Discover the city around the museum

Stories, tips and hidden places in the museum cities of the Netherlands.

46 museums Amsterdam Canals, masters and museums within walking distance. Hidden story: The church in the attic Discover Amsterdam → 18 museums Rotterdam The city that reinvented itself. Hidden story: The house that stayed standing Discover Rotterdam → 6 museums Utrecht Medieval canals, small and full of character. Hidden story: The church that blew away Discover Utrecht → 's-Hertogenbosch The city of Bosch, bols and hidden canals. Hidden story: The brothers who ate swan Discover 's-Hertogenbosch → 3 museums Alkmaar Cheese, a famous siege and some of the oldest organs in the country. Hidden story: Victory begins at Alkmaar Discover Alkmaar → 4 museums Amersfoort Mondrian, wall houses and a boulder dragged into town. Hidden story: The Amersfoort boulder Discover Amersfoort → 2 museums Apeldoorn Paleis Het Loo, the Veluwe and three centuries of Orange. Hidden story: The garden that came back Discover Apeldoorn → 3 museums Arnhem A green city on the Rhine, full of stories. Hidden story: The house of devils Discover Arnhem → 2 museums Assen The world's oldest boat, dolmens and the TT. Hidden story: The oldest boat in the world Discover Assen → 6 museums Delft Vermeer, Orange and Delft Blue. Hidden story: The Delft Thunderclap Discover Delft → 14 museums Den Haag Vermeer, Mondrian and the sea next door. Hidden story: The tongue of Johan de Witt Discover Den Haag → 2 museums Den Helder Naval town at the tip of North Holland, with lifesavers and submarines. Hidden story: When cavalry captured a fleet Discover Den Helder → 1 museums Deventer Hanseatic town on the IJssel, with books, spiced cake and Erasmus. Hidden story: Erasmus at his school desk Discover Deventer → 4 museums Eindhoven City of light, design and art. Hidden story: The tower where lamps were tested Discover Eindhoven → Enkhuizen Herring, VOC warehouses and the lost Zuiderzee. Hidden story: The book that gave away the route to Asia Discover Enkhuizen → 1 museums Groningen A headstrong city beneath the Martini Tower. Hidden story: The bishop who threw bombs Discover Groningen → 7 museums Haarlem Frans Hals, almshouses and a church full of music. Hidden story: The bells of Damietta Discover Haarlem → 1 museums Hilversum and Het Gooi Media town, Dudok's town hall and a star-shaped fortress town. Hidden story: Why Hilversum was on every radio Discover Hilversum and Het Gooi → 3 museums Hoorn VOC harbour, sea heroes and a cape on the other side of the world. Hidden story: The ship that exploded, and the book everyone read Discover Hoorn → 2 museums Kerkrade Mines, an abbey from 1104 and a street with Germany across the road. Hidden story: The street with two countries Discover Kerkrade → 9 museums Leiden Rembrandt, mummies and the first tulips. Hidden story: The tulip thieves of the Hortus Discover Leiden → 1 museums Lelystad A full-size VOC ship, on land that used to be sea. Hidden story: The Batavia disaster Discover Lelystad → 5 museums Maastricht Marl, the Maas and museums on the border. Hidden story: The Night Watch inside the hill Discover Maastricht → 2 museums Nijmegen Two thousand years of history on the Waal. Hidden story: Forty-eight lights Discover Nijmegen → 2 museums Tilburg Wool town, contemporary art and a king who was happy here. Hidden story: The king who preferred Tilburg Discover Tilburg → 4 museums Twente Textiles, salt and factories that became museums. Hidden story: The white gold under Twente Discover Twente →

Beautiful villages, close to the city

Small, historic and too often overlooked. A short bus or train ride away.

Village guide2 museums Aalsmeer The flower heart of the world, right next to Schiphol. Hidden story: The clock that counts down Discover Aalsmeer → Village guide Bourtange A star fort full of soldiers' stories. Hidden story: The village that turned back time Discover Bourtange → Village guide Broek in Waterland Wooden houses, still water, an imperial visit. Hidden story: The house Napoleon never entered Discover Broek in Waterland → Village guide4 museums Drenthe Dolmens, heathland and the Colonies of Benevolence. Hidden story: The general's colonies Discover Drenthe → Village guide2 museums Edam Cheese, bells and a floating cellar. Hidden story: The three wonders of Edam Discover Edam → Village guide Giethoorn A village where the canal is the street. Hidden story: Two brass bands, one village Discover Giethoorn → Village guide Hindeloopen Painted cupboards and sailors on the IJsselmeer. Hidden story: A sailors' language Discover Hindeloopen → Village guide Marken An island of mounds, timber and wind. Hidden story: The monks of the Kerkbuurt Discover Marken → Village guide3 museums Noordwijk Beaches, bulb fields and Europe's space centre. Hidden story: A piece of space behind the dunes Discover Noordwijk → Village guide1 museums Thorn The white town of the noble ladies. Hidden story: An abbey without nuns Discover Thorn → Village guide Veere Scottish wool, Zeeland gables, still water. Hidden story: The Scots of Veere Discover Veere → Village guide3 museums Zaanse Schans Windmills, a tsar in a wooden cottage and the smell of chocolate. Hidden story: The tsar who wanted to be a carpenter Discover Zaanse Schans → Village guide2 museums Zandvoort Amsterdam's beach, bison in the dunes and a race circuit. Hidden story: The lost village by the sea Discover Zandvoort → Village guide2 museums Zeeland Abbeys, sea heroes and a land that fought the water. Hidden story: The island flooded to set it free Discover Zeeland → Village guide3 museums Zierikzee Harbour town with a thick tower, old boats and Zeeland mussels. Hidden story: The night of 1953 Discover Zierikzee →

The Wadden Islands

Five islands, each with its own character. Including where the boat leaves.

Island guide1 museums Ameland Lighthouse, whaling captains and four dune villages. Hidden story: Trapped in the ice Discover Ameland → Island guide Schiermonnikoog One village, no cars, endless sky. Hidden story: The last liberation Discover Schiermonnikoog → Island guide Terschelling An island of seafarers, cranberries and theatre. Hidden story: Holmes's Bonfire Discover Terschelling → Island guide5 museums Texel Dunes, seals and stories of the roadstead. Hidden story: Europe's last battlefield Discover Texel → Island guide Vlieland One village, no cars, plenty of quiet. Hidden story: The village under the sea Discover Vlieland →

Stories across the country

Big themes that connect cities, museums and islands.

Theme Dutch Caribbean Six islands, one Kingdom, many stories. Hidden story: The first salute Discover Dutch Caribbean → Theme The VOC Spices, ships and the cost of wealth. Hidden story: How Cape Horn got its name Discover The VOC → Theme The Kingdom A small country with a big story. Hidden story: Leiden's reward Discover The Kingdom → Theme Dutch Names Around the World From Harlem to New Zealand. Hidden story: How Breukelen became Brooklyn Discover Dutch Names Around the World → Theme Orange and the Arts How royal treasures came to belong to everyone. Hidden story: Amalia's Orange Hall Discover Orange and the Arts → Theme Made in Holland From the telescope to Bluetooth. Hidden story: The draper who saw bacteria Discover Made in Holland → Theme Leiden University A gift from Orange, sixteen Nobel Prizes later. Hidden story: Ehrenfest's wall Discover Leiden University → Theme Women of the Golden Age They kept the country running. Hidden story: The student behind the screen Discover Women of the Golden Age →