City: The Netherlands
Top Things to do in The Netherlands
Top Hotels in The Netherlands
- 1. Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam
- 2. Van der Valk Hotel Amsterdam - Amstel
- 3. Ambassade Hotel
- 4. Radisson Hotel & Suites Amsterdam South
- 5. Hotel Estherea
- 6. nhow Amsterdam RAI
- 7. The Hendrick's Hotel
- 8. Mercure Amsterdam City Hotel
- 9. Corendon City Hotel Amsterdam
- 10. Movenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre
What to do and see in The Netherlands, The Netherlands: The Best History Museums
– in Europe (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (green)
Restaurants in The Netherlands
1. Anne Frank House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62,301 reviews
The Anne Frank House (Dutch: Anne Frank Huis) is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. The building is located on a canal called the Prinsengracht, close to the Westerkerk, in central Amsterdam in the Netherlands. As a visitor, you experience this story through a audio tour, quotes, photos, videos, and original items. The Anne Frank House can only be visited with an online ticket for a specific date and time.
Reviewed By Skiforever1223 - Salt Lake City, United States
This is a very special museum for many reasons but I was pleasantly surprised by how beautifully the museum created the narrative and the spaces they created. My two teenage daughters and I will never forget this experience. I loved the amazing artwork at the end portraying scenes recreated from the hiding place and also recommend taking time to watch the touching tributes video at the end where you hear visitors’ experiences and guest book comments from Nelson Mandela, Steven Spielberg and more. Read or re-read Anne Frank’s diary prior to visiting to really feel the spirit of this young reminder of so many tragically lost. You do have to reserve tickets online. Per the website: 80% of tickets are released exactly two months in advance at 12:00* hours noon, 20% on the day itself. Every day at 9:00* hours, the tickets for the day are made available on this site. (*Amsterdam time). The museum recommends this for children 10 and older. I would recommend 11 yrs. for a well-prepared child. It is a quiet, sober tour and there is one brief concentration camp scene that is graphic. Bag check and audio guides included with your ticket and there is a cafe and shop for after your tour. No photography. You line up outside at your assigned time slot until it’s time for your group to go in and it’s best to take a picture of your ticket rather than try to pull it up in your email because connectivity is spotty. The actual house/store is encased and preserved by the museum surround on Prinsengracht street. We booked an evening visit which also added to the poignancy as you leave the museum and see the canals lit by street lights. Highly recommend.
2. Gravensteen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,013 reviews
The only surviving "castle of the count."
Reviewed By Spud479 - London, United Kingdom
We visited on a red hot day and the castle was cool in more ways than one way lol For 12 Euros we collected the audio tour and chose the English tour, a Belgian comedian called Wouter Deprez gave a wonderfully funny version of this horrible history, he got the tone just right and We found ourselves laughing out loud on several occasions ???????? This is great value for money and a must see when in Ghent
3. Panorama Mesdag
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,992 reviews
A magnificent experience in time and space.
Reviewed By 512saskiav - Oisterwijk, The Netherlands
Awesome Panoramic scenery, hand painted end of 19th century. Overview of seaside fishing boats and little town. Take your time to view this awesome panoramic painting and indulge yourselves in this 19th century surrounding.
4. Zuiderzeemuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,072 reviews
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.
5. Paleis Het Loo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,149 reviews
Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. The palace is currently being renovated and will be re-opened in 2021, but you are more than welcome to the gardens, stables, restaurants and our events!
Reviewed By LouiseJ1390 - Denmark, null
We went to see the castle during this Summer's heatwave in Holland. The castle was closed due to comprehensive restoration work, which will end with the opening of a modern museum at the castle grounds in 2021, but the gardens and the rooftop terrace were open. When you're in, a lift takes you to the roof, from where the amazing garden opens in all its splendor. The hedges and flowers in the garden are laid out in intricate patterns, and around the garden you'll find various sculptures in relation to myths and sculptures from classical antiquity. Beautiful fountains dot the grounds, and you can spend quite some time wandering around looking at all the various details in the flowers, sculptures and fountains. The garden is incredibly well kept. The palace is usually closed on Mondays, although there may be exceptions. The price of an adult ticket is 8,5 euro.
6. Leiden American Pilgrim Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
Reviewed By Tijs_CityGuide - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
This was a very nice experience, walking straight into the early 17th century. It was as if we'd visit William Bradford himself in his humble home. It's tiny, but the collection and the explanation of the host made up for this. I'd recommend reserving a visit when in Leiden.
7. Museum De Lakenhal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 190 reviews
Museum De Lakenhal is the visual arts, history and crafts museum of the city of Leiden. The city’s illustrious past is highlighted in seven collection presentations, including The Cradle of the Golden Age, Leiden University City, The Siege and Relief of Leiden, and Seven Centuries of ‘Leids Laken’. The internationally renowned collection contains numerous highlights such as Lucas van Leyden’s ‘Last Judgment’ (approximately 1526-27), beautifully stained glass, and paintings by Rembrandt and contemporaries. Since 1874 the museum has been located in a monumental 17thcentury hall for woollen fabrics, carefully restored in 2017-2019 and expanded with modern architecture. The unique encounters between past and present that occur here make Museum De Lakenhal a source of inspiration for all!
