The Netherlands is a small country in northwestern Europe with a population of more than 16 million. The country is known for its windmills, canals, tulips, and bicycles. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. There are many Netherlands tourist attractions with their narrow streets, canal system, and abundance of restaurants and bars. Other popular tourist destinations in the Netherlands include Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Delft.
What is the Netherlands famous for?
The country is mostly flat. Half the country is less than one meter above sea level. Almost a third of the country is below sea level.
This is how it works: There are more than 6,300 kilometres of inland waterways in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is in fourth place in the world.
Having a lot of water and land that isn’t very high up makes the Dutch dyke or raised waterproof bank very important to keep floods at bay and keep water out of the area.
The Tulips
They are famous for flowers like hydrangea, crocus, Dutch roses, and of course, Tulips. This country is known for its flowers.
You can find tulip flowers in Central Asia. The Dutch East India Company sent them to the Netherlands so that the people there could grow some new plants and crops.
People bought bulbs from Turkey when they found out there was a market for them. First, tulip prices were low because the flower was unknown.
Then, the rich started to see them as a sign of wealth, and they started trading them for a lot of money.
80% of flower bulbs in the world are made in the Netherlands and sold to other countries. This makes the Netherlands the biggest exporter of tulips, which are an important part of the Dutch economy, so it makes money.
During World War II, tulip bulbs can be eaten. The Dutch ate them to fight hunger.
Amsterdam – the capital city
The capital city of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, which is also the most popular city in Europe, so it’s important to know where it is.
People love to visit the canals in the city centre of Amsterdam, which is a Unesco World Heritage site. They also love the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, which are two of the city’s best-known museums.
Bicycles
The Netherlands is also known for having a lot of bikes. There are about 1 million bikes for every 5 million people in the country.
Bicycles are a very common way to get around in this country, where it is very expensive to drive a car.
Most Dutch people own at least one bicycle, and many have more than one because there are so many places to ride them. This means that the average Dutch person cycles about 2.9 km per day. This means that it’s not a surprise.
The Dutch have about 37,000 kilometres (2,990 kilometres) of biking trails, which is a lot more than the European average of about 30,000. Bicycling is an important part of Dutch daily life.
Coffee Shop
The Netherlands is known for having a lot of places where you can get a cup of coffee. However, if you want a joint with your cup of coffee, these are not places where you can buy it. The Dutch are taking care of it.
Coffee shops that sell marijuana are legal in the country, but there are rules about how much you can sell. Only inside can you smoke. They must be a certain size. Most of the time, you have to buy other things as well, and they can’t be advertised.
Dutch Culture of Tolerance for others
Because the Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001 and recreational marijuana use in 2002, it is known for these things (1976).
However, under Dutch law, prostitution is legal, but only in brothels that have been licensed.
The World’s Tallest People
They are also known for being tall. In the Netherlands, the average Dutchman is 184.9 cm tall and weighs about 75 kg. Both of these figures vary by ethnicity, though.
Most men are at least 182 cm tall, and another 5% are at least 183 cm tall, which makes them “tall.” It is about 170 cm tall and 55 kg heavy for women.
However, 1 in 4 women is about 166 cm tall, and another 5% are taller than 167 cm, which makes them tall.
Wooden shoes – Wooden Clogs
A lot of people also think of the Netherlands for its wooden shoes or clogs. Farmers and people who worked in the country used to wear wooden shoes because they were easy to make and keep clean.
There are some holidays where you might wear them, but most Dutch people wouldn’t be caught dead in them.
They are now more of a souvenir for tourists than a thing to wear, but they used to be. Volendam is the best place to buy them from.
Famous Dutch Painters
Their world-famous painters are another thing that makes the Dutch famous around the world. This includes Vincent van Gogh, one of the best-known artists in history who lived in the late 1800s.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was also a Dutch painter who made some of the best paintings in the world, like The Night Watch and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp.
