Your western Netherlands road trip begins in the capital city itself. Home to a treasure trove of museums, numerous antique shops, and over 800,000 bikes, Amsterdam has a little something for everyone!
Get ready to pedal off on an outdoor adventure, soak up the local culture, or shop till you drop down the city's winding streets.
To soak up Amsterdam's vibrant art scene, make a beeline for the neighbourhood of Jordaan where you'll find streets lined with galleries showcasing local artwork. If you're more into food and drink, head to the Oude Pijp district and take the Heineken Brewery Tour, or if it's museums you're after check out the Museumplein complex.
Wherever you decide to go, a two-wheeler is the way to get there. Cycling is also the most fun way to sightsee, but do stick to the cycle lanes, lest you get tut-tutted!
When you leave Amsterdam and continue your road trip around the Netherlands, make sure you visit the town of Lisse for its iconic tulip fields and Marken for its picturesque wooden houses.
Your West Netherlands road trip continues south-west to the coastal city of The Hague. Here you’ll be greeted by gothic architecture, 16th-century palaces, and a number of grand government buildings, as this little city is the seat of government.
Politics and protocol aside, The Hague is also home to chic shopping streets, a number of art galleries and museums, and an incredible replica model town. Being a coastal city, The Hague’s edges give way to some stunning dunes to explore too.
The first stop on any road trip to The Hague has to be the Madurodam. This small amusement park is home to miniature model replicas of iconic Dutch landmarks — get ready to unleash your inner child!
When you’re ready to ‘adult’ again, pay a visit to the Grote of Sint Jacobskerk, the tallest building in the city, and the Binnenhof, a 13th-century gothic castle set beside a lake. Finally, stretch your legs in Meijdendel Park, a lush stretch of dunes interwoven with walking and cycling paths.
Once the home of Dutch leader William of Orange, the small but charming city of Delft dates back to the 11th century and is renowned for its ceramics industry, refreshing craft beers, and numerous picturesque canals.
You’ll also find yourself surrounded by a number of quirky cafés and designer shops, making it the perfect destination for a relaxed day of exploring.
Culture vultures and historians alike should make a beeline for the Prisenhof, a historical museum covering the Dutch Golden Age and the history of Delft pottery.
Afterwards, head to Nieuwe Church to view the royal tombs before pottering (excuse the pun) over to the Royal Delft to check out the city’s famous blue and white pottery.
Other worthy attractions include the university-owned Botanical Gardens, the family-friendly Science Centre, and Race Planet Delft for a spot of go‑karting!
Continue your western Netherlands road trip further south to the port city of Rotterdam. Long a busy trading hub for centuries and largely destroyed by bombing during the Second World War, this charming city with an urban edge is fast becoming as popular as Amsterdam.
When you’re not admiring the quirky post‑war architecture, you’ll probably be exploring the hip urban scene flourishing in the once dreary harbour city.
Top things to do in Rotterdam include a boat trip around the harbour, a visit to The Clubhouse to marvel at peculiar cuboid houses, and a climb up the Euromast Tower to enjoy panoramic views over the city. The Maritime Museum, Rotterdam Zoo and the Market Hall Food Market are also popular attractions dotted around the city.
When you continue your road trip from Rotterdam, make sure to visit the UNESCO‑listed town of Kinderdijk (home to windmills, waterways and walking trails).
The charming city of Utrecht is not only rich in history (the area dates back to 50 CE), it’s also pretty flipping beautiful. Between the ancient churches and quaint houses that date back to the Middle Ages, the town’s winding waterways offer an excellent way to stretch the legs and take in the sights.
Come evening, restaurants open their doors and set up their outdoor dining areas on the canal quay so you can enjoy alfresco dining with a view.
Two days in Utrecht will fly by as you marvel at monkeys at the city zoo, meander down the canal past colourful traditional houses, and soak up the local industrial history and art scene at the Railway Museum and the Centraal Museum.
Finish off your western Netherlands road trip with a visit to St Martin’s Cathedral, one of the largest churches in the Netherlands and a 12th-century iconic landmark.
