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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.

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.

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!

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

Spend a week exploring the Benelux capitals, starting in Amsterdam
Map of Discover the Benelux Capitals: Amsterdam, Brussels & Luxembourg City - 7 Days
Discover the Benelux Capitals: Amsterdam, Brussels & Luxembourg City - 7 Days

Experience the beautiful capitals of the Benelux countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg) during this whirlwind trip. In Amsterdam, you'll cruise the canals and take a walking tour of the historic streets while stopping to see the famous Dutch masters. Then, head to Brussels, the capital of Belgium, for waffles, beers, quirky museums, and a rowboat excursion. Finish the trip in Luxembourg City, where you'll wander through the compact and historic streets, as well as its famous palace.

Wander around Amsterdam's historic canals and cobblestone streets
Map of Grand Tour of Benelux: the Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg  - 14 Days
Grand Tour of Benelux: the Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg - 14 Days

Spend two glorious weeks in the tri-nation Benelux region with this action-packed itinerary. Start by cruising the canals and visiting the world-famous artworks of Amsterdam, cycling through the innovative streets of Rotterdam, and cruising past windmills in Kinderdijk. You'll then head to Brussels for mussels, beer, and museums, followed by kayaking in Belgium's picturesque town of Dinant. Finish the trip in Luxembourg, where you'll check out the capital and nearby castle of Vianden.

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.

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 6 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 11 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 10 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...

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Trip Reviews for The Netherlands

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Mieke is amazing!!
The Netherlands | Sep 5 - Sep 9, 2025

Christine
Christine M.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 10, 2025
Mieke booked amazing tours for us and gave us so many options to consider for food, drink and other excursions! This was an amazing trip and I would highly recommend Mieke to anyone looking to customize their Amsterdam trip! Read more

Mieke booked amazing tours for us and gave us so many options to consider for food, drink and other excursions! This was an amazing trip and I would highly recommend Mieke to anyone looking to customize their Amsterdam trip!

Hotel Review
Stayokay Hostel Amsterdam Vondelpark
Amsterdam

It was pretty good for a hostel, it’s what we wanted and it delivered.

Authenticity & Character
The old school house architecture was very cool
Location
It’s a bit further out of the city center
Staff
They were all great
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was clean and comfortable.
Activity Reviews
Amsterdam - Grand Dutch Food Tour in small group
Amsterdam - Grand Dutch Food Tour in small group
The Netherlands

This was such a highlight of the trip - David was very good and providing us with Dutch history and the history of the food we were eating. He shared so much of his own personal experience of growing up in Amsterdam - it made it very personal. He really got to know us and was amazing at providing tidbits of information.

Quality of Experience
Amsterdam - Heineken Experience
Amsterdam - Heineken Experience
Amsterdam

It was a great experience.

Quality of Experience
Amsterdam - Anne Frank House
Amsterdam - Anne Frank House
The Netherlands

It was very memorable.

Quality of Experience
Amsterdam - Begijnhof
Amsterdam - Begijnhof
The Netherlands

It was such an amazing experience.

Amsterdam - Canal cruise (join in)
Amsterdam - Canal cruise (join in)
The Netherlands

Saleem was an amazing tour. We were so glad to have a smaller tour and boat. It made for a very personalized experience!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
The Netherlands

It was great to have the card loaded for us to use - this was by far the best way to get around the city.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Mieke Arendsen
Mieke
Mieke Arendsen
Local specialist in The Netherlands | Replied on Sep 10, 2025

Hi Christine,
Thank you so much for your kind words! It's great to know you appreciated the excursions and experiences that you had, and have shared your compliments to David, your guide for the food/history tour - he will surely be happy to hear that. I am glad you also had some days of absolutely lovely weather here...
Enjoy your time in Paris!! and maybe till next time ;)
Mieke

Our Holland Adventure
The Netherlands | Aug 3 - Aug 8, 2025

G
Gail P.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Aug 24, 2025
Lots of interesting cities in Holland. Had so much fun using public transportation and visiting the sites and museums. Good thing we are fit-lots of narrow spiral staircases in hotels with no elevator (lift). People were all very friendly. Learned alot. Read more

Lots of interesting cities in Holland. Had so much fun using public transportation and visiting the sites and museums. Good thing we are fit-lots of narrow spiral staircases in hotels with no elevator (lift). People were all very friendly. Learned alot.

