Netherlands: 9 Best Retirement Towns Ranked

Retirees in the smallest Dutch towns still reach a country-wide health system and ride a cheap national train pass. That access is why these nine places suit a slower pace of life. In Baarn you settle beside royal palaces and reach two medical centers within a short ride. In Sleen you step onto the country's longest hiking trail. In Lisse you live among the Dutch tulip fields. What follows is a ranked look at where to spend your golden years.

Baarn

Sidle up next to the royals in Baarn in the province of Utrecht. Technically speaking, the formal title of this country is the "Kingdom of the Netherlands," and it does maintain a Constitutional Monarchy. There is a lot of nostalgia surrounding the old aristocratic court here in Baarn, a town of approximately 25,000 people, where the Dutch nobility has traditionally owned significant real estate. Soestdijk Palace lies just outside town and remains an attractive glimpse of 17th-century elegance. Once used as a hunting lodge and royal retreat, Soestdijk Palace is now open to the public on certain days. And if a palace is not enough of a draw, consider that Groeneveld Castle is also in Baarn. As a potential retiree to these environs, it should be comforting to know that Baarn has been adored as a beautiful town for centuries. While there are no major hospitals in Baarn, the Meander Medical Center and the Tergooi Medical Center are both just a short 15 minutes away and easily accessible. And there are many private doctor general practices (huisartsen) available in town, making wellness during retirement a local professional concern. Ease of transportation is also a big plus in Baarn, as it is well connected to the national train network, NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen), which is fun for a day trip or an easy way to explore the entire country at a low cost.

Hoogeveen

Hoogeveen ("High Peat") was originally a peat bog area that has been inhabited since the 16th century. What did the Dutch do with peat? They burned a lot of it to cook and stay warm. For several centuries, during the Dutch Golden Age, it was the primary source of domestic heating, as the region lacked large forests and coal. The town itself has a population of approximately 40,000, though the suburbs in the greater municipality bring that number to about 56,000. Hoogeveen is home to strong healthcare facilities, including those surrounding Bethesda Hospital, sponsored by the Treant Healthcare Group, ensuring retirees top-notch medical care. For outdoor hiking prospects, just north of the town, explore the Boardwalk Trail in the Dwingelderveld National Park. If you want to stay within town limits for exercise, try The Dolphin Pool (De Dolfijn), a popular public swimming area for therapeutic laps or water aerobics.

Hoek van Holland

Hoek van Holland ("Hook of Holland") will appeal to those who love a view of the water and access to sandy beaches in sunny South Holland, just west of Rotterdam and below The Hague. The fishing and maritime industries are strong here, where the Rhine River empties into the North Sea, with a constant flow of Rotterdam-bound international ships. More modestly sized than Rotterdam, Hoek van Holland has a population of just over 10,000, making it a comfortable seaside community, where you can watch the ships go by without all that industrial clutter further upstream. Hike along the Hoek van Holland Strand (the local beach) and out onto the Noorderpier ("North Pier") in the morning or evening, enjoying fresh salty air and a variety of shops, clubs, and restaurants such as the extraordinary Pele's Surf Shack, offering delectable vegan meals, where you can also sign up for beach yoga sessions or host a wedding reception. There are independent living facilities for retirees, such as the Brinktoren. Primary and secondary care health practitioners are concentrated in Huisartsencentrum De Cordes (De Cordes General Practitioner Center).

Sleen

For outdoor enthusiasts who also enjoy the quiet of a small town, Sleen may be a great retirement option. The Pieterpad Trail, the most popular and longest hiking trail in the Netherlands (309 miles), goes directly through Sleen, beginning in Pieterburen in the North and ending in Maastricht in the South. Open since 1983, the access point in Sleen would enable you to navigate firsthand views of the entire country on foot, especially gaining insight into ancient, traditional agriculture as it has been practiced in the region for over 4000 years. Sleen is also known for its historical architecture, including a 450-year-old church, the Dorpskerk, and a classic 3-story, completely restored windmill dating back to 1850, known as De Hoop. Sleen offers the best of low-key rural village life, featuring lots of barns, cottages, and cabins. It is located in the province of Drenthe, with a population of almost 2,500. For healthcare considerations, the best option is Scheper Hospital, located less than 10 minutes north, which offers 24/7 service.

Terherne

Terherne ("On the Corner") is a small island, intercut with canals and pools known as Terhernster Poelen, set within the larger Sneekermeer, a popular lake in the province of Friesland. It would be a fantastic, dreamy place to retire, especially if you have children, grandchildren, or extended family, where relatives can enjoy an array of water activities. This tiny town, with only around 760 permanent residents, balloons to 6000 people at various holiday occasions, especially in warmer months, because of its reputation for aquatic recreation. Additionally, Terherne has the unique distinction of being identified as the real version of the fictional village in Kameleon (Chameleon), a popular series of children's books about the adventures of Hielke and Sietse, first published in 1949. Author Hotze de Roos supposedly mentioned on one occasion in the 1980s that his stories could very well have happened in the town of Terherne. The reference carried such popular momentum that there is actually a theme park dedicated to recreating immersive experiences from the stories called Kameleondorp, as well as a television show. Visit the Havens Resort for access to water recreational activities, boat rides, rentals, and a variety of shops during leisure time. The Medical Center Leeuwarden is the nearest major hospital to Terherne, just 16 miles away.