Museums
As an art fan, you should go to some of the museums in the Netherlands. There are a lot of people who go to the Rijksmuseum if they want to see great works by the Dutch Masters, like Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer.
It was made from an old church that closed in the 19th century. There were major renovations done to make it a museum between 1885 and 1890.
Another well-known museum is the Van Gogh Museum, which opened in 1973 and is home to Vincent van Gogh’s art. It was built to house all of his art.
Dutch Cheese
In the Netherlands, more than 80% of the people love cheese, so it’s not surprising that they eat about 14 kilos of cheese a year, or about 14 pounds.
Dutch cheese is known all over the world because of its delicious taste and unique texture. Cheese shops and restaurants that serve hand-made, farm-raised cheese can be found all over the country.
This cheese is very popular in Europe because it is made in the Netherlands. This is not true at all. In fact, there are more than 6,000 cheese farms in the Netherlands.
This cheese is called Boerenkaas (farmers’ cheese), and it is made from cheeses that haven’t been pasteurized. Leyden cheese has a spicy taste because cumin seeds are in it.
They all come from cow’s milk. Edam cheese is very popular because it is great for making sandwiches, and all of them are made from milk.
Dutch Beer
The Netherlands is also known for its tasty beer, which many people like to drink in local bars. Due to the rise of craft beers around the world, it has become a lot more popular.
Because Dutch brewers use traditional methods to make great-tasting beers, they are very popular. And they are the world’s top exporter of beer, and they do this all over the world.
If you like beer, don’t forget to try all kinds of local brews as well as the wide variety of Dutch beers you can buy at home.
‘Dutch Courage’
When English soldiers fought against the Dutch in the 17th century, they used the term “Dutch Courage.” It is said that some English soldiers used Dutch gin (Jenver) to help them calm down before they went to fight in the war.
Windmills
The Netherlands is known for its windmills. This is what people say. Dutch landmarks: They have been used to turn wind energy into power since the 12th century.
1150 was the year that the first windmill was built, even though people didn’t start using them for about 200 years after that.
Because they have spread across the Netherlands, they are now one of the main things to see in their country. The windmills are still being used today. There are about 1,500 of them still in use.
Same-Sex Marriage
This is how it worked: In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to make same-sex marriage legal.
The law says that anyone over the age of 18 can get married, even if they are both of the same sex. When women could vote in 1917, they were one of the first.
What are the Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands may be small, but it has a lot of great places to visit. In this country, you can see fields of tulip bulbs and windmills that have been around for a long time.
You can also see cellar bars and beautiful countryside, as well as wildlife and world-famous art collections.
As well as Amsterdam, there is a lot more to see and do in the world than that. The Netherlands is about the same size as the state of Maryland in the United States.
Most of the country is at or below sea level. Now that it’s completely urbanized and densely populated, it’s a very unique and different country. With wide blue skies, old villages, beautiful church spires, and lovely canals, The Netherlands is a truly unique country. This is a great place to visit.
1. Rotterdam
Rotterdam used to be just a small fishing village that dates back to the 13th century. It is now a completely modern dutch city, though. During World War II, a lot of architecture was destroyed.
Since rebuilding, architecture has become a popular way to show your feelings. Check out the Erasmus Bridge, the Cube Houses, Dutch Houses, and the Kunsthal Art Museum to see some interesting examples of this type of architecture.
And if you want to see something truly unique, go to Market Square. It has a ceiling mural that covers the farmers’ stalls.
In the summer, go to the International Film Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival to see some movies and listen to some music. People who like history should visit the Delfshaven district, which is close to the harbour.
It was where pilgrims set off from in 1620. The Open-Air Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has works by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Dali, and many other artists in its collection.
2. The Hague
The Hague is one of the most impressive places to visit in the Netherlands. It has a lot of sophistication and world-class art, and it’s a great place to see.
“Royal City by the Sea” is what people call The Hague because it has a lot of royals who live there. The Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis and Gemeentemuseum Den Haag are the two places people go to see the most.
