The list of things to do in the Netherlands is vast and varied—everything from shopping for wooden shoes to walking in the mud at low tide. And that’s why we have put together this massive list for you. It will be an ever-growing list and suggestions are welcome. So get inspired, maybe even try something new, and enjoy exploring the Netherlands.
Things to Do in the Netherlands
Dress up in Traditional Clothing
If you have always wanted a photo of yourself in wooden shoes and traditional Dutch clothing, then head to Volendam. Here you can dress up in a Volendam costume and pose in one of the different old-fashion scenes, complete with some tulips, a wheel of cheese, and even an accordion or two.
Explore the Underground Tunnels
See a different side of Maastricht by heading underground. From 1575 to 1825, a 14-kilometre (8.7 miles) long network of underground passageways was created on the western side of Maastricht. The tunnels have been used for defensive means and air-raid shelters, and now you can explore them by torch (flash) light.
Visit the Highest Point in the Netherlands
If spending lots of time under sea-level has been making you feel a little “low”, then head to the southern part of the Netherlands. Here you will find Vaalserberg, a hill in the province of Limburg, with a height of 322.4 metres (1,058 feet) above NAP. That makes it the highest point in the Netherlands. It is also the same place where you can stand in three countries at once (see “Stand in Three Countries at Once” below).
Walk Through Water
Walk through water at Fort de Roovere, in Halsteren. Once the largest fort on the West Brabant portion of the water line. The fort was surrounded by a defensive moat—good for keeping enemies out but not so good for letting visitors in. And that is where the architects Ro&Ad came in. Their sunken bridge design means that the only thing you might see bobbing across the moat are the tops of visitors’ heads and it is this appearance of walking through water that gives the bridge its nickname—the Moses Bridge.
Have Your Photo Taken with a Slightly Dodgy Looking Gnome
“Santa Claus” is a larger than life sculpture located in Rotterdam. It was created by the American artist Paul McCarthy and brings with it a bit of controversy. While some say it is a cake the festive gnome holds on a plate in his right hand, others feel it looks a bit too much like another item, earning the statute its nickname, Kabouter Buttplug.
If you’ve never heard of it, blokarting is like windsurfing in a special beach sailing kart. Photo Credit: Steve Photography/Shutterstock.com
Set “Sail” in a Blokart
Blokarting is one part wind surfing and one part beach cruising, onboard a land yacht. The compact size and versatility of the cart mean that you can sail across the sand at high speeds. Blokarting isn’t allowed on all Dutch beaches, but some have the required permits and/or special blokarting tracks.
Climb to the Top of the Dom
The Domtoren, the highest church tower in the Netherlands, was built between 1321 and 1383. At 112 metres (376 feet) tall, the top of the tower is perfect for capturing photos of the city. However, be warned, you’ll need to climb (465 steps) to the top for those views as there isn’t a lift/elevator.
Beat the Tide
The Wadden Sea area is known as the largest continuous national park in Europe and with that title comes some unique activities. The most famous of which is mud walking, or wadlopen in Dutch. When the tide goes down, it is possible to walk across the bottom of the sea. You’ll cross sandbanks, trenches, and gullies while wading through thigh-deep mud, eventually arriving at one of the Wadden islands. Not for the faint-hearted, you’ll need to go with a guide to ensure you arrive back on stable ground before the mud flats fill with the rising tide.
Stand in Three Countries at Once
If you have ever wanted to stand in three countries at once, then the Netherlands has an opportunity for you. In the south of the country, in Vaals, you will find the “Het Drielandenpunt”. Here the boarders of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands meet. You won’t get a stamp for all three places, but you will have bragging rights amongst your friends.
Wander the World’s First Fluorescence Museum
They say there is a museum for everyone and in Amsterdam that certainly seems to be the case.So if you are a fan of the magic of fluorescent light, then head to Electric Ladyland. Located under an art gallery of a similar name, inside is a space that needs to be seen to be believed. Definitely one of the more unique things to do in the Netherlands.
Visit the Floating Cats
Okay, technically the cats aren’t floating, but they do live on a floating houseboat! Located on the Singel in Amsterdam, The Catboat (De Poezenboot) is an animal sanctuary for stray and abandoned cats. You can even visit the cats for a couple of hours most days of the week without adopting one.
The cube houses are located near the Black metro station. There are 38 small cubes and two so called ‘super-cubes’. Photo Credit: Loredana Cirstea
Get Cubic at the Cube Houses
Designed by architect Piet Blom, the Cube Houses are an icon of Rotterdam. Designed to represent trees in a forest, these tilted cubes make for great photos. If they also make you scratch your head while trying to figure out what they are like on the inside, head to the Kijk-Kubus for a glimpse inside.
Fly Over the Tulip Fields
Sure you can tip-toe through the tulip fields or even ride a bike through them, but why not see them from above? There are various companies that fly over the tulip fields each year. The airplanes range in size so make sure you know what size you will be flying in and dress accordingly (it can get hot in those little planes!). This is one of the more pricey ways to see the bulb fields, but those rows and rows of colour make it one of the top things to do in the Netherlands.
Travel Through a Giant Man
Sitting just outside the university city of Leiden is a giant orange man. The 35-metre-tall (115 feet) man is part of the Corpus Museum. A museum, the first in the world, which takes you through the entire anatomy of the human body. You’ll walk past giant kidneys, stand inside a mouth, and learn plenty.
Set Eyes on a Huge Painting
A trip to the beach isn’t on our list of things to do in the Netherlands, unless you count the artistic version. Painted by Hendrik Willem Mesdag, the 14 metre (46 foot) tall and 120 metre (394 foot) long panoramic painting takes you back in time to the sea-side Scheveningen village of Victorian times.
More items to come!
How many of the above have you tried? What are your favourite things to do in the Netherlands?
I'm ashamed to say that despite all the time I have been here I have only done one of those things. I once went to a Halloween party in one of the cube houses.