Places to see, Things to do

Top 10 Tourist Attractions

1. Van Gogh Museum
This excellent museum is Amsterdam’s top tourist attraction. Spanning his early years in South Holland, through his Impressionist years in Paris, to his last years in St. Rémy, his work is arranged chronoligically, giving you a real understanding of the developement of his work. This museum is a perfect size for those short on time. Temporary exhibits of his peers also show.
Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7, Amsterdam, tel.:                  020 570 52 00        (museumplein)
vangoghmuseum.nl

2. Anne Frank House
Possibly the most worthwhile of all the Netherlands’ popular attractions, the Anne Frank House, gives a intimate insight into the Frank family’s life in hiding from 1942 until 1944 during the Nazi occupation.
Address: Prinsengracht 267, Amsterdam, tel.:                  020 556 71 05         
Anne Frank huis

3. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
While this beautiful museum is under major renovation until 2013, this is may be one of the best times to visit, as the most important pieces have been temporarily assembled in one wing.
This is the largest museum in the Netherlands. It houses a world-famous collection focusing on the paintings of the 17th-century Dutch Republic, the ‘Golden Age’, including works by Rembrandt Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. Silver, delftware, doll’s houses, prints, drawings, Asiatic art and Dutch history are also featured.
Address: Rijksmuseum, De meesterwerken en Infocentrum (Het Nieuwe Rijksmuseum), Jan Luikenstraat 1, Amsterdam, tel.:                  020 674 70 00          .
rijksmuseum.nl

4. Keukenhof
From 19 March - 21 May 2009, every day from 8.00-19.30 hrs visitors flock here to see the over 7,000,000 flowers in the famous Keukenhof Gardens. The 70-acre gardens offer a breathtaking display of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and amaryllis planted by the Netherlands’ leading flower growers. Not to be missed.
Address: Stationsweg 166a, Lisse, tel.:                  0252 465 555         
keukenhof.nl

5. Delft
Famous for its distinctive blue and white porcelain, Delft itself is one of the most charming cities (and a good place to shop). Home of the famous Dutch artist Vermeer (Girl with the Pearl Earring- his former house can be found here), it has beautifully preserved 17th-century buildings, tree-lined canals and plenty of porcelain shops.
For information, contact VVV Delft, Markt 85, tel.:                 015 212 61 00            delft.nl

6. The Kröller-Müller Museum
Located in the wooded parkland of De Hoge Veluwe National Park, you can either drive or, better, borrow the white bicycles available at the park gates (provided free of charge) to travel the couple of kilometers to this museum. This collection ranks as the third most important in the Netherlands. Over 275 works by Van Gogh (roughly 50 are on display at any one time) and other artists such as Seurat, Monet and Picasso are featured. PLus there is a lovely sculpture garden, which is worth the trip in itself.
Address: Houtkampweg 6, Otterlo, near Arnhem, tel.:                0318 59 12 41       
kmm.nl

7. Delfshaven/Port of Rotterdam
Delfshaven is where the Pilgrim Fathers departed for the New World in 1620. The tiny harbor has been preserved to look much as it did then, except for the addition of some trendy waterfront restaurants. Across the road at the Spido Landing Stage, tours by boat give a unique insight into modern life in the world’s busiest seaport.
Delfshaven/Spido Landing Stage, Rotterdam, tel.:                  010 41 35 400         
For more information on Delfshaven: De Havenaar, Information Center for Historical Delfshaven, Voorhaven 38c, 3024 RN Rotterdam, tel.:                  010 425 86 47         
contact the website delfshaven.org it is a bed and breakfast but has excellent information, even maps.
Historisch Museum Rotterdam, Korte Hoogstraat 31, 3011 GK Rotterdam, tel.:                  010 217 67 67          ,
hmr.rotterdam.nl

8. Madurodam
This loved, if not gitchy, spotnear The Hague is a miniature scale-model town, complete with see all of the Netherlands’ major cities and landmarks up close and personal, with many mechanized exhibits, including busy motorways and sailing ships.
Address: George Maduroplein 1, The Hague, tel.:                  070 416 24 00       
madurodam.nl

9. Kinderdijk
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most archetypal of all Dutch scenes. Here you find 19 windmills preserved idyllically situated along a broad canal. A visitors’ windmill is open every day from 9.30 - 17.30 hrs. from March 1 through October 31st, with canal cruises beginning on May 1 and ending August 31 st.. During July and August all mills are put into action on Saturdays. (National Windmill Day is May 10, when most windmills across the country are open to the public.)
Location: For the routeplanner use the following address: Overwaard 2, 2961 AT Kinderdijk.
Visitors’ Center Windkracht 4, Molenstraat 236, Kinderdijk, tel.:                  078 693 09 25          , or VVV Zuid
Holland, tel.:                  078 613 28 00         
kinderdijk.nl

10. De Efteling
De Efteling is an amusement park with a fairy tale theme. An unmissable place to take children, it has been charming both kids and adults alike with its enchanted forest, haunted castle, roller coasters and ‘white-water’ boat rides, since the 1950s. There’s also a charming hotel on the grounds.
Address: Europalaan 1, Kaatsheuvel (near Tilburg), tel.:                  0416 288 111        
elfteling.nl

Furthermore...

Everyone's thought of going to Amsterdam of The Hague, but Holland is full of beautiful cities. In addition to Delft (mentioned above), don't miss the pretty university town of Leiden, the city's of Utrecht (also a great shopping destination), Haarlem, Gouda (see the famous cheese market) or 'Den Bosch'. You should also try out:

Scheveningen
Don't try to pronounce it, just take our word for it. This popular beach front resort may have a casino, but this is one beachfrint made for all day amusement! While those who prefer a quiet day in the sun will moan and groan about it, Scheveningen has plenty to entertain the family. An architecturally unique, indoor pier, it houses shops, a restaurant, rocking chairs along the windowed walkway to enjoy the great views, and even bungee jumping (!) available off the high end tower. Lining the boardwalk are various restaurants and bar/lounges, along with regular fair-type food stands and all sorts of diversions from huge kites for rental to gigantic trampolines! The kids will think they've gone to heaven.
scheveningen.nl

Amersfoort
Amersfoort is one of the most picturesque cities in the country. It is characterized by some of the oldest buildings and remains of city walls in the country. It is impressive in all seasons.
amersfoort.nl and hollandvoice.net

We could go on forever for places to go. (Well, for a really long time!) Better get started!
Our favorite consultant on what to see? Try holland.com. On this site of the Dutch tourist board, you can select from a long menu of Dutch cities and towns, and the site will give you a short overview of why you might want to go there. The list is extensive. For little adventures, try clicking on a random place on the list and go exploring!

Other handy tourist links:
• NL Planet - "The lowdown on the lowlands"
• The Netherlands at Lonely Planet
• The Netherlands at World66
• At TripAdvisor.com you can also choose by city. The list is less unique than the Stroll Along Cities page (see box above), but the recommendations are by fellow tourists.
• Virtual Tourist gives you the additional option to choose by province. It also offers links to popular personal travel pages featuring trips to the Netherlands.

We also recommend you see our pages on "Festivals!", "Children's Events" if you have family here, and "How to Find 'What's on' in Holland". The last one contains an invaluable tip that is worth repeating: most Dutch cities have a local webiste telling you all about what to see and do there at any given time. Try the city name plus .com or .nl. Often, both will give you a different, equally useful, site.