I’m on my way to the city of the Netherlands, which is home to 150 international institutions and the “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. I am not alone, I myself come with me. Shall we begin?

A cold city in the north, unheard of, unspoken. It is 45 minutes from Amsterdam and 30 minutes from Rotterdam. After my undergraduate education, my long-term trip abroad, which I have been working on, making plans for, and covering many countries, begins to work as an intern architect.

The Netherlands has two airports: Rotterdam Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. My connecting flight from Istanbul takes around 3 and a half 4 hours. Our journey from Rotterdam to Den Haag is extremely short. In the future, I understand that it is extremely easy and fast to travel from any city to another city in this country. Transport networks, especially train travel, are comfortable, cheap and fast. A train leaves from Amsterdam every 15 minutes. At the same time, the existence of night trains is an opportunity to travel around the country. The cities are extremely close to each other.

Den Haag is located between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The city is home to many museums. Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s famous work “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is located here in the Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery. World-famous cars are open to visitors at the Lauwman Museum. The works of graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher who lived in the 1900s are exhibited in the Escher Palace Museum.

A city of art; open-air markets, cafes, bars, markets, restaurants where you can taste dishes from different cultures… The main center of all these is Grote Markt.

Sorry, Is This Heaven?

You wouldn’t be surprised if I say that roads, parks, apartments, everywhere you can think of are covered with canals in a country where a quarter of its territory is under the sea. But every day, going to work, walking, sometimes doing yoga through a nature park, among the flowers that bloom with spring, some of them spilled on the water and some on the grass… This comfort is astonishing. Yes, you are in the city, in the village, it should not be so easy to be in the countryside. It’s a luxury you can’t have in many parts of the world. However, the people here do not use this opportunity very much, because the city goes into a fast sleep after work. The streets are empty, quiet, calm… The tall people of this cold city also prefer to stay at home on Sundays. Yes, by the way, the tallest men in the world are also in the Netherlands.

Both Old and New

I’m crossing a street. Like Amsterdam, it reeks of history. With their incredible sloping roofs and their mastery in using bricks, they challenged the climate and at the same time shaped their structures with pleasing details. Then I turn to a street that is surrounded by skyscrapers that I have never seen before. Some with dome-shaped roofs, some with different angles and up-to-date materials. “What happened now? Am I in a metropolis?” The harmony of this city does not make one ask the question. There is such a harmony between them; material, color… They become references to each other from somewhere.

Design Small; Architectural Details

It is a thoughtful, masterful city. Every place you turn your head is like a work of art. For me as an architect, it is a visual feast that is a source of inspiration and enhances my creativity; every step is like a new reason to be happy… Even the colorful doors and the seating elements located in the gardens in front of the doors are as orderly and detailed as the surroundings. I understand that these people know how to enjoy every moment of life. They can design small and reach big pleasures.

Welcoming people of many nationalities; this is a place that invites peace, order and nature… It is modern, innovative, old, new and impressive.

The Netherlands , which is both peaceful and full of fun , is among the countries where mother nature is almost tolerant with its astonishing nature, and it resembles an encyclopedia with the history it embraces. In our article titled “Places to visit in the Netherlands”, there are cities and places to visit before you travel to the Netherlands.

One of the most visited countries in Western Europe, the Netherlands, also known as the “ Land of Freedoms ” , draws attention with its unique features.

While the lands of the country, which are below sea level, reveal a visible difference, the windmills you will encounter no matter which city you go to, bicycles with more density than cars and colorful tulips are among the details symbolizing the Netherlands.

In this country, which has a neat view even from the sky, you can taste both the calmness and the fast life; You can have different experiences by taking a short trip to the main cities of the list of places to visit in the Netherlands.

Netherlands Attractions List

The Netherlands, which comes across with a completely different architecture and history than other European countries, has the infrastructure to satisfy travelers in terms of culture and art. In nightlife, you can take a look at the most beautiful cities of this country, which knows no borders, and create a suitable route for yourself before you set off.

