World Guide

Netherlands

Country · Europe, Western Europe

Johan Cruyff Arena
Pictured: Johan Cruyff Arena · Photo: Alf van Beem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Netherlands is a country in Western Europe, bordering Belgium and Germany. With a population of about 18 million people and an area of 37,378 square kilometers, it features a capital in Amsterdam and offers diverse urban sights and historic locations.

Highlights

This site covers 37 sights across the country. Amsterdam serves as a hub for cultural institutions, including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, and the Vondelpark. The city also features the Johan Cruyff Arena and Amsterdam Centraal station. In The Hague, visitors can see the Peace Palace, the Binnenhof, Noordeinde Palace, Huis ten Bosch, and the Mauritshuis. Rotterdam is home to the Maeslantkering, while other notable locations include Circuit Zandvoort, the Kröller-Müller Museum, Huis Doorn, the Africa Museum, Het Loo Palace, and Madurodam. The country includes cities such as Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Scheveningen, and Utrecht.

Food and drink

Local culinary options include cheeses such as Gouda, Edam, and Maasdam. Sweet items include stroopwafel, poffertjes, oliebol, vla, and tompouce. Savory dishes include kapsalon and hutspot, often served with coleslaw. Advocaat is also available.

When to go

The climate at the capital offers the mildest temperatures during the summer months. June through August see daily highs between 18 °C and 20 °C. The winter months are colder, with January and February experiencing highs of 5 °C to 6 °C and lows of 1 °C. Rain occurs throughout the year, with October and November being particularly wet, seeing 96 mm to 104 mm of rain over about 14 to 16 days.

Practical notes

The official currency is the euro (EUR) and the primary language is Dutch. Plugs C and F are used with a voltage of 230 V. Driving is on the right side of the road. The country operates on UTC+01:00 time.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Netherlands

  • Gouda cheese
  • Edam cheese
  • Stroopwafel
  • Coleslaw
  • Advocaat
  • Oliebol
  • Maasdam cheese
  • Poffertjes
  • Vla
  • Kapsalon
  • Hutspot
  • Tompouce

Top sights in Netherlands

  1. Johan Cruyff ArenaJohan Cruyff ArenaAmsterdam
  2. RijksmuseumRijksmuseumAmsterdam
  3. Anne Frank HouseAnne Frank HouseAmsterdam
  4. Circuit ZandvoortCircuit ZandvoortZandvoort
  5. EuropolEuropolScheveningen
  6. Van Gogh MuseumVan Gogh MuseumAmsterdam
  7. Huis DoornHuis DoornUtrechtse Heuvelrug
  8. MauritshuisMauritshuisThe Hague
  9. Royal Palace of AmsterdamRoyal Palace of AmsterdamAmsterdam
  10. Peace PalacePeace PalaceThe Hague
  11. Huis ten BoschHuis ten BoschThe Hague
  12. BinnenhofBinnenhofThe Hague
  1. Africa Museum · Nijmegen
  2. Noordeinde Palace · The Hague
  3. Kröller-Müller Museum
  4. Het Loo Palace · Apeldoorn
  5. Amsterdam Centraal station · Amsterdam
  6. Madurodam · Scheveningen
  7. Vondelpark · Amsterdam
  8. Maeslantkering · Rotterdam
  9. Olympic Stadium · Amsterdam
  10. Mount Scenery
  11. Oude Kerk, Amsterdam · Amsterdam
  12. Begijnhof, Amsterdam · Amsterdam
  13. St. John's Cathedral · 's-Hertogenbosch
  14. St. Martin's Cathedral, Utrecht · Utrecht
  15. Rietveld Schröder House · UtrechtUNESCO
  16. Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam · Amsterdam
  17. Westerkerk · Amsterdam
  18. Oosterscheldekering
  19. SchoklandUNESCO
  20. John Frost Bridge · Arnhem
  21. Portuguese Synagogue · Amsterdam
  22. Nieuwe Kerk · Delft
  23. Kinderdijk windmills · KinderdijkUNESCO
  24. Grote Kerk, Haarlem · Haarlem
  25. Van Nelle Factory · RotterdamUNESCO
  26. Kurhaus of Scheveningen · Scheveningen
  27. Teylers Museum · Haarlem
  28. Oude Kerk · Delft
  29. Grachtengordel · AmsterdamUNESCO
  30. Cathedral of St Bavo, Haarlem · Haarlem
  31. Eise Eisinga Planetarium · FranekerUNESCO
  32. Martinitoren · Groningen
  33. Rijksmuseum van Oudheden · Leiden
  34. Basilica of Our Lady, Maastricht · Maastricht
  35. Royal Burgers' Zoo · Arnhem
  36. Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein' · Arnhem
  37. Groninger Museum · Groningen
  38. Railway Museum · Utrecht
  39. Apenheul Primate Park · Apeldoorn
  40. De Biesbosch National Park · Dordrecht
  41. Grote Kerk · Breda
  42. Pieterskerk, Leiden · Leiden
  43. Museum Boerhaave · Leiden
  44. Bonnefantenmuseum · Maastricht
  45. Het Oude Loo · Apeldoorn
  46. Grote Kerk, Dordrecht · Dordrecht
  47. Breda Castle · Breda
  48. Delft City Hall · Delft

UNESCO sites in Netherlands →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 21 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C5691216182120181496
Average low, °C1135912141412952
Rainfall, mm8160704563718692921049689
Rainy days161313101111131213141716

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Amsterdam (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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