Holland - Amsterdam The Hague
The Hague is a city on the North Sea coast of the western Netherlands. Its Gothic Binnenhof complex is the seat of the Dutch parliament, and 16th-century Noordeinde Palace is the king's workplace. The city is also home to the U.N.'s International Court of Justice, headquartered in the Peace Palace, and the International Criminal Court.
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13 Recommended Destinations in Holland
Holland (AKA The Netherlands) is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, combining gorgeous waterways, lush vegetation, ideal weather, and fascinating architecture. Sadly, many tourists don't venture out of Amsterdam (Holland's capital), and miss out on all the beauty this country has to offer. Whether you've visited before or you'd to go there in the future, remember these 13 locations, some of which surpass Amsterdam in beauty, and all of which will provide you with a trip of a lifetime.
1. Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse
The Keukenhof Gardens are spectacular botanical gardens located in the city of Lisse, and have earned the nickname "Europe's Gardens". Established in 1949 to allow flower merchants and growers to display Holland's flower variety, it now sees some seven million new flower plants yearly. These gardens spread over 320 square meters (3444 square feet), making them the world's largest flower gardens, and attracting scores of visitors annually.
Please note that tours are available during Tulip season (March-May).
2. Markthal, Rotterdam
Markthal is a large market located in a huge compound that also includes apartments and office buildings in the city of Rotterdam. The new compound was opened in 2014, and cost $201 million. It has 228 apartments and over a hundred stores, bars, and food stands. The building itself is made of grey stone, and the front is decorated with small glass windows, held in place by steel wires. Visitors can also enjoy the world's largest mural, painted over four thousand pieces of glass in the building's inner part. The mural is the work of artist Arno Coenen, which was selected out of nine international contestants and drawn in a unique three-dimensional method.
3. Ijsselmeer
The IJsselmeer was created in 1932 when an inland sea, the Zuiderzee, was closed by a 32 km dam, the Afsluitdijk. This fresh water lake's average depth is 5-6 meters (16-19 feet) and its surface freezes over entirely during the winter.
4. Gouda
The city of Gouda is located in the south of Holland and was established in 1272, and if the name seems familiar, it's because this is the origin of the famous Gouda cheese. Gouda's traditional cheese market is held every summer and is a remarkable experience, bringing together all the local farmers who bring their homemade cheeses for sale.
Traditional cheese tasting is done by pushing a hollowed cylinder into a cheese wheel, and each purchase is done in the traditional way, allowing tourists to see the celebratory weighing ceremony.
5. Giethoorn
The small town of Giethoorn is located in the Dutch province of Overijssel in Eastern Holland, and its name is an abbreviation of "Goat Horns" in Dutch. When it was established, instead of building roads, residents instead used the plethora of waterways and moved from place to place by boat. This has given the town the nickname "The Venice of the Netherlands".
Nowadays, the town is divided into a modern area, which includes roads and modern houses, and a traditional area with its water canals and traditional Dutch homes.
6. Binnenhof, the Hague
While Amsterdam is Holland's capital, the Hague is where most of the country's government bodies are located, including the royal palace. The Binnenhoff, located in the center of the Hague, is a courtyard built in medieval times and since the 13th-century it has been the home for the Dutch government. These days, it is home to both houses of parliament, the office of the prime minister, and the Hall of Knights (used for official events). The Hall of Knights is open for organized visits once a week .
7. Madurodam
This miniature town can be found close to the Hague, and serves as a great attraction, particularly for families with children. The tiny town was created in 1952, as a donation from the parents of George Maduro, a Jewish officer in the Dutch army that was murdered in a concentration camp, and whose parents wished to commemorate in a way that would make children happy. The town is built as a quarter circle, and walking through it will take you past miniaturized models of the royal palace, the ancient town, and some more famous, modern buildings.
One of the most beloved structures is a tiny version of a chocolate factory, that, for a euro coin will send a small truck up to the roof with a candy bar. Madurodam is accessible for parents with baby strollers, as well as handicapped people.
8. The Neeltje Jans Artificial Island
Located in the Zeeland province, close to the Belgian border, Neeltje Jans was created to make Holland's great wave barrier construction easier. The barrier protects Holland's shoreline from waves coming from the Northern Sea. Construction lasted from 1950 and 1997m and is considered to be one of the Seven Modern Marvels of the World.
Amongst the many gorgeous lookout points, the island is also home for a waterpark that both parents and children can enjoy all year round, and includes water slides, pools, a seal show and changing exhibitions.
9. Breda
The city of Breda is located in the south of Holland, by the Belgian border, and is the perfect place for any architecture enthusiasts, as well as people who wish to see the more classical Dutch architecture styles. Roaming the alleyways of the old city reveals glimpses of preserved medieval buildings, and the local church is a wonderful vantage point that overlooks most of the area. In the beginning of every September, Breda turns bright orange as it holds the official international Redhead Festival.
10. Delft
The city of Delft in Southern Holland contains many narrow alleys, wide water canals, and bridges with breathtaking views. Delft's buildings and churches are built in an impressive Gothic style, and it is famous for the many workshops that produce amazing works of art made of blue china. The tradition of producing blue china in Delft goes back to the 17th-century, and tourists can purchase some of these incredible works of art in the many workshops and museums.
11. The Schermer Region
In Dutch, Schermer means "Clear Lake", and is a beautiful rustic region in the north of Holland that up until 2015 was considered to be a separate municipality but is now part of Alkmaar Municipality. This serene area is what comes to mind when people think of Holland: Wooden bridges spanning over water canals, large windmills, thick vegetation, and tiny wooden homes. A visit to Schermer will feel a visit to a fairytale land.
12. Hoge Veluwe National Park, Gelderland
Hoge Veluwe Park is 21 square miles (55 SqKm), and is located in the Gelderland municipality, in eastern Holland. The park was established in 1909 as a private estate of a rich businessman and in 1935 he handed it over to a foundation to be managed is it became the second national park in Holland. The park was built on Holland's largest terminal moraine (the edge of a glacier, marking its final advance). This made the area incredibly diversified, with a variety of natural views, unique vegetation, and an unusually large concentration of wildlife. In springtime, visitors can see deer, wild boars, mouflons (wild sheep), badgers, foxes, and more.
13. Biggekerke, Zeeland
Added to the Zeeland municipality in 1966, Biggekerke is a town that is located in the south-western part of Holland, populated by less than a thousand people. This sleepy town is the best place for anyone who wishes to experience a traditional Dutch lunch, lying down on gorgeous grassy fields that overlook beautiful streams and watching some of the world's most magical sunsets.
Whether you love unique natural views, gorgeous scenery, or fascinating classical architecture, Holland is the place where you can find it all, and then some. All you need to do is leave Amsterdam and tour the countryside. If you have other recommendations for places to see in Holland, please let us know in the comment section.
Summer in Amsterdam, Holland the Netherlands
Amsterdam is the Netherlands' capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city's 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city's character, and there are 400km of cycle paths.
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