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Introducing The Netherlands

The Netherlands is so much more than just windmills and tulips! From top to bottom, its rich history can be experienced through the well-preserved architecture of its picturesque villages, churches, and canals. If nature is more your speed, the Netherlands boasts beautiful beaches and national parks to explore. It may be a small country, but there is something here for everyone! 

When is the best time to visit Holland?
The Netherlands is a country that can really be visited year-round. Even in the chilly winter months, you are still able to enjoy a stroll through the park or a cup of mulled wine at a local market. Situated on the coast of the North Sea, the Netherlands experiences moderate marine temperatures during Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November), colder temperatures in the winter (December- February) and warm, but manageable temperatures during the summer months (June-August). Spontaneous rainfalls can occur year-round, with the heaviest rains falling in October and November. 

Where should you go?
In the Netherlands, you really can have it all! Since the country is relatively small, you are able to see all its corners without having to travel long distances. This means that it is quite easy to visit the tulips fields in the Bollenstreek (Dutch bulb region), go cycling along the dunes near Bergen and Schoorl, wander through charming cobblestone streets of 17th-century villages such as Haarlem or Leiden, or go hiking in the Veluwe National Park, all while traveling from point A to B in only 1.5 hours on average.

How many days do you need?
In 5 days, you can experience all of the highlights of the west such as Amsterdam and its many art museums which boast works from the great Dutch Masters, the tulip fields in bloom around Haarlem, traditional Dutch windmills at the Zaanse Schans, and a cheese market in Alkmaar or Gouda. If you have 7 to 10 days to spend, you can visit more off-the-beaten-track places like the picturesque fishing villages of Monnickendam, Marken, and Volendam, take a boat tour or canoe excursion through Biesbosch National Park, or head south to Limburg to visit castles and go hiking in the only hills in the Netherlands. You can even enjoy some mudflat waking and the beach in the Wadden Islands.

Explore trips by duration: 5 days · 7 days · 10 days · 14 days

The Netherlands Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
Lievebrug Bridge in Ghent
Grand Tour of the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

Castles, cathedrals, windmills, canals: this two-week itinerary takes you through highlights of the Netherlands and Belgium. Starting in the vibrant Dutch capital of Amsterdam and ending in the cosmopolitan Belgian capital of Brussels, the adventure offers a mix of cultural sightseeing and outdoor excursions. Learn about architecture in Rotterdam, see medieval Ghent from a boat, sample Belgian waffles in their place of origin, view original paintings by Vincent van Gogh, and experience natural landscapes with a ride through a national park on an e-bike. This grand tour has something for everyone!

The National Monument on Dam Square, Amsterdam
Map of World War II in the Netherlands - 5 Days
World War II in the Netherlands - 5 Days

History buffs won't want to miss this five-day tour of World War II sites and monuments in the Netherlands. From the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam to the Camp Westerbork detention camp, and from refugee hideaways in the woods to military cemeteries and memorials, there's so much to see and learn. Spend the night at the site where the Netherlands was liberated from the Nazis, walk with a veteran across a landmark bridge at sunset in Nijmegen, and wrap up the itinerary with a visit to the National Monument in Amsterdam.

A picturesque canal in Amsterdam
Best of Amsterdam & Haarlem - 5 Days

This enlightening 5-day journey will take you to the highlights of Amsterdam and its surrounding region. Start at the Anne Frank House, then enjoy a private boat tour along the city's canals before visiting two world-class art museums, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. On a day trip to the countryside, you'll see historic windmills, wander around a quaint fishing village, and sample traditional Dutch cheese in Edam. Spend the last part of the trip in the charming city of Haarlem, an easy side trip from the capital, where you'll visit the oldest museum in the Netherlands.

Historic monuments on a tour of Holland and Flanders
Map of Highlights of Holland & Flanders - 7 Days
Highlights of Holland & Flanders - 7 Days

There's no need to choose between Holland and Flanders (the Dutch-speaking half of Belgium). This weeklong itinerary takes you to the highlights of both, including sightseeing in Amsterdam, an architecture tour in Rotterdam, a gourmet food tour in Antwerp, and a boat tour past medieval castles in Ghent. You'll sample cheeses where they're produced, spot windmills in the Dutch countryside, and relax with a Belgian crowd on a river beach. This whirlwind itinerary has something for everyone!

Bicycle in the Dutch Countryside
Map of Flower Tour of Holland - 5 Days
Flower Tour of Holland - 5 Days

This itinerary is all about flowers! In just five days, you will cycle through Dutch tulip fields on an e-bike, learn how tulips are grown, and see how they're sold at auction and at floating flower markets. View magnificent tulips on display at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, the largest flower park in the world, and learn all about the rich history of tulips and their value in Dutch culture at the Tulip Museum. The best time to plan this trip is March through May, with the tulips at their best in mid-April.

