8 Fairy-Tale Small Towns In Netherlands
The Netherlands is known for its happy people, bike paths, wide North Sea beaches, and stunning country landscapes. If you want to see beautiful bodies of water, the Netherlands should be your first destination choice. If fields of colorful tulips are something you have always wanted to experience in person, the Netherlands is also the best place to be. And, if you want to immerse yourself in a country where fairytales beckon around each corner, you should visit the beautiful story-bookish small towns here. There is so much to see and take in, including color, architecture, culture, windmills, art, and more. But what you will remember most of all is the absolute loveliness of it all.
Stavoren
Stavoren is a coastal village in the Frisian region of the Netherlands with a lighthouse that looks like it was taken from a book of fairytales. The Stavoren lighthouse shines across the Ijsselmeer, where you can enjoy beautiful views and take a bunch of photos and selfies. At the historic Stavoren Harbor, you can visit the Lady of Stavoren monument as she stands guard over the water. The statue was inspired by a local folk tale that blames the town’s previous misfortunes on a widow.
Other things to do in this pretty town include walking the sand dunes or having a picnic before going windsurfing on Ijsselmeer. You can also check out a live music show or visit a farmers’ market to find fresh produce.
Thorn
Thorn, in the province of Limburg, has its own fairy-tale look and feel, but with a southern European flavor. The whitewashed houses and cobblestone streets seem like they are just waiting for Prince Charming to ride by on his noble steed in search of his princess. The reality is equally as fascinating, considering that Thorn was once founded as a sort of ‘mini-state’. The state belonged to women, with the abbey and houses governed by noblewomen. Called the Stift ladies, these women resided in canon houses that encircled the central abbey church. The town even used its own currency until Napoleon’s arrival put an end to the mini-state.
Today, the ‘White City’ is an incredible place to visit. You can stroll past the historic white houses before having a late lunch at the Town Square in view of the Abbey Church. You can also visit the Abbey Church, which was the only structure left standing after the French invasion. North of Thorn, you will find National Park de Groote Peel, which is filled with colorful birds. And, a twenty-minute drive takes you to De Koningssteen, which is a natural development along the Meuse River and Belgium’s natural border.
Zaanse Schans
A visit to fairy-tale towns in the Netherlands is incomplete without exploring historic windmills, discovering how clogs are made, and eating lots of cheese. You can do all of this and more in the beautifully charming small town of Zaanse Schans. There are only about 100 residents here, yet Zaanse Schans draws millions of visitors annually. It is easy to see why when you stop by the windmills as your first port of call. These historic structures look like something straight out of an authentic Dutch painting. Not to mention that while you walk from windmill to windmill, you will smell chocolate in the air. Follow the wonderful aroma until you get to a cute little chocolate shop where a banner welcomes you with the words ‘smells like chocolate.’
If you need something savoury after all the chocolate you could not resist eating, head to the Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm, where you will learn how different cheeses are made. You can also eat your fill of delicious samples before stopping by the Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop to discover how one piece of wood makes a gorgeous pair of clogs. End the perfect day with a cruise along the Zaan River to get one last look at the windmills.
Oudewater
In peaceful Oudewater, you walk into a different kind of fairy tale. When you visit the infamous The Heksenwaag (Witches’ Weigh House), you will be weighed to ensure you are not a witch and get a certificate to boot. Of course, today this is done in jest, but in the 16th century, those found to be ‘too light’ on the scale were deemed to be witches. Fortunately, not one person who was weighed on the scales was killed.
Once you have proven you are not a witch, you can explore the rest of Oudewater by renting a bike and cycling the pretty streets. Just outside of town, you will find the ruins of Kasteel te Vliet. The castle was built between 1250 and 1300 and was already in ruins by 1647. If you want to experience more of Oudewater's culture, be sure to visit in February or March, or in June. At the start of the year, often in February, Oudewater hosts a Dutch Carnaval with a massive parade featuring huge floats. In Juen, you can join the Heksenfestjin or witch party, which includes live music, and you get to dress up as a witch.
