Netherlands - Best Of The Rest
Prices quoted correct as of July 2026
Alkmaar
Alkmaar would be just another Dutch town if it wasn't for it's famous cheese market. The town is 40 minutes north west of Amsterdam by train.The Alkmaar Cheese Market is the oldest and largest in the Netherlands, held at the historic Waagplein. Operating every Friday (10:00 to 13:00) from late March to late September, it features traditional cheese carriers, centuries-old scales, and the classic handjeklap trading ritual.
During July and August, evening sessions are also held from 19:00 to 21:00 every Tuesday.
There is no cost associated with attending the market unless, of course, you wish to sample the wares.
Nearby is a Cheese Museum, adults €7.00, child €3.00. Opening times vary but there are extended opening hours on market days.
Delft
Deft is famous for its iconic blue pottery (although they also have a lovely green version as well, which I personally prefer), it is also the birthplace of the painter Johannes Vermeer, the Dutch Master famous for painting The Girl With A Pearl Earring.Those facts aside it's a delightful town, well worth a visit in its own right.
The Niewue Kerk has become the traditional final resting place for the Dutch Royal Family. If you're feeling energetic you can climb the 376 steps to the top of the tower for a panoramic view of the town. Cost €7.50 fot adults and €4.25 for children aged 6+, under sixes not allowed.
The Oude Kerk (Old Church) has a leaning tower and you can visit the final resting place of Vermeer.
Often described as a mini Amsterdam, Delft is essentially a quiet, less-crowded alternative, with historic facades, cozy cafes, and vibrant markets.
If you are a fan of the pottery then the Royal Delft Museum is a must. You can watch the famous pottery being produced and, of course, there's a shop. Standard adult tickets for the Royal Delft Museum cost €17.00. Discounted tickets are available for students at €11.00, and for children aged 7–12 at €7.50.
Den Haag (The Hague)
Whilst Amsterdam may be the capital of The Netherlands, The Hague is the administrative capital and home of the Government as well as being home to over 150 UN organisations including the International Courts of Justice.Whilst Amsterdam is the bustling, tourist-heavy, official capital famous for its vibrant nightlife, canals, and museums. The Hague is the administrative seat of government, offering a more relaxed, upmarket, coastal lifestyle with beaches, embassies, and royal palaces.
They are as different as chalk and cheese - you can choose which Dutch cheese, I'm not getting involved in that debate.
It's relatively compact city, you can walk from the centre to the beach in around 15 minutes.
Whilst Amsterdam hosts the more famous art galleries, don't overlook The Hague, the Mauritshuis houses many world-famous Dutch Golden Age masterpieces, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. Admission is €21.00, children free. A free smartphone guide can be downloaded or you can hire a multimedia device for €2.50.
The city's seaside resort district, Scheveningen, features a lively pier, sandy beaches, and numerous seafood restaurants. The 11km coastline also features a boardwalk.
If you like the quirky then Escher in The Palace, an interactive museum showcasing the mind-bending optical illusions of M.C. Escher, housed in a former royal palace will be right up your street. Open Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 - 17:00, Adults €14.50, Youths (7-17) €11.00
You could also take a guided tour of the stunning Peace Palace and visitor centre, which is home to the International Courts of Justice. Guided tours inside the palace are available on weekends from May to October, subject to the work schedule of the courts. Admission is €17.50 and the tour takes 50 - 60 minutes, tours are restricted to a maximum of 20 people and booking in advance is strongly recommended. There are two tours daily in Dutch and four in English.
Many cities have hop-on-hop-off bus services, The Hague has a hop-on-hop-off tram service. Along the way, you can hop on and off as often as you like at any of the 16 stops. From the Peace Palace, to the beach of Scheveningen, the city centre of The Hague and more. It operates weekends April to October, half hourly between 10:15 and 16:45, tickets are €18.00 for adults (13+) and €5.00 for children (4-12)
I must admit as I have become older I prefer to stay in The Hague rather than Amsterdam. It's pretty central and you can reach Amsterdam by train in 36 minutes (around €12.00) or in 45 minutes by bus (€5.00)
Edam
Alkmaar may have the oldest and biggest cheese market but Edam, home of the eponymous red waxed cheese has the most visited one, although in reality it's more a choreographed show for the tourists, rather than a proper market, which actually closed over a century ago.The current cheese market is a reconstruction of the market as it was held in Edam until 1922. Musically enlivened by the sounds of an Old Dutch barrel organ and the tones of the Edam cheese chapel.
The cheeses are displayed every Wednesday morning in July and August between 10.30 and 12.30 and on Saturday 10 August there is a night market from 20.30 to 22.00.
Visit the Kaaswaag (Weigh House), when the summer market isn't running, head there to learn the history of Edam's famous export and enjoy cheese tastings.€8.00 for those aged 13 and over, €4 for age 6-12
Like Delft though there is more to Edam than the obvious, it is another delightful town with charming squares, albeit a tad touristy and expensive.
If you're feeling lazy take a trip along the canal and let the boat do the work.
Gouda
Maintaining the cheese theme, Gouda is the other iconic Dutch cheese, it's no surprise to know the town also exploits its cheesy connections.Surprise, surprise there is a cheese market. Every Thursday morning from early spring to early Autumn. (notice how the three cheese markets operate on different days - coincidence or smart marketing?)
If you are not there on market day then visit the Gouda Cheese Experience, where you can learn the history of dairy farming, virtually milk a cow, and sample different ages of Gouda cheese. Not acheap one with adults €16.00 - €18.00 and children €13.00 - €17.00
If you still have not have had enough cheese then visit Gouds Kaashuis a town square cheese shop, to sample a huge array of cheese flavours.
Cheese isn't the only culinary delight originating in the town. Visit the Kamphuisen Syrup Waffle Factory, take a tour and discover the history of the original Dutch stroopwafel and press your own. Cost €11.50, including tour and waffle
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the Netherlands' second-largest city and the largest seaport in Europe. Famous for its cutting-edge modern architecture, striking skyline, and vibrant arts scene, the city was largely rebuilt after World War II and serves as a premier, forward-looking destination.
Having said that if your time in The Netherlands is limited this is one place you could miss without missing out, if that makes sense.
If you're into modernism as opposed to history, this dynamic city is ideal for travellers seeking bold, contemporary design, diverse dining, and a completely different, less tourist-heavy vibe than the rest of the Netherlands.
Rotterdam is the architectural capital of the Netherlands. Must-see sights include the iconic Cube Houses, the sweeping Erasmus Bridge, and the visually stunning Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen.
Unlike other attractions in the country, Rotterdam is anything but compact with many sprawling industrial areas.
The city has a thriving food culture and there are plenty of pop-up food outlets.
Volendam and Marken
Situated 20km north of Amsterdam, Volendam and Marken are a pair of traditional, but touristy villages.
Volendam, is a vibrant, arguably overly touristy, village famous for its bustling harbour, fresh herring and smoked eel, and the maze-like historic neighbourhood known as "the labyrinth", In Volendam you will see people dressed in traditional Dutch attire, if you really feel the urge there is a shop where you can dress in traditional costume and have your photograph taken.
Marken is a former isolated island connected to the mainland by a causeway. It is significantly quieter and celebrated for its authentic wooden houses built on artificial hills (werven) and the Paard van Marken Lighthouse. The town is home to a clog factory.The best way to travel between Volendam and Marken is the Volendam Marken Express passenger ferry. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and one-way tickets generally cost €10.00 one way, €16.00 return for those aged 12 over and €5.00 single €8.25 return for children ages 4-11.
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