Seeing as the Netherlands is a small country that only takes roughly three hours to travel through by car, visitors are able to see its highlights in essentially one weekend. Even if you only have a day to spare, it’s well worth a visit.

Contrasts

The urban centers are known for their art collections and serene canals. Cozy cafes and charming townhouses with gables exist gracefully among innovative architecture that’s full of modern designs. Outside the city, you can find endless dune-backed beaches, colorful tulip fields, vast forests and charismatic windmills.

Museums

Highlights of this charming country include the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk and the Anne Frank house. All of these cultural attractions are located in proximity of each other in Amsterdam. The Rijksmuseum is full of art dating back to the 17th century.

Van Gogh’s sunflower series and self-portraits are housed at the museum that bears his name. The Stedelijk is devoted to modern art while the Anne Frank house is known as the museum with a story. Since the latter is a popular destination, it’s recommended that you book tours 60 days in advance.

Main Cities

Besides the capital of Amsterdam, Den Haag, Zwolle and Rotterdam attract many visitors. Den Haag is also known as the city of the sea, and those outside the country often refer to it as the Hague. Take a boat through its canals, visit the Peace Palace or relax on the Scheveningen beach. The city is also home to Parkpop, the biggest free music festival in Europe.

Zwolle is known for its star-shaped moat, situated in the historic Gothic quarter. It is home to the Basilica of Our Lady, a tower that dates back to the 14th century. You can still climb its stairs for a fantastic view of the city’s landscape.

Rotterdam is full of architectural masterpieces. These include Piet Blom’s cube houses, the Erasmus Bridge and the Markthal. The latter is a uniquely designed indoor market hall. This horseshoe-shaped marvel houses fresh food stands, supermarkets, shops, restaurants and underground parking.

Bicycling

Since Dutch people love bicycling, you can find over 19,000 miles of dedicated cycle routes. You can rent a bike just about anywhere. If you want to explore the Netherlands on two wheels, try the themed Dutch Coastal Route or head to the Hoge Veluwe National Park.