Church
Map of Highlights of Holland - 10 Days
Highlights of Holland - 10 Days

Experience the best of Holland along with some of its hidden gems on this 10-day trip! From big cities to charming small villages, you’ll experience a perfect cross-section of what the Netherlands has to offer. You’ll have the opportunity to admire all of the traditional Dutch characteristics: cheese markets, famous painters, typical canals, rich history, churches with stained-glass windows, windmills, lovely squares, and ancient cobbled alleys. In addition to exploring picturesque smaller cities such as Gouda, Leiden, and Delft, you will also visit Amsterdam, home to the country’s most famous museums, the vibrant, modern harbor city of Rotterdam, and even get some beach time!

Make the Most of Your Time in the Netherlands

Have a fixed number of days? Maximize the things to see and do during your visit
Traditional windmills throughout the Alblasserwaard polder of Kinderdijk
How Many Days to Spend in the Netherlands

With five days in the Netherlands, travelers can explore Amsterdam's highlights and use the capital as a hub for nearby popular sites, including The Hague, Rotterdam, and...

The Netherlands Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip

Our Latest The Netherlands Content

Traditional windmills throughout the Alblasserwaard polder of Kinderdijk
How Many Days to Spend in the Netherlands

With five days in the Netherlands, travelers can explore Amsterdam's highlights and use the capital as a hub for nearby popular sites, including The Hague, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. Seven days, however, is the right amount of time to cover main interests and discover more of the country than the average visitor with places like Marken, Edam, and Biebosch National Park. If you have 10 days, you can go farther afield to the northern province of Groningen or visit a second country and cross the border into Belgium.

An Amsterdam canal in spring
Best Time of Year to Visit the Netherlands

A country that can be visited any time of year, the Netherlands is best explored in the spring. The weather is brighter and warmer, and those iconic tulip bulbs are blooming. Yet with more than 400 museums showcasing renowned artworks, there’s something to see in every season. Not to mention, a coastal holiday in the summer, a cycling excursion in the fall, or, if you're lucky, an ice-skating outing on a frozen canal in the winter.

On the carousel at Efteling theme park
Family Adventure in the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

Bring the whole family along on this kid-friendly journey around the Netherlands and Belgium! Start with a cruise along the canals of Amsterdam and a visit to a futuristic science museum. Then ride an old steam train to Medemblik, where you'll board an antique ship to Enkhuizen, known for its cheese markets. Cycle through the sand dunes to the North Sea, spot colorful tulip fields, and feast on traditional stroopwafels before spending three days at a popular Dutch theme park. Then cross the border to Belgium, where you'll go on a food tour of Antwerp, stay at a real Belgian farm, and relax at the beach resort of De Panne. Offering a great mix of outdoor adventure and cultural education, this itinerary is a hit with travelers of all ages.

The Netherlands Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
Map 7 Days in the Netherlands - 5 Unique Itineraries
7 Days in the Netherlands - 5 Unique Itineraries
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Map 10 Days in the Netherlands - 5 Unique Itineraries
10 Days in the Netherlands - 5 Unique Itineraries
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Map 5 Days in the Netherlands - 5 Unique Itineraries
5 Days in the Netherlands - 5 Unique Itineraries
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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for The Netherlands
Travel specialist Mieke Arendsen
active 2 hours ago

Mieke Arendsen

Born and raised in the province of Gelderland in the east-central part of the Netherlands, I have traveled to most corners of the world, especially to Asia. But deep down, I will always remain a...

read more...
Travel specialist Bas Naus
active 12 hours ago

Bas Naus

Like any person in the Netherlands, I started riding my bike soon after I learned how to walk and I ate cheese almost every day. But during my childhood, we would always drive straight to the...

read more...
Travel specialist Nadine Hikisch
active 2 hours ago

Nadine Hikisch

Having been brought up with an English mum and a German dad, born and raised in Limburg. I was at an early age fascinated by different cultures. As a child we always went to Austria for our...

read more...
Travel specialist Emma Gerards
active 11 hours ago

Emma Gerards

Ever since I was a child, I was very fond of the road trips my family took within Europe. We went into nature and hiked mountains, or drove to sunny beaches by lakes and seas. When I was a student...

read more...

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Trip Reviews for The Netherlands

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Nadine was simply amazing! Throughout the pla...
The Netherlands | Apr 15 - Apr 24, 2024

Amanda
Amanda G.
North Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2024
Nadine was simply amazing! Throughout the planning process she was so dedicated to making sure our honeymoon was exactly what we wanted! She was so knowledgeable on the area and offered amazing recommendations for things to do and see outside of our itinerary. Traveling to another country can be intimidating but with the wealth of knowledge and resources provide by Nadine, we traveled with such confidence which made our trip SO enjoyable! When we had a personal matter come up that delayed the... Read more

Nadine was simply amazing! Throughout the planning process she was so dedicated to making sure our honeymoon was exactly what we wanted! She was so knowledgeable on the area and offered amazing recommendations for things to do and see outside of our itinerary. Traveling to another country can be intimidating but with the wealth of knowledge and resources provide by Nadine, we traveled with such confidence which made our trip SO enjoyable! When we had a personal matter come up that delayed the start of our trip, she was so caring and helped to make necessary adjustments. We cannot thank Nadine enough for making our trip one that we will remember for a lifetime!

