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The Ultimate 7-day Netherlands Travel Itinerary

Are you ready for the ultimate Netherlands travel itinerary? As any Dutchman will tell you, the Netherlands is not exactly the most naturally beautiful country in the world. But the Dutch never let lack of natural resources be a barrier to economic growth and expansion.

Over the centuries they built beautiful cities on man made canals and even drained the sea to reclaim thousands of acres of land for a new province. There’s a fascinating history behind this country and you’ll learn all about it on a trip to the Netherlands. 

I spent about four years of my life living in the Netherlands, mostly in Amsterdam and Haarlem . For the most part I loved living and working there. I explored the small country from top to bottom over those years, and while I haven’t been everywhere I have seen a good amount of the country and have prepared the best itinerary for you that I can think of. 

Now it should be said that if you’re an American with limited vacation time coming to Europe for the first time, then I typically recommend three days in Amsterdam – which allows for day trips outside the city – then move on to elsewhere in Europe, like Belgium or Italy .

But for those of you with more vacation time that wish to spend a week in the land of tulips and windmills I’ve got you covered. Read on for the best way to see and experience the Netherlands! 

Netherlands Travel Itinerary – The Basics

Ns train service, day 1: amsterdam, day 2: amsterdam and hoorn, day 3: tulips and windmills, day 4: the hague, day 5: maastricht, day 6: back to amsterdam, day 7: haarlem, night 7: last night of this netherlands travel itinerary, so long netherlands , netherlands travel itinerary faqs.

Note: this article contains affiliate links, which means that should you purchase something or get a quote through them I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the site running with up to date information. I do not represent GetYourGuide, World Nomads, Discovercars.com or Booking.com. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy the product mentioned in this article .

You’ll start and end this itinerary in Amsterdam unless you live in northern Europe. Schiphol airport in Amsterdam is well connected to just about everywhere on the planet and has direct flights to every continent except Australia. If you’re coming from the US, almost all the large cities have a direct flight to Amsterdam these days. KLM even flies to Austin, Texas now!

Lay of the land

The Netherlands is a small country. From the northern tip to the southern tip is barely a 4 hour drive. You will not cover a whole lot of ground on this trip, but it’s densely populated so you will see a lot. 

How to get around

You have the option to either rent your own car or take the train around. Driving in old Dutch cities can be confusing and parking can cost an arm and a leg, so for this itinerary I recommend using the extensive rail network in the Netherlands. More on the train later. 

If you want to rent a car it would be best to do it after your first few days in Amsterdam, as parking in the city is not cheap. To book your rental car from Amsterdam click here .

The currency is the Euro and you’re more likely to need cash than you might think. There are still places that only accept cash in the Netherlands. Also note that grocery stores do not take credit cards so if you don’t have a European bank card you’ll need to pay cash. Overall, the Netherlands is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. Though it’s not Switzerland or Norway. It’s cheaper than traveling around the United States, but it’s not Greece.

Dutch is the language of the land, but the Netherlands has one of the highest rates of English proficiency in the world, even when you include English speaking countries. It’s unlikely you’ll come across someone who doesn’t speak English on your trip. Most Dutch people are completely fluent . 

Where to stay

Hotels are affordably priced in most Dutch cities, but way overpriced in Amsterdam. If you want to save money, book something away from the city center like in Sloterdijk or Amsterdam Zuid, both of which are well connected to downtown.

Sloterdijk is very easy to get to since it’s just a 5 minute train ride to Amsterdam Central Station and the train comes every 5 minutes on average. In other cities best to book a hotel as close to the central train station as you can.

In Amsterdam I recommend staying at Mercure Sloterdijk Station . You’ll be a 5 minute train ride from downtown while avoiding the excessive noise. The staff is excellent and the rooms are much more spacious than hotel rooms in the city center. I’ve stayed here over 20 times myself, so you know it’s a legit recommendation.

The Dutch cycle as a form of transportation more than any other people in the world. It’s one of the top things that the Netherlands is known for globally and one of the main reasons that people love living in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.

No trip to the Netherlands is complete without renting a bike at some point. Just be careful when on the bike paths. It’s the main mode of transportation in the country and the paths can get very crowded. Stay to the right and don’t run any red lights and you should be fine. 

If you’re looking to rent a bike in Amsterdam, you can do that here .

Weather in the Netherlands

The Netherlands does not have amazing weather by any stretch of the imagination. It doesn’t get too cold or too hot, but it rains a lot and can be very windy.

The best months for weather are May and June. That might sound odd, but summer often has more cold and rainy days than spring. Though with climate change summers are getting hotter and drier. So let’s add in July and August to the best months to visit for weather.  

Best time of year to visit the Netherlands

The best month in the Netherlands is May. It’s the warmest month on average and the days are long, with sunsets after 9:00 PM. But if you want to see the famous Dutch tulip fields you’ll have to go in April. So let’s assume you’re going in April, which is the most crowded time of year due to tulip season. In April it won’t be warm but won’t be cold either. You can have clear days or horribly rainy days. It’s just luck. 

Summers can be really nice or they can be awfully cold and rainy. It just depends on the year. Summer is also the most crowded time (other than April). Come autumn the days start to get shorter and the wind picks up. Many people visit in winter to avoid the crowds but I really can’t recommend that since Dutch winter weather is just so damn rainy. I highly recommend visiting in May.

I have also dedicated an entire article to the best time of year to visit the Netherlands . That article gives a month by month breakdown of the weather, crowds, and events

Food in the Netherlands

Eating in the Netherlands is a unique experience. The Dutch aren’t exactly known for food, but you can find some excellent restaurants. See my post about eating in the Netherlands for a full rundown of Dutch food culture . 

This is always a culture shock for Americans, but smoking is still very prevalent in the Netherlands. Not as much as France, but you can reasonably expect to get a fair amount of secondhand hand smoke on your trip. It’s not allowed anywhere indoors, but if you’re sitting outside on the terrace at a café or restaurant just be prepared for cigarette smoke coming from all directions. 

Travel Insurance

Before you set out on your journey, just make sure to purchase travel insurance so that you’re protected for the unexpected. We use World Nomads and had a good experience the one time we unfortunately had to actually use it. World Nomads provides coverage to travelers in over 100 countries. You can search for a coverage plan using the link below.

The best way to get around the Netherlands is the NS train , which stands for Nederlandse Spoorwagon (Dutch train). The rail network is extensive and connects just about every city in the country. Smaller villages that don’t have NS stations will at least have a bus stop. 

When you arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport you’ll find the train station within the airport. From the kiosks you should purchase a blue OV Chipkaart. Do not buy individual tickets per journey. The card will cost you 7 Euros but it will make your life a lot easier for the next seven days.

At each station you’ll tag on and tag off. The best part about the OV Chipkaart is that all public transport throughout the entire country runs on it. So it’s not just for trains, but also local buses, trams, and metros in any city. 

You can easily add money to the card from kiosks at any train station with a credit card. Put 100 euros on the card. The cost per ride depends on the destination but is never more than 27.40 euros.

If you follow this itinerary you’ll spend about 100 euros on train and bus fare. If you go over you can always add more at the kiosks in any train station. 

Riding the train in the Netherlands

The train itself is not glamorous but it’s pretty comfortable. Accidently sitting in first class if you didn’t book a first class ticket might get you a fine. And if you’re in a quiet car you better be quiet or someone will tell you off. The quiet cars are labeled so just pay attention.

There are no bars or food stands on the trains, but there is someone who walks down the train aisle selling drinks and snacks. Nothing fancy, just Heineken and Snickers and stuff like that. 

Train stations vary depending on the city. Amsterdam’s central station is massive, with restaurants and shopping malls. While smaller stations might only have a Albert Heijn To-go, which is a convenience store sized version of the Netherlands’ main supermarket. 

Trains are pretty good about being on time, but sometimes do get delayed or even canceled. The info boards at the stations will keep you updated. You can also download the NS Train app while you’re there and use that for live updates and route planning. 

I rode the train a hell of a lot when I lived in the Netherlands and I can say it’s truly a great system. I would kill to have something like it in the northeast United States!

The 7-Day Netherlands Travel Itinerary 

Now it’s time to explore the Netherlands on the best 7-day Netherlands travel itinerary! If you follow this itinerary you’ll see what I consider to be the main highlights in the county. I’ve excluded some places I think are overhyped and not worth it on a short trip, like Rotterdam and Giethoorn , and included some places you might not think of, like Haarlem and Maastricht. 

The map below shows your approximate route, though note that it’s Google driving directions, and the train doesn’t quite follow the highways.

No Netherlands travel itinerary is complete without Amsterdam. Let’s assume you’ve come from the US so you’re there in the morning and have a full day ahead of you. You’ll spend the entire day today exploring Amsterdam, so hopefully the weather is nice!

If your hotel won’t let you check in early or store your bags you can always rent a luggage locker at Amsterdam central train station. Hopefully you’re feeling refreshed because there’s a lot of walking to do today!

I won’t go through everything there is to do in Amsterdam here. For that you can check out my ultimate guide to Amsterdam . It’s not a big city, but it’s vibrant and full of history and beautiful sights to behold. It’s also a great city to visit with children .

Just Walking around is my favorite way to spend an afternoon in the city. Some key spots to hit could be the Anne Frank House (book well in advance), Dam Square, the Royal Palace, the Rijksmuseum, the Jordaan, and the Van Gogh Museum if you’re into art. 

Enjoy free entrance to many of the city’s top museums and attractions, including the Rijksmuseum, H’ART Museum, Moco Museum, and Rembrandt House Museum with Amsterdam City Card

My Amsterdam guide goes through most of the tourist spots but also gives recommendations to live like a local if you want to avoid drunk British 22 year olds for a bit. You can find my restaurant recommendations there as well as how to properly experience the red light district. Spend the night at your hotel in Amsterdam and get ready for a day trip tomorrow. 

If you want to be closer to the action there are literally thousands of hotels in Amsterdam. Check out the listings on booking.com to book something great!

Where to stay in Amsterdam:

In the city center: Amsterdam Marriott Hotel

outside the city center: Mercure Sloterdijk Station

Full accommodation listings: Booking.com link

Start your day off right with a ride on the Pannekokenboot (pancake boat) This all-you-can-eat pancake boat tour will take you down the IJ river in Amsterdam. You’ll take a ferry across the river from central station to get to the boat meeting point. It’s a quick ride and it’s free.

If you’re not up for a boat ride you can have yourself a nice breakfast of traditional Dutch pancakes at Restaurant De Carrousel. Though note that pancakes are also a popular dinner meal in the Netherlands.

After pancakes hop on the train to Hoorn, a beautiful Dutch town on the coast. This afternoon you’ll check out some historic Dutch fishing villages. Hoorn is known for its well preserved Dutch architecture as well as its sinking houses. Due to poor soil many building foundations have settled inconsistently in the Netherlands.

You can see tilted houses in Amsterdam, but none as defined as the ones in Hoorn. Some other sites to stop by are the Hoofdtoren, the Westfriesmuseum, and the Grote Kerk (big church). 

Want to learn more about Dutch cheese and food? Check out my guide to Dutch Food Culture

After walking around Hoorn, hop on the bus to Edam. This little Dutch village is known for its cheese. It’s also a cute little town to walk around. From here you’ll walk to the famous fishing village of Volendam, passing the best spots in Edam on the way. It’s a solid 30-40 minute walk, not including stops.

And if you’re a cheese lover, Edam cheese museum is the perfect stop for you! Get tickets in advance here.

Volendam is a little Dutch fishing village known for fantastic seafood, especially smoked eel. For the best smoked eel stay for dinner at Smit-Bokkum , one of my favorite restaurants in the Netherlands. The bus runs late so there’s no rush to head back to Amsterdam and spend another night in town. 

No Netherlands travel itinerary is complete without some flowers. So head back to the airport and rent a car. It’s tulip day, and based on my experience you’ll want your own vehicle.

The other option is to take the bus to Keukenhof from the airport. But my honest recommendation is to skip Keukenhof. This is the famous flower garden in Lisse.

It’s definitely nice. But it’s always overcrowded and feels artificial to me. Many people – like me – find the endless fields on tulip farms more beautiful than a manicured garden that charges 18.50 euros. 

So get in the car and head towards Lisse. Instead of going to Keukenhof you’re heading to the flower fields nearby though, mainly near Halfweg. There are tons of fields of tulips and other colorful flowers all around this area, though mostly to the west of Lisse. Some key things to note:

Tips for visiting the flower fields:

• The fields are private farms so technically you’re not supposed to walk through them, though you’ll see many people ignoring the rules. 
• Don’t pick flowers from the fields. If you want some tulips people sell them from the side of the road for a very good price.
• Don’t park on the road. The roads are narrow here and they will be crowded with other people looking for photos of flower fields. There are places to pull off and leave your car every so often. 

When you’ve had enough flower fields for one day it’s time to head to Zaandse Schans, a famous old Dutch village with multiple windmills along the river. It can get pretty crowded here too, but it’s neat to walk along the river and learn all about the history of windmills and cheese making.

Before heading back to the airport, stop by the city of Zandaam to check out one of the craziest hotels in the world, Inner Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam. You’ve probably seen photos of this funky building on Instagram. Since you’ve parked already, grab dinner along the river in Zaandam before returning the car. 

A note about Day 3

If all that sounds a little daunting for one day and you want it to be easier, consider an organized tour. You’ll be going to Keukenhof and not the individual flower fields if you go this route, but it is a lot less stressful. GetYourGuide offers a full day tour to Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans that might be just up your alley. 

Time to check out of your hotel and take the train to The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch when searching on ns.nl). The Hague is famous for having the international criminal court, where multinational court cases are decided and arbitrated. It’s also known for the Hague Convention, which established various international laws.

Domestically, the Hague is the seat of government for the Netherlands, even though technically Amsterdam is the capital. The Binnenhof is the Dutch parliament building and you can go in and walk around for free, though I’ve never done it. 

There are many other things to see and do in the Hague. The city center is easily walkable but you can also take trams all over the city anywhere you want to go.

Some other sites to be sure to check out are The Mauritshuis (if you’re into art), the Noordeinde Palace (the Dutch answer to Buckingham Palace), and Lange Voorhout, one of the most charming streets in the country. 

🚲 City center by bike!

Explore Hague highlights like The Peace Palace, The Binnenhof, Mauritshuis the Dutch way – by bike

If you want to get out of the city center for a bit take the tram to the beach. Scheveningen is one of the most popular beaches in the Netherlands, thanks to its location basically in the Hague.

It’s too cold most the year to actually sit on the beach (May – Sep) but it’s neat to walk around and check out the pier, where you can ride the Ferris wheel or grab a beer on the water. Spend the night in The Hague and enjoy a nice dinner in the city of international peace. 

Where to stay in The Hague: Mercure Hotel Den Haag Central

Today you’ll spend the morning on the train heading to Maastricht, a city on the very southern tip of the Netherlands. Notably you’ll pass through Rotterdam, the second most populous Dutch city. We’re going to skip Rotterdam on this itinerary. It was mostly destroyed in WW2 and was rebuilt with a more modern design.

You’ll also skip Kinderdijk , arguably the most famous Dutch windmills, which showcases the history of using the wind to create energy throughout the centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you’d prefer to see Kinderdijk over Zaanse Shans, you can swap these two windmill sites on Day 3. Kinderdijk, however, is much further from Amsterdam and not well connected on public transport.

One thing you’ll notice as you pull into Maastricht is hills. Topography! The Netherlands is known for a lot of things , and one of those things is that it is almost completely flat. But when you get down here on the border of Belgium and Germany you start to get some rolling hills. In fact, the highest point in the Netherlands is down here where the country borders Belgium and Germany at the same time.

Have extra time? Then maybe you’d like to check out Belgium! Be sure to read my guides to Bruges and Ghent , two of my favorite cities in Europe!

A little medieval city that is neat to walk around and explore, Maastricht is the perfect place to spend a day exploring. Base yourself at the Vrijthof Plaza, which is essentially the central square and go from there.

Some of the top sights to hit are the Basilica of Saint Servatius, Saint Jan’s Church, (where you can go to the top of the tower for a view of the rare Dutch rolling hills), Fort St. Pieter, and the old city walls at Hell Gate among other things.

When you’re done exploring, grab dinner on the main square and take in the sights and sounds of the southern Netherlands before spending the night in Maastricht.

Where to stay in Maastricht: Hotel Monastere

After a nice breakfast in Maastricht take the train back to Amsterdam, about 2.5 hours, where you’ll explore the funky side of the city north of the IJ river. The ferry across the river takes about 5 minutes and leaves every 15 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station.

Head up to the A’DAM Lookout for a view from about as high as you can get in the city. There’s a bar at the top and on a nice day it’s a good spot to relax and take in the views. If you’re into movies, next door is the Eye Film Museum. If you’re not into movies, just admire the crazy architecture of the building. 

Walk through the modernized industrial neighborhood to Oedipus Brewing for an afternoon beer. For more craft beer, the Walhalla Brewery and Taproom is on the next block.

End your day with a walk (or take the bus) to the NSDM Wharf, a funky old industrial building that’s been turned into a sort-of art market/gallery. As night sets in, stay for dinner at Pllek (booking essential) and watch the sunset over Amsterdam, your new favorite city.  

Last day of the trip. Spend the morning in Haarlem. Haarlem is only about 15 minutes from Amsterdam Central by train. I lived in Haarlem for two years. It’s a beautiful little Dutch city that is easy to walk around in a few hours. The cathedral in the central square is the second largest in the country, and the most beautiful in my opinion.

There are all sorts of little alleyways to get lost in Haarlem. For a cool experience grab lunch at the Jopenkerk, a brewpub located in an old cathedral. 

Spend your final afternoon exploring the beauty of the streets of Amsterdam by bike. There are a ton of bike rental agencies in Amsterdam and I’ve never used any of them so I can’t recommend any particular agency. Check out the Iamsterdam website for more info on bike rental companies. Or you can reserve a bike with this GetYourGuide rental here that has a lot of great reviews online.

Note about biking in Amsterdam: don’t bike like a dumb tourist!

As you cruise the bike paths, just be sure to pay attention to the traffic signals. The Dutch bike path system is state-of-the-art and you’ll be cycling on special paths. Just be courteous to the locals and bike at a sufficient pace and don’t stop in the middle of the paths. 

As the evening rolls in, if you haven’t done a canal tour yet might as well do that today. They’re not amazing, but it’s cool to cruise the canals observing the old houses. The basic tours are essentially all the same, so see who is offering specials. Most of them leave from right in front of the train station. 

For your last dinner if you haven’t had an Indonesian feast yet, it’s time for that. While it’s Indonesian food, it’s super Dutch and I’ve never seen an Indonesian rice table restaurant outside the Netherlands. I recommend Aneka Rasa downtown for convenience and price. You’ll leave satisfied! 

Now it’s hard to not associate Amsterdam with the Red Light District . If you haven’t seen it yet might as well on your last night. There’s all sorts of controversy over it these days, but I think it’s truly unique.

You can’t see anything quite like it anywhere else in the world. The main strip is lined with sex shows, peep shows, and of course windows full of beautiful women who are professional prostitutes.

While I don’t have personal experience with them, what I know comes from a friend who saw one when he was in town. And all I’ll say is that it won’t cost you only the 50 Euros they’ll tell you when you knock on the door 🙂 If you’re not looking to get lucky, just walking the canal taking in the sights and sounds should be enough. 

Depending on what time your flight is, you might have some time for more exploration in the morning. Either way you’ve had a lot of cheese and beer by now so time to head home and detox!

One thing to add is that if you’re coming in April, you might want to plan for or around the King’s Day holiday, April 27. It’s a national holiday to celebrate the King’s birthday, but in reality it’s just a giant party. Everyone dresses in orange and rides boats around the canals and gets hammered. It happens all over the country but the biggest party is in Amsterdam.

So if that sounds like your thing you might want to plan your trip to coincide. If being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of drunk people isn’t your idea of fun, best to avoid being in the Netherlands on King’s Day. 

Lastly, should you not come in April, there are plenty of things to substitute into the third day’s morning. If it’s summer, head to the beach at Zandvoort. If you’ve come in winter to avoid the summer crowds I’d use that time to sleep in and watch the rain fall from a café in Amsterdam! Either way you’ll find something lovely to do on this ultimate Netherlands travel itinerary!

How many days is enough for the Netherlands?

If you want a good taste of what the Netherlands has to offer, 7 days is adequate time. If you just want to get a quick fix of the Netherlands, it’s common to do 2-3 days in and around Amsterdam then move on to elsewhere in Europe.

What is the best way to tour the Netherlands?

The best way to get around the Netherlands is by train and public transportation. If you plan on going to small villages and avoiding the cities, however, your trip might be better suited for a rental car.

What is the best time to visit the Netherlands?

The best time to visit the Netherlands is mid-April through the end of September, with the exception of August, which is far too crowded.

Is the Netherlands expensive? 

By European standards the Netherlands is one of the more expensive countries to live and visit. Hotels and restaurants in central Amsterdam are overpriced, though locations outside major urban areas are most modestly priced. Americans, however, will find it quite an affordable country given how expensive life in the US can be.

Is it worth going to Rotterdam?

In the humble opinion of this author, it is not worth going to Rotterdam when visiting the Netherlands unless you have about two weeks to kill. Not that there’s anything wrong with Rotterdam. It’s just not that interesting compared to other European cities.

Chris Heckmann

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Visiting The Dutch Countryside

Travelblog about The Netherlands | Exploring The Netherlands beyond the crowds

Travel blog The Netherlands

About 'visiting the dutch countryside'.

Hi, I’m Manon. I am Dutch and the creative behind ‘Visiting The Dutch Countryside’, a travel blog about The Netherlands. And, you guessed it: I’m from the Dutch Countryside, hence the name. The Netherlands is a country that is filled with beautiful places, yet most people visit Giethoorn, Lisse – and, of course, Amsterdam. In 2018, I decided it was about time that people finally got to see the beauty of The Netherlands beyond the crowds. I did my thesis about this subject, graduated and here we are!

This The Netherlands local travel blog helps 100,000s of people explore The Netherlands beyond the crowds every year again, including stunning Dutch flower fields without tourists (Check my ‘Visiting Tulip Fields in The Netherlands” E-Book here – or join me on a tulip fields bike tour in 2025 !). And you’re up next. 

You can join me on a guided bike tour along the hidden tulip (and other flower) fields in Noord (North)- Holland from the 5th of April until the 5th of May 2025. You can book your spots for 2025 now!

From the end of May until the beginning of September you can also join me on a guided bike tour through the Dutch countryside. You can book your spots for 2024 now! Both bike tours in The Netherlands start 1 hour above Amsterdam at the train station in the town of Schagen.

Start planning your holiday to The Netherlands

This is me: Manon. I am Dutch and the creative behind ‘Visiting The Dutch Countryside’, a travel blog about The Netherlands. And, you guessed it: I’m from the Dutch Countryside, hence the name. The Netherlands is a country that is filled with beautiful places, yet most people visit Giethoorn, Lisse – and, of course, Amsterdam. In 2018, I decided it was about time that people finally got to see the beauty of The Netherlands.

This The Netherlands local travel blog has helped 100,000s of people explore The Netherlands beyond the crowds, including stunning Dutch flower fields without tourists (join me on a tulip fields bike tour in 2024 !). And you’re up next.

While The Netherlands’ capital is Amsterdam, this Dutch city does not represent the rest of The Netherlands. Washington D.C. is not the representation of the U.S.A, nor is Jakarta the representation of Indonesia.