In the summer, many people fall in love with Scheveningen’s beaches. Parliament, or the Binnenhof, is in the city of The Hague, even though Amsterdam is the capital. Panorama Mesdag and Madurodam are two places you should not miss when you visit Panorama Mesdag.
3. Leiden
Just 20 kilometres from The Hague, you can go on a canal ride on the Old Rhine. Rembrandt was born in Leiden, which has been a university town since the 16th century and a popular place for people who like art and culture.
It’s a great idea to spend a few days in the city because there are so many popular attractions and museums.
Though the university is the oldest and most prestigious in the country, the new students help to keep the nightlife going. You’ll love Gravensteen, the Old Latin School, and Pieterskerk, a huge church with a steeple on top.
4. Haarlem
You can visit Haarlem, which is a beautiful city from the Dutch Golden Age. It stands as proof that it was a great place to live back then.
Because it’s mostly the same, it’s easy to picture how the city looked in the 17th century as you walk down cobbled streets. It is called Bloemenstad, which means “Flower City.”
Haarlem is on the Spaarne River and still has many of its old buildings. Tourists come to see the Dutch museums, shopping center, and see the architecture. A lot of this can be found in the Grote Markt Center.
People can see art, science, and natural history at the Teylers Museum in North Holland. It is the oldest museum in the country. To see the Dutch masters, art lovers should go to Franz Hals Museums. Everybody will enjoy the Annual Bloemencorso Parade, which takes place every year.
5. Kinderdijk
This is what you’d think of when you think of what makes the Netherlands unique: windmills. It would be Kinderdijk if windmills had a must-see place, and it would be the place.
To keep the country from flooding, windmills have been an important part of water management. Because the country is at or below sea level, windmills have been important.
Outside of Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, which means “children’s dam,” is where you’ll find 19 windmills that are still in use and look great.
Built-in the 1800s and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they are truly a sight to see. The frozen canals are a lot of fun in the winter. You can skate around and have fun.
6. Amsterdam
The fact that Amsterdam is known as a party town is not likely to be the only thing you need to know. This large city has a lot more to offer than its famous red-light district and liberal marijuana laws.
There are 60 miles of canals and more than 1500 important buildings and bridges to see. Amsterdam is a great city to explore because it has a lot of interesting things to see and do.
Include the Rijksmuseum Museum and the Anne Frank House in your trip to Amsterdam. The Prinsengracht district is a great place to go shopping, go to bars, and drink coffee. The Canal Ring has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a great place to walk or bike around.
7. Utrecht
Utrecht is thought to be the religious heart of South Holland, and it is a very old town. It was built in 48AD by the Romans, and now the history of the Middle Ages can be seen in full.
The inner canal wharf system, which was built to keep the Rhine from flooding the city, is a great piece of architecture from this time. People love to look at the Dom Tower, which was built in the 8th century.
The Gothic Cathedral of Saint Martin is also very popular (13th century). There is also the Rietveld Schroder House, the Dick Bruna House, and the Miffy Museum.
The Oudegracht Canal is a great place to go for a walk if you want to spend some time outside. You can stop for a cup of coffee at one of the cafes that used to be cellared.
8. Maastricht
People in this country don’t know much about this city because it has a lot of different cultures. If you go to this town, you’ll see Roman and Spanish artefacts as well as French buildings.
There are even hills around here! Maastricht is a beautiful city that is on both sides of the Meuse River. It has a lot of old churches and squares, and it is also very pretty.
The Vrijthof square, the Caves of St. Pieter and the Casement, Saint Servatius Church, and Vestigingswerkens are some of the most popular things to see.
Try one of the five Michelin-starred restaurants or some of the best cafes and bars in the town square if you want to spend some money.
9. De Hoge Veluwe National Park
De Hoge Veluwe National Park has more than 1700 free bicycles that you can use. You can spend a whole day riding around on one of them.
