The Best Cities to Visit in the Netherlands: Where to Go Beyond Amsterdam

Most first trips to the Netherlands begin and end in Amsterdam, which is a shame. The country is small enough that half a dozen very different cities sit within an easy train ride of each other, and each one shows you a different side of Dutch life. Here is how to choose between them, and how to string several into one trip.

Amsterdam: canals, museums and big-city energy

Amsterdam suits first-timers, art lovers and anyone after a lively city break. The 17th-century canal ring is a joy to wander on foot, especially early in the morning before the day-trippers arrive.

• Highlights: the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum on Museumplein, and the narrow lanes and hidden courtyards of the Jordaan.
• Good to know: it is the busiest and most expensive Dutch city, so plenty of travellers sleep elsewhere and come in on day trips.

Haarlem and Utrecht: canal cities at a gentler pace

Haarlem

Only around 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam, Haarlem feels like another world: a handsome Grote Markt, quiet almshouse courtyards and independent shops. It makes a smart base in spring, because the bulb fields around Lisse and the Keukenhof gardens are close by. Don't miss St Bavo's Church on the main square and the Frans Hals Museum.

Utrecht

If Amsterdam feels hectic, Utrecht is the answer. This student city has canals with a lower wharf level, where cafés sit right at the water's edge, and a compact medieval centre. Climb the Dom Tower, the tallest church tower in the country, then take an evening drink along the Oudegracht. Utrecht Centraal is the country's main rail hub, so it also works well as a base for slower travellers.

Rotterdam: architecture and a modern edge

Rotterdam was largely rebuilt after the Second World War and now feels like the boldest city in the country. It suits design fans, food lovers and anyone who prefers a place that doesn't revolve around tourism.

• Highlights: the horseshoe-shaped Markthal food hall, the tilted Cube Houses next door and the Erasmus Bridge over the Maas.
• Nearby: the UNESCO-listed windmills of Kinderdijk make an easy half-day trip.

The Hague and Delft: painters, politics and the beach

The Hague is the seat of the Dutch government and home to international courts, yet it also has a long sandy beach at Scheveningen. Delft, a short tram or train ride away, is a picture-perfect small town of canals and church spires.

• The Hague: the Mauritshuis, where Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring hangs, and the Peace Palace.
• Delft: the market square between the Old and New Churches, and the famous blue-and-white Delftware.
• Suits: culture lovers, families and anyone who wants city and sea in one stay.

Maastricht: a different side of the country

Down in the far south, squeezed between Belgium and Germany, Maastricht feels almost un-Dutch, with gentle hills, cobbled squares and a love of long lunches. It suits food lovers and anyone combining the Netherlands with its neighbours. Highlights include the Vrijthof square, the old city walls along the river and the tunnels beneath Sint-Pietersberg. The train from Amsterdam takes roughly two and a half hours, so plan at least one night.

How the cities link up

Amsterdam, Haarlem, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague and Delft all lie in the densely populated Randstad, with frequent trains between them, and most hops take under an hour. A classic route runs Amsterdam, Haarlem as a day trip, Utrecht, Rotterdam, then Delft and The Hague, before heading south to Maastricht. Schiphol airport has direct trains to Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam, so you can start or finish almost anywhere.

Stay connected in the Netherlands

City-hopping means checking train times, finding your way from the station to the old town and booking museum slots on the go, so mobile data does a lot of the work. A HelloSIM eSIM is data-only: you install it at home before the trip, it connects once you arrive, and your own number stays on your phone for calls and texts. Adding Antwerp, Bruges or Cologne to the route? A regional Europe plan may suit a multi-country trip better, so check the countries it lists.