10 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In Netherlands
For such a small country, the Netherlands has quite a few towns with strong personalities. With just a short train, tram, or bike ride from the big cities, you can find yourself in front of whitewashed abbey towns, weathered and active windmills, miles of colorful tulip fields, and fortified historic harbors. Each of the ten towns on this list has its own story, and the best way to see them is slowly, with a bike or a good pair of walking shoes. Not every town is easy to find, but each one is worth a visit and will make you want to return time and time again.
Scheveningen
Nestled on the coast outside of The Hague is the seaside precinct of Scheveningen. Thousands of visitors come every year to soak up the sun in this captivating town and for good reason. The historic Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus, which dates back to the 1880s, faces the North Sea and watches the boulevard below fill up with walkers, cyclists, and beach cafes every summer. The Scheveningen Pier, with its towering 148-foot (45 m) ferris wheel, stretches out over the water with views back along the coast and into the horizon. Beach lovers can also enjoy one of the largest panorama paintings in the world, the Panorama Mesdag, which captures the dunes and how this historic fishing village would have looked in the nineteenth century. Scheveningen's beauty and beaches are straight out of a book, and you'll definitely want to stay a while.
Thorn
In the southern province of Limburg is a place fondly known as "the White Town," with nearly all its brick houses painted white. That town is Thorn. The stone white architecture comes from an 18th-century design trend that residents used to hide patched-up brickwork. Now, hundreds of white buildings and houses line the narrow streets, giving way to a captivating look that's found nowhere else in the country. One of the shining examples is the Huis Salm-Salm. This 17th-century historic building was named after Princess Gabriëlla zu Salm-Salm, who lived in the house and served as the dean and sovereign of the abbey before the French Revolution. In the center, wander by the Gothic Abbey Church and stroll along its adjacent cobbled streets that lead to family-owned shops, cafes, and the historic Thorn Museum. The Maas River and its lakes cut through the town and a lovely way to get around by foot or bike. Thorn is truly a place to wander without a plan.
Zaanse Schans
One of the most popular towns on this list is located north of Amsterdam, and it is the definition of captivating. Zaanse Schans is an open-air neighborhood of green wooden houses, workshops, and windmills that harken back to the Zaan region's industrial past. Windmills here once powered sawing, oil pressing, and spice grinding, and several still run today. Visitors can watch mustard or oil being made at the De Zoeker Windmill, see clogs carved at the Weaver's House, and taste cheese at the working dairy farm of Catharina Hoeve. The setting is photogenic but also lived-in, with wooden homes beside the Zaan River and several museums that explain how the area helped build the Dutch Golden Age economy. If you go, go early in the day to enjoy the quiet before the crowds rush in.
Katwijk aan Zee
On the North Sea, just a 10-minute drive from Leiden, lies a town with one of the nicest beaches on the Dutch coast. Katwijk aan Zee is backed by rolling sand dunes that make the walk to the sea feel like an adventure. The old Rhine River reaches the North Sea from here, and the town's fishing history is still visible in its harbor, the Katwijk Lighthouse, and the small Katwijks Museum that tells the story of this local fishing community. Artists have long been drawn to the light on this coast, and the German painter Max Liebermann was among those who worked here. Today, the boulevard is lined with seafood restaurants and beach pavilions, and the nearby dune reserves are good for long walks. For the best view in town, take the 10-minute hike up the Vlaggeduin dune trail from the Katwijk aan Zee Beach. From there, you'll see why the town captivates tourists and locals alike.
Lisse
In the flower fields of the Netherlands lives a town that's known for its brilliant, bright tulips as far as the eye can see. Lisse is the gateway to the Dutch bulb region, and in spring the fields glow with rows of red, yellow, and purple. The star attraction is Keukenhof, a garden park that blooms with millions of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths from mid-March to mid-May. The Keukenhof Castle behind it dates back 500 years and was used as a royal hunting ground for Countess Jacoba of Bavaria. Getting lost in the tulip fields is easy at Old Zandvliet Farm, where you can see the thousands of bulbs with your own eyes and even walk through the rows. Away from the crowds, the town itself is quiet and pleasant, with the LAM museum dedicated to the bulb trade and cycling routes that take you straight past the fields. Even outside tulip season, the canals and small-town streets make Lisse well worth the trip.
