The Netherlands is a melting pot of quirky charm, unparalleled nightlife and world-renowned art and culture. Cities filled with labyrinthine canal networks and countryside sprinkled with tulips and windmills create a never-ending demand for discovery. Amsterdam’s enchantingly narrow streets mingle with a maze of canals, coffee shops and a treasure trove of museums. It may not seem like it when you’re there, but the capital is actually made up of 90 islands connected by 1,500 bridges. Take a stroll down almost any street in the old medieval centre and you’ll encounter the iconically narrow canal houses which give the city its heartwarming character. Must-see sights include the masterpiece-adorned walls of the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, as well as the historic site of Anne Frank House. It’s also worth checking out the city’s picturesque green spaces such as Vondelpark. Outside the capital, you’ll find a wealth of other historic cities to explore, such as the fortified city of Utrecht, pottery hotspot of Delft and multicultural Maastricht. For futuristic architecture and nightlife that never seems to end, take a jaunt over to Rotterdam – the Netherlands’ second-biggest metropolis. The Netherlands has a huge variety of hotels, apartments and B&Bs, but if you’re after something a bit different, you can book a stay on a house boat or a traditional townhouse.