Hotel Review
BoutiqueHotel 't Fraeyhuis
BRUGGE

Luxury accommodations, hospitable staff that went above and beyond to make our stay so enjoyable! Breakfast was so yummy and the grounds are gorgeous!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The staff was so welcoming and flexible when we had to make a change at the start of our trip! They even let us borrow a vase when we decided to buy fresh flowers at the market!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Nadine Hikisch

Outstanding Amsterdam and Brussels!
The Netherlands | Apr 12 - Apr 17, 2024

Abby
Abby B.
Walnut, IL | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2024
Our trip to Amsterdam and Belgium was phenomenal! Beautiful sights and excellent hotel/apartment properties were at each of our stops. Our car pick ups were on time and pleasant. Read more

Our trip to Amsterdam and Belgium was phenomenal! Beautiful sights and excellent hotel/apartment properties were at each of our stops.

Our car pick ups were on time and pleasant.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel le Dixseptième
Brussels

Beautiful property and nicely appointed. The room and hotel were outstanding with nice space and a beautiful bathroom. Location is excellent. We went the wrong direction out of the train station which added lots of extra walking. Study your exits and access to this property and the walk is easy even with luggage.

Authenticity & Character
Lots of character at this property.
Location
Great location with easy access to the train, Galleria and Grand Place.
Staff
Overall, staff was friendly. The genetlman at the front desk in the afternoon is helpful, but unfriendly. He didn’t say hello. He just took our bags and card for fees and walked off with our bags to the room. He needs work. Other staff in the breakfast area and the morning staff at the desk were outstanding.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The property is lovely.
Premier Suites Plus Rotterdam
Rotterdam

This property is nicely located across from the train station. Staff was attentive, but not overly helpful to temporary residents since this is an apartment property. We had some confusion with advance planning and capacity requirements and did not need 2 rooms for 3 people. The property promptly addressed our concerns.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Nicely located near the train and bus stops.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kimpton DeWitt
Amsterdam

Great hotel with good service, amenities and a nice location.

Authenticity & Character
Excellent service. Nice happy hour. Good restaurants and attentive service on property.
Location
Centrally located and easily walkable to the train station for day trips.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pleasant smell throughout and outstanding staff.
Activity Reviews
Haarlem - guided cycle tour: Keukenhof and tulips fields
Haarlem - guided cycle tour: Keukenhof and tulips fields
The Netherlands

This was a highlight of the trip. Our guide, Alex, was outstanding. He was attentive and patient while giving us great detail and fun facts. We can’t say enough about how outstanding Alex and this experience.

Quality of Experience
Outstanding!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alex was fantastic!
Transport
Amsterdam - Private canal cruise
Amsterdam - Private canal cruise
The Netherlands

This was a nice tour with lots of historical and anecdotal information.

Quality of Experience
The private tour was nice.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
The Netherlands

This was easy to use and handy. We did not understand why we had to return it to the driver when the instructions later said to use it again in Rotterdam. This trip could have used a better explanation of how to get from the hotel to the windmills and beyond. We ended up having to use Bolt a lot for transportation. It would be helpful to communicate Bolt as an option for transportation…especially for those that can’t walk long distances.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Mieke Arendsen
Mieke
Mieke Arendsen
Local specialist in The Netherlands | Replied on Apr 25, 2024

Hi Abby,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and feedback with us. I am glad to hear you have had a wonderful trip and we will use your experiences to make our trips even better 😉
The weather has not been that brilliant during the trip but, like true Dutchmen & Belgians, you have faced it and did not let it bother you.☔️ Kudos to you!
Wishing you all the best,
Mieke

Best Trip I’ve Had in a Long Time!
The Netherlands | Apr 13 - Apr 21, 2024

T
Tony J.
Bend, TX | Reviewed on Apr 23, 2024

The best trip planning and execution experience I’ve ever had! Things went very well during the trip and any hiccups were taken care of right away by Mieke and her team. Will definitely use KimKim again.

Local specialist: Mieke Arendsen
Mieke
Mieke Arendsen
Local specialist in The Netherlands | Replied on Apr 24, 2024

Thank you Tony! It was a pleasure hosting you here and organizing this trip for you. You have been wonderful guests 🌷
Wishing you all the best,
Mieke