Top 35 attractions in the Netherlands

A land of blooming tulips and windmills. More than 15 million tourists visit the Netherlands every year, primarily from neighboring countries: Belgium, Germany and the UK. Tourism is an important sector of the economy, with the most visited city being Amsterdam, the country's capital. Of the natural attractions, the North Sea coast with long beaches and dunes is popular. One of the tourist symbols of the country is the De Wallen district, the famous red-light district. Prostitution and soft drugs are legal in the Netherlands.

What to see and where to go in the Netherlands?

The most interesting and beautiful places to visit. Photos and a short description.

Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)

Art Museum in the historic quarter of Amsterdam. It is one of the 20 most visited museums in the world. Works by Dutch artists form the basis of the collection, but there are also works by well-known masters from other countries. There are paintings by Van Dyck, Goya, El Greco. The collection of paintings by Rubens has been collected - 20 works. To accommodate one of them, the painting "Night Watch", in 1906 the museum premises were rebuilt.

Dam Square (Amsterdam)

The central place in Amsterdam, where many historical buildings of the capital are located and solemn and festive city events are held. In addition, the square has historically been the center of the commercial and political life of the city. The sights of the square are the obelisk monument in honor of the victims of the war, the Gothic New Church, the Royal Palace, Madame Tussauds with wax figures.

Royal Palace (Amsterdam)

The building of the former town hall, built in 1665, is now in the possession of the monarch. The palace was built in the style of Dutch classicism with elements of Roman architecture. The three-storey building is built of brick and yellow sandstone. It is crowned with a dome with a weather vane in the shape of a ship. Interior decoration is made of marble. In the Central Hall, the hemispheres of the Earth are depicted on the floor. The galleries of the palace are decorated with paintings by great artists.

Canals of Amsterdam and Utrecht

The canal system of Amsterdam is included in the list of sites protected by UNESCO. The total length of all canals is several hundred kilometers; about 1,500 bridges have been laid over them. The largest canals are Herengracht, Singel, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht. A fascinating boat trip along the city canals can also be made in Utrecht. The main Oudegracht canal was built in the 12th century and runs through the historic part of the city.

Quarter De Wallen (Amsterdam)

A popular red-light district with tourists. Among the buildings with ancient architecture, tourists are more attracted by alleys with small rooms-cabins rented by prostitutes. A glass showcase in such rooms is illuminated with red light. De Wallen has a prostitution museum housed in a former brothel and a marijuana museum. It is popular among visitors to the quarter to visit erotic shows and sex shops.

Vondelpark (Amsterdam)

City park, created in 1865. The park with an area of ​​47 hectares is visited annually by about 10 million people. People come here just to stroll along the beautifully decorated alleys, as well as for cultural entertainment. The park has a film museum, which shows films of different periods - from silent films to modern films. It also hosts lectures and exhibitions. In summer there is an open-air theater.

Keukenhof (Lisse)

Flower Park, in the center of which is the castle of the same name, built in 1642. It is called both the Royal Park and the Garden of Europe. It occupies an area of ​​32 hectares. Daffodils, hyacinths and even Japanese sakura grow in the park. But the incredible exhibition of tulips attracts visitors - there are more than 4 million of them in the park. Flowering gardens are located between ponds, streams and canals. Some of them can be traveled by boat.

Vrijthof Square (Maastricht)

From this place it is better to start your acquaintance with the small city of Maastricht on the border with Belgium. All the main streets of the city lead here, and from here begins a popular tram tour of the historical part of the city. Among the historical buildings of the square stands out the Basilica of St. Servas. Nearby is a theater with a diverse repertoire. There are many small cafes and souvenir shops on the square.

Peace Palace (The Hague)

Located in The Hague, in the building of the palace, meetings of the UN International Court of Justice and the arbitration court are held. Built of red brick with light sandstone, it combines architecture of different styles from Gothic to Byzantine motifs. Surrounded by an English-style park, decorated with a fountain and sculptures. The works of art inside the palace reflect the cultures of different countries - they are donated by states participating in world conferences.

Binnenhof (The Hague)

This architectural ensemble is considered the political center of the country. The government of the country works in the premises of the castle, and here, in one of the towers, the residence of the prime minister is located. The castle complex was built in the 13th century. Many medieval masterpieces of architecture have been preserved in its courtyard. The basis of the ensemble is the Ridderzaal. In it, the monarch annually delivers a speech before the opening of parliamentary sessions.

Windmills Kinderdijk

Near the village, located between the confluence of two rivers, a system of windmills was built in 1740. 19 old windmills are a popular tourist attraction and are included in the list of UNESCO protected sites. Mills are located on both sides of the artificial canal. Bicycles can be rented to explore the windmill park. And in winter, a skating rink is set up on the ice of a frozen canal.