The Netherlands exists out of twelve beautiful Dutch provinces: Utrecht , Gelderland , Noord-Brabant , Drenthe , Groningen , Friesland , Overijssel , Limburg , Flevoland , Zeeland , Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland . Each has great places to visit and is filled with things to do and see. There are beautiful nature reserves in The Netherlands, Dutch castles, hidden flower fields and endless picturesque Dutch towns and villages .

I have visited almost all the places on my travel blog about The Netherlands with public transportation and/ or by bike. Few Dutch villages in The Netherlands have no public transport available, but this only happens sometimes.

And it gets better: I also have your back if you’re looking for traditional Dutch recipes from The Netherlands . Plus, many people have been searching for things to do in The Netherlands (including the Holland region and cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht) every weekend. So now, you can also find my best weekend tips for The Netherlands on my travel blog about The Netherlands.

I am always happy to answer any questions you have them. Go to my contact information. You can support me via Paypal , Patreon – or a Tikkie (if you know, you know).

You can find more cool travel, history, and cultural video’s about The Netherlands on my Youtube . My Instagram is where you can find drone videos from The Netherlands and things to do and places to travel to. On my TikTok, you will find great itineraries for The Netherlands, weekend tips and places to visit during spring, summer, autumn and winter. In my The Netherlands travel Facebook group, you can ask me questions about your trip to The Netherlands, share stories & photos and get the best weekend tips for this upcoming weekend in The Netherlands.

If you ever click links on my website that don’t show a website that doesn’t work anymore, please tell me in which article you’ve found it: Sometimes, companies that I’ve used and recommend changed their website address, etc.

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Perfect Day-wise Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days – 1 Week In The Netherlands Trip Guide

In this article, read the Netherlands itinerary 7 days and plan your trip for a 7-day trip to the Netherlands.

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Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days – 1 week in the Netherlands

Planning a 7-day itinerary in the Netherlands allows ample time to explore the rich cultural heritage, picturesque landscapes, and vibrant cities, offering diverse experiences from historic landmarks to charming canalside towns. Whether indulging in world-class museums, cycling through scenic countryside, or savoring local delicacies, a week in the Netherlands promises an unforgettable journey through a country filled with fascinating history, stunning architecture, and warm hospitality.

Day 1 Of Netherlands 7 Day Itinerary: Amsterdam

Morning:  Arrive in Amsterdam and check into Hotel Clemens Amsterdam , Mister Highland Hotel (previously Rokin Hotel) or   Hotel Die Port van Cleve .

Afternoon:  Explore the historic city center, including Dam Square, Anne Frank Hous e, and Jordaan district. Indulge in Dutch pancakes at a local café.

👉Best Amsterdam Itinerary 3 Days (Daywise Things To Do + Hotels + Vegan Food)

Evening:   Take a canal cruise to admire the city’s architecture illuminated at night.

Tours to book:   Amsterdam Canal Cruise .

Day 2: Amsterdam

Morning:  Visit the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum.

Afternoon: Explore the famous neighborhoods of De Pijp and the Albert Cuyp Market. 

Evening:  Enjoy dinner in the vibrant Leidseplein area.

Tours to book:  Van Gogh Museum Guided Tour .

Day 3 Of 7 Day Netherlands Itinerary: Rotterdam

Morning: Take a train to Rotterdam, which takes Approx. It takes 1 hour to reach and then check in to the hotel, Maas Hotel Rotterdam Centre .

Afternoon:  Visit the Cube Houses, Markthal, and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

Evening:  Explore the lively Witte de Withstraat for dinner and drinks.

Tours to book: Rotterdam Harbor Boat Tour or Rotterdam Pancake Cruise .

Day 4: The Hague and Delft

Morning:  Take a train to The Hague, which takes Approx. 20 minutes. Keep your luggage in the cloakroom and take the Hague city tour.

In the afternoon,  visit the Mauritshuis Museum and stroll around Binnenhof.

Tours to book:   The Hague Highlights Walking Tour .

Evening:  Travel to Delft (approximately 15 minutes by train) and book your stay at  Hotel Bridges House Delft . If you have time before dinner then check Delft Blue pottery factory & museum .

Tours To Book : Delft Canal Cruise .

Explore Delft’s historic city center and enjoy dinner.

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Day 5 Of Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days: Utrecht

Morning:  Take a train to Utrecht, which takes Approx. Thirty minutes and book your stay at NH Centre Utrecht Hotel .

Afternoon:  Climb the Dom Tower, explore the canals, and visit the Railway Museum.

Evening:  Enjoy dinner in the lively Neude Square.

Tours to book:   Utrecht Canal Cruise , or Utrecht De Haar Castle Tour .

Day 6 Of Netherlands 7 Day Itinerary: Haarlem

Morning:  Travel to Haarlem (approximately 15 minutes by train). Book Your stay at  Hotel Malts Haarlem .

Afternoon:  Explore the Grote Markt, Frans Hals Museum, and Teylers Museum .

Evening:  Relax in one of Haarlem’s cozy cafes or restaurants.

Tours to book: Haarlem Canal Cruise .

Day 7 – Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days: Amsterdam

Morning:  Return to Amsterdam (Approx. 15 minutes by train).

In the afternoon,  visit the picturesque neighborhoods of Jordaan and De 9 Straatjes for some last-minute shopping.

Evening:  Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight:  Departure or additional night in Amsterdam.

♦ Pro Tip  – If you plan a Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days during springtime, add this to your Amsterdam day trip itinerary. 

• Keukenhof Gardens : Spring time in the Netherlands means tulips! Visit Keukenhof Gardens, a floral paradise with millions of blooming flowers.
• Kinderdijk : Explore the iconic windmills at Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This itinerary provides a mix of city exploration, cultural experiences, and relaxation, showcasing the diversity of the Netherlands. Book your train tickets in advance for convenience, and consider purchasing museum tickets online to skip the lines. 

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Public Commuting Options – Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days

When exploring the Netherlands, you’ll find a well-connected and efficient public transport system. Here’s a guide to your local commute options:

• Buses:  Local and regional bus services complement the train network, providing access to destinations not directly served by rail. Bus routes cover urban areas, suburbs, and rural regions, offering flexibility for exploring smaller towns, countryside landscapes, and attractions off the beaten path.
• Trams : In popular cities like  Amsterdam ,  Rotterdam , and  The Hague , trams ply through all significant streets, providing quick access to neighborhoods, attractions, and suburbs.
• Metro : Major cities have metro systems, including Amsterdam’s  GVB Metro . These underground trains efficiently connect various parts of the city.
• Holland Travel Ticket : If you plan to explore beyond a single city, consider the  Holland Travel Ticket . By buying this pass, you can travel unlimited on trains, buses, trams, and metros throughout the country for that day. You can also buy the multi-day pass.
• Park and Ride (P+R) : If you’re driving, use P+R facilities on the outskirts of cities.
• Cycling : Rent a bike and explore cities, countryside, and scenic routes. Cycling is Holland’s most popular commuting method, and many towns offer bike rental services. Dedicated bike lanes make exploring urban areas and scenic countryside routes safe and enjoyable.
• Boating : In Amsterdam, canal cruising is also a trendy way to know the city from a different angle. 

As you all know, public transport in the Netherlands is efficient and environmentally friendly.

Nightlife Options – 1 week in the Netherlands

The Netherlands offers a vibrant and safe nightlife scene across its major cities, providing diverse options for entertainment and socializing. Here are some famous nightlife options to explore in the places above:

• Leidseplein:  Known for its lively atmosphere, Leidseplein is a bustling square in Amsterdam with numerous bars, clubs, and live music venues. 
• Rembrandtplein:  Another popular nightlife hub, Rembrandtplein features a variety of bars, cafes, and nightclubs. Visitors can enjoy everything from casual drinks on outdoor terraces to late-night dancing at clubs like Escape and Club AIR.
• De Pijp:  This trendy neighborhood is home to hip bars, cozy pubs, and eclectic cafes. 
• Witte de Withstraat:  This lively street in Rotterdam has bars, restaurants, and art galleries, making it a popular nightlife destination. Catch live music performances at venues like Rotown.
• Katendrecht:  This up-and-coming neighborhood in Rotterdam has transformed in recent years, becoming a hotspot for nightlife and entertainment. Explore Katendrecht’s diverse mix of bars, clubs, and cultural venues, including the historic Deliplein square.
• Neude Square:  A popular gathering spot in Utrecht, Neude Square is surrounded by cafes, bars, and restaurants.
• TivoliVredenburg:  This iconic music venue in Utrecht hosts concerts, club nights, and festivals throughout the year, featuring a diverse lineup of local and international artists. 
• Twijnstraat:  Explore the charming streets of Utrecht’s historic city center and discover hidden gems like cocktail bars, wine bars, and jazz clubs. 

Whether you’re seeking pulsating clubs, cozy pubs, or trendy cocktail bars, the Netherlands offers a safe and welcoming nightlife experience in its vibrant cities. 

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Vegan/Vegetarian Food – Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days

The Netherlands offers a variety of delicious vegan options to try out, reflecting the country’s growing interest in plant-based cuisine and sustainability. Here are some Dutch vegan dishes and treats worth sampling during your visit:

• Poffertjes:  These mini Dutch pancakes are a beloved street food snack. While the traditional recipe includes dairy, many vendors and cafes now offer vegan poffertjes made with plant-based milk and egg substitutes, served with toppings like powdered sugar or fruit compote.
• Vegan Cheese:  The Netherlands is famous for its cheese, and now there’s a growing selection of vegan cheeses made from nuts, soy, or coconut oil. Look for local brands in supermarkets or specialty shops, offering a range of flavors and textures to satisfy your cheese cravings.
• Vegan Dutch Apple Pie:  Indulge in a slice of this classic Dutch dessert, made with a flaky crust, sweet-tart apples, and a cinnamon-spiced crumb topping. Many cafes and bakeries offer vegan versions, often accompanied by dairy-free whipped cream or vanilla sauce.
• Vegan Bitterballen:  Bitterballen, a Dutch snack with vegan versions made with mushrooms, jackfruit, or other plant-based ingredients, is becoming more common in restaurants and cafes, offering a tasty and cruelty-free alternative.
• Vegan Indonesian Cuisine:  The Netherlands has a rich culinary connection to Indonesia, and many Indonesian restaurants offer vegan options such as gado-gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce), tempeh or tofu rendang, and vegetable satay skewers with peanut sauce.

These are just a few examples of the delicious vegan options in the Netherlands, showcasing the country’s culinary innovation and commitment to sustainable, plant-based eating. 

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Famous Events/Festivals – 7 Days In The Netherlands 

The Netherlands hosts numerous vibrant events and festivals annually, showcasing the country’s culture, traditions, and creativity. Here are some famous events not to be missed, along with the months in which they typically take place.

• King’s Day (Koningsdag) :  Celebrated on April 27th (April 26th if the 27th falls on a Sunday), King’s Day is one of the Netherlands’ largest and most colorful festivals. Cities across the country come alive with street parties, flea markets (vrijmarkten), live music, and orange-themed festivities in honor of the Dutch monarch’s birthday.
• Tulip Festival (Tulp Festival):  Held throughout April, the Tulip Festival showcases the beauty of tulips in bloom across various locations in Amsterdam and other cities. Visitors can explore stunning displays of tulip varieties in parks, gardens, and public spaces, including the famous Keukenhof Gardens.
• Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE):  Taking place in mid-October, ADE is one of the world’s largest electronic music festivals and conferences. Spread across various venues in Amsterdam, ADE features performances by top DJs and producers, along with industry panels, workshops, and networking events.
• Carnival (Carnaval):  Celebrated in the southern regions of the Netherlands, particularly in Limburg and North Brabant, Carnival is a festive season leading up to Lent. Typically held in February or March, Carnival features colorful parades, costume parties, street performances, and traditional music.
• Sail Amsterdam:  Held every five years in August (the next edition in 2025), Sail Amsterdam is a spectacular maritime event that attracts millions of visitors to the city. The event showcases an impressive fleet of tall ships, historical vessels, and modern yachts sailing along Amsterdam’s waterfront, accompanied by festivities, concerts, and nautical-themed activities.
• Utrecht Early Music Festival (Festival Oude Muziek):  In late August and early September, this renowned festival in Utrecht celebrates early music from the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. 
• Rotterdam International Film Festival (IFFR):  Held in late January to early February, the IFFR is one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious film festivals. The festival screens diverse international films, documentaries, and shorts, focusing on independent and avant-garde cinema.

These are just a few of the many events and festivals that contribute to the vibrant cultural tapestry of the Netherlands. Whether you’re interested in music, art, history, or culinary delights, something exciting always happens throughout the year in the Netherlands.

Shopping – Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days

Here’s a list of shopping options in the Netherlands with brief descriptions for first-time tourists:

• Dutch Cheese:  Sample and purchase a variety of delicious cheeses such as Gouda, Edam, and Leerdammer from local cheese shops and markets.
• Tulip Bulbs:  Take home a piece of Dutch horticultural heritage with tulip bulbs, available at flower markets and specialty stores.
• Stroopwafels:  Indulge in these caramel-filled waffle cookies, a quintessential Dutch treat in bakeries and souvenir shops.

• Dutch Licorice (Drop):  Experience the wide range of flavors and varieties of licorice candies, a beloved Dutch confection.
• Bicycle Accessories:  Browse bike shops for cycling accessories, including bells, saddlebags, and quirky bike-themed souvenirs.
• Dutch Gin (Jenever):  Discover the origins of gin with Dutch jenever, which is available in various flavors and styles at liquor stores.
• Dutch Chocolate:  Treat yourself to artisanal chocolates and pralines made with Dutch cocoa, a delightful indulgence to take home.
• Delftware:  Admire and purchase hand-painted Delftware pottery, including decorative tiles, plates, and vases, as timeless keepsakes.

These shopping options offer a taste of Dutch culture and craftsmanship, providing memorable souvenirs and gifts to make your visit to the Netherlands memorable.

Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or a nature lover, the Netherlands has something to offer. I hope you loved reading about the Netherlands Itinerary 7 Days with things to do, day-wise tours to book, overnight stays, festivals/events, and nightlife options.

Have a fantastic 7 days in the Netherlands, and remember to capture memories along the way! 🌷🚂

Enjoy your 1 week in the Netherlands trip!

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Netherlands Travel Guide

Looking for an in-depth Netherlands travel guide ?

Then you’re in the right place!

From beautiful canal-lined cities to fields of colorful tulips to historic castles and windmills, the Netherlands is a picture-perfect getaway for any kind of traveler. It’s no wonder that the country and its capital of Amsterdam are regularly noted as some of the top travel destinations in Europe .

Whether you want to experience Amsterdam’s nightlife scene or tour the storybook homes of small towns like Giethoorn, every experience in the Netherlands is unique.

Don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered with this guide full of tips and inspiration to have the best Dutch getaway yet.

You’ll find many of the Netherlands’ top attractions in its cities, which blend classic Dutch culture with a modern, cosmopolitan flair.

The capital city of Amsterdam is usually first on any traveler’s to-visit list for a trip to the Netherlands, and for good reason.

Home to tons of world-class museums, picturesque canals and a signature cafe scene, there’s much to explore in this famous city. Plus, whether you’re traveling with family, friends, or on a solo trip to Amsterdam , there is really something for everyone.

For a more modern look at Dutch life, head to Rotterdam, the country’s second-largest city.

Rotterdam boasts a lively nightlife scene, unique architecture, cool historic ships and more. The city is also just a short trip from the Kinderdijk Windmills, a UNESCO Heritage Site where you can visit the oldest surviving windmills in the country.

You’ll also want to spend some time in the historic city of Haarlem, featuring many classic Dutch landmarks like windmills, canals, and markets.

Beyond its cities, the Netherlands has plenty of natural wonders to explore.

Visiting in spring? Be sure to make some time to visit Keukenhof Gardens, or the Garden of Europe, where you’ll find acres of tulips and other colorful blooms on display. You’ll definitely want to have your camera ready for this excursion!

As a coastal country, the Netherlands also has many unique beaches to explore.

The Wadden Sea area to the north is definitely worth a visit for its tranquil landscapes and great opportunities for birding. You can even do some sailing on the Frisian Lakes in Frieland, a destination that attracts thousands of boaters and water sports enthusiasts every year.

Keep reading to dive into resources that will help you with planning a trip to the Netherlands in Europe.

Note: This ultimate guide to Netherlands travel contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Netherlands Map

Use this Netherlands travel map to begin planning your trip to this incredible country!

Click here for an interactive Google Map version of the above graphic.

Amsterdam Travel Guide

Looking for an Amsterdam visitor’s guide that can help you plan the perfect trip? Check out:

Solo Trip To Amsterdam: How To Have An Amazing Trip On Your Own

23 Best Free Things To Do In Amsterdam

Best Tours In The Netherlands

Explore local culture with a Netherlands tour guide through these unique excursions:

• Surprise Walk of The Hague with a Local (Den Haag)
• Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide (Rotterdam)
• Kinderdijk Windmill Farm Tour (Alblasserdam)
• Vondelpark Guided Bike Tour (Amsterdam)
• Volendam, Marken and Windmills Day Trip (Amsterdam)
• Guided Canoe Adventure with Picnic Lunch in Waterland (Amsterdam)

Renting A Car In The Netherlands

Need a rental car for your Netherlands trip?

Use Discover Cars to quickly compare your car rental options.

Netherlands Hotels

Click here to browse the best Netherlands travel hotels!

Prefer self-contained stays?

Click here to check out unique local rentals!

You can also use this map to search for local stays:

Netherlands Travel Insurance

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling solo or with a group on a Netherlands tour. When visiting the Netherlands — or any other country in the world — make sure to get travel insurance to protect your health and safety.

In my opinion, the best travel medical insurance for travelers is SafetyWing as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country).

Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

With coverage, you’ll have peace of mind as you embark on your Netherlands travel itinerary.

Click my referral link here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

Netherlands Travel Guide FAQ

Below, find answers to frequently asked questions about traveling in the Netherlands .

Q: What are the best things to do in the Netherlands?

You’ll find many of the Netherlands’ top attractions in the capital city of Amsterdam.

Explore the city on foot or via water taxi and marvel at the picturesque buildings and houseboats that line the canals. The city is also home to many important museums and historic sites you’ll definitely want to check out.

Art lovers will want to visit the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch National Museum that houses many paintings by the Old Masters, and the Van Gogh Museum, an entire building dedicated to one of the most famous painters in modern history.

If you’re looking for free Amsterdam activities , check out the Rijksmuseum Gardens.

A visit to the Anne Frank Museum is always a moving experience. Here you can tour the small space where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II and learn more about how her story has inspired people around the world for decades.

Beyond the museums, you’ll definitely want to go for a stroll in Vondel Park, a huge urban oasis with gorgeous flowers, several walking paths, and even a sculpture by Picasso!

As one of Europe’s oldest monarchies, the Netherlands has plenty of castles and royal residences to explore. In the capital, you can explore the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, centrally located in Dam Square. Tour the palace’s gorgeous rooms and halls and see how the Dutch Royal Family lives.

For a bit of medieval history, head to Valkenburg, a picturesque town with ancient castles, gorgeous architecture, and one of the nation’s top spas.

Outside of Utrecht, you can visit De Haar Castle, a large fort rebuilt in 1892 with a collection of historic artifacts, paintings, and furniture that’s definitely worth gawking over.

Of course you’ll want to spend a little time in the great outdoors during your trip to the Netherlands. The country is famous for its flowers, so you’ll definitely want to see some blooms while you’re there.

For the best views, head to Keukenhof in Lisse, also known as the Garden of Europe. Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens featuring acres of bulbs that bloom every spring. Most famous of these are probably the tulips, which reach their peak in April and May.

Not much of a flower fan?

Go for a hike in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, the nation’s largest nature reserve featuring acres of trees, trails, and more. You can also see how the scenery inspired famous artists at the park’s Kröller-Müller Museum, featuring works from Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, and more.

Q: What are some do’s and don’ts in the Netherlands?

Before you visit the Netherlands, there are a couple of do’s and don’ts to consider.

– Know the difference between a “coffeeshop” and a “cafe.” The Netherlands (and Amsterdam in particular) is well known for its cannabis culture, including the many coffeeshops where you can buy and consume cannabis products as well as food and drinks. Yes, you can get an espresso at these shops, but if you don’t want to ascend to a higher plane for the rest of the day, make sure the brownie you’re buying isn’t the “magic” kind. You’ll find more of your standard, drug-free fare at local cafes. Also, note that different municipalities in the Netherlands have different laws when it comes to cannabis and coffeeshops. For example, in Maastricht, foreign tourists are not allowed to enter coffeeshops.

– Lock your bike. Biking is the preferred method of transportation in many Dutch cities and as such, bikes are a hot commodity. If you’re renting a bike, make sure you get a sturdy lock and always make sure it’s secured to a pole or bike rack before you walk away. An extra lock may even be worth using for peace of mind.

– Buy an OV-ChipKaart. Public transportation is fairly ubiquitous in Dutch cities, making it easy to get around. An OV-ChipKaart will give you access to public transportation throughout the country, from the Rotterdam Metro to Amsterdam’s famous tram system. You can also easily top up the card without worrying about buying different cards and tickets for different systems in different cities.

Don’t:

– Worry too much if you only know English. English is widely spoken in the Netherlands and you’ll find plenty of signs in both English and Dutch as you travel, particularly in the cities and areas popular with tourists. It’s good to know a few simple phrases and greetings in the native language, but you don’t necessarily need to take a full course in Dutch to get around.

– Take pictures of the sex workers in the Red Light District. Yes, sex work is legal in the Netherlands, but the Red Light District is not a zoo. It is extremely rude to take photos of sex workers without their consent, and if any of them catch you doing so, they’ll let you know. If you’re visiting the Red Light District, just keep your phone in your pocket.

– Buy drugs from street dealers. Dutch drug policy may be lax compared to that of other countries, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll find safe drugs on the street. If you want to partake, buy from regulated sources like coffeeshops. Buying drugs off the street in the Netherlands is also illegal and you don’t want to end your vacation in a Dutch jail cell.

Q: How much money do I need per day in the Netherlands?

The average traveler spends about $151 USD per day in the Netherlands on transportation, accommodation, food, activities, and other travel expenses. This can vary depending on your itinerary and travel style; for example, you’ll spend more money in Amsterdam than you will in a smaller town like Lisse.

Affordable accommodation options like hostels and public transportation can help keep your costs low, as can skipping out on restaurant meals and finding free activities.

Q: How many days do you need for the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is a fairly small country, so you can see a lot in a week-long trip. One week will give you enough time to spend a few days exploring Amsterdam, take a few day trips to nearby destinations like Zaanse Schans, and spend a day or two each in cities like Utrecht, Haarlem, and the Hague.

You can also travel anywhere you want in the Netherlands over a relatively short amount of time via train, so you won’t lose too much time getting from destination to destination.

Q: Is the Netherlands safe to travel?

The Netherlands is a pretty safe destination for travelers. Rates of violent crime are low, but many of the standard travel safety advice applies here.

Stay aware of your surroundings and keep any valuables close to you and out of view as pickpocketing is common in cities, particularly in tourist-heavy areas. Make sure you know how to avoid pickpockets to keep your valuables safe.

You’ll also want to stay out of bike paths if you’re walking around cities like Amsterdam if you don’t want to end your trip in a Dutch hospital.

Q: How long can a tourist stay in the Netherlands?

