10 Hidden Gems Things to do in North Holland Province That You Shouldn't Miss

June 6, 2021 Jacquiline Delozier

Mostly jutting northward from its largest city of Amsterdam and its capital of Haarlem, the Noord-Holland region has much more to offer beyond those two wonderful cities. At Muiden is the magnificent Muiderslot Castle, as if it stepped out of a fairy tale. Showing more wear but no less interesting is Brederode Castle at Santpoort. At Zaanstad is Zaanse Schans, one of Holland’s top tourist destinations and a family-friendly open air museum of windmills, traditional buildings, crafts and shops.
Restaurants in North Holland Province

1. Wijngaard de Amsteltuin

Langs de Akker 5, 1186 DA, Amstelveen The Netherlands +31 6 13715988 [email protected] http://www.amsteltuin.nl
Excellent
77%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 70 reviews

Wijngaard de Amsteltuin

Just a short distance from Amsterdam, you’ll find Amsteltuin vineyard in the residential village of Amstelveen. This green, peaceful location has more than 3,500 grape vines spread across 1.5 hectares. In addition to making delicious and interesting wines, Amsteltuin provides constructive activities and a relaxing environment for people with (temporary) disabilities.The vineyard organizes a variet

2. Museum Ons'Lieve Heer Op Solder

Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38, 1012 GD Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 20 624 6604 [email protected] http://www.opsolder.nl
Excellent
70%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,372 reviews

Museum Ons'Lieve Heer Op Solder

In the heart of Amsterdam's bustling centre lies one of the city's oldest museums: Museum Our Lord in the Attic. Here visitors get to experience the Dutch Golden Age in a special way: a 17th-century house with a top floor converted into a Catholic church.

Reviewed By ILoveDinglyDell - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Amazing to find what was hidden behind the facade of an old Dutch house bordering one of the canals. Fascinating insight into the life of the house from the 1600s to sometime in the 1800s with the family rooms, storage rooms and at the top of the house, a complete church. We wandered around up and down steep stairs, with our audio guides in hand which we found extremely helpful. Wonderful experience and one not to be missed!

3. Frans Hals Museum - Hof

Groot Heiligland 62, 2011 ES Haarlem The Netherlands +31 23 511 5775 [email protected] http://www.franshalsmuseum.nl/
Excellent
58%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,097 reviews

Frans Hals Museum - Hof

The Frans Hals Museum and De Hallen Haarlem came together to form the renewed Frans Hals Museum: one museum at two locations. Where old meets new. Historical works hang alongside contemporary installations, and the Golden Age sits alongside the modern day. The meeting of Old Masters and contemporary art lets you look in a different way and see more.

Reviewed By JohnH881 - Shelburne, United States

The Frans Hals Museum is worth the short travel from Amsterdam. There are two sites, The Frans Hals Museum about five minutes walk from the Great Market Place and the "De Hallen Haarlem" Museum on the Market Place. Both are accessible with the same ticket. The first contains many of Hals' masterpieces as well as a supporting cast of other Dutch Masters which are related in some way. The museum is seasonally decorated with flowers (23.5-2.6.19) which are particularly beautiful and add immensely to the artistic atmosphere of the museum. The De Hallen Museum, is housed in a beautiful Dutch building on the Market Place and contains a variety of contemporary artists' works. An effort has been made to tie these works to those of Hals and his contemporaries. The inside has been artfully modernized and is worth a visit just for its architectural merits.

4. Begijnhof

Gedempte Begijnensloot, 1012 RM Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 20 622 1918 http://www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl/
Excellent
46%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4,570 reviews

Begijnhof

Tucked away just off Spui, this delightful collection of houses arranged around an open court is well worth searching out.

Reviewed By EileenMtShasta - Mount Shasta, United States

Definitely worth a quick visit, such a nice and peaceful place with two churches and the oldest house in Amsterdam, from the 1400s (it is the black house right in front of the statue of the Begijn lady). I went as part of Rick Steves free "Amsterdam City Walk" audio guide. Do a search online and download it for free!

5. Zuiderzeemuseum

Wierdijk 12-22, 1601 LA Enkhuizen The Netherlands +31 228 351 111 [email protected] http://www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl
Excellent
67%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,072 reviews

Zuiderzeemuseum

The Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen revives the stories of people who once lived on the shores of the Zuiderzee. See, hear, taste and smell everyday life around the Zuiderzee as it was before the Afsluitdijk (IJsselmeer Barrier Dam) changed the sea into the IJsselmeer in 1932. The Zuiderzee Museum is oriented toward the history, the current situation and the future of this area. It focuses upon the themes of water, crafts and communities. This story is visualized in the Outdoor Museum with historical buildings, and in the Indoor Museum with thematic exhibitions.