Open Air Museum in Arnhem

Museum-Park with an area of ​​44 hectares was founded in 1912. It contains the oldest buildings of the country - residential buildings, public buildings and factories. A total of 80 buildings from different time periods. The creation of the museum was aimed at preserving knowledge of ancient traditions and crafts. Reenactors demonstrate the work of linen and paper production, as well as brewing. There is an exhibition of transport, including electric trams.

Zaanse Schans (Zandam)

Another open-air museum, but in the city of Zaandam. It contains samples of Dutch wooden art of the 17th-18th centuries, as well as several windmills. Mills function and are used for oil mill, sawmill and mustard production. You can see the production of wooden shoes with your own eyes, and in the cheese maker you can try about 50 varieties of fresh cheese. The shops sell products made in the museum.

Castle De Haar (Utrecht)

The largest castle in the country in the National Gothic style. The fortified tower on this site was built back in 1391, but the change of owners, attacks and tornadoes left only ruins from the castle by the 19th century. The restoration of the castle lasted about 20 years. Architect Pieter Kuipers not only dealt with the walls of the castle, but also added plumbing and heating. The interior decoration is striking in luxury, and around the castle there is a garden with 7,000 trees.

Utrecht Cathedral

Located in the city center. Once the cathedral was a single ensemble with the Dome Tower, but the structures were divided by a strong tornado that brought down the central nave of the cathedral. The Gothic cathedral was built in the 12th century. Many fragments of the old church have survived to this day. On the territory of the destroyed nave, a square was arranged and trees were planted. Decorated arches and colorful stained-glass windows stand out in the interior.

St. John's Cathedral ('s-Hertogenbosch)

Founded on the site of a Romanesque church. The construction of the cathedral began in 1220 and ended in 1340. The construction of the tower, 73 meters high, was completed only in 1525. The length of the church is 115 meters. Currently, the building of the cathedral is a monument of historical architecture of the country. For a long time the church was parish, until in 1559, with the formation of the city diocese, it was given the status of a cathedral.

Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam)

The Museum of Amsterdam, dedicated to the work of the famous artist, contains almost a quarter of all his paintings - 200 works. In addition to paintings, about 400 of his drawings and about 700 letters are exhibited. Several expositions are dedicated to the life of the artist. The museum also exhibits the work of impressionist painters such as Manet and Monet, Gauguin and Signac. There are several sculptures by Rodin and Dalou. More than 1.5 million people visit the museum every year.

Anne Frank House Museum (Amsterdam)

In this house, the girl and her family hid from the Nazis in the "Shelter", built to shelter Jews from the Holocaust. For more than two years of her life in the Vault, Anna kept a diary, the publication of which caused a public outcry. This led to the opening of the house museum in 1960. Among the exhibits is the original of Anna's diary, materials about the Nazi terror, and a film-biography of the girl's life. More than a million people visit the museum every year.

Rembrandt House Museum (Amsterdam)

An art museum dedicated to the artist's work. Placed in the house where Rembrandt lived for 17 years. It recreates the atmosphere that was here during the life of the artist - furniture, room decoration. The museum contains interesting collections of the master's works - engravings and graphic works. One of the main expositions is the work of Rembrandt's students and teacher, as well as paintings by the artist's contemporaries.

Mauritshuis (The Hague)

Art Royal Gallery. The number of paintings in it is small, but the canvases exhibited in it, every one of them arouse the admiration of the public. These are the works of Rembrandt, Potter, Hals, Vermeer, Wall. In total, about 250 paintings by Dutch artists from the Golden Age were collected. The gallery is housed in a mansion built in 1641. It is often compared in importance to the Royal Palace.

Frans Hals Museum (Harlem)

Art Museum founded in 1862. The basis of the collection is the work of Hals, but the museum has many paintings by other local artists. The museum displays works by van Haarlem, van Heemskerk, van Scorel and Goltzius. The museum collection also includes ancient religious exhibits related to Roman Catholic art. The museum's exhibitions change frequently due to lack of exhibition space.

NEMO Museum (Amsterdam)

The expositions of the museum are mostly designed for children. In it, in a simple and visual form, they talk about scientific discoveries and facts. The exhibitions are divided into floors according to the level of difficulty. On the ground floor there are mirrors, soap bubbles and other exhibits for primary school age. Above are expositions devoted to physics and chemistry. On the top floor, the exhibits will be of particular interest to teenagers.

