10 Days in the Netherlands - 5 Unique Itineraries

Itinerary #1: Highlights of Holland

See the best the country has to offer on this highlights tour of Holland that takes you to canals, cheese markets, and windmills, featuring stops in Gouda, Leiden, Delft, Rotterdam, and of course, Amsterdam.

Welcome to Amsterdam! Begin the trip with a canal tour and a visit to the Anne Frank House. On day two, you'll side-trip to the fishing village of Volendam, taste local cheeses in Edam, and see the windmills at Zaanse Schans. There's more cheese on the itinerary the next day: you'll see the famed cheese-producing town of Gouda while on a bike tour. Then you'll move onto Rotterdam, where you'll tour the city's architectural highlights, like Erasmus Bridge.

Learn all about the tradition of earthenware production in Delft, also home to the wonderful Vermeer Center, offering an overview of Johannes Vermeer's life and work. Hop back on your bike on day seven to explore the university city of Leiden, where many museums await. You'll do more urban sightseeing in Haarlem before spending the last full day of the trip on an e-bike, riding to the beach through beautiful National Park Zuid-Kennemerduinen. Catch the train back to Amsterdam to end the trip. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Art Tour of The Netherlands

View masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh, see where Johannes Vermeer slept, and pedal to a world-class art collection in the middle of a national park on this colorful art-themed itinerary.

The art tour begins at Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, where you'll view works by Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, and Piet Mondriaan. The Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, home to "The Night Watch" by Rembrandt, await you on day two. Then it's off to Groningen to see the collections at the Groninger Museum, located inside an impressive building by the Italian architect Alessandro Mendini. The following day, ride through Hoge Veluwe National Park on an e-bike, stopping to see original Van Gogh works at the Kröller-Müller Museum.

You'll have the rare chance to see masterpieces by Hieronymus Bosch on day six in 's Hertogenbosch when you visit the Hieronymus Bosch Art Center. Continue on to the museum complex at Rotterdam's Museumpark, displaying collections in various disciplines from art to science. Learn About Vermeer's artistic practice and lifestyle at the Vermeer Center in Delft. Then spend a day in the university city of Leiden, home to various cultural institutions. You'll finish the trip in Haarlem with a visit to the Frans Hals Museum, showcasing the work of one of Holland's great master painters. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Coastal Highlights of the Netherlands

Explore the pleasures of the Dutch coast on this seaside trip around laid-back beaches and fishing villages, the country's famed Delta Works, and fascinating Middelburg, once a shipbuilding hub and a trade center for the Dutch East India Company.

This outdoorsy tour begins in Amsterdam! You'll start out with a visit to the Anne Frank House, then check out the windmills at Zaanse Schans, cycle around The Hague, and pedal out to the beach for a seafood dinner. Then you'll learn about pottery traditions in Delft and move on to Rotterdam to see the city's fascinating architectural and cultural highlights.

The second part of the trip is what makes this itinerary special. From Rotterdam, you'll head to the famous Delta Works on Burgh-Haamstede — an area that's of special interest for anyone interested in science or engineering — and ride your bike along a dike that's partly surrounded by water. On day seven, you'll explore the island of Walcheren on an e-bike. Then you'll travel to Middelburg, once a trade and shipbuilding hub, to tour the historic center and learn about the settlement's significance to the Dutch East India Company. Return to the capital city, where the trip comes to a close. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Family Tour of the Netherlands

Travelers of all ages will enjoy this lively family-oriented tour around the country, featuring interactive museums and bike rides, an overnight stay in a cabin on a windswept island, and hiking on a sandbar.

Visit the hands-on exhibits at NEMO Science Museum to get the adventure started, then take a picnic to nearby Vondelpark. Take a day trip to Marken on day two and see the famous windmills at Zaanse Schans, followed by more historic windmills at Kinderdijk on day three. You'll move onto Rotterdam and step inside a historic submarine at the child-friendly Maritime Museum, then enjoy a bicycle tour around The Hague that continues to the beach, where kids can play in the waves or build sandcastles.

Walk around inside a model version of Holland at Madurodam, with a variety of interactive activities for children and adults alike. On day seven, feast your eyes on flower fields as you make the journey by car and boat to the island of Texel. You'll sleep in a cabin at a family campground on the island, exploring the landscape on bicycles and returning back to home base to splash around in the campground's swimming pool. Day nine offers a unique opportunity to hike on a sandbar at low tide — rubber boots optional! Enjoy one last night of peaceful island life before circling back to Amsterdam. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Highlights of Holland & Flanders 

There's no need to choose between Holland and Belgium: this wide-ranging itinerary takes you to the highlights of both, from canals and windmills to castles and chocolate shops.

You'll divide your time between Holland and Belgium on this 10-day adventure. The first half of the itinerary takes you to the same sights you'd see on any general tour of the Netherlands: you'll start in Amsterdam with a trip to the Anne Frank House, then visit the windmills at Zaanse Schans, cycle around The Hague, visit the Vermeer Center traditions in Delft, and take an architectural tour in Rotterdam.

Midway through the trip, cross the border to Flanders, where the Belgian adventure begins! Walk around the historic center of Antwerp and take it easy on a river beach with a local crowd in the evening. The following day, sample Belgian waffles and other treats on a guided food tour of the city. More sweets await on the next day's excursion to Bruges, a city as famous for its chocolate as for its picturesque squares. Then it's onto Ghent, famed for its medieval castle and striking cathedral, both visible on an evening boat tour you'll enjoy around the city. Stop by one of the city's busy marketplaces at the end of the trip before catching a flight or train out. Learn more

More Great Dutch Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Netherlands, but don't have ten days to spend experiencing the culture and landscapes? Then check out these 7-day itineraries.