Reviewed By Pippa65 - Kent, United Kingdom

English travellers might like to know this is like a maritime version of Beamish or the Sussex outdoor museum - old buildings moved and preserved to show life as it once was, and the history of the draining of the area. Plenty of activities for children, though I think the Dads were having even more fun! Take the train to Enkhuizen [train travel is SO easy and efficient in The Netherlands] - cross the road to the ticket office for the museum, and then a ferry will take you to the site. Nice cafe though limited food.

6. Teylers Museum

Spaarne 16, 2011 CH Haarlem The Netherlands +31 23 516 0960 [email protected] http://www.teylersmuseum.nl
Excellent
51%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,049 reviews

Teylers Museum

Anyone who opens the museum's heavy door on the bank of the River Spaarne sees at a glance what it is that inspires such enthusiasm. The museum breathes the atmosphere of the 18th and 19th centuries - the Age of the Enlightenment - when people were busily gathering knowledge about the world. Teylers Museum, museum of wonder, is a world in itself, one that you will never forget. Teylers Museum is the best-preserved 18th-century public knowledge institution for the arts and sciences in the world. It has been open to the public since 1784, welcoming all those who are eager to look at paintings and drawings by the Old Masters, magnificent minerals, ingenious scientific instruments, precious books, and centuries-old fossils. The museum's interior alone, with the monumental Oval Room as pièce de resistance, is a truly remarkable attraction. It is the only authentic 18th-century museum interior in the world.

Reviewed By Yolalindsay - Brooklyn, United States

Definitely worth a stop if you have some time in Haarlem! Lots of natural history here, as well as major scientific advancements - really a cool little museum with a GREAT audio guide. I think if you were very interested in geology or archaeology, you could spend a very long time here.

7. The Corrie ten Boom House

19 Barteljorisstraat North Holland, 2011 RA Haarlem The Netherlands +31 23 531 0823 [email protected] http://www.corrietenboom.com/en/home
Excellent
74%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 969 reviews

The Corrie ten Boom House

Reviewed By Dahlke8 - La Vernia, United States

The Ten Boom family’s incredible sacrifice to help the Jewish people and the Dutch Resistance during WWII is carefully preserved and retold by passionate and caring guides! Dina introduced us to the Ten Boom’s, their incredible faith in Christ, and then walked us through their home, to include the Hiding Place. This is a must visit, as is the beautiful town of Haarlem, if you are in Amsterdam.

8. Museum Stoomtram Hoorn-Medemblik

Van Dedemstraat 8, 1624 NN, Hoorn The Netherlands +31 229 255 255 [email protected] http://www.museumstoomtram.nl
Excellent
61%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 408 reviews

Museum Stoomtram Hoorn-Medemblik

The engine whistles and the fireman shovels coal. Wooden partitions creak, wheels sing and steam hisses. In your carriage you will experience a story from a bygone era. Between the historic towns of Hoorn, Medemblik and Enkhuizen steamtrams meander from village to village across the Westfrisian countryside and a historic steamer with a fantastic saloon-deck sails along the coast of lake IJsselmeer.

Reviewed By wookey57 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

A great day at Steamtram railways between Hoorn and Medemblik in about 30/40 min North of Amsterdam. By car parking in front of the station. By Rail from Central Station A'dam to Hoorn.

9. Sprookjeswonderland

Kooizandweg 9, 1601 LK Enkhuizen The Netherlands +31 228 317 853 http://www.sprookjeswonderland.nl/
Excellent
72%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 290 reviews

Sprookjeswonderland

10. Muiderslot

Herengracht 1, 1398 AA Muiden The Netherlands +31 294 256 262 [email protected] http://www.muiderslot.nl/
Excellent
47%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 709 reviews

Muiderslot

Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in the Netherlands! It was built in 1285 and has gathered many interesting stories over the (700!) years. Visit the castle and the beautiful garden and get to know more about Dutch history.

Reviewed By cravingsofatraveler - Pennsylvania, United States

We had one last day in the Netherlands, and decided this would be where we spent it! Getting there was a little work - from Amsterdam Central, take the train to Weesp, and then a bus to Muiden. Our timing was a little off, so we had to wait in Weesp at the station for awhile, but we just stopped in the cafe at the station and had some snacks and coffees. It is about a 10-15 minute walk to the castle from the bus stop. Seriously such a magical place! The audioguide tour was really interesting, too. We weren't sure what to expect, but this ended up being one of my daughter's favorite things about our vacation.

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