When we say Netherlands we immediately think about Amsterdam, windmills and tulips.
It is very common to do that, but Holland is more than that.
It is a beautiful country with amazing scenery and a very colourful and interesting countryside, many green fields and beautiful towns.
It is a pity when visiting Netherlands to not visit the dutch countryside.
Here the atmosphere is completely different than in big cities and gives you a better idea about the locals’ daily life.
Everything to know about the Countryside of Netherlands
- 1. What is the Netherlands countryside like?
- 2. How to visit the countryside
- 3. Best places to see in the countryside of Netherlands
- 4. Best time to visit the countryside of Netherlands
- 5. Is it expensive to visit Netherlands
- 6. Best Holland countryside tour
- 7. Where to stay in the countryside of Netherlands
1. What is the Netherlands countryside like?
The countryside is flat with lush vegetation, lots of canals and incredibly beautiful windmills.
Let’s not forget about the long coastline with its wonderful beaches.
Don’t expect to find mountains or hills in Netherlands; it is just a vast and flat terrain with many canals and systems which pump the water outside the mainland.
An interesting thing to mention is that just about one-third of Netherlands is above sea level, the rest being sunk under the sea.
So that is why they need a really efficient and reliable system to pump the water from the mainland back to the sea.
The lowest point from Holland is 6.7 meters below sea and the highest point is about one hundred meters above sea level.
If you like to walk in the forest, listen to birds singing, ride a bicycle or sail, then Netherlands is the best place to visit.
The villages are small, cosy and quiet with nice decorated houses and beautiful narrow alleys. In some villages, bicycles and boats are the most used vehicles.
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2. How to visit Netherlands countryside
The most common ways to explore the countryside of Netherlands is by car or by train.
2.1 Visit Netherland by Train
Trains in Holland are fast, comfortable and safe.
The railway network is very well developed and connect most of Netherlands towns and cities, having more than 400 stations.
The trains are very modern and comfortable and delays are a very unusual fact.
To get to North or to the South of Netherlands from the capital city railway station named Amsterdam Central by train took you about 2 hours.
Actually, the train is the best way to enjoy the countryside of Netherlands and the dutch towns!
You just sit and relax, while the train gets you from point A to point B.
In order to travel by train, you need a ticket.
In Netherlands there are two types of tickets: a single-use chipcard or an OV-chipkaart or smart card which you can use for multiple rides.
Chipcards could be bought from specialized machines or service desk and are the best choice if you are traveling by train just once or twice. With this card, the train rides are usually 1 euro more expensive than with OV-chipkaart.
If you are a regular train rider and plan to explore the Netherlands countryside by train than OV-chipkaart is what you need.
This card could be bought from the ticketing machine or service desk and there is a onetime fee of 7.5 euro when you buy it.
OV-chipkaart could be used for metro, buses, ferries and trams, too.
Prior to traveling with OV-chipkaart you have to charge credit to your card. The minimum credit to charge a card for train rides is 20 euros.
You have to check-in and check out at each of your trip at the OV-chipkaart pillars on the station.
2.2 Visit Netherlands by Car
Another way to explore Holland is by car. It is the most flexible and relaxing way to explore the country.
You are no longer depending on a fix scheduler and you can stop wherever you want.
A big advantage of a car hire is that you can change your plan if you want without depending on something or you can stop wherever you want and stay for how long you want.
Cars can be hired from the airports, from the lobby of some hotels and from the offices located in big cities.
The daily prices may is influenced by the type of car chosen, by the type of insurance and many other factors.
Prices start from 30 Dollars per day for a small car without insurance and can go up to a few hundred for a big car and pretty good insurance coverage.
Get the best price for your car rental today
Now, before exploring the Netherlands countryside, let me tell you a few words about the renting procedures.
They are the same as in other European countries.
You need to have a valid driving license, a certain age (usually above 21 years), a valid credit card and money to rent the car.
Before renting a car in Netherlands read very carefully the terms and conditions of renting and get extra insurance which covers the most relevant and most frequent incidents.
Do you like to travel without any worries that a car accident might ruin your holiday? Stay on the safe side and buy extra insurance for your car rental!Read more about our trip in the Countryside of Netherlands:
3. Best places to see in the countryside of Netherlands
Netherlands is extremely beautiful and has many top attractions.
Big cities like Amsterdam or Rotterdam or The Hague are famous worldwide.
But besides these, there are many other small town or villages where you can relax and visit the countryside.
I list here the best 5 countryside attractions starting with the last one:
3.1 Zierikzee
Zierikzee is a small seaside town located on a former island called Zeeland. It is an ancient town located in a place with more than 500 historical monuments.
The masterpiece of Zierikzee is Sint- Lievensmonstertoren, the ruins of a church built in the XII century.
Near these ruins is the Dikke Towers which offer a fantastic panoramic view from its top.
To fully enjoy this magnificent village and visit its neighbourhoods plan to spend at least one night in this town.
There are really beautiful hotels in the area, which offer clean and nice rooms, some of them overlooking the historical buildings.
3.2 Harlingen
A picturesque harbour town located in Friesland in the Netherlands countryside
right on the northern part of Netherlands, Harlingen is famous for its architecture.
The town is full of beautiful medieval mansions.
Another interesting thing is the gable stones from the houses, stones which were used in old times to recognize a house before the house numbers being invented.
Book a walking tour or go by yourself along its beautiful streets and let yourself lost in Harlingen.
It is a good way to discover this magic place.
If you plan to stay overnight in Harlingen, I have to tell you that there are very nice hotels in the area.
I am sure that one of them offers exactly what are you looking for!
