People enjoying outdoor terraces and local shops in Bergen, North Holland

Category: Travel experience

Beyond Amsterdam: the top 8 city breaks

The most special getaways outside our capital city

For many visitors, Amsterdam is the obvious starting point for their trip to our country, but the Netherlands is home to many more cities that are definitely worth a city break. Head beyond the well-known Amsterdam canals, Dam Square and the Anne Frank House and you’ll discover just how special the rest of our country is. Just hop on a train to quickly and easily reach fascinating cities with modern architecture, historical canals, quirky museums, good restaurants and green spaces, all just around the corner. These 8 cities will make you want to extend your stay.

1. Rotterdam: architecture and new energy

Rotterdam is Amsterdam’s gritty, edgy counterpart. You’ll notice the difference the moment you step out of the station. Partly due to the total devastation it suffered during the Second World War, Rotterdam has a completely different vibe: spacious, gritty and ever-evolving. Amidst the high-rise buildings, bridges and wide riverfronts of the Meuse, you can see how the Netherlands is constantly reinventing itself. Cycle or walk past the Markthal (Market Hall), the Cube Houses and the vibrant Kop van Zuid district, but also take some time to explore neighbourhoods such as Katendrecht and the Scheepvaartkwartier. Visit fascinating destinations such as the new FENIX – a museum that brings together art, culture and migration.

Stay in Rotterdam for at least two nights to get a real feel for the city. Spend the day exploring museums such as Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen or Kunsthal Rotterdam and then enjoy the evening at a restaurant on the waterfront or in a former port warehouse. Rotterdam isn’t a city to rush through; it deserves to be explored at a leisurely pace. This allows you to discover just how harmoniously architecture, gastronomy and creativity all come together here.

Discover the edgiest city in the Netherlands

2. The Hague: city, art and sea

The Hague combines elegant, stately avenues with fresh sea air. Stroll past embassies, palaces and museums and then find yourself with your feet in the sand within a few minutes, because The Hague is the only major Dutch city with a beachfront right on the North Sea. This fantastic variety ensures an ideal city break that isn’t just about bustling streets. Be sure to stop by the Mauritshuis Museum or the Kunstmuseum Den Haag to see iconic works of art, wander through the charming Zeeheldenkwartier neighbourhood and round off the day on the beach.

Take the time to explore beyond the city centre. Hop on the tram to Scheveningen, go for a tranquil walk through the dunes or find a quiet café in one of the creative neighbourhoods. The Hague has an international atmosphere but it never feels rushed or particularly hectic. This makes the city an attractive destination for travellers who want to combine culture with open spaces, sandy beaches and good restaurants.

Visit our political capital

3. Utrecht: canals and hidden tranquillity

Utrecht has all the charm of a historical city but feels more intimate and less run-of-the-mill than you might expect. The canals are absolutely iconic, with the quays often serving as places to eat, drink or simply relax while watching students on their stand-up paddle boards or boats drifting by. The area around the Dom Tower is home to museums, bookshops and small cafés, while neighbourhoods such as the Museumkwartier and Lombok allow you to discover a more local side of the city.

From Utrecht’s city centre, it’s easy to cycle to Amelisweerd park or along the River Vecht, where the city gradually gives way to beautiful country estates such as Maarssen and Breukelen. This makes it an excellent base for a few days’ stay. Why not book a hostel right in the middle of historical Neude square, for example! Utrecht is compact, easily accessible by train and perfect for those who like to travel without a fixed itinerary. And precisely these unexpected, unplanned stops are what make this city so special.

Visit Utrecht

People enjoying terraces along the canals in historic Utrecht

4. Arnhem: fashion, parks and the Veluwe

Arnhem is a city with strikingly green outskirts and a distinct character of its own. It not only offers shops, galleries and cafés, but also hilly parks and nature reserves that almost border the city centre. Head to the Modekwartier fashion district for designers’ studios and boutiques, while Sonsbeek Park feels like an entire landscape in its own right. There's a reason Arnhem is known as the gateway to the Veluwe nature reserve. The transition from the city to the countryside is so seamless that you barely notice it.

Plan a stay of several days to make the most of both the city and the surrounding countryside. Visit Museum Arnhem, stroll through the many nice shopping streets or cycle out to the Veluwe. And one of the best things? One moment you’re in a bustling, creative part of the city and the next you’re gazing out over forests and hills. Arnhem offers just the right balance for a slow city break.

Visit Arnhem

5. Eindhoven: innovation with industrial charm

Eindhoven is a city for travellers who like to look ahead. The industrial history of Philips is still evident but has given way to design studios, creative hubs and innovative hospitality venues. Eindhoven is regarded as the design capital of Europe, which is evident as soon as you walk through Strijp-S, where former factory sites have been transformed into a neighbourhood full of studios, restaurants, shops and cultural venues.

Stay for a weekend and discover the city beyond first impressions. Visit the modern Van Abbe Museum, have a meal at Kazerne or take a stroll past modern architecture and green spaces such as the Genneper Parken. Eindhoven may be less historical than some other Dutch cities, but that is what makes it feel so fresh and experimental. A city break here is all about gaining new insights and experiencing the energy of tomorrow.

