Amsterdam is unquestionably a lovely and gorgeous city. But as much as everyone loves Amsterdam, the country of the Netherlands is bigger with more hidden gems. If you want to experience the true authenticity of the country, make time to visit the following places:
Amersfoort
The wonderful Dutch town of Amersfoort is a short distance away from Amsterdam. The city itself is popular for its land and water gate called Koppelpoort, its iconic landmark. The city is filled with Dutch history founded in 1259. It serves as the home to an old medieval church that is the tallest in the entire country. Strolling around Amersfoort gives you a chance to walk along the many canals rippling through the historic city center.
Delft
Delft is a quiet city that is part of South Holland province that you can visit on a day trip from Rotterdam or The Hague. Two things are most notable at Delft.
The first one is that this is the place of birth of Johannes Vermeer, one of the most popular figures in the world of Dutch painting.
The second one is that the city is also related to the ceramics industry, the Delfts Blauw, which began during the mid-17th century. It is a distinct type of faience both in the country and overseas because of its tones of blue and white.
Eindhoven
Eindhoven in the North Brabant province has a history that can be traced back to the Middle Ages era when the population settled between the rivers of Gender and Dommel. From then on, it established its commercial activity and became the country’s important industrial center in the 19th century, reinforced by the establishment of Philips, the multinational electronic equipment company.
Groningen
The city of Groningen is the capital of the homonymous province. It is the northernmost destination of all and is among the closest to the border of Germany. About a quarter of the population in the area are students, implying that the city offers numerous options for sporting and cultural activities. It also has a lively nightlife with a plethora of pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes, and restaurants sprinkled around its squares and streets.
Haarlem
While Amsterdam is the biggest city in the province of North Holland, Haarlem is the capital of the province. The city is just 30 km from the capital of the Netherlands and foreign tourists often visit here on a day trip from Amsterdam.
Since the 17th century, Haarlem has been the Dutch soil’s great tulip trade center. Frans Hals, one of the Dutch Golden Age’s most esteemed artists, also worked and lived here. You can find the Frans Hals Museum in the historic center of the city.
Leiden
Leiden is a city that is part of South Holland province. Despite being smaller than other destinations above, Leiden is the home to Universiteit Leiden, the country’s oldest university established in 1575.
Aside from the university, the city also takes pride in having the oldest botanical garden in the entire Netherlands. It is also popular for its selection of art and science museums including, Museum Volkenkunde, Museum De Lakenhal, Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, Nederlands Centrum voor Biodiversiteit Naturalis, and Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.
Other places you can visit in the Netherlands aside from Amsterdam include Maastricht, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht.
