50 things you should experience in Holland

Holland is more than tulips, windmills and cheese, and that is exactly what makes the country so appealing. If you really want to get to know it, you should not only visit the famous sights, but also leave space for the small, typical moments. It is often these that stay in your memory long after the trip.

The following list combines classic highlights with simple ideas for your own discoveries. It suits a first visit just as well as trips where you want to see Holland again from a fresh perspective.

Typical experiences that simply belong to a trip

• Ride a bike through dunes, villages or along canals
• Spend a day at the North Sea and enjoy the wide, open beach
• Try fresh fries with a typical Dutch sauce
• Take a canal cruise through a Dutch city
• See windmills up close
• Explore a historic city centre on foot
• Discover regional products at a weekly market
• Taste Dutch cheese
• Sit in a street café and watch everyday life around you
• Experience the sunset on the coast

Experience Holland outdoors and on the move

• Go for a hike through dune landscapes
• Take a ferry to an island or a coastal town
• Watch birds and nature in a quiet landscape
• Spend a whole day out without a fixed plan
• Have a picnic by the water
• Travel from place to place by bike instead of by car
• Visit a harbour and watch ships come and go
• Walk along the beach early in the morning
• Cycle through blooming fields or green polders
• Let the special sense of space in the landscape really sink in

Cities, culture and everyday life

• Visit a museum and learn more about art, history or life by the water
• Stroll through narrow alleys lined with old houses
• Experience a city from the water
• Try local specialities in a market hall or café
• Browse independent shops and boutiques
• Find a spot where you can observe everyday life
• Visit a church, town hall or another historic building
• Take an evening walk through an illuminated old town
• Notice how tradition and modern life come together
• Stop in a small place that is not at the top of the guidebooks

Typically Dutch moments of indulgence

• Try freshly baked waffles or other sweet treats
• Enjoy a coffee with a view of the water
• Discover local specialities in a bakery
• Have a simple lunch in a relaxed setting
• Buy cheese, bread or pastries at a market
• Take your time for a long breakfast at your holiday home
• Stop off at a beach pavilion
• Order something new that you do not know from home
• Pick up regional products for the evening
• See meals not just as a break, but as a set part of your holiday

Ideas for special holiday moments

• Plan a whole day on the spot
• Visit several small places instead of just one big city
• Go outside even when the weather is changeable
• Use a holiday home as a base for quiet explorations
• Start your day earlier than usual and enjoy the calm
• Visit a place twice, once during the day and once in the evening
• Look for favourite spots by the water
• Photograph not only sights but also everyday moments
• Give yourself time instead of trying to see as much as possible in a short stay
• Realise at the end of the day that the simplest things were often the best

When you travel through Holland, you quickly sense that the country is not defined by single highlights, but above all by its atmosphere. Paths along the water, lively cities, open landscapes and a relaxed way of travelling blend into a picture that stays with you. That is why it is worth doing more than just seeing a lot. It is worth truly experiencing Holland.