Discover creative and innovative Eindhoven

Ketelhuisplein terrace Ketelhuis where people socialise over drinks

6. Maastricht: Burgundian and just a bit different

Winkels in wijk Wyck Rechtstraat Maastricht

Maastricht doesn’t feel completely Dutch, which is what makes it so appealing. The hills, cobbled streets, traditional squares and riverbanks give the city a more relaxed southern vibe that is more palpable here than anywhere else in the Netherlands. Walk from the historical Vrijthof square to the charming Wyck district, discover boutiques and bookshops, and quickly realise that food and drink are not just an afterthought here, but a way of life. Maastricht is compact but richly layered: Roman, medieval, Burgundian and – as the birthplace of the European Union – also distinctly international.

Visit the Bonnefanten Museum, wander through the old city centre and then head towards Sint-Pietersberg, a hilly nature reserve with woods, caves and the striking ENCI quarry. A tour of the marl caves is highly recommended. This labyrinth of passages is deeper and quieter than you might expect. You can combine culture and gastronomy with a landscape unlike any other in the Netherlands. In short: plenty to see and do.

Discover our most flavourful city

Some interesting facts about our cities

80,000

The number of people in Rotterdam who were left homeless following the devastating bombing on 14 May 1940. It defined this city.

2,000

The approximate age of Nijmegen. Its Roman history is still tangible.

225

The length in metres of Stratumseind. This makes it the longest pub street in the Netherlands, with over 40 pubs.

112

The height of the Dom Tower in metres. This is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands and Utrecht’s most iconic landmark.

7. Nijmegen: history with a relaxed atmosphere

Nijmegen is one of those places that makes you feel welcome immediately. This city on the Waal river combines historical streets with a youthful, relaxed atmosphere. Discover its inviting terraces, quirky bookshops, beautiful concert halls and amazing views overlooking the river. And as the oldest city in the Netherlands, you’re never far from history. The Romans founded the city of ‘Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum’ here around 100 AD. Visit the over 750-year-old Saint Stephen’s Church and be unexpectedly moved by the light streaming in through the stained-glass windows, the majestic König organ and the centuries-old tombs.

Or take a walk through Valkhof Park, the hill where the (now) student city began and, amongst the remains of Roman forts and the Barbarossa Ruins, admire one of the most beautiful views of the Waal river that the Netherlands has to offer. From the Waalkade promenade, you can walk via the Ooypoort towards the Ooijpolder, a unique nature reserve. And the train to that other major city in the province of Gelderland, Arnhem, is never far away. So there’s more than enough to do and every reason to stay a little longer.

Visit the oldest city in the Netherlands

Grand Café De Waterwolf near the Waal Bridge in Nijmegen

8. Delft: Vermeer, canals and beauty

Melissa Bruntlett in the city center of Delft

Delft may be smaller than many other cities on this list, but that's just the beauty of it. The historical city centre feels manageable and refined, with canals, charming little bridges, courtyards and façades that almost automatically make you slow down to take it all in. Among other things, you’ll discover the world of Vermeer, the story of Delft Blue, in a city that is traditional and vibrant at the same time. Be sure to visit the Prinsenhof Museum, where you can still see the bullet holes in this former monastery’s wall, marking the location of William of Orange’s assassination in 1584. A detail that makes our history feel quite tangible.

Stay for a night to experience more of Delft than you would in just a day. In the morning, the canals are quieter, the museums are less crowded and the eateries are less busy. Follow the ‘green route’ to walk from the station to the cosy, charming city centre and choose a small restaurant on the waterfront. Delft proves that a city doesn’t have to be big to justify spending a few days there.

Visit artistic Delft

In short…

The Netherlands is perfect for travellers who want to see a lot without being on the move all the time. The distances are short, the train connections are convenient, and nature can be found surprisingly close to almost every city. This allows you to experience a city break in a different way: less rushing about and more time to explore neighbourhoods, parks, museums, cafés and unexpected detours. While Amsterdam is an undeniably great introduction to our country, these cities show just how many more stories the Netherlands has to tell.

Visitor photographing Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, home to some of the Netherlands’ most iconic Dutch Master paintings

8 tips for a special city break

Travel by trainBy train, you can travel quickly and directly from Amsterdam to any city.
Plan two nights at leastStay for two nights or more and discover neighbourhoods outside the city centre.
Two cities in one tripCombine nearby cities for more variety in a single trip.
Visit outside the peak seasonIn spring and autumn, cities are quieter and museums are less crowded.

Look beyond the city centreSoak up the local atmosphere in neighbourhoods outside the well-known city centre.
Book your museum visit in advanceBook popular museums in advance to avoid a packed schedule.
Hire a bikeCycling makes it easy to reach parks, neighbourhoods and nature in any city.
Stay overnight in a special placeChoose an old warehouse, a design hotel or somewhere outside the city centre.

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