Country guide · Netherlands
Best places to visit in Netherlands
3 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
For a first trip to Netherlands, start with Amsterdam: Canal rings, Golden Age art, brown cafés and a city made for bikes. For beaches, look at Rotterdam and The Hague. Rotterdam is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 3
- Best months overall
- May–September
- Start with
- Amsterdam
- Least expensive here
- Rotterdam
3 places to visit in Netherlands
Best: April–June and September · 4 days
Amsterdam
Canal rings, Golden Age art, brown cafés and a city made for bikes
Best: May–September · 3 days
Rotterdam
Europe's biggest port, rebuilt as a showcase of bold modern architecture
Best: May–September · 3 days
The Hague
Seat of government, Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and a North Sea beach
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Canals and Rijksmuseum | April–June and September | 4 days | $220–$360 |
| Rotterdam | Modern architecture and Erasmus Bridge | May–September | 3 days | $170–$300 |
| The Hague | Mauritshuis and Girl with a Pearl Earring | May–September | 3 days | $170–$300 |
When to visit Netherlands
Across these destinations the most reliable months are May–September. Timing still varies by place: Amsterdam is best in April–June and September; Rotterdam is best in May–September; The Hague is best in May–September.
Signature dishes across Netherlands
Events through the year in Netherlands
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Amsterdam: Amsterdam Light Festival — artworks along the canals (late November to January); Rotterdam: International Film Festival Rotterdam (usually late January to early February) |
| February | Amsterdam: Chinese New Year celebrations around the Nieuwmarkt (late January or February); Rotterdam: International Film Festival Rotterdam continues (early February) |
| March | Amsterdam: Keukenhof gardens open (usually from mid-to-late March); The Hague: Keukenhof spring gardens open nearby (usually from late March) |
| April | Amsterdam: King's Day — citywide street party and flea markets (27 April, or 26 April when the 27th is a Sunday); Rotterdam: Rotterdam Marathon (usually April) |
| May | Amsterdam: Remembrance Day two-minute silence (4 May) and Liberation Day festivals (5 May); The Hague: Tong Tong Fair — Indo-Dutch festival of food and culture (usually late spring) |
| June | Amsterdam: Holland Festival of performing arts (usually June); The Hague: Vlaggetjesdag — Flag Day herring festival in Scheveningen harbour (usually June) |
| July | Amsterdam: Keti Koti — commemoration of the abolition of slavery (1 July); Rotterdam: North Sea Jazz Festival at Ahoy (usually mid-July) |
| August | Amsterdam: Pride Amsterdam with the Canal Parade (usually early August) |
| September | Amsterdam: Open Monumentendag — historic buildings open free (usually second weekend of September); Rotterdam: World Port Days (Wereldhavendagen) — port open days and demonstrations (usually early September) |
| October | Amsterdam: Amsterdam Dance Event (usually mid-to-late October) |
| November | Amsterdam: Museumnacht — museums open until late (usually early November); Rotterdam: Sinterklaas arrival celebrations (usually mid-November) |
| December | Amsterdam: Sinterklaas evening — gifts and poems (5 December); Rotterdam: New Year's Eve fireworks around the Erasmus Bridge (31 December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Rotterdam | 57 km |
| Amsterdam | The Hague | 53 km |
| Rotterdam | The Hague | 20 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Netherlands?
Amsterdam: Amsterdam's 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, curves around a compact medieval centre where almost everything is within a 30-minute walk or a short tram ride. The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum…
+When is the best time to visit Netherlands?
Generally May–September, though it varies by region.