Why visit the Netherlands & where?

The Netherlands is a very friendly and metropolitan country, the Dutch are in general easy going, tolerant and most of us speak English well, as we are used to tourists and love to practice our language skills!

How to get around

It's quite easy to travel around here by car or public transport, generally arranged very well in the Netherlands. However for most locals, cycling is preferred, especially in the big cities.

Riding a bike is very convenient with all the well-kept cycling paths and routes and most of the main sights in and around the big cities can be reached in 10-30 minutes by bike.

Renting a boat is also a fun way to explore a city, as in most cities electric boats are offered for rent per hour, which can be privately used without a license.

Underestimated, small, yet very diverse

And although small, and usually underestimated, the diversity of my country is huge, with lots of heritage and natural beauty, which deserves more exploring.

If you like vibrant cities, quaint towns, culture, historic architecture combined with modern structures, friendly open-minded people, cycling, serene country side views and quiet endless beaches, my homeland is THE place to visit!

Let me be your personal tour guide 🙂

I can highly recommend venturing outside ofAmsterdamtoo, unfortunately forgotten by most.

In just 30-45 minutes by train from Schiphol airport you can visit nearby big cities Den HaagandRotterdam. And near these big cities you will also find a few authentic heritage sights! Zaanse Schansand Volendam / Monnickendam near Amsterdam and Kinderdijk near Rotterdam, which can be combined in a day trip.

Visit all the best & Instagrammable spots

But you should also visit the flower fields, the beaches in the west, the countryside and nature areas in the east, the Unesco listed Waddenzeein the north, the popular Giethoornor one of the 700 castles, all mentioned in this guide!

However other big cities like Delft, Leiden, Utrecht, Groningen, Maastrichtor Breda should also be on your list!

Cause, although Amsterdam is great, there are many more pure, photogenic, quaint and instagrammable places to visit in the Netherlands, when you have a bit more time to spend. And these spots will usually also be even more surprising and less busy😊

Read all about that in this blog: 11 Instagram-mable spots in the Netherlands (authenticchiclifestyle.com)

The royal capital of the Netherlands

Did you know that my hometown The Hague, for example, is the royal capital of the country, where the King and his family live? It has several palaces, such as the renowned ‘Peace Palace’, and the ‘Binnenhof’ houses the Dutch parliament in a beautiful historical building, surrounded by a scenic pond and neighbored by the famous ‘Mauritshuis’.

Next to the historical city center these unique sights and palaces are certainly worth a visit, as well as the many museums and city parks. The Hague is also buzzing with gastronomic areas fit for foodies that like quaint restaurants with Dutch specialties, atmospheric café’s, international bistro’s or even want to sample one of the 2 Michelin star restaurants.

Den Haag - city by the sea

And not many know that The Hague is the biggest city by the sea, as the whole west side of the Netherlands is bordered by the North Sea. Lined with endless beaches, Kijkduinand Scheveningenare located right next to The Hague, and house many trendy beach clubs and seaside restaurants. While Scheveningen is a bit more touristic, Kijkduin has a more local vibe to it.

Best seaside towns of the Netherlands

If you fancy beach parties, fresh seafood, like to chill on the beach or stroll through the beautiful dune areas or over the boulevards, these are the places to be. With a big offering of atmospheric beach venues, both beaches are worth a visit!

But the seaside towns Noordwijk aan Zee, Zandvoort, Bloemendaaland many other spots along the east shore are beautiful and lined by extensive dune areas, with an abindance of walking- and cycling paths!

What will you visit next?