The Netherlands also is known as Holland, although it is incorrect, is a country located in northwestern Europe. It is one of the most vibrant and interesting countries from Europe famous for the futuristic vision of the inhabitants and its beautiful windmills, colourful tulips and nice cities.
There are so many interesting things to do in Netherlands that for a first-time traveller would be very hard to decide what to choose.
Some of the following links are affiliate links. When you buy something using the retail links in our article, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost for you. You can read our full disclosure disclaimer and privacy policy.
We’ve done the research for you and analyzed all the activities you could do while in the Netherlands, and we’re happy to recommend the following options:
1. Take a boat tour along Amsterdam canals
Amsterdam is the heart of the Netherlands, its most vibrant and interesting city of the country. It is famous for its nonstop parties, Red Light District and wonderful canals.
Amsterdam has many beautiful buildings and nice museums. You need at least 3 days to explore everything that this city has to offer.
And what I like the most is that the city is very different from the land than from the canals.
From the land Amsterdam is a city for parties with many bars and restaurant and coffee shops, but from the canals you will discover a completely different city.
A romantic and charming Amsterdam which should not be missed when visit Netherlands.
2. Visit a windmill park
Along the Netherlands planes, there are many windmill parks. The most famous ones are the Kinderdijk windmills park and Zaanse Schans.
Kinderdijk is located close to Rotterdam and Zaanse Schans is a short drive or train ride from Amsterdam.
You can set your camp in Rotterdam at for 3 days and in Amsterdam at for another 3 days and explore the areas nearby.
Both locations are beautiful and representative for Netherlands. One of the most interesting things to do in Netherlands is visiting a windmill park.
Walking along the park or taking a boat tour inside the protected areas are two unique experiences which should not be missed!
3. Visit the village of Marken
One of the most picturesque places in Netherlands, Marken is located in Provence North-Holland, half an hour drive from Amsterdam.
The town was separated from the mainland many years ago in the XIII century when a huge storm occurred. For a long period of time, the villagers were isolated by the rest of the country until a dike was built in the XIX century.
In our times, the place is very beautiful and step aside thanks to house architecture, little wooden houses well maintained and very beautifully coloured.
The place is perfect for those of you looking for authentic accommodation, quiet places and picturesque landscapes. You can spend some nights in Marken and visit the villages from the nearby area.
There are buses which connect these villages and the experience of visiting all these villages is very profound.
4. Visit Efteling one of the most entertaining things to do in Netherlands
Efteling Entertainment Park is the biggest park from Netherlands and one of the oldest thematic park in the world.
The park is really nice built and is split into different zones with lush vegetation, fast rides and even a magical world with daily representations.
The park is pretty crowded especially in the peak season and maybe because of the increased number of tourists, you will not be able to enjoy the park as you should.
The park is open all year round and in summer they have extended their opening hours.
For your kids is a journey in a fantasy world with many captivating experiences.
5. Trip some cheese in Edam
If you are a cheese fan than Edam is the right place for you!
Edam is a small village located close to Amsterdam. It is famous because of its cheese. The town is packed with shops selling cheese with the same name Edam.
The history of cheese dated from many centuries and is a real tradition in the area. All Edam cheese sold here is wrapped in a yellow rind.
The taste of the cheese is pretty intense and after you eat it you will have in your month a very interesting taste.
Tasting cheeses is one of the most interesting things to do in Netherlands especially if you are a food lover.
We bought a few tasty kinds of cheese from Edam and each time we ate them we remembered about the narrow streets of Edam and their small and cosy shops.
Enjoy your days spend in the Netherlands and try to escape from the big cities! Netherlands countryside is indeed beautiful and you must visit it when you visit 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.