Are you planning to visit Harlingen? See which are the available options for your stay
3.3 Naarden
One of the very few fortress towns from Netherland, Naarden is a very well preserved place founded back in 1300.
The construction technique used in building this town is known as the star fortress.
In a star fortress, the buildings are built in a large circle, surrounded by a giant green “lance”.
The best pictures of the place can be obtained from the air with a drone or from the plain.
The town looks really nice at sunset and sunrise!
Definitely, you should see it! Spend your night in a local hotel and enjoy the sunset from your balcony!
Do you want to visit Naarden?
3.4 Volendam
Hollands most famous fishing village, Volendam is located in the Northside of Netherlands, just 20 kilometres away from Amsterdam.
Here, in this XIV century town, you can find the traditional brown buildings with red pointed roofs, a small port with many fishing boat and locals dressed in their traditional clothes.
The city is representative of Holland countryside and you will see it in many postcards and pictures because of its beauty and authenticity.
If you think of spending the night here, book in advance to get the room with the best view! Totally worth it!
Find here a more in-depth article about Amsterday day trips, where we talked about things you can do in Volendam:
3.5 Giethoorn
Giethoorn is the most famous village from Netherlands and one of the top-visited places from Holland countryside, besides Zaanse Schans and Kinderdijk.
This small but fascinating city is a Unesco World Heritage site for many years and it continues to fascinate and attract tourists from all over the world.
The village is also known as the “Venice of the North” or Venice of the Netherlands because it has more than 90 kilometres of canals.
The most interesting thing is that some houses could be reached only by boat and the main transportation method is a bicycle and not car.
This town is way too beautiful not to spend a night in it!
I strongly recommend you to book a night in one of the local hotels to have time to explore the village! Its beauty will amaze you!
4. Best time to visit Netherlands countryside
The Netherlands has a temperate climate with four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
It has a mild climate with mild winters and not very hot summers because the temperatures are influenced by the North Sea currents.
The best time to visit the countryside of Netherlands is from late spring to early autumn.
These are the new essentials you have to pack for your trip
1. Hand sanitizer with 99.9% efficiency
2. Face mask with increased protection
3. Vaccine card and passport holder
10. First aid kit
Summer months are the ones with less rain and high temperature, but this period of the year is very popular among tourists so prepare for long queues and many tourists everywhere.
I personally prefer to visit this Europe destination in shoulder season, which is in May and September.
The weather is still great, with warm days and less rain and the days are still long enough to visit and explore this magnificent country.
Another big advantage of visiting top attractions in shoulder season is that the prices are still low and you can have many options to choose from.
And here I am talking about hotels, rental cars and restaurants.
Find here everything you need to know about Netherlands Weather and how to choose the best time to visit the Netherlands:
5. Is it expensive to visit Netherlands
Rated as one of the most costly nations in Europe, Holland should get on your travel list because of its lovely views as well as fascinating cities.
The expense of living in this nation is pretty high yet there are several ways to save money while you check out Netherlands.
Netherlands should get on your travel list because of its lovely views as well as fascinating cities.
Find out how much cash is required to browse through the Netherlands? Is it pricey to wander around through the country?
I am sure these are the most usual questions each of us is asking before planning a trip to Holland.
Relying on your travel design, based upon our own personal study here are the ordinary daily expenses, that need to tell you how much money you will certainly require for your journey to the Netherlands.
Read all about the expenses and costs of visiting Netherlands here:
6. Best Netherlands countryside tour
There are many choices when we are speaking about tours which help you discover the beauty of this country.
There are daily tours from big cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and so on.
And there are also multiple-day tours which guide you across the country to discover the hidden secrets of the countryside.
My recommendations for daily tours:
- From Amsterdam to Giethoorn: Day Trip to Giethoorn by Bus and Boat or Giethoorn & the New Polders: Small Group Tour from Amsterdam
- From Amsterdam to Volendam: Volendam, Marken & Windmills with Free 1-Hour Canal Cruise
- From Amsterdam to Naarden: Amsterdam: Muiderslot Castle and Naarden Fortress Tour
7. Where to stay in Netherlands Countryside
The Netherlands is just one of the most interesting countries in Europe.
It has lovely towns with fairy-tale houses, old windmill areas and also hundreds of miles of tulips fields which bloom in various colours in spring.
Such a unique, as well as the stunning country, has several special and interesting accommodations where to stay overnight in the countryside of Netherlands.
I prepared a list with one of the most awesome accommodations where to stay all over the countryside of Netherlands.
It might be quite hard to schedule an evening at one of them but also for sure is a one of a kind experience.
Here are 5 top holiday accommodations where to sleep in the countryside of Netherlands
Book your accommodation
We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.
You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.
Don't forget travel insurance
We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money.
When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.
Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected costs caused by medical events like illness, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.
We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.
Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.
We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.
Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.
We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.
Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.
Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.
Here are other interesting articles on Netherland Countryside
- Exploring the Dutch Countryside around AmsterdamHolland countryside is a very general term which refers to the whole Netherlands except for the big cities. Here we should include all the beautiful …
- Discovering the Best of the Dutch CountrysideThere are so many reasons to visit Netherlands countryside: the windmills, the tulip fields, the medieval castles and the landscape overall is wonderful and unique! …
- Insider Tips for Exploring the Netherlands CountrysideTravel tips for Netherlands countryside Netherlands countryside is an area very little explored. It has great potential, wonderful places but most tourists who come to …
- Exploring Dutch Countryside: Amazing Destinations to VisitNetherlands countryside travel ideas The country with the most sophisticated water plumping system in the world, Netherlands is one of the most interesting countries from …