The Netherlands is a country divided into 12 provinces, including the two provinces–North and South Holland–which cause their own special confusion. These 12 provinces of the Netherlands are an administrative division that creates a layer between the national government and local municipalities. [clickToTweet tweet=”Nearly all of the Dutch provinces can trace their origin to a medieval county or duchy:” quote=”Nearly all of the provinces of the Netherlands can trace their origin to a medieval county or duchy.”]

The 12th province to be added was Flevoland, and while there is always an option to combine some of the provinces, a plan to do so was met with major protest in 2014. Each province is unique in its own way, for example from factors based on its location or because of specific attractions–and it is worth exploring each one.

So without further ado, here are…

The Provinces of the Netherlands

Drenthe

“Here is peace,” is what Vincent Van Gogh had to say about the province of Drenthe. As one of the greenest, yet least populated, provinces with around 1,400 kilometres of cycling paths, it’s easy to understand why. Until the early 19th century, Drenthe was primarily an empty peat bog, marsh, and moor. Nowadays it is home to national parks, a great zoo, and Assen motor racing. This province is also known for its hunebedden–5,000-year-old passage graves. It is also where you will find the Westerbork Concentration Camp.

Key Cities: Assen, Emmen, Orvelte

Key Things to See and Do: Borger Hunebed Centre, WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo Emmen, Westerbork Concentration Camp, Drents Museum, Drentsche Aa National Landscape, Dwingelderveld National Park, Assen TT, Veenpark, Ellert and Brammert Museum, National Prison Museum

Flevoland

Flevoland is the youngest of the provinces of the Netherlands. Reclaimed from the sea in the first half of the 20th century, means hundreds of shipwrecks have been uncovered here. First residential rights went to the workers who helped “build” the province and to farmers, primarily from Zeeland, whose farms had already tasted the bitter battle against the water. There are plenty of cities and villages to explore, as well as the Noordoostpolder–one of the biggest bulb areas in the country.

Key Cities: Almere, Lelystad, Emmeloord, Urk, Schokland

Key Things to See and Do: Bataviawerf, Nieuw Land Erfgoedcentrum, Oostvaardersplassen, Walibi Holland, Noordoostpolder, Exposure, Aviodrome

Friesland

A visit to the province of Friesland might feel like visiting a different country, especially when you come across the Frisian language. Friesland has the largest chain of connected inland lakes in Europe, making it ideal for water sports. The Wadden Sea makes it also perfect for sailing. If the temperatures get cold enough you might be lucky to experience the famous skating tour, the Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour), last held in 1997. If not, you’ll just have to (happily) make do visiting the towns and villages.

Key Cities: Sneek, Stavoren, Leeuwarden, Hindeloopen

Key Things to See and Do: Afsluitdijk, Fries Museum, Princessehof Museum, Lauwersmeer, Schiermonnikoog, Drents-friese Wold, Alde Faenen

Gelderland

Taking its name from the German town–Geldern–Gelderland is the largest of the Dutch provinces. To conquer the area, you can break it down into four main sections: the Veluwe, Arnhem-Nijmegen area, the Achterhoek, and Rivierenland. Throughout you will find numerous castles, manor houses, and venison and game (during autumn), primarily in the Achterhoek area. With an Open Air Museum, De Hoge Veluwe National Park, and the Gardens of Appeltern, this is a province that you can spend a lot of time outside in.

Key Cities: Arnhem, Nijmegen, Apeldoorn

Key Things to See and Do: De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Kröller-Müller Museum, Dolfinarium, National Park Veluwezoom, Open Air Museum, Burger’s Zoo, Palace Het Loo, Netherlands Water Museum, Gardens of Appeltern, Nationaal Oorlogs en Verzetsmuseum

Groningen

Groningen is the northeastern-most province of the provinces of the Netherlands. It includes one of Europe’s oldest man-made landscapes–the Westerkwartier–which is filled with pastures, terps, and meandering roads. Groningen is also where you will find the city of Groningen and its famous art museum, the Groninger Museum. You also won’t want to miss Bourtange, considered the best fortified town in Europe.

Key Cities: Groningen, Heren

Key Things to See and Do: Het Pieterpad, Westerkwartier, Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Groninger Museum, Bourtange, Hooghoudt Brewery 1888, Lauwersmeer National Park, Rottumeroog, Rottumerplaat

Limburg

The Netherlands may be known for its flat landscape, but there is one province with a fair amount of hills. Limburg is the southernmost Dutch province and was once the seat of the medieval Duchy of Limburg. Not only can you find the highest point in the Netherlands here, but you can also stand in three countries at once. And after all that adventure, make sure that you grab a slice of vlaai.

Key Cities: Maastricht, Heerlen, Roermond, Venlo, Weert, Valkenburg aan de Geul

Key Things to See and Do: Three Country Point, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht Underground, Toverland Amusement Park, GaiaZOO, Saint Peter’s Fortress, Christmas Market, Valkenburg Castle Ruins and Velvet Cave, Eat Vlaai

The Netherlands is a country divided into provinces.

