What to See in the Netherlands
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Location

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The Netherlands has 9 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

The Coast

Natural Heritage

Inland

Natural Heritage

Must-see & highly recommended

Amsterdam
★★★★ The Dutch capital is also the most visited city in the Netherlands for its architecture, monuments, UNESCO-listed canals, museums, and…
Amsterdam Canals
★★★★ This is what gives the city its unique character, earning it the nickname "Venice of the North." The canals and the beautiful facades…

Recommended

Delft
★★★ Canals, traditional architecture, and a historic centre, plus world-famous porcelain—this characterful city lies between The Hague…
Giethoorn
★★★ A charming (and sizeable) lakeside village in the north of the Netherlands, quite touristy.
West Frisian Islands
★★★ This is the Dutch part of the archipelago stretching from the Netherlands to Denmark along the UNESCO-listed Wadden Sea. Several islands…
Marken
★★★ One of the charming villages near Edam-Volendam that, just as much if not more, deserves a visit for its setting and the hidden old-world…
Wadden Sea
★★★ From the Netherlands to Denmark via Germany, this coastal area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A tourist destination, it is home to…

Worth a look / Other

Alkmaar
★★ A charming town north of Amsterdam known for its cheese market and historic center built around canals.
Breda
★★ It's a large urban area near Belgium with an old city centre.
Dordrecht
★★ Large city southeast of Rotterdam with beautiful architecture, canals, and museums.
Edam-Volendam
★★ A small tourist port north of Amsterdam known for its beautiful traditional architecture and its cheese. Monnickendam, Broek in Waterland…
Enkhuizen
★★ North of Amsterdam, this charming port is home to an interesting open-air museum dedicated to local life and traditions.
Gouda
★★ Canals and historic buildings, but above all, worldwide fame thanks to the cheese of the same name, produced in this town near The Hague.
Groningen
★★ This lively university city has a few historic buildings and, like many other Dutch cities, canals you can stroll along.
Haarlem
★★ Canals, museums, and a beautiful 17th-century centre in this city just a short distance from Amsterdam. The outskirts of Haarlem are home…
Hoorn
★★ A charming port in West Friesland with many historic buildings and residences dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Keukenhof
★★ A stunning floral park where you can see tulips in full bloom in abundance around April. Keukenhof is part of the "bulb region" around…
The Hague
★★ The seat of government and the monarchy, The Hague (also called Den Haag) is nevertheless only the administrative capital of the country…
Leiden
★★ Universities, museums, and an old town centre for this city between Amsterdam and The Hague.
Maastricht
★★ Best known for its European Treaty, the "capital" of Limburg is also a fortified medieval city with several museums.
Middelburg
★★ The "capital" of the province of Zeeland, in the south of the country. You’ll find some old buildings along the canals and a…
De Hoge Veluwe National Park
★★ One of the Netherlands' largest natural parks, home to the Kröller-Müller Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of paintings…
Drents-Friese Wold National Park
★★ Woods and heathlands with cycling paths and hiking trails in this national park in the north of the Netherlands.
Rotterdam
★★ Europe’s largest port (and the world’s third-largest) is also a lively city renowned for its museums and bold, original…
Scheveningen
★★ With its vast beach, it is the country's main seaside resort. It is officially part of The Hague.
Texel
★★ The largest island in the Frisian archipelago stretching from the Netherlands to Denmark. Texel is quite touristy and popular for its dune…
Utrecht
★★ The country's fourth-largest city, it has a large student population and a lively atmosphere. In addition to museums, you can admire…
Zaanse Schans
★★ Not far from Amsterdam, this is a small historic village ("open-air museum") heavily visited for its charming traditional houses and…
Zandvoort
★★ A popular seaside resort due to its proximity to Amsterdam.
Apeldoorn
★ A large city in the centre of the Netherlands, home to a beautiful royal palace with formal French gardens.
Arnhem
★ The city was heavily destroyed during the war. Its primary tourist appeal lies in its location next to De Hoge Veluwe National Park.
Deventer
★ Right next to Apeldoorn, the city has old districts and buildings dating back to the medieval period.
Afsluitdijk Dam
★ At 32 km, it is the longest dam in the country, linking the peninsula north of Amsterdam to Friesland. The Netherlands has many other dams…
Efteling
★ Located in the south of the country, it is one of Europe's most important theme parks.
Eindhoven
★ A large modern city in the south of the Netherlands. Though it hosts several museums and cultural sites, it isn’t one of the most…
Enschede
★ An industrial and commercial city in the east, on the German border.
Forts of the Amsterdam Defence Line
★ This is a series of military structures and small fortifications built around Amsterdam in the late 19th to early 20th century. The entire…
's-Hertogenbosch
★ One of the oldest Dutch cities, also known as Den Bosch. It features a historic center and a grand cathedral surrounded by ramparts.
Hilversum
★ Between Utrecht and Amsterdam, this rather upscale town is known for its early 20th-century architecture.
Kinderdijk-Elshout
★ On the outskirts of Rotterdam, this site offers the traditional image of windmills lining canals. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Frisian Lakes
★ This collection of around twenty small lakes in the southwest of Friesland province is a premier sailing destination in the country.
Leeuwarden
★ The capital of Friesland has a small medieval centre.
Limburg
★ This is the southern "tip" of the country that juts into Belgium, with Maastricht as its capital. Its rolling landscape and hiking…
Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht
★ Built in 1924, this house is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its architectural value.
Nijmegen
★ It is the oldest municipality in the Netherlands, though almost no traces of its past remain. Today, the city is best known for the "Four…
De Groote Peel National Park
★ Straddling the provinces of Brabant and Limburg, these marshes and small lakes are a prime area for birds that come to nest here.
Oosterschelde National Park
★ A marine park off the coast of the Zeeland islands, rich in birdlife and marine fauna. It’s also a great spot for diving.
Zuid-Kennemerland National Park
★ On the outskirts of Haarlem, this coastal park is known for its forests, dunes, beaches, and hiking opportunities.
Beemster Polder
★ Next to Amsterdam, this is the oldest polder in the world (1612) whose structure is still visible. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage…
Zoom-Kalmthoutse Heide Nature Reserve
★ This shared park between Belgium and the Netherlands consists mainly of heathlands.
Schokland
★ This former island is home to a UNESCO-listed archaeological site and its museum.
Sittard
★ A mid-sized city in Limburg with a small historic centre.
D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station
★ Located next to the small Frisian town of Lemmer, this is the oldest steam pumping station in the world in its category. It is a UNESCO…
Tilburg
★ A large city in the south of the Netherlands, between Breda and Eindhoven.
Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam
★ The building, constructed between 1925 and 1931, is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its architectural value.
Zwolle
★ This former Hanseatic city in the north of the Netherlands has preserved some beautiful remnants of that era.
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