Arcen
Tucked away in northern Limburg is the pleasant fortified town of Arcen. This small walled town reflects a long history of being a place of defense and protection. But now it's a historic area full of cobblestone streets and military touches. The big draw is the Arcen Castle Gardens, a 79-acre (32-hectare) themed garden with ponds and rose beds that bloom in the warmer months. The town is also famous for being the home of the 111-year-old Hertog Jan Brewery, a popular Dutch beer company. For 20 euros, you can get a tour and enjoy a tasting in one of their copper brew kettles. Just outside of town lies the Hamert National Park, offering plenty of forest and river paths for cycling and walking. There's something about Arcen that makes it easy to enjoy and want to stay a while.
Giethoorn
In the Dutch province of Overijssel is a town where cars are not allowed. Giethoorn is called the "Venice of the North" because of its 176 bridges that connect every street. This lovely town doesn't center around cars, but is defined by peaceful canals, arched wooden bridges, and thatched-roof farmhouses surrounded by lush green terrain. What makes Giethoorn so captivating is the pace of life. Instead of navigating busy streets full of traffic, you can calmly drift along the water, wander across little bridges, or cycle through the surrounding countryside. Locals and tourists alike enjoy traversing the city by boat, especially in the Weerribben Wieden National Park, where there are plenty of boat tours to choose from. In town, you can walk to the Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus to dive deep into the village's canal history. Or you can find yourself strolling through the Binnenpad, Langesteeg, and Zuiderpad for the best photos of the thatched-roof houses. Giethoorn is as Dutch as it gets with its distinct bridges, canals, and laid-back approach to life.
Woerden
One of the lesser-known towns on this list has a captivating medieval history. Woerden sits on the Old Rhine River in the province of Utrecht, and its history stretches back to the Roman Empire. This town was an integral part of the Roman Empire's frontier defence system with the Lower Germanic Limes inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Today, that frontier sits alongside the 600-year-old military fortress, the Woerden Castle, with a compact center of shops and cafes around it. The town has long been associated with being a cheese and farmers' market town. You can visit the Cheese Warehouse to see the cheese-making process for yourself. Or stop by the De Windhond windmill to take home freshly ground flour and pancake products. The historic center is also definitely a scenic place to enjoy a meal and wander. Woerden holds some of the Netherlands' oldest stories, and it's so captivating for that reason.
Hoek van Holland
Hidden on the coast just south of Scheveningen is a town at the intersection of river and sea: Hoek van Holland. This fishing port town holds a mix of coastal beauty and deep-rooted maritime history. It sees huge ships pass close enough for visitors to watch them from the dunes and beach. Like other towns on this list, Hoek van Holland was used for military purposes, and its history is fascinating. Find yourself crawling into the bunkers at the Atlantikwall Museum to see incredible World War II artifacts and soldiers' living quarters. Next door is Fort 1881, where you can walk through ancient corridors and hear captivating stories about daily life under German occupation. While the long and wide Hoek van Holland Beach is a favorite of locals, the dunes behind it are good for walking. The South Holland Landscape nature reserve has plenty of trails to explore and enjoy. History buffs will get a lot out of exploring the old defensive forts and wartime bunkers in Hoek van Holland, but nature and beach lovers will also fall in love with its relaxed port and seaside life.
Brielle
Located across the water from Hoek van Holland is a star-shaped fortress town with a captivating history. In 1572, rebels known as the Watergeuzen captured the town of Brielle from Spanish forces and officially sparked the Dutch Revolt. Brielle still celebrates the moment it was free of Spanish rule every year on April 1st. This resilient town has a lot to see, with the lovely St. Catharijnekerk, the Historical Museum Den Briel, rich in local history, and quiet cobblestone streets. Walk to the edge of town to see Kaaipoort, a gated old military port that leads to a green islet with water lily-filled waters. Then walk to Arsenaal to see where old military arms were created during the 1500s. The town is full of these monuments and ports that served to protect and fortify the area. You can walk to all of them in under an hour. Brielle will capture your interest with its unique combination of history and relaxing, water-filled ambiance.
These Ten Towns Will Capture Your Interests
The Netherlands is full of charming, historic, and laid-back towns, but these ten towns stand out for their truly captivating nature. The military forts hidden in the dunes of Hoek van Holland and the star-shaped fortresses of Brielle tell the story of how the country became what it is today. The stone white houses in Thorn and Zaanse Schans paint a picture of the Netherlands' insistence on preserving its culture. Whether you're looking to get lost in castles in Arcen or stroll over 176 bridges in Giethoorn, you will leave captivated and entranced by these sweet towns sprinkled all over the country.