Most tourist visas will allow you to stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days without engaging in any professional activity during your stay.

Q: Do I need a Netherlands travel visa?

Travelers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Schengen Area member countries, and several other countries do not need a visa to visit the Netherlands for a period of fewer than 90 days.

It’s recommended to view your country’s Netherlands International Travel Information page for the most up-to-date information on entry and exit requirements. You can also contact the Consulate General of the Netherlands.

Q: When is the best month to go to the Netherlands?

In terms of weather, between mid-April and mid-October is recommended, though if you want to avoid the crowds and increased travel fares skip the busy tourism months of July and August.

Q: Where is the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is located in northwestern Europe between Belgium (south) and Germany (east).

Q: Are credit cards accepted in the Netherlands?

Credit cards — particularly Visa and Mastercard — are widely accepted around the Netherlands, though it is always wise to carry some cash for smaller establishments and in case of emergency.

Q: Can you drink the tap water in the Netherlands?

Yes, it is safe to drink tap water in the Netherlands, though it never hurts to ask your hotel in the specific city you’re visiting just to be sure.

Q: What is the local currency in the Netherlands?

The local currency in the Netherlands is the Euro (€).

What would you add to this Netherlands travel guide?

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Netherlands Travel Guide

Your ultimate netherlands travel guide, with tips, and things to see and things to do in holland. great for first-time and returning travelers..

The Netherlands, or The Kingdom of the Netherlands officially, is a country in northwestern Europe.

Known for its windmills, canals, tulips, and cycling, it makes for a great vacation.

Fans of art will love the Van Gogh Museum, while the tulip gardens and historic canals offer breathtaking views.

Add in vibrant cities like Amsterdam and it has something for everyone. There are many things to see and do here.

This Netherlands travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.

Popular City Guides

• Anne Frank House

Our Highlight

Table of contents

Table of Contents

Fast Facts about The Netherlands

• Power voltage is 230 V at 50 Hz. Type C and F.
• The official currency is the euro and 1 euro is equal to 1.10 USD.
• The best way to get around is by car.
• To enter, you will need a U.S. passport valid for 3 months after your stay ends. You do not need a visa if your stay is under 90 days.
• KPN, Vodafone Nederland, and T-Mobile (merged with Tele2) are the main mobile provider and a prepaid SIM card can be purchased through any of them by visiting the company’s official stores or local supermarkets.
• The Netherlands has three separate value-added tax (VAT) rates: 0%, 6%, and 21%, with the 9% rate being used for common goods and services.

Things to See and Do in The Netherlands

• Canals of Amsterdam : Amsterdam has 165 beautiful canals, perfect for a great relaxing morning or afternoon. Take a boat tour or walk along the canal banks to enjoy a beautiful city and water views.
• Anne Frank House: Come visit the historic house of Anne Frank. One of the most popular museums in the Netherlands, learn more about the history of Anne Frank by browsing through audio, photos, videos, and artifacts.  
• Van Gogh Museum: Fans of Van Gogh or art will love this museum. Featuring the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh paintings,book a private tour or browse through at your own pace.
• Zaanse Schans: Travel to this open-air museum to explore a village modeled after Holland in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. See the windmills, walk through the shops and houses, go to the interactive exhibit to see chocolate being made, and more.
• Keukenhof: Come smell and see the flowers at this public garden. Open from March to May, the garden features 7 million spring-bulb flowers in bloom, including colorful tulips.

Netherlands Travel Guides

• Where To Stay In Amsterdam
• Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
• Amsterdam with Kids – 7 Attractions You and Your Child Will Love

Accommodation

Budget: You can find prices for hostels in the range of 18-50 euros per night. Enjoy dorm-styled or private rooms, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, security lockers, and great central locations.

Mid-Range: For mid-range hotels, expect to pay between 70-135 euros. Enjoy private rooms with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, a fitness center, a hotel restaurant and bar, a pool, and good locations to nearby attractions and public transport.

High-End: Upscale hotels can range from 140-275 euros per night. Take in the best with top-of-the-line service, polished private rooms with rainfall showers and whirlpool tubs, indoor and outdoor pools, spas, hotel restaurants with fine dining and chandeliers, and a hotel bar.

Check out our in-depth guide to: Where to Stay in Amsterdam: A Local’s guide to the City

Food : The cuisine of the Netherlands favors vegetables, meat, bread, cheese, and potatoes. Hollandse Nieuwe (raw herring with onions and pickled cucumbers) is one of the most popular dishes.

When out and about, try a stroopwafel, a waffle with syrup filling, or try a kroket, which is a deep-fried roll stuffed with meat ragout.

The Netherlands has many restaurants where you can try more of their cuisine, with a typical meal costing 15 euros.

The Best Ways to Get Around The Netherlands

Getting to the netherlands:.

Getting to the Netherlands: The main airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, located 13.6 miles from Amsterdam’s city center.

Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen, and Maastricht also have their own airports.

Flights: You can check for the best flights to The Netherlands on Skyscanner .

Transportation:

Train: Trains are a good way to go between cities and the Netherlands has 400 stations that travel throughout the day, and sometimes at night. Go from Amsterdam to Rotterdam in 70 minutes for just 18 euros one-way.

Tram: The tram is another excellent way to travel and runs from 6 AM to midnight.

Bus: Buses are a cheap way to get around and bus lines are available in most areas. A typical fare is 3.20 euros for one hour of traveling.

Taxis: Taxis are a good way to get around. Taxis have a starting fee of 7.50 euros and increase up to 2.20 euros per kilometer. A taxi ride from Amsterdam airport to downtown Amsterdam, for example, will cost around 39 euros.

Uber: Uber is available in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Haarlem, and The Gooi.

Bicycle: Bicycling is a very popular form of transportation in the Netherlands, and due to this you can find many cycling paths throughout the country. You can find rentals priced at 10-40 euros per day. 

Rent a car: Renting a car requires you to be at least 19 years old and have a U.S. license that is at least a year old. Prices start at 36 euros per day for drivers 25 and older.

You can also compare prices here

When to go To the Netherlands

• The best time to visit is between March and May and September to November, where you can find better deals on hotels and avoid the peak tourist season of July-August.
• April, in particular, is a great month for those who want to see the flowers after they have bloomed.
• Temperatures average to 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit during these seasons.
• If you are looking for the hottest weather, go in August, where temperatures can increase up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Where to Stay in Amsterdam

Rotterdam Marriott Hotel : Check in to this 5-star hotel and stay in the trendy cool district, which features designer boutiques, popular restaurants, and the De Doelen concert hall.

The hotel comes private rooms and suites featuring marble bathrooms and minibars, free breakfast, room service, a cocktail bar, a café in the lobby, and a 24-hour gym.

Carlton BeachClub: When in The Hague, stay at this great beachside hotel. Accessible by tram and just a 6-minute walk from the Scheveningen Pier, the hotel comes with private rooms with balconies and TVs, a hotel restaurant, a bar and grill, a spa with 3 saunas, and an indoor pool.

Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam  – 5 star luxury Amsterdam hotel that is a bit more affordable than the Waldorf.

Amsterdam Accommodation Guides

Where To Stay In Amsterdam – The Best Areas & Neighbourhoods

What to Pack for The Netherlands

• Power Adapter: As the voltage is higher than the US, bring a power adapter to charge your electronics. 
• Walking Shoes: With so many outdoor activities, bring a pair of sturdy walking shoes to keep your feet comfortable.
• Raincoat: Keep yourself dry by bringing a raincoat.
• Check out our Packing for Europe – Tips That Will Make Your Travel Life Easier

See our packing tips: packing tips

Netherlands Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources

Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.

We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.

• Booking.com : This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
• Trip Advisor :  What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
• VRBO : is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
• Hostelworld :  With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
• Skyscanner : This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
• Rome 2 Rio :  If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
• Get Your Guide:  For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
• World Nomads Insurance:  When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.

Netherlands Travel Guide: Related Articles

Where To Stay In Amsterdam In 2024: Our Favorite Places and Neighbourhoods

34 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam In 2024

The 21 Best Day Trips from Amsterdam

Netherlands

Netherlands travel blogs, these are all of my travel blogs about visiting the netherlands. .

From the buzz of Amsterdam, to the beauty and culture of The Hague, and the fun of Scheveningen, find out the best places to travel to in my Holland travel blogs and travel guides.

Happy exploring!

14 Unique Restaurants In Amsterdam

From tiny garden eateries specialising in home-grown fare to trendy cafés specialising in the latest culinary trends, these unique restaurants in Amsterdam are definitely worth visiting!

19 best hidden gems in europe.

The best hidden gems in Europe include stunning mountain towns in Italy, overlooked islands in Croatia, the ultimate detox spot in Sweden and some surprising places to hit the slopes.

How to spend the ultimate weekend in amsterdam.

Museums, quirky hotels and plenty of fun activities… it’s time for the ultimate weekend in Amsterdam.

Things to do in the hague: a surprising city/beach break.

Beautiful beaches, buzzy restaurants, beach clubs, boutiques, hipster coffee houses, quirky exhibitions, photogenic streets and historic palaces… move over Barcelona, The Hague is your new city/beach break. Find out the best things to do in The Hague in my informative travel guide.

It’s quite rare a destination takes me totally by surprise. I’m a girl who loves researching minute details. I know the amenities of my hotel rooms before check in. I know where to go for the best views, before getting on the plane. I have a pretty well rounded view of what to expect from a destination before arriving.

Although we were only spending three days in The Hague in The Netherlands, our itinerary was designed to show us a bit of everything. The beaches, the history, the art scene, the food scene. I expected it to be a city break similar to other city breaks… but here I am back in London, and I feel genuinely surprised by my experience.

You see, I don’t know anyone who ‘holidays in The Hague’, but I would genuinely recommend it to those looking for an alternative to the likes of Barcelona and Lisbon. At times it reminded me of a Dutch version of Brighton. It’s got wide, pristine beaches with super-soft sand. It’s got a city buzz with streets filled with independent restaurants and squares for al fresco dining. It’s also incredibly photogenic. It’s perfect for couples, with cosy beach huts to snuggle up in and romantic dining spots. It’s great for families, with a fun-filled pier with a ferris wheel, plus Madurodam (miniature world) close by.

So here I am, flying the flag for The Hague. And if you still don’t know why to visit, here are a few of my top reasons.

Visit The Hague For… Two Breaks In One

My big reason for recommending The Hague is that it fulfils two sets of criteria. Hop on a bus or a tram in the centre of The Hague and in under thirty minutes you can be on Scheveningen or Kijkduin Beach. Both are wide with soft sand and plenty of cool beach clubs, surf schools, and places to hire sun loungers. Scheveningen is more of a ‘resort’ with its pier complete with ferris wheel, bungy jump and famous grand hotel ‘Kurhaus’. Meanwhile, back in the city centre you’ll find streets lined with boutiques and hipster cafes, historic palaces, parliament and galleries. If you want a bit of everything, it’s a great destination.

  A post shared by Chloe Gunning ??? (@wanderlustchloe) on Jul 6, 2018 at 12:29am PDT

15 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit Rotterdam

Cool street art, nightlife, a buzzing foodie scene and futuristic architecture – it’s time to reveal the best photo spots in Rotterdam.

Other than the song by the Beautiful South, I didn’t know a lot about Rotterdam. I’ve visited Amsterdam countless times and loved it! It’s fair to say Rotterdam is Amsterdam’s lesser-visited, modern little sister. As the majority of the city was bombed during the war, it’s become a playground for forward-thinking architects. Along with the uber-cool architecture, there are plenty of fashionable restaurants, a great nightlife scene, top summer festivals and a little something I’d describe as community spirit! The best time to visit? I’d say the Summer. But don’t  just take my word for it, take a look at a few of my top pics from my recent travels.

Check out the video of my trip to Rotterdam and then scroll down to read more.

1. The city’s skyline is one of the most unusual I’ve seen in a while. Best place to check it out? From the tallest building – the Euromast , and be sure to visit in the evening as the lights start to illuminate the city. 

2. One of my favourite spots in the city is Markthal. It’s not just the city’s top food market, it’s also another architectural masterpiece!

3. The crazy ceiling of the Markthal was designed by artist Arno Coenen and features giant fruit and vegetables.

Three Glorious Weeks Spent Traveling the Netherlands

When it comes to European travel, I can be a bit of a failure.

It’s my most travelled continent — I’ve been to thirty-two European countries at last count — but the vast majority of my experiences have been limited to capital cities. Take a look at where I’ve been : when you reach Europe, the amount of destinations per country drastically drops!

It’s not that I don’t want to explore more of the places I visit in Europe; I just get so excited by the opportunities the region can offer. Eurail passes make it easy to explore, and my 2012 trip saw me hitting up twelve countries in six weeks, because if you have near-unlimited travel for a month, why not try to see as much as possible? I’d like to say I’ve learned my lesson about travelling too fast (the reality is: you almost always end up exhausted and seeing very little!), but my Baltics/Scandinavia jaunt earlier this year had me visiting six new countries in two weeks.

Still, despite occasionally giving in to my wanderlust and booking fast-paced trips that I eventually grow to regret, I’m proud of my three week trip to the Netherlands this year.

There was so much temptation! And I can’t deny I tried to work in a side trip to Luxembourg or Belgium or Germany, but for once, I committed to exploring a European country in depth.

Why the Netherlands? Amsterdam is a city both Dave and I adore and we usually pay it a visit once a year. With Dave’s brother living there and more of our friends opting to make it home, we never need much of an excuse to pay this beautiful city a visit. But that was also the problem: I’d visited four times and had yet to leave Amsterdam!

Here’s why I’m so happy we chose to explore more of the Netherlands:

It’s compact:  Long travel days can be a pain in the ass, so it was refreshing to not have to travel for half a day or more to reach my next destination. Our longest travel day was from Maastricht to the Hague, which came in at two-and-a-half hours. It was such a novelty not to have to write off an entire day due to travel!

Travel is cheap:  For a Western European country with incredibly expensive accommodation, I was surprised at how affordable our transportation costs worked out to be. Utrecht to Leiden totalled 5 euros, and Leiden to Maastricht cost us around 20 euros.

It’s so easy:  In the Netherlands, 98% of the locals we encountered spoke English and went out of their way to help us out. Everything was well-signposted so we never got lost. The train system was so modern and everything was on time — we even had a local apologise to us for the complicated ticket machines when we asked for help at a train station. They weren’t complicated; we were just being stupid. It was a breath of fresh air to not have to worry about something going wrong.

I had a fabulous three weeks there. Here’s how it went!

Underrated Utrecht

What an underrated city! I loved Utrecht, and its location — just a 25-minute train ride from Amsterdam — makes it the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend getaway. We stayed for four nights.

I can’t talk about our stay in this cute city without mentioning our accommodation. When I saw a houseboat up for rent on Airbnb, I dropped the owner a message before you could say but don’t you get motion sickness?  Our boat was surprisingly warm, surprisingly spacious, and had me wondering how I could ever leave. It didn’t make me feel sick! Waking up to this view also didn’t hurt:

During our four day stint, I fell in love with Utrecht’s arty, student vibe. One of my favourite aspects of European travel is the cafe culture, so I was excited to find so many of them clustered around squares and alongside canals. Utrecht is an incredibly walkable city, too, which gives you the perfect excuse to break up the day’s explorations with a cup of tea and some people watching.

I loved how quiet the city is, too! Utrecht is the smallest of the big four cities in the Netherlands and you could tell: it had a small town feel but with all of the amenities you’d find in a big city. Best of all, it’s not on very many tourists’ radars, so it doesn’t have anything like the crowds of people that Amsterdam does. And because the red light district is located several miles outside of the centre, it means that Utrecht is less about drunken stag nights and more about lingering over coffees/beers.

I’d love to tell you that I did dozens of touristy things in Utrecht, but the truth is, our time there was all about recovery and rest. We didn’t climb to the top of the Dom Tower to get a panoramic view of the city; instead, we bought a bottle of wine, some olives, bread and cheese from a local shop and sat on the deck of our boat each afternoon, snacking, listening to music, drinking, and sunbathing.

The one thing I made sure to do every day? Wander around the medieval old town (Utrecht has the country’s oldest one!), stopping along the way for a drink at the bars. Then later, strolling alongside the canals. Utrecht has such a laid-back atmosphere, which helped make it the perfect start to my trip.

Stopping to Smell the Flowers in Leiden

I knew I couldn’t spend time in the Netherlands without paying a visit to the tulips at Keukenhof Gardens, so we travelled from Utrecht to Leiden, another student city, filled with even more bars and restaurants for us to sun ourselves at.

Though we were in Leiden to see the tulips, I struggled to work up the motivation to leave the canals. There were too many bars to hop to, too much raspberry-flavoured beer to savour, too much bitterballen to snack on. So, for three glorious days, we sat in the sunshine and indulged. Each morning, we’d wake up and head out to Bagels & Beans for a bagel tapas breakfast, spend our morning sunbathing on the grassy patch close to the windmill in the photo above (what a Dutch scene!), and our afternoons drinking beside the canals.

I was in danger of spending all of my time in the Netherlands eating and drinking, so on our final day, we made it to the tulips.

And they were so, so colourful. And beautiful. But to be honest, it was a bit like walking around in a giant garden and I wasn’t that impressed. It’s definitely worth seeing once in your lifetime, that’s for certain, but more than that? I’d likely pass.

The one thing I found at Keukenhof that was a twice in a lifetime experience? Posing with clogs!

A Different Side of the Netherlands in Maastricht

It took just a few minutes of research before I decided on Maastricht as the next destination for me. It sounded so different to the rest of the country!

Maastricht is a bit of an oddity. I’d call it a melting pot but then I’d have to slap myself for using such a tired cliche. Its location, way down in the south, and its close proximity to Belgium (2 miles) and Germany (20 miles) have resulted in an interesting mix of food, culture, language, and architecture that I didn’t see anywhere else in the Netherlands.

And I love that Dave went for an afternoon run to a new country and back while we were there!

The first thing I noticed was the difference in the architecture. In Maastricht, smaller, wider houses were favoured over the long and skinny design you’ll find in much of the country. The food was different, too, with a focus on game meat, extremely thick fries, and delicious Limburger cheese. Even the language changes this far south, with many of the residents opting to speak Limburgish (a blend of German and Dutch) rather than outright Dutch. And then, several locals told me they identify more as Belgian than Dutch!

Landscape-wise, much of the city is based around the river pictured above, rather than a network of canals, but most shockingly of all: there are hills !

Maastricht is also home to some delicious burgers and fries at Cafe Falstaff , and we may have had dinner there almost every night of our stay.

Fun fact: Maastricht is the birthplace of the European Union, European citizenship, and the euro!

One of my highlights of our stay was the running tour we signed up for through Maastricht Running Tours . I was terrified by the concept of a running tour, so much so that I almost cancelled our booking at the last minute. I’m so glad I didn’t, though, as I discovered an exhilarating new way to get to know a city!

And while challenging for someone who had the fitness levels of a dead badger, our guide was patient, encouraging, and helped us understand the city from a local’s perspective. I highly recommend it.

Of the places I visited in the Netherlands, I think I liked Maastricht the most. I loved the big squares that were lined with bars and cafes. I loved waking up and heading to a bakery for breakfast, then walking to the river to eat beside it. I especially loved Maastricht’s gorgeous bookstore.

Mishaps and Museums in the Hague

We had just arrived in the Hague. In front of us was some kind of art exhibition and the pathway was lined with sculptures. I found one that looked like a jail cell with a coin slot in front of the bars.

“Oooh,” I gasped at Dave. “I want to go inside!”

I grabbed a euro and dropped it into the slot.

Nothing happened.

“Well, that was dumb,” I muttered.

The Hague and I got off on the wrong foot and I struggled to warm to it throughout my visit. I decided to visit because I’d heard that, like Maastricht, it wouldn’t feel like anywhere else I had visited in the Netherlands. And that was true: it felt like a modern city, it was within biking distance of the sea, and there were very few canals.

And maybe it was because the weather transformed from sunny skies to drizzly days, but it all felt a little bit bleak. I tried my best to make the most of it and wandered around the centre for a few hours each day, but I just wasn’t connecting to the city.

And that was my three week trip to the Netherlands! What an amazing country, and I’m so glad I got to see a side of it that was far away from the Amsterdam stereotypes!

Have you been to the Netherlands? Which is your favourite Dutch destination?

Related Articles on the Netherlands 💰 The Cost of Travel in the Netherlands: A 2023 Budget Breakdown 🧳 How to Pack for the Netherlands: My Complete Packing List 🛶 30 Incredible Things to Do in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Lauren Juliff

Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.

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55 comments.

Wow, you have visited places I haven’t even been and I live in the Netherlands! Maastricht is a place that I really want to visit, you did a great job describing it as ‘almost another country’ and it’s the only place with hills so I plan to go there in 2016. From Utrecht it is only 2 hours by train after all…

When I lived in Belgium we would always take the train from Liège to Maastricht in the springtime. Laying in the grass by the river was a really nice way to spend the afternoon. Great post, the Netherlands is such a quaint, clean, and enjoyable country.

Sounds perfect! I love the Netherlands so much and was delighted to get a deeper glimpse of it this time around!

It’s so incredibly nice to see a post that does so much justice to The Netherlands. I usually scoff when people tell me they only know Amsterdam in the Netherlands; Amsterdam is not a representation of the country at all. That having been said, I don’t know my country well enough either! My goal this year is to explore my own country a bit more! :) Thanks for this post!

Oh, that’s so good to hear, Dominique! :-) I’m happy you think I did it justice!

I loved this post — it was really interesting to hear about the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam! I feel like I’ve heard a lot about Amsterdam, but I didn’t even recognize these other names. So glad you’re posting again :) (Not that the book wasn’t worth it — I bought it right away and loved that too)

Aww, thanks so much, Caroline! I’m loving having this site be my one single focus for the first time in years and I’m excited to start catching everyone up on what I’ve been up to :-)

The trips I did to the Netherlands have been mostly to Groningen in the north, as that is where an aunt and some cousin live. I have also visited the Twente area and of course Amsterdam. I would like to visit again next year and then see if I can do some travelling on bicycle around the country.

Beautiful! I have never been but I would love to visit one day.

I highly recommend it! It has so much to offer for such a small country :-)

I should be ashamed to admit that, although I am from Italy and I have visited many European countries, I know Latin America way better. I have been to Copan Ruinas and I have yet to visit Madrid (but I have been to Barcelona!). I have seen Buenos Aires, the Paris of South America, but not Paris PARIS (though I have been all over the south of France). And the list could go on. I suppose I keep thinking it can way till when I am too old and tired to bother with long flights!

And I definitely feel like I know Southeast Asia more than I do Europe, even though I’ve been to more places in the latter! The good thing about Europe is that it is easy to visit, so it makes sense to leave it for when you’re old! Get all of the tough travel places out of the way first :-)

We got off the train in Maastricht (enroute from Brussels to Amsterdam) just long enough to walk around and soak it in. Wish we could have stayed! So cute and charming.

It’s a really wonderful city :-)

I’m struggling between the desire to travel faster and see as much as possible vs. traveling slower and exploring the smaller places right now as I’m planning my Europe backpacking itinerary. It’ll be my first time in Europe and I only have 2-3 months!!

Happy to hear you had a nice, slower travel through the Netherlands! :)

It’s really tough — you want to see as much as possible, but sometimes the faster travels can leave you exhausted and unwilling to explore. A mix is good, so you get the best of both worlds :-) Enjoy your time in Europe!

