What to See in the Netherlands: Cities to Explore on Foot

The Netherlands combines reclaimed lowlands, historic cities, protective dikes and a Caribbean world of volcanic hills and tropical climates. It is also the European heart of the wider Kingdom of the Netherlands, whose constitutional arrangement connects the Netherlands with Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Neywo has free audio guides for 34 cities in the Netherlands, with 2,471 narrated places in total.

What to see and do in the Netherlands

Understand the Kingdom of the Netherlands

The name “Netherlands” can refer to the constituent country in Northwestern Europe or, more loosely, to the whole Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom consists of four constituent countries: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The Netherlands itself also includes Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius as special municipalities.

The countries have their own parliaments and autonomy in many areas, while foreign relations, defence and Dutch nationality are among the responsibilities handled at Kingdom level. It is an unusual constitutional structure, often described as sui generis, because it does not fit neatly into familiar categories of state organisation.

Explore a country shaped by water

About a quarter of the Netherlands lies below sea level. Reclaimed land and dikes are central to the landscape, giving the European part of the country its characteristic relationship with the sea. The climate here is moderate and maritime, with cool summers and mild winters.

The Kingdom’s geography extends much further. Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten are volcanic and hilly islands in the Leeward Islands, while Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao belong to the Leeward Antilles and are largely non-volcanic. Saba’s Mount Scenery, at 870 metres, became the highest point of the Netherlands when Saba became a special municipality in 2010.

Visit Amsterdam and North Holland

Amsterdam is one of the best-known places to begin exploring the Netherlands. Neywo’s city guide includes 129 narrated places, including the Rijksmuseum, the Concertgebouw, the Oude Kerk and the Gemeenlandshuis.

North Holland offers more than the capital. In Haarlem, the Grote Kerk, De Vishal, Janskerk and Cathedral of Saint Bavo are among the narrated places. Alkmaar features the Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk, Sint-Laurentiuskerk, the Cheese Merchants and Ondermolen D. Zaandam includes the Czar Peter House and Hembrug Museum, while Volendam brings together the Palingsound Museum, Volendams Museum and Stolphoevekerkje.

For island landscapes, Vlieland has seven narrated places, including Museum Tromp’s Huys, Vuurduin and De Noordwester. On Texel, the guide to Den Burg includes the island itself, Hoge Berg and the story of the Georgian uprising on Texel.

Discover historic cities in the centre

Utrecht has 182 narrated places, making it one of the richest city guides in the country. Its highlights include the Rietveld Schröder House, St. Martin’s Cathedral, St. Gertrude’s Cathedral and Paleis Lofen.

Amersfoort offers 81 narrated places, from the Tower of Our Lady to Huize Randenbroek, Huize Schothorst and the Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk. Smaller destinations add a different perspective: Giethoorn has three narrated places, including Binnenpad 50, the Hervormde kerk and Molenweg 11.

The northern city of Groningen has 115 narrated places. Among them are St. Joseph Cathedral, the Groningen Synagogue, Martinikerk and Pictura. The guide also reaches Windwardside, where narrated places include The Bottom, Mount Scenery, Kingdom Hall and Christ Church.

Follow history through Gelderland and Limburg

In Gelderland, Arnhem has 88 narrated places, including the Netherlands Open Air Museum and Airborne at the Bridge, as well as Buitensocieteit Arnhem and Belvédère. Nijmegen includes St Steven’s Church, Petruskerk, Sint Nicolaaskapel and Titus Brandsmakapel. The smaller city of Zevenaar has 16 narrated places, including its Nederlands Hervormde Kerk, Sint Martinuskerk and Helenakerk.

The province of Limburg brings together castles, forts and churches. Maastricht has 199 narrated places, with Saint Peter Fort, Château Neercanne, Fort Willem and Bethlehem Castle among its highlights. In Valkenburg, the guide covers Valkenburg Castle, Den Halder Castle, Castle Genhoes and Sint-Mauritiuskerk. Venlo includes Sint-Joriskerk, Ulingsheide Abbey, Sint-Martinusbasiliek and the city hall, while Arcen features Castle Gardens Arcen, Schanstoren van Arcen, Petrus en Pauluskerk and Missiehuis Sint Paul.

See North Brabant’s churches and civic landmarks

In Breda, the Grote Kerk, St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral, Breda Castle and the Hervormde kerk are among 62 narrated places. Eindhoven has 102 places, including St. Catherine’s Church, Paterskerk, Sint-Joriskerk and Sint-Lambertuskerk.

Bergen op Zoom offers the Gertrudiskerk, Synagoge, Gevangenpoort and Reformed Church. In Etten-Leur, the guide includes the Van Goghkerk, Trouwkerkje Leur, Sint-Lambertuskerk and Sint-Petruskerk.

Explore South Holland’s cities

South Holland offers a dense concentration of major destinations. Rotterdam has 353 narrated places, including Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the Erasmus monument, Stieltjesmonument and Hillegondakerk. The Hague has 258, with the Peace Palace, Huis ten Bosch, Noordeinde Palace and Girl with a Pearl Earring among the featured places.

Leiden includes Pieterskerk, Burcht van Leiden, Hooglandse Kerk and De Valk. Delft features the Nieuwe Kerk, Oude Kerk, Prinsenhof and Lutherse Kerk. In Dordrecht, the Grote Kerk, Groothoofdspoort, Nieuwkerk and H. Maria Maior are part of a 38-place guide, while Gouda includes the Janskerk, De Goudse Waag, Gouwekerk and Galerie Montulet.

Discover Zeeland and the country’s changing history

In Zeeland, Vlissingen has 29 narrated places, including Fort Rammekens and St James the Great Church. Zierikzee includes Sint-Lievensmonstertoren, Nieuwe Kerk, Gasthuiskerk and Sint-Willibrorduskerk. The smaller destinations of Breskens and Hulst add the Visserijmuseum, Nieuwe Sluis, St. Willibrord, Fort Moerschans and Museum De Vier Ambachten.

The Netherlands’ modern history reflects changing borders and relationships. It regained independence from the First French Empire in 1813, became the Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands and later recognised the secession of Belgium in the Treaty of London. Luxembourg also left the Kingdom, although it remained linked to the Dutch monarch in a personal union for several decades. In 2010, the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles created the current arrangement involving Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius.

Explore the Netherlands with Neywo

Download Neywo’s free audio guide to explore 34 cities, with 107 walking tours and 2,471 narrated places in total. Narration is available in 11 languages. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule.