7 Alternatives to Amsterdam

The Netherlands has more to offer than just Amsterdam! If you are also looking for alternatives to the world-famous canal city, this article offers you exclusive insider tips for a city trip to Holland. We'll show you the places where you can create your own favorite moments.

Sure, the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is picturesque and definitely worth a visit. However, what enchants us about Amsterdam can also be found in other Dutch cities, can you bet? Come with us to the places with winding canals and traditional brick houses on cobbled streets. Enjoy the great cuisine, lose yourself in shopping districts, and cheers with the friendly locals in the bars and clubs at night - these cities in the Netherlands will surprise you!

7 Alternatives to Amsterdam - Our Favorites

In the region of Limburg, located in the southernmost part of the Netherlands, you can experience the country from a completely different perspective. The language, customs, and food - everything is a bit different here. For us, this is always a reason to travel to Maastricht, the capital of Limburg. What we particularly love about Maastricht is the unique mix of historical sights, cultural highlights, and the relaxed, international student vibe that the city enjoys thanks to Maastricht University.

Grab a bike and take a sightseeing tour through one of the oldest and most charming cities in the Netherlands. You'll find that you can best reach the sights in Maastricht this way. Numerous picturesque churches and other historic buildings - Maastricht has more protected buildings than any other city in the Netherlands except Amsterdam - as well as interesting museums and green parks invite you not only to sightsee but also to stroll leisurely. Noteworthy are the Basilica of Our Lady and the Basilica of St. Servatius, which attract with unique architecture, the Vrijthof, a square that invites you to sit and people-watch with its cafes, and the St. Servatius Bridge, which you should definitely visit at sunset. The stone bridge, which has existed since the 13th century, is one of the landmarks of Maastricht and is easily accessible from the old town. Cross the Meuse and ride a little along the river. The views here are simply stunning!

Maastricht is perfect:

Vacation Guru Tip: Just outside of Maastricht, there are vineyards and estates you can visit and where you can participate in a wine tasting. The underground tunnels beneath the city, known as the Casemates, also offer a unique experience. Here you can join a tour and discover the city from entirely different perspectives. Quite cool! The perfect finale to a day in Maastricht is to visit one of the charming local pubs or bars.

Near the German border, just about 70 km from Münster, lies the city of Enschede. With over 158,000 inhabitants, it is the sixth-largest municipality in the province of Overijssel and one of its most exciting. What makes Enschede special? For example, the football club FC Twente Enschede, which made a name for itself with great successes in the past and still attracts crowds to the De Grolsch Veste stadium. Maybe you'll also feel like cheering for Dutch football live.

Do you love beer but aren't a big fan of football? Then a tour of the Grolsch Brewery is perfect. The brewery is open for tours from Wednesday to Friday between 9:30 AM and 7 PM for €19.50 (tasting included). Are you into art? How about a visit to the Rijksmuseum Twenthe, where you can find modern and classical works of art? The admission fee is €15 for adults, significantly cheaper than at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and equally worthwhile. If you're more interested in local history, the Twentse Welle Museum is the right place for you. The museum plays an important role as part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. After your museum visit, be sure to grab a bike and explore the city on two wheels. Notable sights include the central gathering place Oude Markt, Het Volkspark, the oldest park in the Netherlands, the synagogue, the Jacobus Church, as well as the concert hall Muziekkwartier and the new Roombeek district, which impresses with modern and unique architecture. Shopping enthusiasts will find plenty of boutiques and shopping streets in Enschede. After all, Enschede is one of the most popular shopping cities in Holland.

Enschede is perfect:

Because sightseeing and shopping make you hungry, the Twentsche Foodhal is the perfect spot for a break. In an old Polaroid factory covering an area of about 1,000 m², nine different restaurants have teamed up to delight you with regional specialties from soul food to burgers. Delicious! With a good base in your stomach, you can then dive into the Enschede nightlife, which attracts with trendy clubs and bars around the Oude Markt. Cheers! To life and a legendary night!

Same province, different city - the capital of Overijssel, Zwolle, was once an important center of printing and trade. Picturesque canals, where boats still travel through the city today, testify to those times and invite you to take a boat tour.

Especially worth seeing: The historic brick houses along Thorbeckegracht and Melkmarkt. If this reminds you of Amsterdam, you're right, but Zwolle is far less known and crowded than the Dutch capital. A true insider tip. The Hanseatic city has even more to offer: medieval buildings such as the Basilica of Our Lady with its Peperbus tower, the over 600-year-old city gate Sassenpoort, and the Gothic Sint Michaelskerk transport you to past times. If you visit Zwolle in July, you should definitely check out the Zwolse Blauwvingerdagen! Between July 1 and 31 each year, over 450 flea market stalls are set up here, offering typical trinkets and extraordinary goods.

Zwolle is perfect:

Another alternative to Amsterdam is Arnhem, the capital of Gelderland. What awaits you here? A wealth of culture and shopping, as well as excursions into the surrounding national parks. Sounds like an exciting mix. It's best to rent a bike or take a nice walk to the sights in Arnhem, which include the Eusebiuskerk, the historic John Frost Bridge, the Grote Kerk, and the parks Sonsbeeck and Zijpendaal.

After an initial stroll (or a bike ride) and a proper portion of special fries, be sure to head to one of the many museums. Among your choices are the Airborne Museum, which focuses on the Battle of Arnhem during World War II, the Museum Arnhem, showcasing contemporary art, or the Dutch Open-Air Museum, where you can experience Dutch history up close. Just outside the city, in Hoge Veluwe National Park, you'll also find the Kröller-Müller Museum, which houses the second-largest Van Gogh collection in the world. But the approximately 90 paintings and numerous drawings are not the only highlights of the museum: The large sculpture garden and the heath landscapes of the nature park invite you to bike and explore, which is easy with the free bicycles - cool, right?

If you enjoy shopping, the Musiskwartier and the Modekwartier are great places to go. Exclusive boutiques and designer stores, luxury brands, and internationally known fashion chains - you're sure to find your favorite piece in Arnhem's charming streets.

Arnhem is perfect:

If you're in Arnhem, you might as well take a trip to the neighboring city of Nijmegen. The 179,000-resident Hanseatic city in Gelderland calls itself the oldest city in the Netherlands. Nijmegen has a rich history, which means you can find some historical sights here. Although the city was heavily damaged during World War II, many buildings have been rebuilt or restored. Particularly magnificent witnesses of ancient times include the Gothic Stevenskerk, the old town hall Het Oude Stadhuis - which has been converted into a restaurant - and the Nikolauskapelle, located in the area of the former Nijmegen castle Valkhof.

Nijmegen is perfect:

If you're interested in the history of the city that dates back to ancient times, the Museum Het Valkhof is a good destination. Here, you can see numerous archaeological finds from the region that show how significant the city was to the Romans in antiquity. However, modern art lovers among you will also enjoy the pop art exhibition at Het Valkhof. Then just take a little walk through the Valkhof, where ruins from the 12th century exist, and let yourself be enchanted by the medieval ambiance.

Despite the historical buildings and rich history, the atmosphere of the city is defined by its many students. You will definitely have no trouble finding trendy restaurants or bars here, where you can end the day on a high note.

Utrecht is not only the fourth largest city in the Netherlands and home to many international students but also to the famous rabbit Miffy, which many of you might know. However, the sweet rabbit is not Utrecht's only claim to fame: Life here literally revolves around the Dom Tower, which the city is built around and whose steeple you can see almost everywhere in the city. Visiting the 112-meter high landmark is almost a must when you are in Utrecht. Once you've climbed the 465 steps, you'll be rewarded with a fantastic view over Utrecht. The effort is worth it! In the cloister garden of the Dom of Utrecht, one of the city's most beloved photography spots waits: the Pandhof. It's best to find a spot in the Gothic cloister and listen to the carillon of the Dom. For a moment, time seems to stand still.

To take a breather, a canal ride through the picturesque old town is just perfect. The great thing is: Here, you don't have to navigate through crowded tourist boats as in Amsterdam; instead, you can simply rent a canoe or pedal boat and explore the city and its sights at your own pace. The old house facades and trees embellishing the canals create wonderful photography opportunities. In the summer, young and old alike enjoy sitting by the canals, chatting, and savoring life. When hunger strikes, you can easily dock at the next café and treat yourself to a snack.

Utrecht is perfect:

For food lovers and strollers, we have a special tip: Be sure to visit one of the regularly held markets in Utrecht! For example, on Mondays, the Lapjesmarkt (fabric market) takes place between 9 AM and 1 PM, and on Saturdays, you can browse the flower markets at Janskerkhof and Oude Gracht from 8 AM to 5 PM. If you want to fill your belly with Dutch specialties, the Vredenburg market, which takes place every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, is the right place.

If we had to describe the southern Dutch city of Leiden in three words, we would immediately think of Rembrandt, the university, and the beautiful canals in the old town. But let's go in order: Leiden's most famous son is the artist Rembrandt, who was born here in 1606 and also studied at the University of Leiden before eventually moving to Amsterdam. The Universiteit Leiden, where Rembrandt studied, was founded in the 16th century and is thus the oldest university in the Netherlands. However, it is anything but old-fashioned, as the institution is a real hotspot for students from all over the world, which gives Leiden a wonderful international flair.

The hallmark of the young city, however, are its canals that beautifully weave through the old town. With a system of over 28 km of canals and 88 bridges, the city has the second most canals and bridges in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. What could be better than a boat tour through Leiden? In addition to the canals, various sacred buildings are also among Leiden's highlights. The massive Hooglandse Kerk, which seems to tower over the city, is prominently present. Smaller but equally worth seeing is the Pieterskerk, built in 1350 and thus the oldest church in Leiden. Other noteworthy 'old treasures' include the Fort Burcht van Leiden and the Academiegebouw Leiden, the oldest building in the city, where thousands of alumni of the University of Leiden have immortalized their signatures in its Zweetkamertje. This tradition continues to this day.

Leiden undoubtedly ranks among our favorite cities in the Netherlands. We have even dedicated an entire article to the city in our travel magazine. In this, you can learn more about the sights and great restaurants that await you here.

Leiden is perfect:

We believe that all of the featured cities are strong contenders for Amsterdam. Which city is your favorite and now on your Netherlands bucket list? In our travel magazine, you can learn even more about our neighboring country and the most beautiful vacation regions it offers.

Excited for Holland?