Hotel Reviews
Huys van Leiden
Leiden

had a spiral staircase to get to the bathroom!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Boutique Hotel Museumkwartier
Utrecht

Quaint.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The James Hotel Rotterdam
Rotterdam

modern hotel. Loved it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel des Arts
Amsterdam-Centrum

no air conditioning or elevator!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Delft - Delft blue pottery
Delft - Delft blue pottery
The Netherlands

Probably could have skipped.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rotterdam - harbor boat tour
Rotterdam - harbor boat tour
The Netherlands

Amazing

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Hague - Mauritshuis Museum
The Hague - Mauritshuis Museum
The Netherlands

Wished we had a longer stay

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rotterdam - Kinderdijk windmills by public boat (waterbus)
Rotterdam - Kinderdijk windmills by public boat (waterbus)
The Netherlands

interesting

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rotterdam
Rotterdam
The Netherlands

Big city. Good food. Enjoyed the boat cruise.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Leiden
Leiden
The Netherlands

Probably may favorite city. Rented bikes.

Quality of Experience
Amsterdam - Canal cruise (join in)
Amsterdam - Canal cruise (join in)
The Netherlands
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amsterdam -  Grand Dutch food & history tour in small group
Amsterdam - Grand Dutch food & history tour in small group
The Netherlands

Great guide met so nice people

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum
The Netherlands
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
The Netherlands

A great addition! Made travel so easy.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Mieke Arendsen
Mieke
Mieke Arendsen
Local specialist in The Netherlands | Replied on Aug 25, 2025

Hi Gail
Thank you so much for your kind words and taking the time to review all the hotels and activities. And how lovely to see all the pictures; it looks like a wonderful trip!
It was a pleasure hosting your stay for you!
Best regards,
Mieke

Excellent support from day 1 planning to arrival home!
The Netherlands | Aug 6 - Aug 10, 2025

Rebecca
Rebecca G.
Mamaroneck, NY | Reviewed on Aug 17, 2025
From start to finish planning my trip to Amsterdam was seamless with the support of Mieke. She crafted a custom itinerary that balanced the interests and needs of my 14yo son and 82yo mom. Most helpful was her availability and responsiveness while we were abroad. It’s such a comfort having someone in country to reach out to with questions or, for example, to modify an activity mid-trip when we realized my mom needed less walking. This is my third time using Kim Kim and I highly recommend! Read more

From start to finish planning my trip to Amsterdam was seamless with the support of Mieke. She crafted a custom itinerary that balanced the interests and needs of my 14yo son and 82yo mom. Most helpful was her availability and responsiveness while we were abroad. It’s such a comfort having someone in country to reach out to with questions or, for example, to modify an activity mid-trip when we realized my mom needed less walking. This is my third time using Kim Kim and I highly recommend!

Hotel Review
Dikker & Thijs Hotel
Amsterdam

Excellent location, friendly and accommodating staff, delicious breakfast, charming and clean rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum
The Netherlands

A must see.

Amsterdam - Anne Frank House
Amsterdam - Anne Frank House
The Netherlands

A must see.

Amsterdam - Muiderslot Castle by public transport
Amsterdam - Muiderslot Castle by public transport
Amsterdam

We loved taking a walk back through time to the medieval history of Amsterdam. Beautiful grounds and restored castle. The town itself is beyond charming. A trip favorite for sure!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Daytrip to Cheese Farm, Edam and Zaanse Schans
Daytrip to Cheese Farm, Edam and Zaanse Schans
The Netherlands

The cheese farm was interesting, Edam was charming, and the driver Herman was lovely, but Zaanse Schans was insanely mobbed with tourists and felt more like a disney experience than an authentic glimpse into the architectural and engineering feats of the windmills (which were magnificent but better to know in advance that it is a bit of a tourist spectacle)

Amsterdam - Private canal cruise to Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam - Private canal cruise to Van Gogh Museum
The Netherlands

A trip favorite! Our guide was informative and funny and there is nothing like seeing the city from the water.

Amsterdam Dungeon
Amsterdam Dungeon
Amsterdam

My son and I really enjoyed this spooky theater that introduced us to the ghosts of Amsterdam's past. Beware, though, it is spooky and not for the faint of heart! Also requires a fair amount of walking and crouching so my 82yo mom was not able to participate.

Amsterdam - Private guided historic city walk
Amsterdam - Private guided historic city walk
The Netherlands

Jan was friendly and knowledgeable

Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
Public Transport Pass Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Easy to navigate, very clean, and enjoyed traveling like a local!

Local specialist: Mieke Arendsen
Mieke
Mieke Arendsen
Local specialist in The Netherlands | Replied on Aug 18, 2025

Dear Rebecca, Thank you very much for your kind words! Great to read that all of you have enjoyed the trip. Having different ages on board is sometimes a bit af a challenge, but I am glad you could make it work for all of you. Thank you for sharing your experiences about the windmill site as well; it very touristy and crowded some days - we will make sure to inform our guests better about that, so future guests are better prepared for it.
Wishing you all the best, Mieke

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