I’m just the same with Southeast Asia – you have been to more places than I have in the region.

I’m in total agreement about Utrecht being highly underrated – I went there just for the Rietveld House and went away liking many more things.

I have only ever visited Amsterdam and it wasn’t a great experience as I was groped in the street. I had been put off exploring the Netherlands, but I really enjoyed reading your post and love the sound of staying on a houseboat! I might have to add it to my list of places to give a second chance.

Ugh, sorry to hear that, Emma. Definitely give the Netherlands another chance one day — it has a lot to offer!

It’s kind of weird to read stuff about your ‘own’ country, especially because it’s about something else than Amsterdam for a change, but this is definitely some great press for the Netherlands, Lauren! Great to hear that you had such a good time. If you were ever to return for another trip: I can highly recommend a visit to the Wadden Islands ;-)

I don’t think I’ve ever read a post just on the Netherlands, and I’m glad to say I loved this post even more because of it!

Everywhere looks gorgeous. I love that you stayed on a house boat, how amazing that must have been!

Awww, thanks so much, Brooklyn! Staying on a houseboat was definitely the highlight! :-)

I loved all your photos. I especially love the flowers. My husband would have enjoyed visiting the large gardens. He’s a gardener/farmer at heart. Those burgers also looked delicious. Was that really a bookstore? It looked more like a library. HEHE!!

Thanks so much, Heather! Yep, it’s an old church that was converted into a bookstore — and it’s regularly voted one of the prettiest in the world!

Netherlands Tulipe is so exotic ! Someday i must go to Netherlands to see it by myself !

Definitely! :-)

No stereotypes?! Didn’t you get a nice boat ride from a local in Amsterdam? :-p

Oh, haha! True :-D

Ahhh this post has got me regretting not fitting in some countryside visits during my visit to Amsterdam last week. I loved the city (although I did find it the most expensive destination of my trip so far). Visiting in tulip season would be so great (its on my bucketlist), the photos look amazing!

I’m a bit like you- terrible at slowing down. So I always try and pick some smaller towns to visit outside of big cities (I usually find them by looking at the UNESCO list). But then the problem is I just whip through them as well! I managed to squeeze in one day in Regensburg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Speyer, Trier and Cologne! hahaha.

Lauren. Your’s was the first travel blog I ever started reading. And the more I read the more I realize that your grammar and spelling are meticulous. You set a very high bar for other travel bloggers to match. I have decided to not even attempt to match it and just continue to stumble along in my own attempts. I read your words in awe of your language skills.

Thanks so much, Keir! That’s so kind of you to say and means the world to me! :-) Honestly, writing this site has drastically improved my writing skills — my grammar was shocking when I first started out, so there’s hope for everyone!

Wow… That’s one big clog! I shudder to think of who could wear it.

I’m making the move from Valencia, Spain to Rotterdam in a few weeks and while I’ve visited the Netherlands a few times (my boyfriend is Dutch) I hadn’t really thought to go to Utrecht. I’m excited now! Those clogs are massive, but then again so are Dutch people (the tallest in the world on average last I read!) Great article!

Ah, exciting! :-)

Maastricht has great surroundings, such as Valkenburg and surroundings

I’ll have to add them to the list for my next visit! :-)

This is one of the most exceptional and practical guides for the Netherlands I’ve read in a while, Lauren1 Spending 3 weeks there are an excellent time period to see all the highlights there! The tulips are my highlight too! :)

Thanks so much, Agness!

I have been wanting to get back to the Netherlands to see the tulips for years. I guess I need to stop dreaming and start planning! Thanks for the tips.

Enjoy! It’s such an underrated country, and so much more than just Amsterdam :-)

Hi Lauren, your post will be very helpful for many people out there who wants to visit the Netherlands in near future. Now, they can explore these less known beautiful places and will make his/her visit memorable and enjoyable. Thanks for sharing the awesome article.

Thanks for commenting! Glad you liked it :-)

Fantastic! I’m going to be spending three weeks in the Netherlands in August and this has given me some great ideas.

Great! Let me know if you have any questions :-)

Hi Lauren, great travel blog and good to read that someone gets out of Amsterdam for a change. Maastricht and Utrecht are beautiful city’s, besides those I can really recommend ‘s-Hertogenbosch, also known as Den Bosch which is an historic city. You’ve probably passed it travelling by train to Maastricht. The city is also known for the painter Jheronimus Bosch and it’s pastries called Bosschebollen. Some other great city’s to visit are Breda and the modern city Rotterdam.

Thanks for all your stories

Thank you! I’ve added them to my list of places to check out when I next return :-)

I loved reading about your trip, but can’t make it add up to three weeks. Can you please give me more detail? We are planning a trip for next summer and would love your advice.

Hi was wondering where is the most convient part of the Netherlands to stay north east west south of Amsterdam

Hi wondering which part of the Netherlands to stay have only 10 days but we want to find a house to rent there will be 8 of us

Friesland is a beautiful place to visit as well

It’s on my list for my next visit!

Awesome best offbeat travel itinerary to the Netherlands I have come across, this will be of great use for travellers looking to explore offbeat locations rather than big cities and famous travel destinations. The pics are really awesome especially the flower gardens.

Hi Lauren, thanks for your post. The pictures are wonderful especialy those of the tulips. Last year I traveled to Holland but It was impossible to visit Keukenhof. So, I hope to return soon to the Netherlands and to enjoy the rest of places that you are talking about.

I hope you make it back there to see them :-)

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Netherlands

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The 15 best Dutch travel blogs and instagrams

Written by Maartje

Instagram is our favourite platform for the perfect travel inspiration! We hope you are enjoying our blog and instagram page @theorangebackpack.nl just as much as we love creating our content. But we are sure you can use some more inspo. So let’s share some insta love: these are the best Dutch travel blogs and instagram accounts!

Website | Instagram | Greg and Irene share practical tips and detailed travel stories about faraway places in mostly Asia and Central America on their instagram and especially their travel blog. This is one of the most useful and fun Dutch travel blogs to check out when planning your next trip. They started their travel blog already back in 2014, but we can still feel their travel love all over their website.

@charlies_wanderings

Website | Instagram | For dreamy photography with instapretty dresses you should follow the Flemish Charlotte. On her blog shares lookbooks with her favorite princess dresses, but also the best photo locations around the world!

@onceuponajrny

Websi te | Instagram | Everything about the travel couple Roxanne and Maartje is full of colour and happy vibes. I always get happy when scrolling through their photos. Do not only follow them for their beautiful photos, but also for their big smiles and kisses and enthousiastic promotion of the LGBT community.

@flipflopwanderers

Web site | Instagram | The before and after photos of Bram and Manon show the amazing photography skills of this travel duo. The two share beautiful photos of bounty beaches. And their know how on editing their travel world with a pretty pink and bounty blue vibe!

@explorista

Website | Instagram | This full-time blogger and world traveller has already visited 44 countries, including pretty much all of Europe. Milou came to realise her one big passion was travelling and writing back in 2013 when she wasn’t so happy about her life. She managed to turn those unhappy vibes into one of the best Dutch travel blogs with probably the best Europe tips!

@eindevandewereld

Website | Instagram | This instagram page is part of the popular TV program Floortje to the end of the world. We have followed all episodes of this travel programme. How about travelling with your family in a jeep through Africa, living on a bounty island or building your own cabin in the wild..

@saltinourhair

Web site | Instagram | The photography of the Dutch Hannah and Nick is so breathtakingly beautiful. The two know how to photograph the world like no other. From tropical resorts to colourful city trips.. after looking at their instagram page you want to book a ticket right away!

@ikwilmeerreizen

We bsite | Instagram | Sometimes an (instagram) name says more than 1000 words: ik wil meer reizen means I want to travel more often. Travellers Miriam and Annemarie share travel stories from all over the world with their enthusiastic team. To pay for their travels, they also run their own webshop with nice gifts for travellers on their site.

@travelmonster.nl

Web site | Instagram | Mark and Judith travel the world full time and work as digital nomads in the field of online marketing. The result of their travel love? Those wonderfully dreamy photos to dream away with. And to inspire you to book another trip yourself again straight away.

@whatabouther_nl

Webs ite | Instagram | Laura describes herself as “full time writer, online marketer, visual storyteller, content creator & free-spirit”. She runs not only one, but two travel blogs. And her own content agency. And she does all of that to visit the most beautiful places and to fill her blog with the best travel stories.

@veggiewayfarer

Website | Instagram | The Flemish Caroline always brings the most beautiful dresses on her trips to create picture perfect romantic shots. Her posts on instagram have a romantic vintage feel. No wonder tens of thousands of others follow her travels on instagram!

@wearetravellersnl

Webs ite | Instagram | Roëll shares travel stories of her favourite destinations on her instagram and site. But she’s not alone: she now has a full team of other travel enthusiasts. Probably the highlight of her work as a travel blogger? She bundled her best stories in her Dutch book Backpack Destinations!

@travelalut

Webs ite | Instagram | Travelling is clearly the common thread in the life of Maaike Lut. She travelled around the world and works as a freelance copywriter and social media consultant for the travel industry.

@reisverslaafd

No website | Inst agram | Looking for travel inspiration and beautiful animal snaps? Follow Chantal! With and without her white dog, she has already seen a lot of the world. She turns that into colourful photography. Always with that amazing big smile of hers!

@bynomads.nl

Website | Instagram | Kay and Esther have just started the adventure of their lives: converting a camper van to create their own house on wheels. After seeing so much of the world, they are planning to travel around Europe with their new camper van. On their blog they share stories about the coolest road trips and their DIY experience.

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De 25 leukste Nederlandse reisblogs!

Als reisblogger reis je niet alleen graag of heb je een voorliefde voor schrijven en het maken van foto’s, daarnaast ben je ook constant inspiratie aan het op doen bij mede reisbloggers. Daarom werd het hoog tijd om een overzicht te maken van de leukste, mooiste, meest inspirerende of beste reisblogs van Nederland! Van award winning travelwriters, tot avonturiers en treinreizigers, maar ook van échte backpackers tot ware luxury travellers: Alles komt voorbij in deze top 25 van beste reisblogs!

Waar wil je meer over lezen?

25x de leukste reisblog van Nederland

→ Volg je onze reisblog al op Instagram? @wearetravellersnl

1. Voor de laatste & nieuwste reistips:  Travelvalley

Op Travelvalley vind je het laatste nieuws uit de reiswereld, van grappige artikelen tot verhalen vol tips en de tofste reisgadgets. Voor deze reiswebsite schrijven verschillende reisbloggers en elke dag pronkt er wel een nieuw artikel op de homepage. Op de site vind je dus veel nieuwtjes, maar ook als je specifiek op zoek bent naar tips voor een bepaalde bestemming is deze reiswebsite ideaal om te gebruiken!

2. Backpacken, roadtrippen of ‘gewoon’ op stedentrip? Lees:  Travellust

Backpacken, roadtrippen, eilandhoppen of ‘gewoon’ een stedentrip? Op Travellust deelt Lisette uitgebreide artikelen met praktische info zoals uitgebreide reisroutes, must do’s, hotels en andere handige tips. Lisette dwaalde al twee keer voor lange tijd door Zuidoost-Azië maar vliegt regelmatig de hele wereld over, dus je vindt op haar blog de meest uiteenlopende bestemmingen zoals New York, Marokko, IJsland en Myanmar. Zeker checken!

3. Veel bestemmingen en artikelen met een persoonlijk tintje:  Reisdoc

Chantal is gek op alles dat met reizen te maken heeft en die passie voor reizen zie je volop terug op haar reisblog Reisdoc. Haar lijstje van bezochte bestemmingen is inmiddels ook al aardig lang, zo vertrok ze al naar Nepal, Gambia, Senegal, Bonaire, Indonesië en Amerika. Op dit travelblog vind je niet alleen tips over verre reizen, Chantal maakte ze ook genoeg tripjes dichterbij huis. Zo ging ze onder meer naar Ierland, Oostenrijk, Portugal, Turkije en Italië. Wat ook handig is aan Reisdoc: Je vindt er altijd tips om meer uit je reisbudget te halen!

4. Moeite met het plannen van je reis? Check:  Explorista

Als je moeite hebt met het plannen van je reis, dan is Explorista de plek om te zijn. Milou neemt je mee naar allerlei bestemmingen, maakt mooie foto’s of filmpjes en geeft je handige tips zodat je gemakkelijk je eigen reis kunt plannen. Wat ook tof is aan Explorista, is dat Milou als Digital Nomad werkt en over dat onderwerp vind je ook allerlei verhalen!

5. Op dit reisblog vind je de mooiste reisfilmpjes en personal stories:  What about her

Op de reisblog van Laura vind je onwijs mooie filmpjes en artikelen vol persoonlijke verhalen. Haar reisfilms over Jordanië en de Filipijnen wil je gezien hebben, maar check op What about her ook de blogs die je een kijkje in haar leven thuis geven!

6. Blog voor luxury travellers:  Yourambassadrice

Wie een echte luxury traveller is, zal zich helemaal thuis voelen op het blog van Sabine: Yourambassadrice. Haar hart ligt in Parijs, maar inmiddels woont ze in Amsterdam van waaruit ze de hele wereld ontdekt. Over steden als Parijs en Amsterdam vind je heel wat tips op dit reisblog, maar verre reisjes worden ook genoeg gemaakt en daar verschijnen uiteraard ook de leukste verhalen over.

7. Avontuurlijk stel dat de wereld over reist:  Reisplaatje

De Nederlandse reisblog Reisplaatje.nl is van het avontuurlijke stel Lisette en Robert-Jan. Ze zijn beide dol op reizen en maken tijdens hun tripjes de tofste foto’s. Check dus niet alleen hun blog, maar juist ook hun Instagram want daarop pronken de mooiste plaatjes!

8. Giftshop + heel veel reisverhalen: Ikwilmeerreizen.nl

Misschien dat je Ikwilmeerreizen.nl vooral kent vanwege de toffe giftshop die ze hebben (zij verkopen ook het boek Backpack Bestemmingen én de iconische uitzwaaibox!), maar naast hebbedingen en handige reisspullen hebben ze ook een hele toffe blog waarop allerlei inspirerende reisverhalen verschijnen.

9. Reisblog voor Italië liefhebbers:  Ciaotutti

Is Italië jouw favoriete reisbestemming? Dan zal je zeker verliefd worden op de reiswebsite Ciaotutti. Je ontdekt er het lekkerste eten in Rome, de mooiste gebieden in Zuid Italië maar leest er ook over events in Nederland die alles met het fijne Italië te maken hebben. Op Ciaotutti zijn niet alleen blogs te vinden, je kunt er ook volledige reisgidsen downloaden.

10. Zo’n reiswebsite waardoor je meteen weg wilt: Reisgenie

Pas op want als je deze site bezoekt wil je meteen het vliegtuig pakken! Reisgenie is een reisblog voor wie op zoek is naar inspirerende reisverhalen, mooie bestemmingen en praktische tips. De site is opgestart door Kimber en Saskia en in elk artikel zie je duidelijk terug dat ze reizigers enthousiast maken op basis van hun eigen ervaringen.

11. Blog vol hotspots in Amsterdam en andere steden:  Your little black book

Dit reisblog lijkt soms alleen maar over Amsterdam te gaan, maar niets is minder waar. Anne reis ook heel wat af en daar schrijft ze graag over. Ze ontdekt de leukste en lekkerste restaurantjes in binnen- en buitenland.

12. Niet nadenken gewoon doen: Mohsin op Wereldreis

De inspirerende Mohsin lijkt nooit stil te zitten. Of hij is zelf op (wereld)reis of hij neemt andere reizigers mee op avontuur via zijn reisorganisatie Niet Nadenken Gewoon Doen. Hij begon ooit als jonge gast die op wereldreis ging en zijn volgers via social media overal mee naartoe nam en nu organiseert hij gewoon zelf reizen voor anderen. Heel tof om te zien!

13. Heerlijke foto’s en heel veel tips: Expeditie Aardbol

Op de blog Expeditie Aardbol van Stephanie vind je onwijs veel heerlijke foto’s en praktische tips die je meteen kan toepassen op je eigen reizen. Ze bezoekt bijzondere bestemmingen (wat dacht je van Madagascar, Bosnië-Herzegovina of Macau) maar ook welbekende plekjes. Zeker checken!

14. Travelblog voor échte backpackers:  Bunch of Backpackers

Op Bunch of Backpackers vind je handige budgettips, persoonlijke verhalen van allerlei verschillende backpackers en een overdosis aan reistips van solo traveller Manouk die de eigenaresse is van dit reisblog. Op Bunch of Backpackers vind je voornamelijk Engels geschreven travelblogs, maar de Nederlandse versies komen binnenkort ook online.

15. Voor reisverhalen met aandacht: Stop and Stare

Naline is oprichtster van reisblog Stop and Stare, maar inmiddels zijn ook heel wat andere verhalenvertellers aangesloten. Hier vind je reisverhalen met aandacht. Een plek waar stil wordt gestaan bij bestemmingen en waar ruimte is voor lokale initiatieven en duurzaam toerisme.

16. Voor Venetië fans en NY addicts: My Delicious Journey

Vertrek je binnenkort naar Venetië of New York? Dan is dit een reisblog om inspiratie uit te halen. Naast reistips vind je persoonlijke verhalen van Anouk op dit blog en heel veel lekker eten!

17. Bloedmooie foto’s en bijzondere bestemmingen: KarlijnTravels

Op de blog van Karlijn vind je niet alleen een overdosis bloedmooie foto’s, maar ook bijzondere bestemmingen. Denk aan de Seychellen, maar ook aan Mauritius, Reunion, Tanzania, Bhutan of Frans-Polynesië. Hier moet je echt een kijkje nemen als je op zoek bent naar unieke tips!

18. Voor wereldse reisverhalen en gave hotspots:   Map of Joy

Op Map of Joy schrijft Nathalie over haar reizen, maar inspireert ze ook met wereldse musthaves en ze deelt graag de hotspots uit haar eigen little black book.

19. Een blog van een groepje fanatieke backpackers:  Reisjunk

Een groepje fanatieke reisbloggers schrijft voor de travelblog Reisjunk. Vooral over bestemmingen in Europa is veel geschreven, maar over het backpackleven in Azië verschijnen ook de nodige posts. Tips om kosten te besparen, gave gadgets en artikelen over het voorbereiden op een verre reis komen ook volop aan bod op dit travelblog.

20. Reis je graag met de trein? Lees dan dit reisblog:   Reizen met de Trein

Houd je van interrailen? Reizen met de trein in verre landen? Dan is Reizen-met-de-trein.nl van reisbloggers Kirsten en Nick een blog waar je geweest wilt zijn. Met de trein ontdekken zij alle uithoeken van onze mooie wereld.

21. Persoonlijke verhalen die je meenemen op reis: Reismeisje

Of je nou meer wilt weten over Reismeisje zelf of juist over yoga, het maken van een wereldreis of backpacken. Op Reismeisje vind je echt allerlei verschillende tips.

22. Voor wie ge is op Frankrijk: Bonjour Frankrijk

Italië fanaten gaan naar Ciao Tutti en als je juist gek bent op Frankrijk moet je naar de site van Rosanne: Bonjour Frankrijk! Hier lees je echt alles over Frankrijk wat je maar wilt weten.

23. Persoonlijke tips, duurzaam reizen en toffe bestemmingen: Food Travel Photography

Food Travel Photography is de reisblog van Bianca. Ze deelt haar tips voor mooie reisbestemmingen, maar schrijft ook stukken over duurzaam reizen en ze plaatst heerlijke frisse foto’s waardoor je meteen zin krijgt om ook weer een keer op avontuur te gaan.

24. Ideale travelblog voor wereldreizigers:  Reiswijsneuzen

Een aantal maanden lang reisden Manon van Reiswijsneuzen de wereld rond. Een bijzondere reis waarbij ze gave plekken als de Galapagos eilanden bezocht. Op de blog vind je dus niet alleen tips voor specifieke bestemmingen, maar ook tips voor het maken van een wereldreis. Een must-read dus als je voor een aantal maanden de wereld wilt gaan ontdekken.

25. Fijne foto’s, toffe hotspots en heel veel tips: Wander-Lust

Op de blog Elke en Sarah vind je onwijs veel mooie foto’s, hele toffe hotspots (in het buitenland, maar ook leuke plekjes in ons eigen Nederland) en heel veel tips. Een hippe en hele fijne blog die je zeker moet checken!

Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken Een bericht gedeeld door WeAreTravellers.nl ✨ (@wearetravellersnl)

Jouw favoriete reisblog?

En onze laatste tip? We Are Travellers natuurlijk, want onze eigen website mag eigenlijk ook niet ontbreken op jouw favoriete reisblog lijstje! Alle blogs gecheckt? Laat je dan nog weten in de comments welke reisblog jouw favoriet is of welke blog we hebben overgeslagen in dit rijtje? Vinden we interessant en leuk om te lezen!

Hoi, mooie lijst! Mocht je hem nog eens gaan vernieuwen, dan staan wij er ook graag bij! Nature Travel Lab inspireert tot reizen in de natuur, wandel- en fietstips en tipt daarnaast duurzame overnachtingen: naturetravellab.com

Geweldige reisblog. Bedankt.

Goede lijst. De meeste van deze bloggers zijn lekker actief. Ik kende ze nog niet allemaal maar ik heb ze nu gebookmarked. Thanks.

Jeej, ik word helemaal blij van deze inspiratie (ook alle reisblogs in de comments). Heel leuk om te lezen allemaal! Mocht er ooit, wie weet, een nieuwe lijst komen, staan we daar natuurlijk graag tussen met Reisrealiteit: reisrealiteit.nl

Bedankt voor alle tips, ik ben altijd op zoek naar inspirerende verhalen van reisliefhebbers. Zelf schrijf ik met veel plezier over onze reizen naar Duitsland.

Wat een leuk en inspirerende lijst! 🙌🏼🌎 Mocht er nog een vervolg komen, zou ik het leuk vinden als travelandtaste.blog ook genoemd word. 🤩

Liefs, Alison

Super mooie lijst! Ik zou mijn eigen site alicantelikealocal.com er graag aan toevoegen bij een volgende editie! Alicante is hartstikke hot deze zomer :-) Bedankt voor alle inspiratie!

Wij hopen dat ons reisblog ook in dit lijstje (of in een nieuwe) mag komen! travelcanyonblog.com

Wij schrijven in het engels en in het nederlands, dus hebben dan ook een groot internationaal bereik. Echter, de meeste website bezoekers zijn nederlanders! Wij zijn in een korte tijd flink gegroeid, want we zijn pas sinds april 2023 bezig, maar hebben een hoop verhalen, tips etc die wij kunnen delen en we hebben dan ook in een korte tijd al erg veel informatie / blog geschreven op onze website.

Neem gerust een kijkje :) Er komt nog veel meer aan! Op Instagram @Travelcanyonblog zijn onze prachtige reisfoto’s te vinden!

Mocht er nog een update komen. Wij van reisverslaafd.com zouden ons zeer vereerd voelen als wij onderdeel mogen uitmaken van dit lijstje.

Leuk en inspirerend lijstje. Ik was natuurlijk al bekend met een aantal reisblogs, maar er zitten ook een paar verrassingen voor me bij. Mocht er ooit een update of nieuw lijstje gemaakt worden, wil ik je mijn reisblog tippen: hipontrip.nl. Een website vol inspiratie voor verre reizen!

