5 Best cities to visit in the Netherlands

By Nikolai Karaneschev, wikimedia

Best cities to visit in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is renowned for its century-old canals, windmills, colorful tulips and cycling lanes. 

This small country in the northwest of Europe, has riveting history and a cultural heritage that is acknowledged internationally.

Netherlands is also known for its reclaimed land through careful water management process from the medieval times.

There are over 1000 windmills in the Netherlands that are still used for drainage. These were used back in the medieval times to drain the marshes and lakes. 

It is a country with beautiful places to visit. There are museums of famous people in the capital, Amsterdam. Here are five best cities to visit while in the Netherlands.

Read: 10 Facts about Anne Frank

Read: 10 Facts about Vincent van Gogh

1. Amsterdam

This is one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands and is the capital city. 

Amsterdam is a popular tourist destination and has a population of about 850,000 people living in the city.

It is known for its canal houses, quaint museums, churches, narrow houses, artistic heritage and many cycling lanes. 

This city boasts as the culture capital than any other city in the world. There are interesting museums in the city that intrigues curiosity.

There are human deformities’ museum, drugs museum, sex museums, hemp museums, funeral museums, torture museum among others.  

The locals of this city have an innovative way of interacting with tourists. All a tourist needs to do is spot a bike with a yellow back seat and shout ‘backie’.

The Jordaan district in Amsterdam has indie boutique shops, snug pubs and contemporary restaurants. 

It is the city that was home to some famous people like Rembrandt, Anne Frank, van Gogh. 

Its attractive art and architecture is something to look forward to while in Amsterdam. 

2. Amersfoort

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Amersfoort is an ancient city in central Holland in the Netherlands. It officially became a city in 1259.

With its mesolithic history, there is proof of human presence in the area dating back to 1000 BCE.

The medieval Koppelpoort bridge in the city was built in 1425. It makes up part of the city wall that was constructed between the 14th and 15th century. The wall was to defend the city during wartime.

Other top attractions in the city are the Mondriaan House and the church tower of Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren.

This hidden gem has some stunning archetypal canals, traditional Dutch houses, and historic sites that are quite inspiring.

While in Amersfoort, a tour of its medieval buildings that are well-preserved will give the history of this attractive city.

The sheer beauty of this city can be experienced through walking down its streets that lead to one attraction onto another.

3. Rotterdam

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Rotterdam is the second-largest city after Amsterdam. It has served as a major port city for many years because of its strategic location on the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt river delta.

It was not spared during WWII, the extensive bombing destroyed most of the city. It, however, was rebuilt to the modern port it is today.

The modern architecture and bridges in Rotterdam have made it famous with impressive landmarks such as the cube houses, Erasmus bridge and numerous skyscrapers.

Its lively nightlife scene can be experienced in the various bars, pubs and nightclubs in the city.

This city is a testament of rising from the rubble after it got destroyed in World War II. From the almost empty space, now sits impressive architecture structures and remarkable food scene.

It has some of the best eateries in the country and most of these can be found at the Markthal, a futuristic building with office spaces and a market below. 

4. The Hague

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This is the main seat of the Netherlands government and plays an important role in the country’s politics and economy.

The Hague is the third-largest city in the Country after Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The Binnenhof, one of the oldest developments in the city that was constructed in the 11th century. It used to be a royal hunting residence. It is now a government office complex.

The Hague is a good getaway city from Amsterdam because of its beach and it has a prominent vegan scene.

The Scheveningen seaside resort has an endless stretch of golden sand, a promenade, a pier and a lighthouse.  

This is a perfect summer spot and there are numerous eateries by the promenade. The old town Scheveningen is a historic town that has influenced most of The Hague.

The peace palace is a top attraction in The Hague. It has been hosting international peace conferences since the 1930s. 

There are interactive exhibitions of war and peace at the visitors center.

While walking in the city, it will be hard to miss the many monuments, art museums and top fashion stores.

There are cycling activities to the outskirts of the city where kids can visit goat farms, cycle along with tulip farms. 

Madurodam miniature park in The Hague offers a ton of fun activities for everyone. It has model replicas of the famous Dutch castles, public buildings and industrial projects.   

5. Haarlem

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Haarlem is the capital of North Holland and a bordering municipality to Amsterdam. It has a population of about 155,000 people. 

The city’s history dates back to the medieval times with its early inhabitants said to have accessed the land through trading in the North Sea.

It grew from being an industrial town that produced linen and silk, this economic background saw the growth of the population in the city.

This beautiful city is characterized by its brick facade and numerous canals. It is half an hour from Amsterdam and is best for both a day trip and a longer stay.

Its top attractions include the Teylers Museum of Cultural History and walking through the Grote Markt.

The Grote Markt is lined up with an extravagant city hall, many detailed 16th century guildhalls, numerous restaurants and cafés. 

The Scheldt river is close by, it turns into a beautiful market on Christmas and hosts acts as an ice rink during winter.