Vauda steam pumping station

The station was built in 1920 in the province of Friesland to protect against floods. Queen Wilhelmina came to its opening. The basis of the design of the station was a complex of steam engines and centrifugal pumps. Subsequently, the coal-fired boilers of the station were replaced by modern ones, which eventually were transferred to oil. The station is operational, and it is launched for several days a year. Included in the UNESCO list.

Market Markthal (Rotterdam)

A unique commercial and residential complex in Rotterdam. The building is made in the form of a giant arch, with shopping areas located between the residential buildings. There is underground parking. The device of the transparent facade allows you to appreciate the decoration of the arch vaults even from the outside. Bright paintings cover the entire ceiling inside - it's 11,000 m². The opening of the masterpiece of modern architecture was attended by Queen Maxima.

Cube Houses (Rotterdam)

The brightest and most popular architectural landmark of the city. Avant-garde cube houses are combined into a single residential complex. Visually, the houses look like cubes placed on a hexagonal pylon. The intricate view of the houses raised to a height attracts many tourists. This is used by residents of apartments, inviting them on excursions to their home. Each cube contains a three-story apartment.

Euromast (Rotterdam)

The tower is 185 meters high. At the same time, the diameter of the amazing structure is only 9 meters. The observation deck of the tower is located at a height of 96 meters. Because of its shape, Euromast is often referred to by locals as a "crow's nest". There is a luxury restaurant on the observation deck, and two super-luxe hotel rooms are located on the upper level. Visitors overcome part of the ascent in a panoramic cabin.

Erasmus Bridge (Rotterdam)

It is one of the symbols of the city, thanks to its unusual and recognizable design. It is called the "swan bridge". The cable-stayed bridge was built in 1996. Its length is 802 meters. The height of the pylon is 139 meters. The bridge has a draw span. In Western Europe, it is considered one of the heaviest and largest. At night, the bridge of the original form is beautifully illuminated by lights.

Delta Project

A complex system of structures designed to protect land in the Rhine Delta from flooding. Within the framework of the project, a complex was created, consisting of storm barriers, dams and locks. The work was completed in 1997 and the Delta project is considered one of the largest such projects in the world. It includes almost 15,000 dams and about 300 structures. The project was included by American engineers in the modern list of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Port of Rotterdam

One of the largest ports in the world with a large cargo turnover. Most of the cargo is oil products, ore and coal. About 30,000 ships pass through the port every year. The area of ​​the port is 105 km², the length is 40 km. The first harbors on this site appeared in the Middle Ages, but the main development of the port was already in the 19th century. A visit to this place will be interesting not only for those who are interested in shipbuilding.

Madurodam Miniature Park (The Hague)

It is a miniature copy of the city with typical Dutch buildings, the originals of which are located in different parts of the country. The models are made in 1:25 scale. About 4 km of the railway was laid along Madurodam. The park is interactive and incredibly real. With the help of a special remote control, it is possible to control barrier dams, loading containers or taking off an aircraft.

Efteling Theme Park (Katsheuvel)

An amusement park with beautiful scenery and a variety of attractions. Its area is 276 hectares. The theme of the park is fairy tales. In it you can meet many heroes of your favorite fairy tales by Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, Anderson. It has a golf course and three park-themed hotels. The park has 36 attractions, of which 6 are roller coasters. The number of visitors to the park per year is approximately 5 million people.

amsterdam zoo

Large royal zoo. Opened in 1838. In addition to an extensive collection of animals, the zoo has a planetarium, a large aquarium and a zoological museum. The unique museum of microorganisms, which has no analogues in the world, is of interest to visitors. For animals, living areas are equipped that correspond to their habitat in the wild. Centuries-old unusual plants grow in the park, there is a lot of greenery in it.

De Hoge Veluwe

A national park located on a large flat area. Founded by private individuals - Keller patrons. The park is loved by locals and tourists for the opportunity to engage in active forms of recreation in it - hiking, cycling, horseback riding. Moufflons specially brought here live in the park. The landscapes of the park are represented by moorlands, coniferous forests and open sands.

Scheveningen beach and pier

The beach is located on the North Sea and is popular with vacationers in the summer - the water temperature reaches 23 degrees. The wide sandy beach stretches for several kilometers. The beach is also suitable for surfers. One of the attractions of the beach is the old pier. The multi-level structure offers a picturesque view of the sea and the beach. The landscape is especially beautiful in the rays of the setting sun.

wadden sea

Separated from the North Sea by a chain of small Wadden Islands. The Wadden Sea consists of many shallow areas. The unusual shore was formed as a result of natural changes in the X-XIV centuries. At low tide twice a day, the sea is completely drained and refilled at high tides. The Wadden Sea is included in the UNESCO list, it has a unique flora and fauna, which is home to many migratory birds.