Leuke tips! Mocht er nog een update komen, zou ik het leuk vinden om allyourz.nl te noemen. Dit is een lokaal platform in Zeeland waar je veel inspiratie kunt vinden en een overnachting kunt boeken. Veel tips van locals!

Mooie overzichtelijke lijst! Mocht er ooit een update of nieuwe versie komen zou ik mij vereerd voelen er tussen te staan met Reiswijven.nl :)

Ik zou het tof vinden als http://www.waanzinnigewereld.nl er binnenkort ook tussen staat :-)

Leuk artikel en zeer handig ook! reismetbuit.nl is een leuke nieuwe opkomende blogger die ik ontdekt heb!

Leuke lijst vol met reisinspiratie! Mochten jullie nog een nieuw deel gaan maken, dan nomineren wij onszelf alvast graag voor een plekje.

Leuke blog! Heel fijn om even alles op een rijtje te hebben staan, ook voor bedrijven heel handig in verband met eventuele samenwerkingen! Goed werk!

Bedankt voor deze lijst met leuke reisblogs. Nu heb ik weer voldoende leesplezier. Ik gebruik voyago.nl voor het opdoen van reisinspiratie. Deze mag zeker niet ontbreken in jullie lijst.

Leuke lijst! Bedankt voor deze post!

Heel leuke lijst maar ik mis de reissite ‘Ik wil Reizen.nl’ nog. Daar schrijf en werk ik zelf voor en ik ben best wel trots op wat we elke week en maand tot stand brengen.

Heerlijk duidelijk!

Super leuk gedaan en handig zo’n lijstje met favoriete reisblogs! :-) Toevallig heb ik sinds kort ook zelf een reisblog opgezet, namelijk sherulestheglobe.nl. Ik ben benieuwd wat jullie ervan vinden? :-)

Mooi lijstje inderdaad! De meeste kennen wij al. En inderdaad als er nog eens een lijst komt met reiswebsites voor ouders met kinderen, dan mag reiskoe.nl niet ontbreken!

Nou bij deze zal ik jullie meenemen in onze blog die ik binnekort ga schrijven op a freedom adventure!

Wat een mooie lijst, ik heb weer diverse nieuwe ontdekt. Ik hoop er ooit ook eens tussen te komen met vakantiemetpubers.nl. Dat is wat ik wel mis in deze lijst, dus ik zou zeggen een top 26?

Waanzinnig leuk blog en website. Verliefd op Nederland: De meest bijzondere plekken dicht bij huis is een aanrader om te kopen en heerlijk te lezen deze zomer of de komende herfst : )

Onder andere WeAreTravellers is mijn inspiratie geweest tijdens de start van mijn eigen reisblog: Waanzinnige Wereld. Bedankt voor jullie toffe en handige tips en natuurlijk de presets voor Lightroom! Ga zo door!

Bedankt voor deze lijst met leuke blogs. Ik haal er veel inspiratie uit. Sinds 2 maanden ben ik zelf mijn reisblog ( opreismetjohnno.nl ) begonnen over de reizen die ik maak. Momenteel staan Curaçao, Bali, Malaga en Zweeds lapland erop. Australie, Zuid Korea, Nederland en Zuid afrika volgen nog

Leuk! Ik ben kortgeleden een reisblog begonnen voor ouders die alleen reizen met kinderen, want het is soms best lastig om daar goede informatie of ervaringen over te vinden.

Goede lijst! Ik ken er een hoop, maar ik kijk ook vaak op backpackjunkies.nl. Niet alleen interessante persoonlijke verhalen, maar vaak ook informatie over de omgeving, cultuur, landen en meer.

Wat een interessant artikel toppie! Ben van plan om binnenkort mijn eigen reisblog te starten. Heb veel inspirerende blogs kunnen vinden. Groetjes, Carla

Informatief artikel.

Het waren echt 25 leuke blogs om te lezen. Ik wil nu weer op vakantie gaan, maar dan wel naar een tropische land. Welke land in Zuid-Amerika raad u mij aan?

Een aanvulling bij nummer 22: Als je gek bent op Frankrijk, kijk dan vooral ook even op frankrijkpuur.nl! Sinds januari 2018 blog ik daar fulltime over dit mooie land :-).

Op onze website geven wij tips over ongeveer 60 lange afstandswandelingen in diverse Europese landen. Meerdaagse tochten. Van Kreta tot Schotland, van Zweden tot Spanje, oost en west Europa. Adviezen over de bereikbaarheid, de kaarten, de routes en verslagen over de routes zelf: bijzonderheden, het landschap, de hoogtes. Met veel foto’s en veel video’s. Alle wandelingen zijn door onszelf gelopen. Je vindt ze op: oranginas.nl Heel veel wandelplezier!!

Super lijstje! Zeker handig om even reisblog Nederland uit te pluizen. Zelf fietsen wij op dit moment van NEDERLAND naar INDIA en houden daarvoor grappige reisvideo’s bij. Neem gerust eens een kijkje op ons kanaal :).

Leuk. welk kanaal?

Super leuke blogs! Maaaar, Foedsie.nl hoort hier natuurlijk ook bij :)

Mooi lijstje, hoop dat wij daar ook nog eens in komen. (Hint: photo.travelharts.com en blog.travelharts.com)

Een tip: lees ook eens reisverhalen van mannelijke reisschrijvers. Op Mountainreporters.com bijvoorbeeld. Maar liefst 40% van onze reporters is man.

Een mooi lijstje, perfect om inspiratie op te doen. Wij kunnen hier nog veel van leren: Dolopreizen.nl

Ik mis hier justmytravel. Vind het een prettige website en ze is ook behulpzaam. Ze heeft uiteindelijk ook een reis voor mij geboekt omdat ze precies wist waar ik moest zijn.

Wat leuk! Een tweede lijst zou heel leuk zijn! En dan zeg ik heel bescheiden dat Spaans Benauwd (gericht op Spaanstalige landen) er goed tussen zou passen ;)

Wow wat een goede lijst! Deze blog heb ik even opgeslagen :) Groetjes Julia

Handig zo’n leuke lijst. Staan echt goede en leuke blogs tussen!

Ik mis reisgenie.nl

Mooi en handig overzicht! :) Misschien gaan jullie dit overzicht updaten dit jaar? Als zo, dan is Kids Love Travel een onmisbare toevoeging ;) (zeg ik heel bescheiden).

Keep up the good work & happy travels

Ik heb er aardig wat blog uitgepikt! Heel leuk

Leuk om ook eens blogs van andere reisbloggers te lezen!

Een Belgische avontuurlijke reisblog: Dagboek van een avonturier (dagboekvaneenavonturier.com), een blog vol reisverhalen van de meest afgelegen plaatsen ter wereld.

Wat een leuke lijst! Ik en mijn vriendin hebben laatst een reis gemaakt naar Barcelona via mrtravel zeker een aanrader, als je geïnspireerd wil worden voor leuke tripjes.

Mooie verzameling links, heb ik even ‘gefavorite’ :) Thanks

Handig lijstje! Genoeg om te lezen voordat ik op reis ga :)

Ook een zeer mooie blog wanneer je meer wil weten over Kaapstad, Zuid-Afrika. stageinkaapstad.nl

Hoi, Ik ben Bianca. Ik heb biancaoverdegrens.com gemaakt. Ik woon in Ierland maar ik blog ook over Oost Europa, de Balkan, Spanje en sociale media bijvoorbeeld. Ik ben net begonnen met een maandelijkse nieuwsbrief. Ik deel en lees ook graag blogs van andere Nederlanders overal ter wereld.

Het beste wat mens en natuur ooit hebben gecreëerd staat volgens Unesco ingeschreven op hun werelderfgoedlijst. Reden voor het illustere Rotterdamse reisduo Ech Wel en Ech Nie zoveel mogelijk van dit soort plaatsen te bezoeken. Hun ervaringen tijdens deze queeste delen ze sinds kort op hun blog Unesco-queesties.nl. Omdat deze opgave nog niet moeilijk genoeg was hebben ze besloten er nog een tweede queeste aan toe te voegen; vernoemd worden in een lijstje “leukste reisblogs”.

Wat een leuk artikel! Top al die blogs :)

Hoi reizigers! Ga je reizen of backpacken rond Latijns-Amerika en wil je graag Spaans leren?, dan zit je bij ons goed! Wij promoten Spaanse scholen en hun cursussen wereldwijd. Bovendien, gooien wij er een extra korting bovenop! Bekijk onze website en check de nieuwste aanbiedingen en vergelijk de beste tarieven voor Spaanse cursussen, alleen op: courconnect.com Veilige reis!

Prachtige lijst. We hopen met jouwzonvakantie.nl ook ooit een plekje in deze lijst te verdienen :-) dat is geschreven vanuit eigen reiservaringen. We zijn nog niet zo lang bezig en proberen wekelijks er een stukje bij te schrijven. We hopen mensen te kunnen inspireren maar gaan ook graag in dialoog met de lezer.

Wat een mooie lijst. Graag vul ik die aan met Davides. Voor iedereen die Nederland wil ontdekken. Weg van de gebaande paden. Met mijn avonturen en tips op het gebied van slapen, eten & drinken, winkels, cultuur en natuur.

Gaaf! Ik wist niet dat er zoveel waren! Hopelijk sta ik daar binnenkort ook bij :-). Vind We Are Travellers toch de leukste ;)

Handig!! Ik heb ook wat tips op een rijtje gezet: https://reizen481.wordpress.com/2016/06/23/vakantiebestemmingen-in-nederland/

Een bruikbare lijst met blogs, bedankt.

Leuke lijst waarvan ik er een aantal volg! Valt wel op dat er meer vrouwelijke reisbloggers zijn dan mannelijke, of lijkt dat maar zo..? Hoop er in de toekomst ook in te staan met mijn reisblog abouttravel.nl :-)

Ik gebruik inderdaad enkele blogs wanneer ik mijn reizen ga plannen! Ik mis er toch nog wel een paar ;). Ikwilmeerreizen, Mytravelsecret, Tipsthailand zijn ook erg inspirerend! Groetjes!

Bedankt nog voor je tips! Eigenlijk moeten we echt een keer een nieuwe / extra lijst gaan maken ;)

Mochten jullie nog eens een lijstje 2018 maken, http://www.weleaf.nl bied zich aan ;). Wij reizen de wereld rond op het fietsje, gewoon omdat het kan! Natuurlijk hebben we leuke reis verhalen en inspiratie voor wereldfietsers, maar ook voor elk ander soort reiziger staan onze tips klaar.

Hai! Mocht je nog een nieuwe/ extra lijst maken, overweeg dan ook eens discoverworldplaces.com Niet in het Nederlands, wel geschreven door een Nederlandse! Mocht dat in het lijstje thuis passen neem dan vooral contact op :)

Wat een leuke lijst, bedankt!

Wat een mooie lijst met blogs! Bedankt voor de tips.

Wat leuk om al die tips te lezen! Geeft veel inspiratie :) Eten tijdens je reis hoort bij de totale ervaring. Ook als je -zoals ik- vegetariër bent. Op mijn website reizendevegetarier.nl vertel ik alles over reizen, vegetarisch eten tijdens het reizen, tips voor vegetarische restaurantjes en natuurlijk lekkere recepten voor thuis. Net begonnen dus mochten jullie tips hebben, let me know!

Mooie lijst Roëll! Genoeg travel inspiratie voor mijn komende reizen :)

Nog niet in het rijtje omdat het een vrij nieuwe blog is maar zeker interessant: stelletjereizigers.com Op dit moment helemaal actueel met bijna dagelijks nieuwe avonturen en tips! Erg leuk geschreven alsof je mee op reis bent!

Bedankt voor jullie berichtje! Volgens mij kennen jullie myrthe ook, tenminste, die vertelde me ook al over jullie blog :) dus ga hem zeker in de gaten houden!

Wat een hoop reisblogs, ook in de reacties! Genoeg te doen dus als ik me eens verveel ;) Inspiratie opdoen voor nieuwe reizen!

jenniefromtheglobe.wordpress.com

Hele leuke blogs! Bedankt voor de tip!

Travel Unique Magazine!

Prachtig om al die reisweblogs te lezen….ik ben zelf ook net begonnen met http://www.reisverhaaltjes.nl Misschien heeft iemand goede tips/kritiek, liefst positieve kritiek natuurlijk, waar ik wat van leren kan !

Hoi, Leuk, dit soort lijstjes! Altijd handig om een paar nieuwe blogs te ontdekken. Wij hebben het helaas (nog) niet tot je favorieten geschopt, maar wat niet is kan nog komen! Wij zijn een blog begonnen over het prachtige Portugal: Saudadesdeportugal.nl Na er jaren te hebben gewoond, nog steeds verliefd op het land. En dit delen we graag!

Hi Marlou, Bedankt voor de complimenten en wie weet komt er ooit een 2e lijst en staan jullie er dan wel bij! Groeten, Roell

Leuke lijst! Ik ga ze zeker eens bekijken. Mijn zus en ik verzamelen onze reiservaringen op onze website 200% Magaura. Aanvankelijk was die bedoelt voor familie en vrienden die vaak tips vroegen voor een leuke vakantie. We hopen ook anderen te kunnen inspireren: 200-procent-magaura.weebly.com

Wat een leuke lijst met blogs. Een paar ken ik er nog niet en ga ik zeker bekijken. Zelf ben ik nog niet zo heel lang geleden begonnen met het opschrijven van mijn reiservaringen en tips. Zoveel verhalen in mijn hoofd nog. Ik hoop ooit ook eens in zo’n mooie lijst voor te komen.

onderweg.sr-fotografie.nl

Heerlijk om te lezen sommige blogs. Wij zullen er zeker veel gaan volgen. Onze reisblog wordt veel gevolgd door onze vrienden, maar we hopen dat anderen ook geïnspireerd raken. Leuk feit, wij hebben de website zelf gemaakt en maken ook voor andere reizigers met een speciaal verhaal of hostels websites. Zo hopen wij onze reis te kunnen verlengen :) Onze blogs gaan over Reizen & werken / Midden-Ameria, Azïe, Europa en het eiland Mauritius.

Groetjes vanuit Mexico! Jeroen en Malou

Leuke reisblogs! Hier is er nog ééntje: . Niet alleen schrijft hij heel leuk, hij maakt ook erg mooie foto’s. Het is ondertussen een bonte verzameling geworden van backpacken in Zuid Oost Azië, fietsen door Europa (op weg naar Thailand) en momenteel een backpack-light trip over land van Frankrijk naar Maleisië.

Wat zijn er toch een hoop travelblogs. Ik heb in ieder geval wat te lezen vanavond… Bedankt voor het overzicht!

Bedankt voor dit mooie overzicht, er zitten inderdaad enkele juweeltjes tussen! Toch nog even wat schaamteloze zelfpromotie: mocht je voor deel 2 van de lijst nog een goeie site over Zuidoost-Azië zoeken, dan kun je ook terecht op ;-)

Hoi, hier mag ook niet bij ontbreken! Vanaf 2004 in de lucht!

Wat ik persoonlijk een erg informatieve site vond voordat ik op reis ging was http://www.backpack.nu maar weet nu eigenlijk niet of dit onder een blog valt.

Jammer dat er geen aandacht wordt besteed aan reisblog voor gezinnen. Ze zijn er niet veel, maar er zijn wel een paar hele leuke.

Wat gaaf dat we in jouw lijstje staan, bedankt Roëll! Super leuk! En erg leuk om alle andere blogs te bekijken. Top lijstje!

Mis in het rijtje, maar de dames worden de laatste tijd zo gelauwerd dat enige luwte ze wel gegund is.

Wat een leuke lijst, een aantal kende ik al en een aantal nieuwe. Wie weet sta ik er een volgende editie ook tussen

Mooi lijstje met bekende reisblogs inmiddels ook voor mij… Maarrr volgens mij moet het een top50 worden Roëll! :)

Ik wilde inderdaad zeggen dat ik Gezin op Reis, Soetkees en Travel around with me miste. En deze natuurlijk: http://www.followmyfootprints.nl (ja, dat duurt al even, maar Rome is ook niet in 1 dag gebouwd. ;-))

Nog eentje voor het lijstje: Vive Le Voyage!

Hi Roëll, Wat leuk dat ik er in sta! Dank :)! Lastig kiezen met zo veel leuke Nederlandse reisblogs inderdaad. Liefs, Manouk

Ik heb geen kids maar de blog van Gezinopreis mag er zeker bij en ik mis fotografaren op reis van Denise, ook erg leuk! En natuurlijk mijn eigen blog, travelaroundwithme.com:)

Wat een lijst met heerlijke blogs! Genoeg reisinspiratie te vinden dus. Ik ken ze allemaal en het zijn stuk voor stuk leuke blogs. En ik kan het natuurlijk niet laten om mijn eigen reisblogje ook even te spammen: http://www.soetkees.nl een ‘koffer’ vol reisinspiratie ;)

Mooie namen inderdaad!

Ok dan een eenvoudig blog voor leuke weekendjes weg met kids familiekamers.wordpress.com Nieuw design is in de maak :-)

Gezin op reis had er wel heel goed bij gepast! :) en mooiste stedentrips. En heel misschien mijn eigen blog beyoutifulworld.nl? Verder kon ik ze allemaal al, maar wel een leuke lijst!

Lief zeg, dankjewel!

Mooie lijst idd! Zuidoost Azië liefhebbers kunnen ook nog terecht op . Met reisblogs vanaf 2003 en een berg aan praktische tips misschien wel de langsbestaande reisblog van Nederland.

Wow dat is inderdaad al een hele tijd! Staat erbij als er een lijst 2 komt :)

Leuke lijst, nog leuker dat ik er ook bij sta! :-)

Ik kende ze allemaal al, maar het is een handig overzichtje. Leuk!

Ik hoop dat mijn net gelanceerde reisblog er volgend jaar tussen staat :) (www.reisgenie.nl)

Who knows! Zal eens een kijkje komen nemen :) leuke naam in ieder geval: Reisgenie!

Dankjewel voor het compliment! Leuk!

Mocht er een tweede versie komen, dan is hier een blog voor de China liefhebbers (en een plug) http://goyvon.com Mooie lijst!

Aaah die had er heel goed bij gekund ja, ik zeg: Er moet een lijst #2 komen!

Leuk overzicht en thanks for mentioning us! :D

Mooie lijst! Daisy Scholte is sinds vorige week een jaar lang op pad door… Nederland, en dit is haar blog:

Leuk, ik kom gauw eens kijken!

Wadlopen op Texel, abseilen van de Euromast, dineren in De Librije, overnachten op een hijskraan, bier brouwen in Heerlen. Ik ga een fantastisch jaar tegemoet en hoop iedereen te inspireren ook eens wat vaker in eigen land op avontuur te gaan. :-D

Wat een eer! Bedankt Roell! :)

new kid on the block Ikvliegveel.com mag je eigenlijk ook niet missen! Een blog voor de NL/BE frequent traveller, gericht op vliegen, hotels, loyalty en lifestyle.

Wat een lief complimentje, dankjewel!

Leuk Roell, thanks voor de mention!

Cool :) Helemaal met het lijstje eens en leuk dat wij ook genoemd worden :D

Nieuw en in het Engels, maar wel van oerhollandse Rotterdamse bodem: Misschien voor volgende keer :)

Leuk! Kende jouw blog nog niet! Mooie homepage :)

Ik denk dat je Gezin op Reis mist voor de ouders die op reis willen met kinderen :)

Leuke lijst! Kende ze nog niet allemaal, dus ga eens even wat rondneuzen :)

Leuke Lijst! Mocht er een deel 2 komen, hier een schandelijke plug: http://www.thetraveltester.com/nl/ :) Groetjes uit Londen!

Thanks! En die kon er inderdaad goed bij :) enjoy Londen!

Hee wat leuk! Dank je wel voor het noemen van mijn blog!

Ik mis toch echt nog een blog voor ouders met kinderen ;-) Verder een hele mooie lijst vol leuke blogs.

Goede tip! Mocht er nog een 2e lijst komen ;)

Een 2e lijst in 2017 zou erg leuk zijn! ? groetjes, Hippsetters

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10 Days The Netherlands Travel Itinerary

The Netherlands is a fantastic holiday destination, offering a laid-back atmosphere, rich culture, and beautiful architecture. 10 days of the Netherlands travel itinerary is more than enough to explore its famous places and that off-the-beaten path. So, pack comfortable shoes, and be prepared to do lots of cycling, wandering, and exploring in the greenest country in Europe.

• Rail transport is the most environmentally friendly way to travel. This article was written to educate about Train Travel and was made by Save A Train, The Cheapest Train Tickets Website In The World .

Day 1 Of Your Netherlands Travel – Amsterdam

If you are arriving in the Netherlands by flight, you will most likely arrive in Amsterdam. This iconic European city is the starting point for every trip to the Netherlands. While 2 days in Amsterdam are far from enough time to explore the markets, canals, and charming neighborhoods, it is the perfect beginning for a 10 days travel itinerary in the Netherlands.

So, a great way to enjoy the cool vibes of Amsterdam is to start your first day in the Jordaan and the canals, the most ancient district of Amsterdam. With cute little cafes, local boutiques, and beautiful Dutch architecture, this area is so charming you will wish to stay for the entire day. However, you can still squeeze in a visit to Anne Frank’s house, the tulip and cheese museum, and visit taste the famous apple strudel at Winkle 43.

While It may sound a bit too much, all of these great places are within walking distance from one another, so you will save a lot of time and still enjoy some of the best highlights of Amsterdam .

Brussels to Amsterdam Trains

London to Amsterdam Trains

Berlin to Amsterdam Trains

Paris to Amsterdam Trains

Day 2: Amsterdam

The second day in Amsterdam should start by visiting the museums’ district. The Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and Moco museum are located around the same square, which is also called the museum’s square stop on the Amsterdam tram. Moco is perfect for modern art enthusiasts, Van Gogh for art lovers, and the Rijksmuseum for those that want to learn more about Dutch history, culture, and art.

After completing the artistic part of the day, you can head out to Albert Cuyp market for food and shopping. This street market offers a great selection of fresh fruit, local dishes, souvenir, and any type of shopping. Albert Cuyp market is one of Amsterdam’s highlights, so make time for a visit during your 10 days trip to the Netherlands.

Bremen to Amsterdam Trains

Hannover to Amsterdam Trains

Bielefeld to Amsterdam Trains

Hamburg to Amsterdam Trains

Day 3: A Daytrip to Volendam, Edam and Zaanse Schans

These 3 charming villages are usually part of a half-day trip from Amsterdam. To experience the Dutch countryside lifestyle, a trip to these villages is a terrific way to spend the 3 rd day of a 10-day travel itinerary in the Netherlands. You can book a tour without worrying about getting to and from any of these 3 villages, and just sit back and admire the views of green fields, cows, and small Dutch cottages on the way.

Edam is famous for its cheese markets, Volendam for its canals and old houses, and Zaanse Schans for the windmills. So, in just a few hours, you will learn more about Dutch culture, life, and history than if you were to explore these villages on your own by bike or rented car.

Brussels to Tilburg Trains

Antwerp to Tilburg Trains

Berlin to Tilburg Trains

Paris to Tilburg Trains

Day 4: Utrecht

The university city of Utrecht is a fantastic destination for a day trip from Amsterdam. Like its neighbor, Utrecht offers lovely canal views and even has two-story canals. In addition, Utrecht is famous for its foodie scene, so you can grab a meal-to-go from any of the restaurants, find a spot in one of the charming canals and have a memorable time sitting back and admiring the atmosphere.

