Netherlands holidays

Calm canals, peaceful beaches and history-steeped cities all vie for your attention during holidays to the Netherlands.

A capital of canals

When it comes to capitals, the Netherlands got the luck of the draw with Amsterdam. It’s the biggest city in the country, and is decorated with a spider’s web of over 160 canals for you to stroll along. The biggest waterways are flanked on both sides by a mix of boutique cafés, colourful Dutch houses and preserved landmarks. When it comes to the latter, one of the most famous here is the Anne Frank House, where the heroic teenager hid with her family during the Second World War for over two years.

Bagfuls of beaches

There’s more to the Netherlands than its sprawling tulip fields, postcard-worthy windmills and culture-soaked cities. In the summer, the shores here have all the hallmarks of a relaxing beach break, including sandy swathes and temperatures that sit comfortably in the mid to low 20s. If you’re staying in Amsterdam and want a dose of the coast, head to the town of Bloemendaal. It’s less than 40 minutes away by train and boasts a sweeping, 10-mile-long shoreline for you to spread out on.

Head to The Hague

The Hague, the third-biggest city in the Netherlands, is to law and order what Italy is to pasta. The UN’s International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court both call this place home, along with over 200 international government organisations. You can reach this iconic city in under an hour by taking a direct train from Amsterdam. During your daytrip, you can learn about the city’s 800 years of history while you wander around its palaces and museums – the Mauritshuis Museum flaunts paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and more.