed potato dishes with sausage, and stroopwafels alongside coffee. These familiar local flavours make a good starting point for exploring regional food.
Maatjes
This salted herring is often served in a small bread roll with pickle and raw onion. You can also try it Dutch-style, held by the tail. Seafood is common across the country, with regional choices including Zeeland oysters and smoked eel.
Stamppot
A traditional plate combines rookworst sausage with mashed potato, spinach and sauerkraut. It is a hearty dish associated with colder days, and gives you a taste of the country's filling, straightforward home cooking.
Stroopwafel
Two crisp waffles sandwich a soft caramel syrup filling flavoured with brown sugar and cinnamon. Stroopwafels are a sweet snack to have with coffee, and the warm, sticky centre makes them easy to recognise among Dutch pastries.
This salted herring is often served in a small bread roll with pickle and raw onion. You can also try it Dutch-style, held by the tail. Seafood is common across the country, with regional choices including Zeeland oysters and smoked eel.
Maatjes

Must-Pack for Netherlands

Pack for changeable weather and time outdoors: rain can fall in any season, while cycling, walking and beach visits call for practical layers.
Family packing suitcases for a holiday






This salted herring is often served in a small bread roll with pickle and raw onion. You can also try it Dutch-style, held by the tail. Seafood is common across the country, with regional choices including Zeeland oysters and smoked eel.
Maatjes

Other things to know about Netherlands before you go

Netherlands holiday packages?

Flights, hotels and transfers to Netherlands in one clear price,

        planned with a South African travel expert.

This salted herring is often served in a small bread roll with pickle and raw onion. You can also try it Dutch-style, held by the tail. Seafood is common across the country, with regional choices including Zeeland oysters and smoked eel.
Maatjes

Places to visit in Netherlands

This salted herring is often served in a small bread roll with pickle and raw onion. You can also try it Dutch-style, held by the tail. Seafood is common across the country, with regional choices including Zeeland oysters and smoked eel.
Maatjes

Why would you go on holidays in Netherlands?