Gen Z travelers will love this off-the-beaten-path city and its young vibes. Most importantly, Utrecht is easy to reach from Amsterdam by train and even directly from Schiphol airport.

Brussels to Utrecht Trains

Antwerp to Utrecht Trains

Berlin to Utrecht Trains

Paris to Utrecht Trains

The Netherlands Travel Itinerary: Days 5-6 Rotterdam

The most modern city in the Netherlands is only 40 minutes away from the Hague. Taking 2 days to explore Rotterdam will give you a chance to learn about the more modern side of Dutch life and fantastic architecture. On your first day in Rotterdam, you can take a cycling tour around the city.

On the second day, you could head out to the historical side of Rotterdam, the windmills at Kinderdijk. If you are a history lover, then you will find the Kinderdijk mills fascinating. Then you can continue to the maritime museum for more historical facts about submarines.

Brussels to Rotterdam Trains

Antwerp to Rotterdam Trains

Berlin to Rotterdam Trains

Paris to Rotterdam Trains

Day 7: The Tulip Fields  (April-May Only)

The gorgeous tulip fields are the sole reason anyone travels to the Netherlands during the tulip season . The tulip fields are most beautiful in spring in the largest flower garden in the world, the Keukenhof Gardens. Tickets to Keukenhof tend to sell out months in advance, but you can admire the lovely tulip fields close by Lisse or Leiden.

In addition to visiting the gardens, you can cycle, drive, and make a few stops for the iconic pictures of tulips with the windmills in the background. So, if flowers are your passion, you should take at least 2 days to enjoy the marvelous tulip fields in the Netherlands .

Brussels to The Hague Trains

Antwerp to The Hague Trains

Berlin to The Hague Trains

Paris to The Hague Trains

Day 8: Delft

Delftware is one of the most beautiful souvenirs to bring back from the Netherlands. Delft is where the beautiful ceramic is made, so a trip to delft will include a visit to De Porceleyne Fles – the last remaining manufacturer of Royal Dutch Delftware.

In addition, delft has great churches, historical museums, and fantastic botanical gardens. So you can choose between learning about the culture and history to admiring the great outdoors Delft has to offer.

Day 9: Efteling Theme Park

The Efteling theme park is one of Europe’s 10 best theme parks in Europe . Easy to reach by train from Amsterdam, a trip to Efteling is a terrific experience for travelers of all ages. The thing that sets this theme park aside from all the other theme parks in Europe is its fairytale theme. The Brothers Grimm and Anderson, sultan carpets, and magical forests are a few of the fascinating things you will experience in Efteling.

Brussels to Maastricht Trains

Antwerp to Maastricht Trains

Cologne to Maastricht Trains

Berlin to Maastricht Trains

Day 10: Back In Amsterdam

Most visitors to Amsterdam usually dedicate their last day to last-minute shopping in Dam Square. However, if you have a night train or flight, then you can squeeze in a visit to Amsterdam Noord. North of Amsterdam is quieter, with a great park where you can cycle, a magnificent church turned restaurant, and local cafes. Amsterdam Noord is underrated, and if you want to get to know authentic Amsterdam, plan to spend at least your last morning in this area.

Dortmund to Amsterdam Trains

Essen to Amsterdam Trains

Dusseldorf to Amsterdam Trains

Cologne to Amsterdam Trains

The bottom line, traveling in the Netherlands is an unforgettable experience. In 10 days, you can visit the most beautiful cities and learn all about Dutch culture, architecture, and cheese in the stunning Netherlands.

Here at  Save A Train , we will be happy to help you plan this 10-day Netherlands travel itinerary by train.

Do you want to embed our blog post “1 0 Days The Netherlands Travel Itinerary ” onto your site? You can take our photos and text and give us credit with a link to this blog post. Or click here:

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• If you want to be kind to your users, you can guide them directly into our search pages. In this link, you will find our most popular train routes –  https://www.saveatrain.com/routes_sitemap.xml .
• Inside you have our links for English landing pages, but we also have  https://www.saveatrain.com/es_routes_sitemap.xml , and you can change the /es to /fr or /de and more languages.

Paulina Joukov

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Home » Europe » Netherlands » Backpacking Guide

Backpacking the Netherlands: EPIC Budget Travel Guide • 2024

The Netherlands. That’s the place where everyone rides bikes around the red light district with a joint in hand? Well, not quite – but that sounds cool.

The beloved capital city, Amsterdam, is unarguably one of the coolest cities in the whole world . Endless streams of bikes, tulip-lined canals, and the smell of Mary Jane floating under everyone’s nose. 

But what about the rest of the Netherlands? Ah, yes! You’ll be happy to know, the magic also lies well beyond the canals of the capital! 

There’s something about the Dutch that makes backpacking the Netherlands one of the best travel experiences. Their laidback attitude, vibrant party energy, and efficient approach to modern life is refreshing – to say the least.

But millions of tourists in a tiny country mean one thing: hugely inflated prices. The Dutch aren’t stupid. While backpacking The Netherlands can be done cheaply, you’re really going to have to work for it.

In this backpacking the Netherlands travel guide, you’ll find valuable secrets about travelling in this country. There’s an art to finding the best place to stay in the Netherlands.

Planning a trip to the Netherlands quickly becomes how can I stay longer? Let’s get started!

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Why Go Backpacking in The Netherlands?

Despite popular belief, The Netherlands and Holland aren’t exactly the same thing. Holland is in the Netherlands: it’s a region in the western part. Though, this is also the area with the most exciting places to visit. 

Geography lesson over, it is, unequivocally, one of my favourite European countries to visit . The people are awesome, getting around is super easy, and there are endless good times. There’s always an excuse to fly to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. 

The country is simply poetic. The fields are green and dotted with windmills, and everything just works. Dutch cities are well connected and kinda cute as far as cities go. 

The Netherlands is often reduced to one destination: Amsterdam . While there is a good reason for this – Amsterdam is indeed very charming – there is MUCH more to the country than this one city.

The real reason to visit The Netherlands is the culture. Dutch people are among the most laid back that I’ve met and never take themselves too seriously. Dutch festivals and concerts, some of the best environments to get to know the locals, become special memories.

The Netherlands is not a big country – it does not require months or even weeks to appreciate. For this reason, it is often relegated to a weekend trip or maybe a stopover when backpacking between France and Germany.

But this is also one of its greatest strengths. You don’t need to invest a lot in The Netherlands to have fun. You can just show up, go for a walk, ride a bike, pop into a pub, and fun will follow.

Visiting The Netherlands is always a great idea for your European holiday. 

Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking The Netherlands

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Your itinerary for The Netherlands can vary considerably from other travellers. If you arrive at Amsterdam airport, anywhere in Holland is barely further than Amsterdam itself. So actually, you could easily start your backpacking itinerary almost anywhere in the Netherlands. 

Here are a few suggestions for your Dutch travel itinerary. 

5-Day Travel Itinerary for The Netherlands – Holland Highlights

For a 5-day itinerary for visiting The Netherlands, you’ll be pressed for time – even in this small country. 

I recommend you commit at least 2 days to Amsterdam. It’s easy to make a couple of short day trips for the time you have remaining. 

Once you arrive in Holland, either base yourself in Amsterdam or one of the neighbouring cities. If you stay in Amsterdam , you will obviously get to experience more of it. 

If you prefer the latter option (either because it’s cheaper or quieter), I suggest staying in Utrecht or Haarlem and making day trips.

When visiting Amsterdam, be sure to set aside lots of time for just wandering. Whilst there is lots to see and do in Amsterdam, simply getting lost along the canals is good. 

The nightlife in Amsterdam is absolutely top notch. If you’re here for the party, allocate some time for recovery too. 

Take a day for Utrecht – the smaller, quainter version of Amsterdam complete with its own canals. This university city has some of the best vibes in the country and it’s nice to stay in too.

Haarlem is Amsterdam’s closest neighbour. Expect something similar visually but minus some chaos. It’s not got the same magic but a much more chilled vibe. 

Rotterdam and The Hague are also good places to stay in The Netherlands. They’re cool destinations in their own right and make perfect bases. 

Rotterdam is the ultra-contemporary, maybe slightly sterile, version of Holland. It offers cool modern architecture and very laid-back locals. 

The Hague is a good place to see older Gothic-style buildings. It’s also one of the best places in the Netherlands to enjoy the beach. After taking your full dose of fun, you can kick back and relax in some of the coolest hostels around The Hague .

10-Day Travel Itinerary for the Netherlands – North or South?

This is an expanded version of the previous 5-day Dutch itinerary. Let’s shake it up a bit and start this backpacking the Netherlands itinerary in Rotterdam . 

Staying in Rotterdam , The Hague, or Utrecht instead of Amsterdam are all worthwhile ideas. If you’re stuck choosing between Amsterdam vs Rotterdam , remember that you can spend a couple of days hanging in one of these and still have time to go to the capital.

Check out Rotterdam – the cube houses make an interesting picture at the very least. The harbour is a great place to see the city too. You can take easily some day trips from Rotterdam too. 

You could stretch your legs to Maastricht if you’re feeling adventurous. If you’re going to cross to Belgium, maybe save Maastrict for later.

Make a stopover in Delft , if you have time. This mini-city doesn’t usually make it on travellers’ itineraries but it’s an easy stop to see a different side of The Netherlands. 

Then, head onwards to The Hague . Stroll through the parks and enjoy the best of Dutch city life. In The Hague, you’ll find one of the nicest beach towns in the Netherlands, Scheveningen . 

After some peace, head to Haarlem for a warm-up before the big one, Amsterdam . You’ll want to set aside at least 2 days for Dam because you probably won’t want to leave. 

With more days, you’ll have time for some exhibitions or museums. If I were to choose one that I recommend you should see in Amsterdam, maybe the Anne Frank house because it’s very humbling.

2-Week Travel Itinerary for The Netherlands – Offbeat and Further Afield

Now we’re talking. With 2 weeks backpacking The Netherlands, you’ll see the more authentic sides of the country! You’ve got time for all the top cities in The Netherlands and some off-beat places too.

Get your fill of Amsterdam – 2 or 3 days should be good to discover it’s famous spots and hidden gems . Then, we’re northbound.

Check out the Frisian Islands . Though bring a coat if you’re heading to the beach. Even in summer, it gets chilly!

When you’re on your way south, make a stop in Utrecht . Take your time to find the quaint, hidden bars, cafes, and coffee shops. A bit of all the best of the Netherlands packed into one little stop. 

From here, Hoge Veluwe National Park isn’t too far off the radar. Arnhem is the gateway of Hoge Veluwe. Reach the best corners of the park with a bike and a picnic.

Then take a train or bus down to Rotterdam and The Hague . Check out the previous Holland itineraries for day-trips from there. 

If you’re planning on going to Belgium or Germany afterwards, visiting the border cities of Groningen (in the North) or Maastricht (in the South) makes sense as well. Or maybe just forget about those places and stay a while longer in The Netherlands. 😉

I have to say, I haven’t been disappointed anywhere while backpacking The Netherlands. That’s really saying something.

So pick a place on the map and go and enjoy. There are just some places that are absolute standouts. Here are some top places to visit in The Netherlands.

Visiting Amsterdam

Ah Amsterdam, my love… This city always gives me that sense-of-home feeling. 

What’s the first thing you think of when you think about visiting Amsterdam ? Partying, the Anne Frank House, the red light district, tulips, recreational drug use, Heineken? You’d be absolutely right that they all make this capital city one of the most unique places in the world to visit. 

As “big cities” go in the Netherlands (which is not saying a lot), Amsterdam is the biggest. It’s also – surprisingly – one of the most chill capital cities that I can think of. There’s not a lot of traffic or noise pollution, and it’s really easy to get around. 

But maybe you’re thinking, I’m not into drugs or partying . Well, there’s still plenty to see in Amsterdam that doesn’t involve getting blasted.

Solo travellers, friends, families, couples, ex-couples, come here to delve into this interesting city and experience something unique.

Ultimately, the best way to experience Amsterdam is grab a bike, go for a ride along the canals and parks, and stop when something seems interesting. You’ve no shortage of interesting places to stop.

But the debauchery? Besides it being a stunning place to be, it’s a place you can get away with things you wouldn’t at home. Whilst not everything in Amsterdam is allowed, it is an extremely open place. 

Cheeky little space cake while visiting the Rijksmuseum ? Take magic mushrooms before going to the Van Gough Museum ?

The infamous prostitution area, Red Light District is famous the world over. It’s also the world’s best people-watching spot.

The ONLY downside of this place is that is it no longer a secret. Prices are soaring year after year. Ripping off tourists has never been easier – and they take full advantage. 

So it’s losing a little bit of its spark. Yet I still always find myself back there…

Visiting Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a complete 180 from Amsterdam. After being completely levelled during World War II, the city had to completely rebuild itself. Today, this means towering skyscrapers, ultra-modern architecture, and converted warehouses.

Locals swear down that Rotterdam is better than Amsterdam. For some people, this is definitely the truth.

Rotterdam even has an area officially deemed (no-joke) ‘The Cool District’ complete with a Mobile Suit Gundam Statue. How many other places have a statue of Santa holding a giant butt plug too. (This isn’t a joke either).

Insider tip: one of the coolest coffeeshops in the Netherlands I went to was in Rotterdam – The Reef . If you’re interested, of course.

There are so many weird and funky buildings in this city that some areas feel like open-air modern art museums. Staying in a cool hostel in Rotterdam is also a great way to appreciate this.

The Cube Houses and Market Hall are worth a visit and De Rotterdam hotel is probably the most interesting skyscraper in the city. Photographers will really enjoy visiting the Netherlands Photo Museum as well.

Walk across the iconic Erasmusbrug bridge and then head for Katendrecht . This former industrial area once hosted derelict warehouses; now they’re all been converted into breweries, food halls, and music venues.

Try as it might, Rotterdam doesn’t have the same spark. Business and trade are its primary focuses and the port, once the busiest in the world, is the centre of the city. 

Beyond the architecture, you’ll have to search a bit for things to do in Rotterdam. Though it does make a great base to get off the beaten path in the Netherlands a little. Take a day trip to nearby Delft – or Belgium, if you wanna stretch it a bit further.

Visiting The Hague

The Hague or Den Haag in Dutch (that’s useful to know for the signs) is the administrative and royal capital of The Netherlands. It is the home of the International Court of Justice and the royal family.

It is, altogether, a very quintessentially Dutch city. You’ll find antique royalist buildings lined by streaming canals and plenty of peaceful spaces to soak it all in.

The Mauritshuis (Dutch art) is one of the best places to visit in The Hague. You’ll see famous artwork from Rembrant and cast your eyes on the Girl with the Pearl Earring. 

The Binnenhof is a gorgeous row of buildings set against a man-made lake; photographers will love to shoot this spot. There are lots of excellent museums in The Hague as well, like the Gemeentemuseum (modern art) and the Panorama Mesdag. 

The Madurodam miniature museum, though kitschy and touristy as hell, is also fun. It features a series of historical sites in The Netherlands built at 1:25 scale. If you ever had a Godzilla fantasy, then this would be the place to do it. (Don’t go full Godzilla.)

Another thing that makes Den Haag a fabulous place to visit in the Netherlands is the beach. The beautiful seaside town of Scheveningen can be reached by bike in 20 minutes. Especially in summer, you’ll find huge crowds of people in very high spirits.

It’s a very different experience in the winter and the summer. Stretch your legs in the sand dunes, take an ice cream, and – if you’re feeling brave – go for a dip in the North Sea.

Visiting Utrecht

Utrecht is one of The Netherlands’s best-kept secrets. This university mini-city is like Amsterdam’s cooler, younger sibling. 

You’ll still find the typical dutch setting of postcard buildings, reflecting their image back in the canal waters. But there’s one major difference: there are barely any tourists.  

Locals and backpackers think very fondly of Utrecht. It’s full of hidden gems that you can bounce around.

The central attraction in Utrecht is the imposing Dom Tower . This is a good place to orient yourself. Around this tower are lots of quaint craft stores and cafes to find unique trinkets.

The main canal, Oudegracht, runs right through the heart of the city. Unlike the canals of Amsterdam, this waterway still has its original cellars on the banks, historically, used for storing goods being transported along the river.

Nowadays, the cellars host super charming waterfront restaurants and cafes. If you like live music, head for ‘t Oude Pothuys along the canal.

But the best place in Utrecht has to be the Belgisch Biercafe Olivier. Not only does it have a FANTASTIC beer selection but it also has a fascinating story to go along with it. 

Thanks to the students, the city feels young and vibrant. Nights are usually happening and there is a lot of good energy around. There are quite a few awesome hostels in Utrecht , making it a great spot for budget backpackers too.

Visiting Maastricht

Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in The Netherlands and probably one of the most lowkey. Far fewer tourists and an easygoing local attitude make Maastricht a very easy place to explore.

There’s lots of old, medieval and Roman architecture to see and no sense of urgency. People call Maastricht one of the most beautiful places to visit in The Netherlands. You can get yourself stuck here for more than a couple of days.

The most noteworthy structure in town is the St Servaas Church in the centre of town. The Basilica of Our Lady , with its distinct, monolithic facade, is also worth visiting and can be reached by walking from St Servaas.

Aside from these usual attractions, there are a couple of other things to do in Maastricht. The city is famous for its 13th-century caverns that were used for shelter during bombing runs. Further outside the city, you’ll also find the highest mountain in The Netherlands, Vaalserberg , a staggering 322 meters high.

Visiting Hoge Veluwe National Park

Ah the great outdoors! In The Netherlands! 

Yes, there are things to do in The Netherlands that don’t involve brown bars or getting baked in coffee shops. You can get high here the old fashioned way: in the woods and nature of Holland’s largest national park .

Hoge Veluwe is located smack bang in the middle of the country. It is fairly large and actually features quite a few varied landscapes including forests, sand dunes, and meadows. It isn’t the Alps, by any means, but it is still charming in its own special way.

Most people explore Hoge Veluwe by bike through the extensive system of trails. There are several bike stations throughout the park where you can pick up a set of wheels. The entrance ticket allows you to rent these for free.

One of the coolest parts of Hoge Veluwe is the Kröller-Müller Museum . This museum, located inside the park, hosts one of the largest collections of Van Gogh in the world, including the lauded “Gates of Eternity” piece. Given Van Gogh’s interest in landscapes later in life, a national park seems an appropriate place to preserve his work.

Architecture buffs should also visit the old residence of Jachthuis Sint Hubertus inside the park. The opulent building puts most lakeside mansions to shame.

There are a couple of ways to enter Hoge Veluwe. The most convenient way is via the small town of Arnhem . Arnhem is a cool little spot for accommodation options for those who want to stick around. Also, there’s a great pub called Sugar Hill that makes a bomb burger.

Visiting Groningen

Groningen, the largest Dutch city in the north, is kinda ‘far’ in Netherlands terms. If you only have a shorter time for a backpacking itinerary in the Netherlands, you might not think to go to Groningen. 

It’s about 2 hours north of Amsterdam. For this reason, few tourists actually make it this far. But their loss is our gain.

It’s not actually within Holland either. Aside from feeling much more local, Groningen has a sizable student population and a pretty damn good nightlife as well.

The most prominent landmark in Groningen is the Martini Belltower (like the drink), in Grote Markt . Go and ask for it shaken, not stirred, and try and look original. Spoiler alert: you won’t look original. 

While Gronigen is a pretty city to walk around, complete with all the usual Dutch hallmarks like canals and boathouses, it really stands out after hours. There are some very cool bars in Groningen and Dutch students come here for the weekend to get their kicks.

Check out the best bars in Groningen: Groote Griet, Kleine Griet, and De Drie Gezusters . The holy trinity will bring you to your knees – probably in a bathroom stall, bent over a toilet. They are big, they are rowdy, AND they’re all connected access to one means access to all 3. 

Football fans will also appreciate that Groningen has a team, the launching point of Luis Suarez’s career. (No ear jokes).

If you have the chance, make a day trip to Giethoorn from Groningen. This is a tiny little village with tiny canals and tiny little homes. It’s like if everyone in Hobbiton owned a boat and built a moat.

Getting off the Beaten Path in The Netherlands

The Netherlands is a damn small country. Half an hour in any direction means you’re already travelling off the beaten path . 

Public transport is world-class. Bike lanes are world- leading . There’s really no excuse to not stretch your legs a bit. 

Just about everywhere in The Netherlands is a day trip away from Amsterdam. This is, after all, a very small country in Europe. So make the most of this great opportunity to go where most people don’t bother.

• Haarlem – A beautiful Medieval town, close to Amsterdam. Features a very impressive Gothic Church and square – good for afternoon beers. Saturdays are the local Grote Markt.
• Leiden – Birthplace of Rembrandt. A windmill stands in the middle of a park side canal. Lots of natural history museums. Leiden is a bit further from Amsterdam but makes a good stop on your way to Den Haag.
• Noordwijk – I couldn’t go without a shoutout to this special place. Home to the best hostel in Europe .
• Gouda – I went with no expectations and ended up meeting cool locals who invited me to a party. There’s nothing here – but there are cool people.
• Kinderdijk – Windmills, tulip fields, bicycles, canals; the only thing missing from this postcard Dutch town is a tap dancer in wooden clogs. A good day trip from Amsterdam for travel photos.
• Lisse – Home to the Keukenhof Gardens. You’re going to see tulips everywhere in mid-April, but Keukenhof is la creme de la creme. It’s only open in the spring when the flowers are in bloom. 
• Alkmaar – The so-called “cheese capital of Holland.” Come here if you fancy a bit of cheese mongering and stealth farts.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

When you’re backpacking the Netherlands, you should always encourage yourself out of your comfort zone a bit. By doing so, you’re opening the door to all the best experiences.

Here are some of the best things to do in The Netherlands.

1. Ride a bike

Yes, you have to ride a bike when you visit The Netherlands. You will look a fool at first, but it is mandatory. Fly around the canals of Amsterdam or the great outdoors of Hoge Veluwe National Park.

2. Go to a coffee shop

Stoners – coming to chill – with other stoners. Whether you’re solo travelling in the Netherlands or with companions, these places are magic. There’s nowhere in the world so social, like coffeeshops.

I mean, maybe you’re not into the devil’s lettuce. That’s cool. You can straight pass on this one.

But maybe you’re curious? 😉 Where better than The Netherlands to try it out?

3. Attend a Dutch festival

The Dutch host some of the best festivals in the world . From the national holiday of King’s Day to gay pride, these people know how to celebrate better than anyone else. It’s not just a top thing to do in The Netherlands – but your life.

4. See the tulips

Yes, it’s your typical tourist picture: you go to The Netherlands in April/early May to catch the tulip season. But do you know why it’s so popular? Because it’s amazing!

There are many tulip gardens to see: Keukenhof Gardens are the most famous. You may think it’s a bit touristy for you but, honestly, I was so impressed that I’m recommending it here!

If you’re really on a budget, you can head further afield (this is where the bike is useful, again) and find tulips everywhere.

5. Go on a canal cruise

You can walk or ride around The Netherlands all you like. But you’re guaranteed to see a different perspective from the water! Canal cruises teach you loads about the place you’re in, plus they know how to have a good time in the process.

6. Getaway to Amsterdam’s more authentic neighbour: Utrecht

Yes, Amsterdam is amazing . But it’s also overflowing with tourists.

For a breath of fresh air and a more local experience, head to Dam’s little brother, Utrecht. Complete with its own canals, stunning streets, and even a mini red-light district, it’s one of those places to visit in The Netherlands that just makes you feel glad you went.

