Netherlands vacations 2024 & 2025

Boat trips along canals set between gabled townhouses, museums full of Old Masters, and fields blanketed in rows of tulips are just some of the things you can expect in the Netherlands. History and culture play a large part in the Netherlands’ appeal, from its medieval cities to its museums showcasing the work of local artists Van Gogh and Rembrandt.

You can also explore the legacy of war here with a visit to the Anne Frank House or a tour of Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter. You can cycle over canals or take a boat trip along them, visit 15th-century windmills, or decorate your own Delft tile. Alternatively, you could cycle around Rotterdam learning about its food scene and contemporary architecture or visit markets and cheesemongers to learn about Dutch food traditions.

From former convents turned into luxurious hotels to restored canal houses and historic mansions, the Netherlands offers a wide range of places to stay.

In Amsterdam, you could stay in a 15th-century mansion with stylish, contemporary decor or a converted medieval guard tower on the riverside. You might prefer a historic urban palace filled with antiques, a chic, modern hotel set in a Gothic church, or a contemporary design hotel with a nautical theme.

To start planning your trip, take a look at our collection of places to stay in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam are some of the Netherlands’ most popular destinations. The star attraction is Amsterdam, a city riven by canals lined with historic townhouses and renowned for its free spirit and world-class museums. Here, you can see Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum, cycle down leafy lanes, or take a boat trip along the canals.

In contrast, Rotterdam is a largely modern city best explored by boat and on foot and known for its avant-garde architecture and its extensive collection of contemporary art at the Kunsthal. Art and culture are a draw in The Hague too, a city renowned for its political and historical sights, and close enough for a day-trip to Delft to see the production of its renowned blue-and-white porcelain.

Other destinations worth visiting include Utrecht to see its split-level, gabled canal houses and huge cathedral tower, and Maastricht to explore its medieval tunnels and caves.

It takes around seven and a half hours to fly from the East Coast of the US to the Netherlands, and around ten and a half hours from the West Coast.

The time zone in the Netherlands is UTC+1 hour. Daylight Savings Time is observed from the end of March through the end of October.

The best way to get around in the Netherlands is by train. The train network is extensive, affordable, and reliable. If you’d prefer, we can also arrange a private vehicle with a driver-guide to take you between destinations.

US citizens don’t need a visa to visit the Netherlands for stays of up to 90 days, but your time here will contribute towards your visa-free limit for travel in the Schengen area.

Check with your doctor for up-to-date advice about immunizations for the Netherlands and ensure you’re up to date with routine vaccinations at home. You can also check the recommended vaccinations by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Check that your passport is valid for at least three months beyond the end of your stay in the Netherlands or the wider Schengen area, and that it has at least one blank page.