Lisse

Lisse is located in South Holland and is perhaps best known as the center of the Netherlands' tulip and bulb industry, home to the Keukenhof Gardens. With a history stretching back over 800 years, Lisse has seen incredible transitions from a stint of abject poverty in the Medieval period, eventually to the development of a series of wealthy estates with extensive gardens, which lent themselves to more specific cultivation towards the tulip and other bulb flowers by the 17th century. Ever since then, the serious business of exporting tulips has led to trade with approximately 100 countries and to the tulip's common identification with the Netherlands. What better place to retire to than Lisse, with a modest population size of almost 23,000, right at the center of Bollenstreek (Bulb region)? Other significant events, such as Castlefest, are worth attending at the Keukenhof Estate, demonstrating the estate's multifunctionality beyond just celebrating its gardens. The Dorpshart Lisse (Town Center) is the place to go for year-round shopping, food & beverage, and relaxed community life. Try the Barista Cafe for some coffee and Dutch pastries like the popular "appeltaarts" (apple cake). Senior living facilities such as the Berkhout also provide added confidence in a healthcare system for retirees at different stages of independent and assisted living.

Lemmer

You know that you always wanted to be a "Lemster"! And now you can if you retire to Lemmer, a popular lake and seaside town with just over 10,000 people in the northern province of Friesland. Joking aside, that is actually what people in Lemmer are called, and they carry it with pride. If you don't believe me, then see for yourself at Lemsterweek, an annual celebration featuring sailing regattas, vendors, music, and good times at the beach! Though small in size, Lemmer is an important part of the fishing industry and the top tourist attraction in Friesland province. Apart from a functional economy and having fun, on the healthcare front, the Lemmer area is serviced by a Frisius MC outpatient clinic in town and a hospital in Heerenveen, just 9 miles north. The Marina Park Aquaronde area, featuring extraordinary semi-circle cog-like floating homes connected by canals, offers unique opportunities for those seeking waterside residency or a vacation destination to experience this unique design aesthetic. If you are wondering why water is such a concern in the Netherlands, which actually means the "Lowlands," or how the Dutch manage to control the water levels historically and in more recent times, you should check out the Woudagemaal (Wouda Pumping Station), which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Druten

Druten is a town on the Waal River, a major tributary of the Rhine, in the province of Gelderland in the eastern Netherlands. Like many historic river communities in the Netherlands, Waal has a legacy stretching back almost 1000 years, with documented references dating back to the 11th century. It is also known for its more contemporary facilities, such as the Metropole Museum, dedicated to cars and motorcycles. Its midrange size of under 20,000 people makes it an ideal option for retirees seeking an organic community without the noise, hustle, and bustle of bigger cities. While there are no major hospitals here, there are adequate professional healthcare outlets, including the General Practice Druten Central ("Huisartsenpraktijk Druten Centrum"), as well as a community clinic extension of the CWZ Hospital ("Canisius Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis"). And while there is no direct train line through Druten, bus lines keep it in the loop, and nearby stations provide broader connections to Nijmegen and Tiel. To get a feel for Druten's attractive vintage atmosphere, head over to Restaurant Old Skool, where you can dine, take culinary classes, or even hold meetings in a retro-contemporary setting in the town's center, located in an historic school building.

Rheden

The final stop on our tour of optimal retirement towns in the Netherlands is Rheden. Here is your gateway to the Veluwezoom National Park, the oldest national park in the Netherlands. The visitor center is located in Rheden, where you can do some research before heading out for hiking and, hopefully, to get a glimpse of red deer, boar, and other wildlife thriving in the more than 12,000 acres of this beloved preserve. With a human population under 50,000, Rheden is an attractively sized river town on the IJssel River, another tributary of the Rhine. It is also home to the Middachten Castle, dating back to the 17th century. The same family has owned the estate for 25 generations! It is open to the public and contains a variety of sights, including an exceptional garden. Station Rheden is a national transit hub here, providing easy connections to the rest of the country. Healthcare is also available in Rheden through such family-oriented clinics as Huisartsenpraktijk Rheden (General Practitioners of Rheden). Just on the other side of the IJssel River, adjacent to Rheden, you can enjoy recreation at the Lathumse Plas, a lake with the Recreation Park De Veerstal, which maintains trails and grounds upkeep for those exercising or taking a picnic day trip.

Ticket To Retire In The Netherlands

That does it for our tour of the best hidden towns to retire to in the Netherlands. Just remember that the Netherlands is only about as large as the state of Maryland, with just over 16,000 sq. miles. Distance is relative because even in some of the out-of-the-way nooks featured here, every town has public transportation and/or train stations nearby. Therefore, traditional "big city" convenience is a secondary concern, even for those approaching retirement considerations, because everything is close and easy to reach. The Netherlands has a popular health care system that covers the entire country. Excellent public transportation networks ensure that wherever you are, you are not far from medical assistance. The key is to pick your retirement style and "tuck in," whether that's in a rural countryside village, a breezy coastal town, or a livable niche near larger cultural bastions. On a more serious note, if you are not a native or are from outside the EU (European Union), know that there are regulations with which you may have to comply, such as obtaining a "Non-Activity" permit proving sufficient financial independence as a foreign expat. Other than that, take advantage of the fact that we do live in a global village with more access than ever before to any place on planet earth. The Netherlands is a great choice for those seeking ideal retirement-friendly locations in which to spend their golden years.