7 Most Walkable Town Centers In Netherlands

The Netherlands may be famous for cycling, but these smaller towns are equally accessible and appealing for those keen to explore on foot. In Naarden, paths along the ramparts and moats trace the town's star-shaped defenses, giving you a look at the old center from both inside and outside its fortifications. Zierikzee's route heads inland from the old harbor to the Dikke Toren, which rises 62 meters above the historic streets. In Edam, a short walk past the Speeltoren follows the canals to Nieuwe Haven, where old warehouses hint at the town's history as a trading town. These 7 town centers rank among the most walkable in the Netherlands, each compact enough that their gates, churches, canals, and museums can be explored in a single outing.

Zutphen

Zutphen's historic center reveals itself one old street at a time. Start at the Berkelpoort, the medieval gate spanning the Berkel River, then walk west toward the center along the older streets around the Drogenapstoren. From here, it's only a few minutes to the Walburgiskerk, one of Zutphen's most recognizable landmarks. Inside is the Librije, a preserved 16th-century chained library that still has its original setup. After the church, wander through the lanes around 's-Gravenhof, the town's main historic square, before heading toward the IJsselkade. The riverfront is a nice change of scenery after the tightly packed streets of the old center.

Zierikzee

The old harbor is a good place to begin exploring Zierikzee. Start at the Zuidhavenpoort, one of the town's surviving medieval gates, then follow the historic streets inland toward the enormous Sint-Lievensmonstertoren, better known as the Dikke Toren. At 62 meters, it's hard to miss. The Nieuwe Kerk sits right beside it, so the two are easy stops. From the churches, continue toward the former town hall, now home to the Stadhuismuseum, and then wander through the old streets toward the Nobelpoort. From there, head back toward the harbor, where historic buildings and boats line the waterfront. A well-marked historic walking route of about 5 kilometers connects many of these sights, making it easy to turn the outing into a loop.

Doesburg

A walk through Doesburg feels less like checking off landmarks and more like wandering through an old Dutch town. Begin at the Martinikerk, a tall late-Gothic church at the heart of the historic center, then follow Kerkstraat and the surrounding lanes toward the Lalique Museum. The museum is housed in historic buildings, making it easy to pop into on a walking route through the center. From there, head through the old streets toward the Ooipoort area. Continue downhill toward the IJsselkade, where the compact historic streets give way to views of the River IJssel. From the waterfront, you can loop back toward the center along the older streets, passing more historic houses and small shops along the way.

Elburg

Behind Elburg's old walls, the streets follow a neat medieval grid. Begin at the Vischpoort, the old harbor gate, and walk straight into the historic center. From there, head toward Museum Elburg, which occupies buildings belonging to a former 15th-century convent and tells the story of the town and surrounding area. Continue south toward the Grote Kerk, whose tower is one of the easiest landmarks to spot from the surrounding streets.

After seeing the church, turn back toward the harbor and walk to the Bottermuseum Elburg, where traditional wooden fishing boats give a glimpse into the town's former life on the Zuiderzee. The short distances between these sights make Elburg particularly easy to explore on foot. Its medieval street plan is orderly, and pieces of the old defensive walls still help define the center. You can follow the main streets from one attraction to the next, then take a slower route back through the smaller lanes.

Hattem

Most of Hattem's historic center can be crossed in just a few minutes, but there is enough packed into its old streets to make slowing down worthwhile. Its compact layout is exactly what makes Hattem work so well for a walking-focused visit. Start at the Dijkpoort, the surviving medieval city gate, and walk toward the Markt and Andreaskerk. From the square, continue a few blocks to the Voerman Stadsmuseum, housed in two 16th-century buildings and covering local art, history, and archaeology. Next, walk toward the Dutch Bakery Museum, which occupies several historic buildings and explores the history of baking in the Netherlands. From there, follow Noordwal toward Molen De Fortuin, a historic windmill near the edge of the old center.

Naarden

From above, Naarden-Vesting's star-shaped defenses and surrounding waterways make it look almost like a geometric drawing. On the ground, the layout makes for an interesting walk. Start at the Utrechtse Poort and follow the old streets toward the Grote Kerk near the center of town. From the church, continue toward the Nederlands Vestingmuseum on Bastion Turfpoort.

After seeing the museum, leave the streets and follow the paths along the ramparts and moats. You can walk along the defensive works before returning toward the center, giving you a look at Naarden from both inside and outside its fortifications. Naarden's layout is almost as interesting as its individual sights. The star-shaped design is easier to understand once you're walking along the walls and looking back toward the tightly arranged streets. The grassy ramparts and waterways also give the walk some breathing room after exploring the historic center.

Edam

Canals, old houses, and narrow streets make Edam particularly easy to explore without a car. Start at Damplein, where the Edams Museum occupies two historic buildings. From there, walk north along Grote Kerkstraat to the Grote Kerk, a large late-Gothic church with an extensive collection of historic stained glass. Head back toward the center and continue to the Speeltoren, the surviving bell tower of the former Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk.

From here, follow the canals to Nieuwe Haven, where old warehouses and waterfront buildings hint at Edam's history as a trading town. Edam's historic center includes Damplein, the Grote Kerk, Speeltoren, Kaaswaag, canals, and the old harbor, so the main sights are easy to connect in one outing. The town is famous for its cheese, but the canals and old waterfront buildings are just as interesting, especially when you get away from the busier streets.

The Best Way To See These Towns? Just Start Walking

The appeal of these towns lies in what you notice when you're not worrying about traffic, parking, or crossing a sprawling city. A medieval gate leads to a quiet lane, a canal appears behind a row of old houses, and a church tower becomes an easy landmark as you wander. Pick a starting point, choose a few landmarks, and leave room for a wrong turn. In these towns, an overlooked street or old doorway can be just as interesting as the sights on your list.