Bronkhorst
Bronkhorst is considered the smallest and one of the most charming towns in the Netherlands. There are fewer than 100 permanent residents here, so everyone knows one another. The main attraction in Bronkhorst is the Dutch Reformed Church (Kapel van Bronkhorst), a historic landmark among the medieval buildings and modern cafes. The town also follows the fairytale or storybook trend by featuring the Charles Dickens Museum. The museum opened in 1987 and features exhibits on the works of Charles Dickens.
Take some time to treat yourself to handmade chocolates and excellent coffee at the renowned Chocolaterie Magdalena before taking a bike ride to the riverbanks and following the bike roads from Bronkhorst to Doesburg.
de Rijp
The historical village of de Rijp is located in North Holland and was once an important whaling hub. In De Rijp, you will find 17th-century houses and architecture, including the town hall, which dates to 1630. If you visit the Land of Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater museum, you will learn more about the village’s history and the engineering feats that brought it success. De Rijp is also ideal for a walking tour, allowing you to take in the sights and attractions. Some of these attractions include the St Bonifaius church and the Levelandsbrug. Other activities here include taking a boat trip to the De Eilandspolder for birdwatching. You can also rent a bike to explore the stunning countryside.
Giethoorn
You would be hard-pressed to take an ‘ugly’ photo in the fairy-tale town of Giethoorn in the Overijssel province. If anything, you would keep your finger ready, just waiting to snap ‘kabouters’ clambering through the tall grass, or elves sliding down flower stems. That is how real the fairy-tale atmosphere is in this place. Idyllic does not come close to describing the beauty of the ‘Venice of the Netherlands.’ You can take a boat out on the myriad canals and see a thatched-roof cottage around every turn. While on the boat, you will sail under historic wooden bridges. There are 177 bridges, with nearly every house having its own bridge to get to the road.
If you can drag yourself away from the splendor of the canals, head to the National Park Weerribben-Wieden. You can walk or cycle along the Veenweidepad hiking trail, a manageable four-kilometer route. You can even just opt to walk along the canals and take in the peaceful atmosphere. There are also quaint museums here, including the ‘Het Olde Maat Uus’, where you can explore what a farmhouse looked like in Giethoorn a hundred years ago. Or, you can view a huge collection of cars and carriages at the Histomobil museum.
Zierikzee
Zierikzee is an idyllic town on Schouwen Island in the municipality of Zeeland. It is a historic place that also exudes pure fairy-tale appeal. Like something out of the movie Frozen, a storm and flooding from the North Sea flooded Zierikzee in 1953. The water was so strong that it broke through the dykes, resulting in 873 deaths. As a result, the Delta Works were created to keep floodwaters at bay while protecting the ecosystem. Zierikzee moved on from the tragedy and is one of the most picturesque towns in the Netherlands today.
The town features an imposing bridge at its entrance, which leads to Zuidhavenpoort. The port is a quiet place to take photos while looking at the boats on the water. When you are inside the town, you will find yourself walking cobbled streets and looking at historic houses. At the Plein Montmartre you can sit down by the fountain to take some more pictures. Remember to climb the Sint-Lievensmonster Tower for expansive views of the town, before booking your spot on a safari boat trip to watch seals frolic in and out of the water.
A Storybook Ending Worth Chasing
Every part of small Dutch towns feels like a fairy tale come to life. The history of these towns is not confined to the pages of old books, but it lives on in the cobbled streets and winding canals. The past and the present collide here, creating something you cannot imagine until you experience it in real life. When you make your way through these towns, you will want to take in every detail and every landmark. Whether you want to find some inspiration or just a connection to the past, you will find it in the Netherlands, especially in the small towns that form the heart of this beautiful country. And long after your trip ends, you will have that feeling of having lived, even just briefly, right inside a fairy tale.