Reviewed By mireilleb554 - Ramnicu Valcea, Romania
First of all ,I realized that Leiden is a city opened to culture.I would have liked to find an English booklet about the history of the museum .The building that looked like an elegant palace impressed me by its beauty ,I was curious to see what gems It hides inside ,I had a Museum Card ,but I had to wait at the desk ,there were many tourists there in the afternoon . The history and art museum tells several stories ,I was confused upstairs ,but step by step ,I painted ''my own painting''about the highlights of the collection .I was lucky to catch the temporary exhibition of Rembrandt ,the star of it was for me The peddler selling spectacles ,an early work of art and '' History painting ''. A real challenge was the woolen cloth Merchant hall where I could see for the second time ,the masterpiece of Lucas van Leiden ,The last Judgment ,seen by me in Amsterdam two years ago ,in a temporary exhibition .I also liked the Lamentation of Christ by another significant painter from Leiden ,Cornelius E . Gerrit Dou ,a student of Rembrandt danced in a small cabinet with The Astronomer as well as Jan Steen with the joyful The Merry Couple for example ,they were my favourite Dutch painters of the Golden age ,too. Upstairs I learnt that Theo van Doesburg stayed in Leiden where he founded the famous de Stijl movement ,The collection of decorative art and applied art was also interesting.
8. National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 546 reviews
The National Museum of Antiquities is housed in an old monumental building and ‘Begijnhof’. It is the Dutch centre for archaeology. A large part of the collection consists of objects related to ancient Egypt. Unique is the two thousand year old Egyptian temple in the central hall of the museum. Besides ancient Egypt, the museum covers the Middle East, the Classical world and the early history of the Netherlands. The entire collection consists of more than 80,000 objects, including statues of Roman emperors, Etruscan tomb finds and mummies.
Reviewed By 500dank - The Hague, The Netherlands
Had a wonderful visit with my family. Loved the collection which is marvellous! Especially the artefacts covering ancient Egyptian time. To my personal opinion, only the British Museum in London can match this. The temporary exhibit (untill 15 march 2020) was on Cyprus. The museum consists of three floorws and is housed in a fantastic, historical building, in the middle of the historical town centre of Leiden (Rapenburg). It's completely accessible: we brought our 8 month old son in his buggy and had no problems in navigating the museum. Baby changing facilities are located in the disabled toilet on the ground floor. In the entrance hall of the museum you can find and visit the Temple of Taffeh (free of charge, as it is before the ticket barriers), which was gifted to the Netherlands. The audio tour is free of charge too (but behind the ticket barriers). Museum staff was very friendly and helpful. One note in regard to parking: some reviews here complain about parking, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the museum itself. People who complain about parking, have themselves to blame for not planning their journey properly: The museum is located in the middle of the historical city centre of Leiden. so it's completely logical that there isn't a large parking garage to accommodate visitors. My advice is to plan your journey ahead, be sure you know where to park in Leiden or check the museum website if you don't and/or are not familiar with the historical centre of Leiden. If you come by public transport: the museum is about a ten minute walk away from the Leiden Central station. Concluding this review: this is a must visit if you like museums with ancient artefacts!
9. Noordbrabants Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 878 reviews
Reviewed By Lopsock - Letchworth, United Kingdom
When we visited a lot of the permanent collection had been cleared for two temporary exhibitions - Loving Vincent (why we’d come to Den Bosch this time) and Garden of Earthly Delights. Both were fascinating and very well curated. Both also finish soon, but I would heartily recommend the museum on the basis of how these exhibitions were presented. Has a good restaurant, too, which always helps.
10. Nederlands Openluchtmuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,783 reviews
The Netherlands Open Air Museum (Nederlands Openluchtmuseum) takes you back into the past of every day life of ordinairy Dutch people. The museum lies in a beautiful park on the outskirts of the vibrant city of Arnhem. There is so much to see. Meet the museum staff who appear to have stepped straight out of the past. Proud of their heritage they will inspire you with their stories. For young and old alike, a visit to the museum is an unforgettable experience. Feast your senses on stories, smells, flavours and images that will take you back to days gone by. Whatever your age, the living history will make a lasting impression, bringing back memories and astonishing you by turns. Immerse yourself in the past and get to know the Dutch people and their history.
Reviewed By AnnH980 - York, United Kingdom
We found this place quite by accident whilst looking for things to do in the area whilst on holiday and I can honestly say it was one of the highlights of our holiday. It is a living museum showing the history of Dutch farming, craftsmen and lots more besides. The majority of the buildings are original and have been relocated to this place from their original sites throughout he country, some of which were over 100years old. There was so much to see and do, lots of beautiful windmills and and there were signs in English explaining the history of everything. There was an ice rink as it was winter and a fairground with lots of little stalls selling things to eat and drink. A old style tram was available to go around the place if you didn't want to walk. An amazing place which we would definitely go back to.