North Brabant

North Brabant (often shortened to Brabant) is the Netherlands’ largest province. It stretches from the North Sea on the west to the German border on the east. North Brabant is where Vincent Van Gogh was born and lived for part of his life. There are several exciting cities to explore, a famous theme park, and five national parks.

Key Cities: Den Bosch, Breda Tilburg, Eindhoven, Bergen-op-Zoom, Nuenen, Heusden

Key Things to See and Do: St. Janskathedraal, Binnendieze, Breda Castle, De Efteling, Van Abbe Museum, DAF Museum, Camp Vught, Begijnhof, Museum of the Image, National Park De Biesbosch, Loonse en Drunense Duinen, Eat a Bossche Bol

North Holland

If you arrive in the Netherlands via Schiphol Airport and/or spend any time in Amsterdam, then you will be able to check the province of North Holland off your list, as both are located here. This is also the province of Haarlem; Volendam with its traditional clothing; and Edam and Alkmaar, both with their famous cheese markets. There is more than enough to keep you occupied in North Holland–from the Anne Frank Huis to the Corrie Ten Boomhuis Museum. For the nature lovers, a trip to the island of Texel is not to be missed, and windmill chasers will want to visit Zasnse Schans.

Key Cities: Amstelveen, Enkhuizen, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Volendam, Edam, Alkmaar

Key Things to See and Do: Zuiderzeemuseum, Teylers Museum, Zaanse Schans, Texel, Corrie Ten Boomhuis Museum, Frans Hals Museum, Alkmaar Cheese Market, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank Huis, Museum Het Rembrandthuis, Albert Cuypmarkt, Rijksmuseum, Red Light District, Vondelpark, Browerij ‘t IJ, Koninklijk Paleis

Overijssel

Meaning “beyond the IJssel,” the province of Overijssel owes a lot to the river that it is named after. Hilly in the east and flat in the west, Overijssel excels at combining nature and history. If you have ever wanted to visit the town of Giethoorn, famous for its lack of streets, but ample supply of canals then this is the province you need to head for.

Key Cities: Deventer, Zwolle, Giethoorn, Kampen

Key Things to See and Do: Weerribben-Wieden National Park, Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Museum de Fundatie, De Peperbus, Stedelijk Museum Zwolle

South Holland

Winning the award for the most densely populated of the provinces of the Netherlands is South Holland. Once part of the influential “Holland” province, South Holland is a mix of major cities, atmospheric towns, the beach, windmills, and bulb fields. While you can spend several days in each key city or town, South Holland is also perfect for jumping on the train and seeing multiple locations throughout your stay. Keukenhof and Kinderdijk are also both located in this province.

Key Cities: Leiden, The Hague (Den Haag) and Scheveningen, Delft, Rotterdam, Gouda, Dordrecht

Key Things to See and Do: Kinderdijk, National Park de Biesbosch, Keukenhof, Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Binnenhof, Mauritshuis, Escher in het Paleis Museum, Panorama Mesdag, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Peace Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, Oude Kerk, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Markthal, Cube Houses, Madurodam, Euromast

Utrecht

The province of Utrecht, not to be confused with the city by the same name, is the oldest and smallest province in the Netherlands. A mixture of nature and urban, you’ll find students, castles, tree-lined canals, and a medieval quarter within the 144,915 hectares that make up Utrecht. While a visit to the city of Utrecht is a must, so is a trip to Kasteel de Haar, Amersfoort, and Oudewater with its witch weighing scale.

Key Cities: Utrecht, Amersfoort, Oudewater, Doorn

Key Things to See and Do: Kasteel de Hair, Domtoren, Huis Doorn, Dick Bruna House, Rietveld-Schröderhuis, Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum, De Oude Hortus, Museum Speelklok, Loosdrechtse Plassen

Zeeland

The Dutch province of Zeeland, as the name suggests, shares a special relationship withe both the land and the water. This was, after all, the province where in 1421, during the St Elizabeth’s Day flood, more than 100,000 people lost their lives. Compromising of three main peninsulas, the whole province is a tangle of islands, semi islands, and a complex network of dykes. Located in the southwestern corner of the Netherlands, Zeeland is where you will want to head for some Dutch sun; the province has more sun than any other in the country.

Key Cities: Middelburg, Domburg, Vlissingen, Veere, Zierikzee

Key Things to See and Do: Zeeuws Museum, Het Arsenaal, Westerschelde, Delta Expo/Waterlands Neeltje Jans, Schouwen-Duiveland, Kwade Hoek Tidal Reserve, Prunje Nature Reserve, Salt Marshes of The Drowned Land of Saeftinghe

Which provinces of the Netherlands have you visited? Which was your favourite?

Featured Photo Credit: symbiot/shutterstock.com