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Bicycle in a national park in Gelderland

Things to do in the Netherlands

You can easily fill your free time in the Netherlands taking strolls along its canals, dropping into museums and galleries on a whim and watching daily life over a steaming cup of coffee. But, to help you really get to know the country, our specialists have chosen a selection of things to do in the Netherlands that delve deeper into its history and culture.

You could take a break from Rotterdam to visit Kinderdijk’s collection of 18th-century windmills. Paint your own Delft ceramic tile and learn more about the craft’s history in The Hague. Sample traditional Dutch delicacies on a walking tour of Amsterdam, from cheeses to poffertjes (sweet, fluffy pancakes). Or explore Utrecht’s split-level streets on foot and from its canals by glass-topped boat. Our specialists can also arrange for you to tour Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter to learn more about life during World War II, or spend a day visiting traditional, canal-threaded villages.

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Ideas for experiencing the Netherlands

Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know the Netherlands, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.

  • Oudegracht canal, Utrecht

    City walking tour & canal cruise

    Utrecht

    Explore the cobblestone streets of Utrecht’s old town as you get to know the city with a local guide. You’ll then get to cruise the city’s postcard-worthy canals on a glass boat for a different perspective.

  • Sunset in the Jordaan district

    Jordaan district & houseboat museum by bike

    Amsterdam

    Bike through the Jordaan district and admire the brick house-lined streets, high-end boutiques and terrace cafes in this stylish area of Amsterdam on this guided tour. Then, explore the Houseboat Museum and see what life on the city’s canals looks like.

  • Windmills and tulips of Kinderdijk

    Windmills of Kinderdijk

    Rotterdam

    You’ll visit the Dutch village of Kinderdijk, where 19 wood and stone windmills stand sentinel along the canals, keeping the town from being lost to the water. Learn the history of these 18th-century structures and go inside one to see how it works.

  • The Markthal in Rotterdam

    Bike & bites

    Rotterdam

    A cycle tour that encompasses Rotterdam’s buildings, culture and food. You’ll explore a mosaic of architectural styles, from Cube Houses to gleaming skyscrapers, as well as below-the-radar street murals and sculptures while stopping off to sample the food that the Dutch love to eat.

  • Anne Frank tour, Amsterdam

    Anne Frank walking tour

    Amsterdam

    Learn about the rich and lengthy history of Jewish culture in Amsterdam on this guided walking tour of Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter. Then, see the former home and school of Anne Frank, and memorial plaques dedicated to her and her family.

  • Dutch pancakes, Amsterdam

    Dutch food tour

    Amsterdam

    Spend a morning or afternoon wandering the chic Jordaan district of Amsterdam with your local guide, who will show you the best places to enjoy Dutch delicacies. Fuel your four-hour walk with bitterballen, poffertjes, smoked fish and rich cheeses.

  • Marina of Volendam

    Edam, Marken & Volendam

    Amsterdam

    Head out of the city with your local guide and see the traditional towns of Edam, Marken and Volendam. See how they built houses on low land in the 17th century, sample Edam cheese and try local fish delicacies on this day-long tour.

  • The grounds of the Kröller-Müller Museum

    Amersfoort & the Kröller-Müller Museum

    Utrecht

    You’ll spend the day wandering the cobblestone streets of Amersfoort, then visit the museum containing the world’s second-largest Van Gogh collection on this day trip. See the Netherlands’ tallest church tower, visit a 17th-century pub and walk in a sculpture garden within a diverse national parkland.

  • Canal of Delft, Netherlands

    Delft & Royal Delft workshop

    The Hague

    You’ll spend the day walking the cobblestone streets of Delft, then at the Royal Delft factory to see how the blue-painted pottery is made. There, you’ll take a workshop where you can paint your own tile and take it home with you the very same day.