7. Kickback in Maastricht

By Dutch standards, Maastricht is on the fringe. Fewer tourists visit, locals are more idiosyncratic, and life moves at a different pace here. For a more alternative adventure in Holland, head to Maastricht and just chillax. Laze about the town, appreciate fine buildings, eat and drink when you want, and be content.

8. Eat Stroopwafel

No Netherlands travel guide is worth a damn if it doesn’t mention the gloriousness that is the stroopwafel.

A confectionery wonder, an afternoon delight, a gift from God; call the caramel waffle sandwich what you will. They are one of the best treats on the entire planet. (I’m in withdrawal from them, obviously.)

9. Visit a (few) museum(s)

Trying to figure out what to do in Amsterdam first? Going to a museum is a good place to start. These exhibitions are certainly impressive.

Learn about artists like Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gough Museum . See dead bodies preserved for science at Body Worlds . Or, my personal favourite, the NEMO Science Museum (thank me later).

10. Getaway to the Frisian Islands

The Frisians are indeed one of the more offbeat places to visit in The Netherlands. Yet, they really aren’t that hard to get to.

The gateway, Texel, can be reached by public transit from Amsterdam and the outer islands are connected by the ferry. One could conceivably island-hop as well with a good bike and the ferry!

Staying in Amsterdam while backpacking in The Netherlands is going to mean paying more for accommodation. I mean, it’s awesome but a budget trip to The Netherlands means budget backpacker accommodation – or considering staying outside Amsterdam.

I have seen dorms range from around $20 to more than $100 per bed! So as you can see… they’re gonna rip tourists off whenever they can.

Utrecht is one of my favourite places to stay in The Netherlands. It’s more low-key and less expensive than Amsterdam. There are plenty of cool hostels in Utrecht as well.

You could stay in Rotterdam or The Hague. You’ll probably be making day trips out of here to liven up your Holland itinerary though. 

Hostels in The Netherlands are sweet. Really, I can’t stress how much fun is going on in these places.

Amsterdam’s hostel scene is bouncing. Some, like Generator Amsterdam or WOW Amsterdam , are super modern; others, like Strowis Hostel in Utrecht, are more rustic and ooze character. I like my Dutch hostels like my Dutch bars : the browner, the better. The old skool way.

I have to give a shoutout here to a special place – The Flying Pig Beach Hostel in Noordwijk . Although this hostel has been a victim of the pandemic and is no longer the bouncing party hostel it used to be, there is still magic in the walls.

It’s easily the best hostel in Europe that I’ve been to, where I met people who changed my life. This place has become  home for many people and it alone is a reason to visit The Netherlands.

If you have a little extra cash and value more privacy, there is an amazing selection of Airbnbs in The Netherlands ! The problem is – because they’re so awesome – they’re often amazingly expensive too.  

Personally, I’d avoid hotels if possible. Most are sterile, inconveniently located, overpriced, and not really social.

Couchsurfing is also a good option when backpacking in The Netherlands. Dutch people are pretty open when it comes to sharing their personal space with others. There’s sometimes a beer in the fridge too.

The Best Places to Stay in The Netherlands

This is a tough one because there are so many amazing places to stay in The Netherlands! But here are some places to put on your hit list.

Look, no beating around the bush: The Netherlands is expensive. There are a few reasons for this but the main reason is because people love it. Accommodation, food, tours, even just using a toilet can cost you more than it would in most places.

The Netherlands is one of the more expensive European countries, especially Amsterdam can be especially expensive as well. But for those with good spending habits, The Netherlands can still be an affordable place to visit.

A low-medium daily budget is $50 – $70 USD. This will get you a bed in a hostel, a few drinks, cooking at home, some transport, and some sensible tourism activities. By ‘sensible tourism activities’ I mean maybe the odd museum or canal ride – they can cost you around $20+ a pop. 

Everywhere can always be done on a budget – and the Netherlands is no exception. Seasoned broke backpackers can install their usual budget travel tactics . Prepare your own food, volunteer, get a bike instead of using public transport – these are all killer starter moves.

Eating out in The Netherlands is expensive. Cooking at home is too but it’s considerably cheaper. Too Good To Go is one of the best travel apps to get discount food that would otherwise be thrown away.

I love how efficient the trains are but the buses are cheaper. You can get different types of public transport passes in the Netherlands to save money. You could also rent a bike for longer periods – which can be cheaper than renting for a day, starting around $12.

You can find cheaper hostels in the Netherlands, with a keen eye, for around $20. Camping is a cheaper option, and really fun, but you need to prepare for wet weather. Couchsurfing is the ultimate cheapskate hack.

Fun might it be, partying in the Netherlands is pricey . Drinking out is expensive and drugs are more expensive. Get the party started with cheap(er) drinks at the supermarket.

Listen, there are barely any ‘free’ things to do in the Netherlands. You’ll have to really keep your eyes peeled for free things to do because they really are few and far between.

So if you have a tight budget, choose your attractions wisely. You can buy an Amsterdam pass to get unlimited entries.

A Daily Budget in the Netherlands

Here’s a little run down of how a daily budget for travelling The Netherlands can look:

Money in the Netherlands

The Netherlands uses the Euro as currency. It’s perfect to interchange between other Eurozone countries. 

Find out how much your money is worth today by using the up-to-date converter below.

So it’s pretty easy to work with. It’s basically 1:1.

ATMs are everywhere, though watch out for the ones that have hidden charges attached. Always extract money in your own currency to avoid conversion rates and make sure you have a good grasp on your travel banking before you go. 

Travelling in the Netherlands can be completely cashless. I have had many trips only carrying my credit card. Almost everywhere accepts Visa and MasterCard now as a minimum. 

You can take cash and exchange it. Though expect to get ripped off at exchange stores.

For all matters of finance and accounting on the road, The Broke Backpacker strongly recommends Wise – The Artist Formerly Known as Transferwise! Our favourite online platform for holding funds, transferring money, and even paying for goods, Wise is a 100% FREE platform with considerably lower fees than Paypal or traditional banks.

But the real question is… is it better than Western Union? Yes, it most certainly is.

Travel Tips – The Netherlands on a Budget

Travelling to the Netherlands on a budget? Here are some ways to cut the costs of a trip with a few handy travel tips:

• Try Couchsurfing – How’s a free bed sound? Finding a place to crash isn’t always easy but when you do score one, it’s a sweet deal. Hosts are friendly and show you a different side of the country.
• Sleep outside of Amsterdam – Amsterdam is fun, but it ain’t cheap. You can find a cheaper stay in neighbouring towns, like Utrecht or Haarlem, and then make day trips to the capital.
• Camping – Camping is a budget backpacker’s best buddy. You’ll just need a good backpacking tent to stand the (terribly) wet climate here. 
• Shop around to rent a bike – Don’t just rent from the first one you go to, ask around a few places and ask for the best deals. When you have your trusty travel companion, The Netherlands is your oyster. 
• Cook your own food – It’s budget backpacking 101. Cooking at home is cheaper than eating out. If you are without a kitchen, invest in a portable camping stove .
• Find cheap flights – A wiseman once said “Only suckers pay full price”. Use apps like Skyscanner to find cheap plane tickets. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is one of the biggest in Europe so you’re already off to a good start. 
• Volunteer – Volunteering in The Netherlands is a great way to get a free bed and discounted food. Plus, people leave stuff all the time : food, clothes, electronics, weed … Yay for free stuff. 
• Use a refillable water bottle – Is there ever a reason to buy a plastic water bottle in The Netherlands? Dutch tap water is perfectly fine to drink. So bring a good trav el water bottle with you and go nuts.

Why Should You Travel to the Netherlands with a Water Bottle?

I know I’m not alone with my heartbreak of seeing the world covered in single-use plastic. Fortunately, The Netherlands is well equipped to help you reduce your consumption with the right tools.

You aren’t going to save the world overnight, but you can be part of the solution. With a reusable water bottle, you’re already making a huge difference. It’s one step closer to being a more responsible traveller .

Plus, now you won’t be buying overpriced bottles of water from the supermarkets either! Travel with a filtered water bottle instead and never waste a cent nor a turtle’s life again.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

This is Northern Europe. The Netherlands is not exactly known for its warm weather. The rain is a bit warmer in the summer than the winter.

The winters are pretty dark and grey. It doesn’t really snow much here either, especially on the west side. 

Summers have more consistent warm days. And when you get good days, everyone knows exactly what to do to make the most of it. The days are damn long with around 17 hours of daylight at the summer solstice. 

Although it’s not exactly consistent, especially now with global warming, around June you will start to see more summery weather. On those rare hot days , the beaches and parks stack out with people having a good time. Top Dutch festivals are in full swing and energies are high. 

Though, with this happy-go-lucky period comes skyrocketing prices. So if you’re really on a budget, avoid this time. 

April also gets pretty busy with Tulip Season. Book in advance for tulip gardens to avoid disappointment. 

27th of April is King’s Day : the holiday of Dutch pride. This is also one of the biggest celebrations of the year – particularly in Amsterdam. If you want to experience it, you’ll have a good time – you’ll just have to pay higher prices.

The shoulder months are the best time to travel to the Netherlands, generally. May and September see fewer tourists but have pretty reliably good weather too. 

It’s worth seeing if you can time your trip to the Netherlands with a festival too. Summer and Christmas time see the most activity. 

My favourite festival in the Netherlands the world is Gay Pride at the end of July. The best celebration, not just for the LGBTQIA+ community but for everyone.

What to Pack for the Netherlands

On every adventure, there are six things I always have on my backpacking packing list :

Osprey Aether 70L Backpack

Ya can’t go backpacking anywhere without a blasted backpack! Words cannot describe what a friend the Osprey Aether has been to The Broke Backpacker on the road. It’s had a long and illustrious career; Ospreys don’t go down easily.

Feathered Friends Swift 20 YF

My philosophy is that with an EPIC sleeping bag, you can sleep anywhere. A tent is a nice bonus, but a real sleek sleeping bag means you can roll out anywhere in a and stay warm in a pinch. And the Feathered Friends Swift bag is about as premium as it gets.

Grayl Geopress Filtered Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator – so you can enjoy a cold red bull, or a hot coffee, no matter where you are.

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

Every traveller should have a head torch! A decent head torch could save your life. When you’re camping, hiking, or even if the power just went out, a top-quality headlamp is a MUST. The Petzl Actik Core is an awesome piece of kit because it’s USB chargeable—batteries begone!

First Aid Kit

Never go off the beaten track (or even on it) without your first aid kit! Cuts, bruises, scrapes, third-degree sunburn: a first aid kit will be able to handle most of these minor situations.

As a whole, the Netherlands is a really safe country . Crime rates are pretty low and people are generally trustworthy. If you’re following normal travel safety routines , you should have no problem while visiting The Netherlands. 

Your biggest concern is probably bike theft which is extremely common nationwide. Do not leave your bike – even for a minute – unattended and unlocked… unless you want to make it disappear. Bike thieves are professionals in The Netherlands. 

Of course, accidents happen on bikes too. Be careful when using bike lanes, especially close to the roads. Be respectful to other people. 

Staying safe in Amsterdam is easy enough. Though the capital city sees the highest crime rate in the country, they’re mostly petty by nature: pickpocketing, bike thefts, and the likes. I’ve never had a stiff of trouble. 

I have heard reports of people having bad experiences when buying drugs off the streets, though. If you’re walking into dark alleys with a fat stack of cash looking to score, you couldn’t really be more vulnerable. It’s better to ask a friend or one of the hostel staff where the best place to buy is, rather than scouting out yourself. 

Other, larger Dutch cities are not completely immune to crime. Stay vigilant, especially in heavily-trafficked places and on public transport. 

Finally, trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, feel free to take yourself away from it. With that, you should have a perfectly safe visit to the Netherlands.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll in the Netherlands

For many travellers, this is the reason for visiting The Netherlands in the first place. Legends of coffeeshops, red-light districts, and warehouse parties have circulated worldwide.

There is validity to these tall tales. 

Let’s start with the weed: you already know that it’s legal. It’s the biggest seller of drug tourism in The Netherlands. It comes, wonderfully cultivated, with a selection big enough for a full menu. 

Weed is sold in coffeeshops. There are different types of coffeeshops but, generally, it’s a place where you can buy, smoke, drink (sometimes alcoholic but mostly not), and socialise – in a whole manner of ways. 

Some have snooker tables, board games, old arcade games, and some even play films. So as you can tell, Coffeeshops are one of the best ways to meet people or even find a travel buddy . They’re awesome for solo travellers in the Netherlands. 

Most people drink alcohol in the Netherlands. You could spit and hit a bar pretty much anywhere. I’m not gonna delve into more than that.

Truffles and mushrooms are legal in The Netherlands. You can buy them in smartshops . These stores are a fun place to shop around. 

Other drugs are generally accepted in The Netherlands, although still technically illegal. Unless you’re caught with a narco-level amount of drugs, most police will look the other way. 

Pay particular attention to MDMA and pills in The Netherlands. You’ll probably find the strongest ecstasy here than anywhere else in the world, so please be extra careful. You can get drugs tested anonymously at Jellinek or GGD Amsterdam drug testing services if you have any doubts.

Prostitution in The Netherlands

The red light district of Amsterdam ‘s reputation precedes it. Actually, most big cities in The Netherlands have red light districts, though they are much more discreet. The Dutch’s incredibly open-minded attitude towards prostitution makes it arguably the safest country in the world for sex tourism. 

It works because it follows strict rules such as prostitutes must be over 21 years old, attend regular health checks, and pay tax. They are actually pretty well looked after. 

If you’re into it, paying a visit through the doors is one of the most unique things to do in Amsterdam . Though if you have high expectations, you could end up paying an absolute bomb. 

I’ve heard reports of people paying €700 for less than 10 minutes. If you’re a bit of a smooth talker, don’t look like an absolute tourist, or a regular, you’ll likely get a better price.

There are strict rules regarding prostitution in The Netherlands. This is to protect the workers – so BE RESPECTFUL . Notice the caps and bold letters there…

Here are some simple rules to follow whether you’re taking part or just observing. 

• NEVER take photos or videos of the workers. No excuses. 
• You must be at least 18 years old to use the services. 
• You can haggle a bit, but don’t take the piss. 
• No means no. 
• Choose your words carefully. Make sure you know what you’re paying for. 

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting The Netherlands

You can’t plan for everything when you’re travelling. But having good travel insurance is a good start.

I use SafetyWing and made a few claims over the years. They’re easy to use, professional and relatively affordable. They may also let you buy or extend a policy once you’ve started your trip and are already abroad.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

There are three ways to enter The Netherlands: land, sea, or air. Most will arrive in The Netherlands via the third option.  

Schiphol Airport is the largest airport in the country and it’s technically Amsterdam. The rest of the country is so accessible that most people use this airport, even if they are not going to Amsterdam.

Eindhoven is the second busiest airport in the country and is served mostly by budget carriers like Ryanair and Wizzair. This means you can find some damn good deals if you’re flying to The Netherlands from anywhere else in Europe.

You can travel to the Netherlands overland by bus, train, or car. Buses are the cheapest way of travelling around Europe but not the most reliable. 

Travelling to the Netherlands by train is my favourite way. They are arguably the most sustainable travel option too. If you’re backpacking around Europe, and like the idea of using the train, you can get a European rail pass to save money. 

It is possible to travel to The Netherlands by ferry from several UK ports: Kingston, Newcastle, and Harwich. It’s great to take your car to Europe. Though if you’re just a passenger, it’s probably more convenient to fly.

Entry Requirements for The Netherlands

The Netherlands is a part of the Schengen Zone , which is a part of the European Union. That’s the group of countries that first spring to mind when you’re talking about backpacking Europe: Italy, Spain, France, etc.

Most nationalities can enter the Schengen Zone, visa-free, for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days . You get an entry stamp from the first port you used to enter the Schengen Zone and then an exit stamp from the country you leave the Schengen Zone from. The system is very convenient.

Not every nationality applies for this visa-free regime within the Schengen Zone. If you use a passport from any of these countries, you will need to apply for a visa beforehand to visit The Netherlands.

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The Netherlands is a very small country and, consequently, is very easy to get around. You could travel by train from one end of the country to the other, in around 6 hours. This makes backpacking The Netherlands very convenient to explore as you can stay just about anywhere and not be too far away from anything.

The Netherlands benefits from a very efficient public transport system. Using a combination of buses, trains, and trams, you can travel just about anywhere. If all of those should fail, there’s never a bike to rent too far away.

All the major cities in The Netherlands have a bus and/or tram network. The ticketing system is convenient: you can buy singles or day/weekly passes. Plus, almost everywhere in the country uses the OV-chipkaart . The card itself costs around 7.50 euro and you charge it with funds. Fares vary depending on the route.

Trains are usually used to travel longer distances in The Netherlands. They are very quick and efficient.

Given the small size of the country, you could easily stay in the likes of Amsterdam or anywhere central as a base to see the rest of the country. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s definitetly the fastest. Look into buying a  Eurorail Pass if you plan on using the train often.

If you’re backpacking in The Netherlands and find the train too expensive, the larger, main-liner buses are usually very affordable. They do take longer to arrive at their destination though. Use Flixbus to check for prices.

Prepare to pay an arm and a leg for taxis. Uber is in The Netherlands but, again, it’s still expensive. For travelling between cities, try using Blablacar .

Have you really backpacked the Netherlands if you didn’t ride a bike? Get around the Dutch cities, fly between towns, explore all the natural spaces: having a bike is very convenient.

Rentals usually start at around 10 euro/day but keep your eyes peeled for weekly/monthly deals. If you wanted to visit ALL of The Netherlands by bike, then Al Gore would be very happy with you.

Unless you’re really hell bent on the freedom of the road, I wouldn’t suggest renting a car in Holland. Tolls and parking are high, traffic is bad in the cities, and fuel is expensive. Otherwise, you can usually find good prices on rentalcars.com .

Hitchhiking in the Netherlands

Dutch people are very nice when it comes to lending a ride. They ought to be too: do you know how many Dutch people I’ve seen hitching rides across the globe?! It’s only fair that they return the favour in their own country.

Hitchhiking in The Netherlands is straight out of a textbook. Simply stand in the right place, have a sign, hold out your thumb, and wait. You should score a ride in less than an hour although people usually find success in more like 15 minutes.

When it comes to being a successful hitcher , the key is choosing the right spot to throw out your thumb. Busy town centres and highways are not a good place to find a ride.

Motorway turnpikes and gas stations – now we’re talking. These latter options are a hitchhiker’s prime territory.

Be aware that some gas station managers prefer that you stand in a certain place when hitching so as not to bother the customers too much. On the rare occasion, you may get a dick who tells you to piss off – forget that guy.

Onwards Travel from the Netherlands

Step up and take your pick folks: there are lots of countries to head to next after wrapping your holiday in Holland. The rest of Europe is super accessible.

If you’re heading out of the continent, lucky you! Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is one of the best places in Europe to do that from.

If you’re looking to stay close by, here are some great choices:

• Travel to Belgium – My guiltiest of pleasure holidays, the place I go to drown my sorrows in endless beer and fried potatoes. Give me a tripel and pot of mussels and I’ll take miserable weather any day. Ghent is my favourite Belgium town.
• Travel to Germany – Similar to The Netherlands though more tight-collared. Direct trains from Amsterdam to major German cities are regular. Go to Hamburg if possible; now that’s an awesome German experience.
• Travel to the UK – English Channel be damned! Getting between the Netherlands and the UK is one of the easiest journeys in the world. Take the Eurostar via the underwater Channel Tunnel or catch a cheap (and very fast) flight. You also have the ferry (perfect for taking your car).

So you want to stay in The Netherlands long-term and maybe work while you’re there. So does everyone else!

The Netherlands offers some of the highest standards of living in the world and a government that is very supportive of the startup culture. Living here could be a dream destination for digital nomads ; you just need to be able to pay for everything.

The Netherlands is not a cheap place to live in, not by a long shot. If you want to have your own apartment, you’ll need to be making quite a bit on your own at least or be employed by a local company.

If you fall into the former category and want to stay longer in The Netherlands, there are ways to acquire residency . Of course, residents of the EU are free to come and go as they please. Non-EU residents will have some loops to jump through.

For most backpackers, the most common way of staying in The Netherlands longer is by volunteering somewhere.

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

Volunteering in The Netherlands

Backpackers can spend long periods of time volunteering in an awesome place without spending any money. Meaningful life and travel experiences are rooted in stepping out of your comfort zone and into the world of a purposeful project.

Most of the opportunities you’ll find are in hospitality, where you’ll usually receive free accommodation and a meal in return for your time. More unique opportunities include assisting in holistic centres and helping out on eco-projects.

Officially, you can’t volunteer off a tourist visa in the Netherlands. Non-EU/EEA citizens will probably need to apply for the appropriate permit before arriving. 

Volunteering is an amazing way to experience a culture whilst helping your host community. Though be careful as many big companies in the Netherlands also abuse this for cheap or free labour.

If you want to find volunteering opportunities in the Netherlands, I recommend that you Signup for Worldpackers –  a volunteer platform that connects local hosts directly with travelling volunteers. As a Broke Backpacker reader, you’ll also get a special discount of $10 when you sign up. Just use the discount code BROKEBACKPACKER and your membership is discounted from $49 a year to only $39.

Volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers are usually very well-managed. However, whenever you are volunteering, do stay vigilant, especially when working with animals or children.

Worldpackers: connecting travellers with  meaningful travel experiences.

Dutch people are some of my favourites in the world. They’re loyal, good-natured, lovable, hilarious, and sometimes completely lacking in filters.

Almost every hostel has some gorgeous Dutch person doing something strange and totally oblivious to their own behaviour. I think of them fondly.

Physically, the Dutch are often true to their stereotypes. Yes, everyone here is a giant. I’m 5 foot and a bit… I know when I arrived in the Netherlands simply because my neck hurts from looking up at everyone.

Though the Netherlands is one of those amazing places that has a full rainbow of colours, races, and cultures. Don’t be surprised to see a huge range.

The Dutch tend to be pretty lean as well. Maybe that’s thanks to all the bike riding.

When travelling to The Netherlands, I highly recommend speaking with the locals. They’re friendlier than other Europeans and they welcome awkward approaches and conversations. At the end of the day, the Dutch are so nice that most should indulge you, at least a bit.

Useful Travel Phrases for The Netherlands

Dutch can sound funny. I always think they sound like the characters from that computer game the Sims – chatting a series of slurs and nonsense.

Luckily, just about everyone speaks English in the Netherlands. Only in the most remote corners of the countryside will you be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t speak English.

If you wanted to impress the locals though and have a good laugh, knowing a few Dutch phrases might be worthwhile. You may not need to know anything to order a coffee but trying to say “Lientje leerde Lotje lopen langs de lange Lindenlaan” five-times fast in a bar is sure to earn you some friends.

• Tot ziens  – See you later
• Alsjeblieft  – Please
• Dank ja wel  – Thank you
• Lekker – literally translates to ‘tasty’ but used like cool/great/awesome
• Je lult uit je nek  – Stop dicking out your neck (talking bullshit)
• Hallo – hello
• Eet smakelijk – Enjoy your meal
• Goedemorgen – Good Morning
• Klootzak  – Asshole
• Nu komt de aap uit de mouw  – Now the monkey comes out the sleeve

What to Eat in The Netherlands

The Netherlands isn’t exactly a culinary paradise. You can find good food here but you have to look and be willing to pay more.