You can see 5,400 hectares of woods, heath, sand dunes, and peat bogs in this national treasure. Also, you can see Res List species like the Wryneck and Moor Frog in this area. The Wheatear and other birds also live there.
There are also rare plants, red deer, and wild boar. The Kröller-Müller Museum is in the heart of De Hoge Veluwve, and it has a lot of Van Goghs. Some of the most interesting places in the area are Elburg and Arnhem, two cities with old buildings and a place where the Battle for Arnhem took place.
10. Nijmegen
Nijmegen is close to the German border and recently celebrated its 2000th birthday. If you live in a town that is one of the oldest in the Netherlands, you can visit two museums that show Roman artefacts and how people lived in the past.
Many students from the country’s only Catholic university make the place more lively. If you want to see a beautiful sunset with boats below, go for a walk on the Waalbrug (the bridge that crosses the Waal River).
Nijmegen’s historical quarter is in the middle of the city, and not far from there is the National Fietsmuseum Velorama, which has more than 250 bikes. In this video, you get a real look into the Dutch love of two-wheelers.
11. Delft
Delft, like Amsterdam, is built on a network of canals that were meant to protect the city. During the weekend, you can spend a lot of time walking around the historic area and shopping at the markets.
When Johannes Vermeer painted The Girl with the Pearl Earring, he lived in Delft. He also painted many other things. You’ll find it to be a modern town that has worked hard to make it feel like it did in the past.
The Prinsenhof Museum, where William of Orange was assassinated, the Vermeer Centrum, and a number of beautiful churches, including the Nieuwe Kerk and the Oud, are some of the most popular places to visit in the city of The Hague.
If you need to buy gifts for your friends and family, think about the blue, hand-painted earthenware that has been made here since the 17th century when it was first made.
12. The Wadden Islands
The Wadden Islands are a group of five islands that are off the coast of the north. They are all called that. Each of the 50 is part of a chain of 50 that run from Denmark to the Netherlands.
Each is unique and a great place for people who like to go outside and do things. If you want to see birds, you should go to Terschelling, Texel is for you, and Vlieland is for those who want to go hiking trails in the woods in the middle of nowhere.
You can wadlopen (walk-on mud) across the seabed during low tide. A boat will take you to any of the five places. Horizontal alpinism is only for people who are really brave, as some people have called it.
13. Gouda
Because it’s easy to get to by train and car, Gouda is a very popular day trip from Amsterdam. Cheese (yes, the Gouda cheese) and stroopwafels are two of the things this town is best known for.
It’s a traditional Dutch town that has lots of charm. You should go to St. Janskerk, which has colourful stained glass windows.
A town hall from the 15th century, and the Waag, an old cheese weighing house built in the 17th century. The Waag is now the home of the Kaaswaag, which is a museum about cheese.
14. Groningen
As a result of having two colleges, this town is a popular place for people who want to study the arts, learn more about business, or work in the field. As well as a comics museum and a graphic museum, there is also a university museum and a maritime museum in the Netherlands.
At the cafes, there is live music, and there is also a lot of great theatre in this small but lively city. For people who want to see what Groningen has to offer at night, check out the Vismarkt, the Grote Markt, and the Peperstraat, which are all in the city center.
15. Friesland
People in this area are like people in other parts of the Netherlands, but with some changes. Even by Dutch standards, the people who live here are hardy and self-sufficient.
Not only that, but they speak their own language as well. In the north end of Friesland, land changes from solid to muddy.
People had to build and fortify the land here because the land changed. It’s a great place to visit and has been recognized by UNESCO. Visitors love Leeuwarden and Hindeloopen.
Two small towns that are great for tourists and have a lot of history to learn about. You’ll find the Wadden Islands right across the water from where you are now.
Conclusion
There are many great Netherlands tourist attractions for visitors to enjoy. Whether you are interested in history, art, or nature, there is something for everyone. Be sure to add the Netherlands to your list of destinations to explore!
