Alternatives to Amsterdam include the Hague, Delft and Alkmaar. All three cities have their own distinctive charms and are less frenetic than the Dutch capital. Also growing in popularity with visitors is the town of Maastricht in the far south. Much more than just the place a European treaty was signed - the picturesque town is a pleasant and unusual destination.
Amsterdam, though, is clearly the country's main tourist destination. Think of Amsterdam and think Dutch Masters, quaint canals and great museums. Don't necessarily think red light district and a liberal attitude to drugs - for this delightful city has far more to offer visitors than mere titillation. The Rijksmuseum, packed with priceless paintings, will appeal to culture vultures, while it is impossible to visit Anne Frank's House without being deeply moved.
Outside of its beautiful cities, the Netherlands has opportunities for those wanting to get away from it all. The Wadden Islands of the north are a Mecca for yachting enthusiasts, while the flat landscape makes touring by bike easy and - importantly - fun.
So, if you thought it was all windmills and tulips, you'd better think again...
See & Do
The vast majority of tourists to the Netherlands travel directly to Amsterdam, and it's a safe bet that most of those don't leave Amsterdam either. Fair enough, the capital has more than enough attractions of its own to entice the traveller, be they culture-vultures, nostalgic ex-hippies or parents holidaying with children (or a combination of all three).
It seems a shame, though, that the rest of the nation doesn't get the attention it deserves. Outside of Amsterdam the remainder of the Netherlands is a beautiful country with plenty to offer tourists.
Amsterdam
The capital of the Netherlands is a small, vibrant city. The centre is set around a semi-circular pattern of canals and narrow streets, and it is in here that almost all of the tourist attractions are located.
Among the largest of these is the Rijksmuseum (National Museum), which houses an impressive collection of Dutch Masters as well as historical exhibits from around the world. Many visitors are drawn to the Van Gogh Museum, a superb collection of the troubled painter's work; or the Anne Frank Museum, a moving depiction of the Frank family's life in hiding from the Nazis. Combined with this wealth of culture the city's nightlife is legendary and Amsterdam remains one of the world's most exciting and intriguing places to visit.
See our Amsterdam guide for more details of the city.
Van Gogh Museum
The Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam draws a crowd on most weekends and is undoubtedly one of the Netherlands's most important cultural centres. The museum traces Van Gogh's life through more than 200 paintings and 500 drawings by the the most famous of all Dutch artists and his contemporaries. Van Gogh's own work is arranged chronologically in five periods.
One of the world's greatest art museums, it is well worth making the effort to visit even if staying outside Amsterdam.
See our Amsterdam guide for more details of the city.
Beaches of Noord Holland
North of Amsterdam are the tulip fields and market towns of the Noord Holland province. This is picture-postcard Holland and a fantastic place to tour either by public transport, or even better, by bike.
Meanwhile in summer the North Sea coast west and north of Amsterdam is the place to head with sandy beaches and pleasant resort towns. Close to the capital are the beaches of Wijk aan Zee, while Zandvoort, near Haarlem, is the country's most popular coastal destination, with long, white beaches. Bloemendaal is the trendiest of this region's beaches, with some great clubs and bars, home to the beautiful people who decamp from Amsterdam in summer.
Near to Zandvoort is the Kennemer Duinen reservation area, a designated area of natural beauty. With cars banned and even planes prohibited from flying overhead, the 4000-hectare site is great for exploring by bike or foot and contains a wealth of flora and fauna. All these areas are easily accessible from Haarlem - itself only a short train ride from Amsterdam. From Haarlem continue your journey by bicycle, you can hire them from the train station at: Rijwielshop-Pieters, Stationsplein 7, Tel: +31 (0)23-531-7066.
Delft
The charming town of Delft will feature significantly in many Netherlands itineraries because of the famous blue porcelain that has been produced here for centuries. It is only an hour from Amsterdam by train, and once you arrive you will immediately be beguiled.
Climb the steps of the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) for the best view over the rooftops and make sure you visit the Royal Delft factory where the famous blue pottery is still manufactured by hand as it has been since the 1600s.
Alkmaar
The Netherlands has long been associated with the making of cheeses, and a visit to the cheese market at Alkmaar is as much a cultural experience as it is a place to buy the country's most famous export. The market square is filled with large yellow cheeses in their thousands as the local producers flock to the town to sell their wares.
If this isn't enough then you'll have to pay a visit to the Cheese Museum, which documents the history of the town and its cheesy product. There's also a beer museum chronicling the other national obsession. Whatever your cilinary tastes, the town makes for a relaxing getaway, and is a pleasant slice of small town Holland.
The Hague
The Hague (Den Haag) is the seat of government and the home of the Dutch Royal Family - though the city is not, strangely, the national capital. It is not well-known by tourists, but has many attractions including family destinations such as the popular Duinrell Park (with a waterpark and bobsledding among other attractions), the miniature town of Madurodam and the fascinating Museon science museum.
More refined than hedonistic Amsterdam, The Hague is a cosmopolitan centre with international restaurants and a lively nightlife. The centre contains many charming examples of classical Dutch architecture.
Cycle Touring
The Netherlands is one of the few countries in Western Europe where cycling is still embraced nationwide as a legitimate means of travel. It isn't all that surprising when you see the vast expanses of pancake-flat terrain in the country.
Getting on a bike is the best way to explore the interior at your own pace, and gives you time to notice the beauty of the vast tulip fields and ubiquitous windmills that make up the Netherlands of cliché. Even the cities are incredibly cycle friendly and bicycles are available for hire almost everywhere.
Maastricht
Although it shot to fame as the location for the signing of a European treaty that brought the nations of the continent closer together, Maastricht is also the Netherlands's oldest city. It is a charming place sandwiched between Belgium and Germany in the far south of the country.
Tourists are pleasantly surprised to find the market town a cosmopolitan mix of several cultures. The Romans left their mark here and you can still see the ancient fortifications that surrounded the settlement, now an attractive maze of picturesque streets and pretty houses.
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum
The perfect place to visit if you haven't got time to explore the whole country. This open-air museum just outside Arnhem brings together all the different regions of the Netherlands in a village comprised of traditional buildings from the 1600s to the present day. It is a genuine working village with everything from a dairy to traditional printers, all churning out handmade produce.
The museum also traces the development of the windmill (there is more than one type, for those not in the know), and hosts hands-on workshops for kids and adults to take part in.
Hoge Veluwe
Few guides to the Netherlands will fail to mention the Hoge Veluwe, the Netherlands's largest national park. Located in the province of Gelderland between Arnhem to the south and Appeldorn to the north, it is a varied landscape of natural beauty. The shaded woodland of the park is a particularly welcome change from the flatland of elsewhere in the country.
Moorland, marsh and sand dunes make up the rest of the park and, throughout, the area teems with wildlife; red deer and wild boar being just two of the inhabitants. The Kröller-Müller family originally privately owned Hoge Veluwe and the Kröller-Müller Museum is an eclectic mix of art and sculpture. Bicycles are available for loan, free of charge, enabling visitors to explore to their heart's content.