Traditional Dutch food is hearty and sometimes a little simple. Being a dairy-based culture, cheese and butter are common, especially for breakfast.

Like their German neighbours, rich bread and sausages are also staples of the diet. Rounding everything out is a lot of potato-based dishes and cooked vegetables.

Being so coastal, fish is also very common. You’ll see it fried, smoked, cured, or (their favourite) raw.

One thing that the Dutch excel in is munchies . If you don’t know what munchies are, they’re the type of small, unsubstantial foods you crave more than anything when you’re absolutely baked like a potato. I’m talking biscuits, chocolate, crisps, cereal, little fried things you don’t know the name of… you know, all crap, but all amazing.

Then the king of munchies: the stroopwafel – a waffle sandwich with syrup or jam. You can buy them in the shop or go the real deal and get those freshly made ones you’ll see at food carts.

Of course, there are plenty of international restaurants around. Indonesian food is particularly popular as the country was once a part of the Dutch Empire. The ubiquitous kebab can also be found everywhere.

When eating out, it is customary to split the check evenly among friends. This is called “Going Dutch” on the bill.

Must-Try Dishes in The Netherlands

Here are some other worthwhile Dutch dishes:

• Bitterballen – Deep fried stuffed meatballs
• Stamppot – Mashed potatoes w/ trimmings
• Hollandse Nieuwe – Dutch raw Herring (for the curious souls)
• Gouda – The cheese that goes with everything
• Dutch Pancakes (Poffertjes) – shut up and take my money
• Kroket – Dutch croquettes
• *Hagelslag – Sandwich w/ confectionery sprinkles

*Listen, hagelslag is like chocolate sprinkles that the Dutch love on toast – like breakfast. If you’re not Dutch, it’s weird as. Though when you try it, you can’t say it’s half bad.

A Brief History of the Netherlands

For much of recorded European history, The Netherlands didn’t play an enormous part. From antiquity all the way up until the 16th century, Holland and its people were mostly vassals of other larger, European powers. The Romans, Franks, Holy Roman Empire, and even the Spanish, have occupied current-day Holland and governed it.

It wasn’t until the Eighty Years War, also known as the Dutch Revolt, that The Netherlands shed the yoke of the conquered and became a separate political entity. At the time they, as well as Belgium and Luxembourg, were ruled by the Hapsburgs of Spain.

FUN FACT : Willem van Oranje was the champion of the revolt and founded the first Dutch Royal House. The colour of his original family seal, orange, would go on to become the official colour of the new royal house as well. (See King’s Day.)

Following their independence from Spain, The Netherlands joined the conquer and power phase. During the Age of Exploration they even gave the English a run for their money. At its height, The Dutch Empire had control over Indonesia (then the East Indies), Taiwan, and South Africa, as well as large parts of India, the Carribbean, and New England.

Eventually, The Netherlands would get caught up in the imperial power struggles that gripped Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Napoleon came and went, the UK became the world’s superpower, and Prussia became a European juggernaut. The Netherlands managed to avoid the worst of World War I but got beaten badly by the Nazis in World War II.

In the end, The Netherlands managed to survive some of the most tumultuous years of European history. Now, Holland is one of the most prosperous nations in the EU: its economy is advanced, the government quite liberal, and people seemingly happy.

Backpacking The Netherlands is like no other country. You’re treated to a tiny country, with a world of possibilities.

Cycling in The Netherlands

No Netherlands travel guide would be complete without banging on about getting about cycling excessively. That’s because the Netherlands is the best country in the world for cycling .

Actually, cyclists have priority over cars and even pedestrians on the roads. Bike lanes are more common than footpaths and they take incredibly beautiful routes throughout the country.

Plus, of course, it’s almost perfectly flat. So even if you’re not the fittest person, it’s easy to get around.

Marijuana in the Netherlands

The laws about weed in the Netherlands are arguably the most relaxed in the world. Whether you smoke or not, you can’t really miss it: weed is one of the biggest tourist attractions.

Coffeeshops are dotted throughout the country. They’re the place to buy and consume. Go explore down the rabbit hole – I will say no more. 

The rules in coffeeshops are pretty simple: you have to be over 18 and if you’re staying to smoke, you have to buy a drink. The system works and millions of tourists flock to the country every year to enjoy the flower without fear of breaking any rules. 

Technically, it’s illegal to smoke in public spaces. Although people still do, they’re generally respectful of how they do it which is why it’s so highly tolerated. So if you’re wanting a nice joint for the sunset, same rules apply and you shouldn’t have any trouble. 

Many accommodations won’t let you smoke there. Others have a designated smoking area. In the Netherlands, you can sometimes get away with asking for forgiveness rather than permission. 😉

Just be aware, the weed is much stronger than you’ll find in most countries. You’ll see all kinds of variations and strengths. If you go in, all guns blazing, you’ll join the thousands of other billy big bollocks, throwing a whitey before your coffee even arrives. 

Take your time, ask questions when you’re buying, and light it up, bro.

Is the Netherlands expensive to visit?

Yes. It absolutely is. It’s the biggest downside to travelling in the Netherlands now. Although, with all your best broke backpacker travel tips, you can make it as cheap as anywhere else in the world. 

How do I not look like a tourist in Amsterdam?

Good luck – almost everyone you see looks like a tourist in Amsterdam. Have a rough idea of where you’re going. Don’t look at maps every 5 minutes. If you can navigate your way around on a bike you’re onto a real winner. 

What is the best month to go backpacking in the Netherlands?

May or September are good times. In these months, you’ll have pretty good weather and you’ll miss the wave of tourists from tulip, summer, and Christmas seasons.

Is it OK to speak English while travelling the Netherlands?

Absolutely! English is pretty much the business language in The Netherlands. Everyone speaks it. Sometimes you’ll struggle to find someone who speaks Dutch.

What do I need to buy weed in the Netherlands?

You just need to be 18 years old. They will often ask you to prove this too (if you’re lucky). Don’t take offence if they ask you; it’s important that they keep their licence to sell weed.

If you haven’t realised by now in this travel guide, backpacking in the Netherlands is awesome . Free-spiritedness is encouraged, consciousness is high, and you don’t have to take life too seriously. Damn, I love this place. 

Mysterious stories of a mystical place, the reputation of The Netherlands stands proud. But beyond the debauchery, it’s one of the most relaxed and beautiful places to add to a European travel itinerary.

I can’t exaggerate how much backpacking The Netherlands changed my life, several times over. The same could very well happen to you.

There are so many amazing things to do in the Netherlands. But with all this hype, just remember to watch your bank balance while you’re having fun. One night down the red light district could mean the end of your trip – if you’re not careful. 

The Dutch people are always down for a good time. That attitude is contagious. Everyone backpacking through the Netherlands seems down for a ball too. 

Do you know what that means? All-round good times. 

Just make sure you look both ways, at least twice, before you cross the roads. Those bikes pop up out of nowhere.

So book that trip. Don’t even think twice. You won’t regret it for a second. 

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20 things that you need to know before you travel in the Netherlands by a Dutch resident

February 29, 2020 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

I’m officially celebrating my arrival in the Netherlands over four years ago this week!  As someone who’s visited the Netherlands as a tourist and is now trying to assimilate by becoming fluent in Dutch, I have some useful travel tips for traveling in the Netherlands for you all that I hope will make your trip to the Netherlands a little more easy.  

• 0.1 Your cards are often useless
• 0.2 Most things close earlier here
• 0.3 You can get free water IF you know what to ask
• 0.4 Toilets aren’t free except if you’re a man and always have cash
• 0.5 You generally need to tap in/out on public transit & trains
• 0.6 Tulip season is only about 6-8 weeks
• 0.7 The Dutch trains
• 0.8 Carry hand sanitizer and tissues
• 0.9 Amsterdam is NOT like the rest of the Netherlands
• 0.10 Phelm (or the Dutch language)
• 1.0.1 Skip rijsttafel and head to a toko for more authentic food
• 1.0.2 Racism in the Netherlands
• 1.0.3 Zwarte Piet
• 1.1 The weather is a crapshoot of rain and clouds.  Your weather app is probably useless.
• 1.2 Tipping is not required, but nice
• 1.3 Solo female travel in the Netherlands is easier than you may realize
• 1.4 Do not walk in the bike lane
• 1.5 If you rent a bike, may the odds be ever in your favor not to crash it or have it stolen
• 1.6 Dutchies are nice, but the customer is NOT always right and you should always go to the front to pay
• 1.7 Basically everyone speaks English
• 1.8 Distance is relative
• 1.9 Directness
• 2 Anything you’d add about visiting the Netherlands? Any questions about travel in the Netherlands?

Your cards are often useless

We  love cards here, but only  one  card: Maestro.  Unless you’re lucky enough to have a Maestro debit card, you’re going to experience a lot of people refusing to take your money at smaller shops and even at major Dutch stores (such as the major Dutch supermarket Albert Heijn).

Credit cards are not popular here in the Netherlands and most people who have them rarely use them, in contrast with other countries.  It  is improving and some stores are actually going 100% cashless, however always have cash on you in case your card is not accepted.  The strange thing is even if you have a debit card, often foreign (non-European ones) debit cards do not typically work here even if they in theory work with Maestro.

Cashless is becoming more popular among Dutch shops and thanks to newer card technologies, more cards are getting accepted.  Visa is typically the most common accepted non-Dutch card here, but it’s still not accepted most of the time at shops that “accept” debit cards.  After that, you’ll find American Express occasionally, but I’d recommend leaving your Discover card at home.

What you need to do by default: carry cash .  If you’re wondering where the nearest ATM near you is, search for ABN AMRO or ING .    These are two of the biggest Dutch banks and most cities have many outdoor ATMs.  Make sure there’s money in your bank account!

Most things close earlier here

If you need to do an errand, try to do it between 10am and 5-6pm.  You’ll find some shops (e.g. avondwinkels ) open until midnight for shopping after the grocery stories close (9/10-12).  However, this is not Spain and most  normal businesses are closed by 6pm.   Restaurants tend to be open later until 9-10pm, however many people tend to eat earlier. Luckily, Sundays here are far better than those in Belgium when a lot of things close the entire day, however many shops and museums close on Mondays.

You can get free water IF you know what to ask

Water is tricky.   You CAN get free tap water, but you need to be very specific in saying I’d like bronwater or tap water. This is not America, so when you receive said tap water, it will probably be in the smallest cup that you’ve ever seen in your life and there’s no refills unless you ask. (Maybe I’m always quite thirsty).  Also, it’s not always ice cold.

The better move is to ask if you can have a pitcher of tap water (if you’re with a group), but you will  not  usually receive this.   If you just say water, they’ll bring you a small bottle that is non-refillable and that you’ll be charged for.  Sometimes, they outright refuse and just tell you that water is not available.

Toilets aren’t free except if you’re a man and always have cash

Besides the ones in restaurants and cafes, the toilets are  never free unless you’re a man.  Men get free urinals in many Dutch cities (although they still need to pay for the  other kind).   It feels really sexist to me.  Why do men get free urinals in public while women must always pay for the toilet!?

I recommend always having a little change to pay for the toilet.  The toilet is usually somewhere between .50 cents and one euro.  I sometimes just buy a coffee or soda to use the toilet at a cafe or McDonald’s as it’s often cleaner than some public toilets.

You generally need to tap in/out on public transit & trains

For some reason most of the trains and public transportation systems here in the Netherlands that I’ve encountered involve paying by distance.  It’s great, however it means that you need to remember to tap in  and out to ensure that you don’t invalidate your iAmsterdam card (or your OVchipkaart).

Tulip season is only about 6-8 weeks

The Dutch tulip season is only 6-8 weeks and it’s not 100% guaranteed.  A lot of people email me asking if the tulips will be in bloom during their trip to the Netherlands.  I find that mid-April is the safest time as it can be early some years (like with 2018) to see any blooms before that.  Similarly, early May is really the end of it.  If you want to see tulips during the rest of the year, consider going to the world’s largest flower warehouse (FloraHolland) or the Bloemenmarkt in Amsterdam to buy bulbs.

The Dutch trains

The Dutch trains are fantastic, so don’t be afraid to use them.  It’s a little less than five euros for a ticket from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam.  If you really want to take a cab, consider taking the train to Amsterdam before picking up a cab by Centraal.  You’ll end up saving a lot of money and you’re less likely to be ripped off by a cab as the taxis by Schiphol love ripping tourists off.

The Netherlands is small, so only twenty minutes can take you to a beautiful city nearby, such as Haarlem or Utrecht .  If you need to buy your ticket, give yourself 5-10 minutes ahead as there can be a line for the machine and there might be a long walk to the track.  Similarly,  sometimes they are delays/cancellations, so give yourself extra time (20+ minutes) if it’s something important that you must be on time for.

Carry hand sanitizer and tissues

This is a subtle one that I’ve noticed…, but many people don’t wash their hands or briefly run the water over their hands.  I suspect it’s true in winter because most Dutch public bathrooms only have cold taps, which isn’t always so nice in winter.  Always carry hand sanitizer on you for your post-bathroom hand cleaning as I find that having working soap can be a hit/miss.

Amsterdam is NOT like the rest of the Netherlands

This is a big one. As a naive Eurorailer, I visited Amsterdam for three days.  I came back home telling everyone that I had been to the Netherlands. The best analogy that I have is that you’re visiting only Chicago and you say that you’ve seen America.  I love Amsterdam, but the city center has been lost to mass tourism and hen parties . This is  not the case in other Dutch cities that you can see on a day trip from Amsterdam , including the Hague and Utrecht .

The thing is that the Netherlands is a small country with a lot of interesting regions and they’re also  way cheaper to travel in. In these cities, including my new home city of The Hague , the beautiful and historic city centers are for everyone, but especially people who live in the city.  You’ll get more of a sense of history and Dutch culture here too! Click for my favorite day trips from Amsterdam!

Phelm (or the Dutch language)

I kid, but as someone working at learning Dutch, people are always impressed when I say a Dutch word properly. (Sometimes I stutter too.) As a foreigner, Dutch is hard as mastering the hard-G (or the soft-G) is tough to nail.  I’d say that it’s closest to the ch sound in Hebrew. If you want to truly impress a Dutchie, figure out how to say  Scheveningen .  You can read my tips for useful Dutch words and phrases for travelers here. 

Some hacks to the Dutch language…

• G = Phelm (Goed = ChG-ood)
• J = Y sound (Job = Yob)
• Sch = Sk with a little phelm (Schiphol = Sk iphol)
• W = V (Water = Vater)

Diversity in the Netherlands

Skip rijsttafel and head to a toko for more authentic food.

Many people don’t know much about Dutch colonialism, but the Dutch had major colonies in Surinam (in South America), Indonesia, and some of the Caribbean islands. Although slavery was outlawed in the 1800s, there were institutionalized plantations in Indonesia among other less savory practices. In Suriname, many people are descended from slaves that were brought to Suriname before the ban as well as the indentured servants who were brought from Java (Indonesia) and India later.

What is a toko!?   A toko is a shop that focuses on Asian food, generally Indonesian food.  Many tokos in the Netherlands (including Amsterdam) sell really good Indonesian (or Surinamese-Javanese ) food that is usually cooked by someone’s mom.  It’s  good authentic stuff and it’s often  cheap .  If you’re interested in trying Indonesian food, definitely consider going to your local toko (ask your host or the staff at the hotel for their picks) as it probably has better food than your fancy Indonesian rijsttafel that is three times the cost.

Many of people immigrated to the Netherlands before both countries became independent, so don’t be surprised if there’s more diversity in the Netherlands you realized at first.  At minimum, stop for Surinamese roti or stop into your local toko for some delicious Indonesian food! Click to learn more about Surinamese food.

Racism in the Netherlands

I’ve been asked a few times by friends who are women of color (WOC) about racism in the Netherlands.  I’m white, however one of my good friends (hi M.) is half-Surinamese.  Discrimination against minorities occurs in the Netherlands.  People might mistake you for potentially living here, so you might be addressed in Dutch if you’re of African, Middle-Eastern, or Asian descent.

A WOC that visited me felt she was treated with a lot of respect here, more so than in the United States.  She was surprised that she felt at home and safe.  What really surprised her was that she didn’t feel like she stood out so much as a WOC, which she didn’t expect from traveling in Europe.

The part that you really need to be aware of as a POC is that the public domain tends to be better than in the US (for instance), however the private domain is when people may share their opinion about minorities or foreigners.  The Netherlands is liberal, but it may not be as politically correct as you might think.

Zwarte Piet

… We have to talk about it.  If you’re visiting the Netherlands in November or early December, you’ll be visiting just in time for Sinterklaas.  Sinterklaas is more popular than Christmas here and it’s celebrated on December 5th. It’s based on a real person, but the story today goes that this figure lives in Spain and comes to the Benelux region to give good children presents once a year.  With him, come his helpers and the helpers are called Zwarte Pieten.

Technically, the helpers are supposed to be Moorish.  At some point, people dressing up as Zwarte Piet started wearing blackface as well as other accessories, such as big hoop earrings, red lipstick, etc.

This is a huge fight in the public domain here in the Netherlands and starting a discussion about Zwarte Piet in public is not something I’d recommend without some caution.  A lot of people are not comfortable saying their opinion on it publicly although some people are happy to bring it up.  It can be touchy although I’ve had a lot of Dutch friends bring it up just to tell me that they’re not okay with it as some of them worry about the perception of the Netherlands to foreigners as a result of this. That said, my own opinion is that the traditional costume makes me uncomfortable, mostly because I’m American and blackface is  never okay to me.

Every year, the debate continues as some people insist that it is a children’s holiday that is a tradition while others say that it’s racist.  Many cities are banning blackface Zwarte Pieten trying out a “sooty” Piet, a rainbow Piet, or even just using the minion costumes from Despicable Me. I don’t think that it’s fair to brush it under the table as the Zwarte Piet discussion is discussed  a lot  throughout fall and you might encounter Zwarte Piet decorations.

The weather is a crapshoot of rain and clouds.  Your weather app is probably useless.

I didn’t move here for the weather.  For some reason, the weather forecast is notably unreliable, so I usually only depend on the weather for the next 1-2 hours–then check again later in the day.  If you are going to do something outdoors, be prepared for the rain or just clouds.  Disappointing, but don’t let it ruin your day.  Don’t plan too far in advance and bring a good raincoat. Click for my recommendations on what to pack for Amsterdam!

Tipping is not required, but nice

A lot of waiters LOVE foreigners as they don’t know whether to tip or not.  It’s typically that when you pay for most things, you don’t need to tip and it’s not horrible behavior if you don’t do so.  That said, it’s nice to tip 10% (which is fairly standard) if you feel the service is really good.  Luckily, staff here receives a good base wage.  You usually tip for food. It’s not necessary for drinks.

Solo female travel in the Netherlands is easier than you may realize

I was a bit nervous about traveling solo in the Netherlands some years ago, however after a few years living here, I feel like I can safely say that the Netherlands is a great place for women taking their first solo trip as it’s easy to navigate on your own, there’s a good network of hostels, and most people won’t bother you.

Sexual harassment still happens, but I find that it’s better than many European countries I’ve traveled in (especially southern European).  (When you pass construction workers, I find that they usually wish you a good morning rather than catcalling you.)  More importantly, I feel safe walking alone late at night. I’ve written a complete guide to solo female travel guide in the Netherlands here. 

Do not walk in the bike lane

How many times must we discuss this one?  Typically, you have the road, a red thing that  looks like a sidewalk and then the sidewalk.  You can guess that the red bit is the bike path.  When crossing the bike path, be careful as not all bikers will stop for you.  Look for the white striped lines, which is the official place to cross the street.  Both bikes and cars should stop for you.

If you rent a bike, may the odds be ever in your favor not to crash it or have it stolen

Bike theft is big business here, so make sure that your bike is locked up properly with two locks and to something stable, especially overnight.  Tourist bikes aren’t usually targeted, but it’s also possible that your bike gets towed away by the city government if you leave it somewhere you shouldn’t be parking your bike. Also, be sure to signal. (More about how to ride a bike in the Netherlands here .)

Dutchies are nice, but the customer is NOT always right and you should always go to the front to pay

The customer is NOT always right.   Sometimes, you’re just wrong and you’re told that you’re wrong.  However, the worst for me is receiving food with cheese inside of it when I specifically said no cheese.  (I’m lactose intolerant and the pills don’t work for me.)  In some cases, the server would try to tell me that it was fine and I’d survive. That’s not really their decision and I’ve had to fight to get the food replaced without cheese as I ordered it. (At this point, I find explaining that I have an allergy is far more efficient.)  That said, 90% of the customer service that you’ll deal with as a tourist is fine as those working in the service industry tend to  love tourists as they actually tip well.

It’s always best to go up to the front to pay.  Something that is good/bad about the Netherlands is that service gives you time to breathe, but sometimes it’s nearly impossible to get your server back if you want to order more food or pay.  The fastest (and easiest) way is to just walk to the front to explain you want to pay.  Flagging a waiter down can be frustrating.

Basically everyone speaks English

The Netherlands has one of the highest proficiency levels in English in the world and many Dutchies actually do their university courses in English. If you go to the movies here, most English language movies are shown in English with Dutch subtitles.

If you’re in a major city, you’ll have no problems at all as basically everyone speaks English and many people in Amsterdam have native English person radar.  I really enjoy tiny Dutch towns that are super far off the beaten path and even there, people understand English even if they aren’t comfortable speaking it back.   I promise that you’ll get by without a problem although a  Dankjewel (thank you!) can’t hurt.

Distance is relative

You might think that two hours is not that much time to travel somewhere.  Distance here in the Netherlands, mostly because the Netherlands  is small, is relative.  It takes 2.5 hours to drive across the Netherlands total.  An hour is  far or enough so that someone might say that they can’t meet you as they’re in another city.  (Cough, guilty .)

Directness is a big thing here.  I am a fairly blunt person, so I feel like it works.  Some English expressions don’t really go over well here as people don’t really do the beating around the bush.  If you want to ask something, just ask.  I realize in many places, that would be rude without a preface, but here it’s normal.    With this comes service with a sense of humor.  I personally like it and I appreciate that people are straightforward and honest with you…and that you can have a laugh.

I hope that you enjoyed these travel tips for the Netherlands and that your trip to the Netherlands goes off flawlessly!

Anything you’d add about visiting the Netherlands? Any questions about travel in the Netherlands?

I have many more posts with advice about Amsterdam, where I lived before I moved to the Hague.

• What to pack for Amsterdam (the entire year)
• Three day itinerary for Amsterdam
• The best day trips from Amsterdam
• Best photography spots in Amsterdam
• Secret Amsterdam

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

March 6, 2020 at 7:04 am

Thanks for sharing this awesome piece of information. I’m on a trip to Netherlands in a couple of weeks . This will help me to spend the days I’m gonna spend there wisely.

March 19, 2020 at 12:58 pm

I wish I had read this before I went for Christmas! I had no idea about the credit cards and paying for my Christmas dinner was interesting. The cashier at the grocery store didn’t speak English. It all worked out but I was embarassed.

April 21, 2021 at 11:46 pm

Karen, You definitely hit the nail on the head with your description of the dutch people. I charter bike and boat trips in the Netherlands and forwarded your blog to my group. I am dutch born but have lived in the US 45 plus years. But I go back at least 1 to 2 times a year. I am blessed to be working for the airlines. Thanks you for your directness and spelling out about the credit card and the tipping. Loved your blog!!

Caroline Melcher

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