1. Amsterdam

Amsterdam , which is one of the cities worth seeing not only in the Netherlands but also in Europe, brings to mind Grass Coffees and the Red Light District, but of course, it is not limited to these.

The Amsterdam Canals that span the entire length of the city, the Dam Square where you can shop while you taste the Dutch potato, which is famous for the Vlaamse Fritez sign, the Madame Tussauds Museum, the New Church, the Begijnhof, which was built as a place of worship, the Rijksmuseum, where all visitors take a photo in front of the I Amsterdam sign, the local brewery Heineken Experience and this Vondelpark, where you can relax to the fullest after visiting for a long time, is among the spots you should definitely see.

• Amsterdam places to visit
• Where to stay in Amsterdam?

2. Rotterdam

Re-established after the heavy destruction it suffered in the Second World War, Rotterdam is worth seeing with its peaceful nature and modern architectural examples, although it has lost its historical richness.

The Cubic Houses, one of the most striking structures of Rotterdam and designed by architect Piet Blom based on a 45 degree angle, the Euromast Watchtower built in 1960, the Kindergic Windmills on the water channels and the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum with thousands of artifacts are among the places to see. exists.

3. Eindhoven

Bringing a different interpretation to the boring order of the Netherlands, Eindhoven stands out with its lush nature, streets designed as if it was drawn with pencils, the majority of the young population and being a city of culture and arts due to its museums.

Eindhoven with its remarkable points such as the Evoluon Building, which is one of the interesting designs of architect Louis Kalff with its flying saucer-like appearance, the Van Abbemuseum, which also attracts attention with its exterior design as a modern art museum, the Sint Catharinakerk National Monument and the MU Art Space where contemporary art works are exhibited; The Netherlands stands out among the places to visit.

4. The Hague

One of the densely populated cities of the Netherlands , The Hague , also known as Den Haag, draws attention as a small but charming city.

Surrounded by Dutch architectural examples, narrow streets and boutique cafes on street corners, The Hague proves its artistic texture with the Louwman Museum, Gemeente Museum with contemporary art, Mauritshuis Museum and Panorama Mesdag Museum.

5. Delft

The famous Dutch canals are also remarkably abundant in Delft , and this small city is located between Rotterdam and Den Haag.

The city of Delft, which has preserved its historical texture since its establishment in the 1200s, hosts developments in the field of science and art. Delft City Hall, which is one of the works of the Renaissance period, the Old Canal in the old city area, the New Church and the Old Church, which are examples of gothic architecture, are among the structures that should be seen.

In addition, Nieuwe Kerk, one of the most important architectures of the city, whose foundation was laid in 1381 and its construction was completed in 1651, draws attention as a must-visit stop as it hosts towers so tall that you can witness the view of the cities of The Hague and Rotterdam.

6. Utrecht

Utrecht , which presents a deep-rooted history to its visitors as it was the territory of the Roman Empire in the past, is a city that travels through history with its medieval architecture, and Dom Under , where historical artifacts obtained after archaeological excavations are exhibited , proves this.

In addition, the Domkerk, the Centraal Museum, and the Cathari Jneconvent Museum, where pictures, writings, accessories and objects of the Christian religion are located in Utrecht, which is surrounded by canals, make Utrecht stand out among the places to visit in the Netherlands.

7. Maastricht

When it comes to science and art, Maastricht is another cultural city of the Netherlands where you can see the effects in all its cities .

In this city, which first hosted the Gauls and later the Roman Empire, the Bonnefanten Museum, which resembles a rocket architecturally, Caestert Plateau, Hell’s Gate, houses built by the river, and Romantic Valkenburg and Our Lady Basilica, which are the scene of a charming scene, are just a few of the routes to be seen.

8. Groningen

A perfect nature, colorful houses, canals and rivers; On top of that, with its historical and modern structures that you can visit to the fullest, Groningen , Netherlands is one of the leading destinations among the places to see.

In addition to being a technology museum, the Groninger Museum, which amazes people with its exterior architecture, also attracts attention as a museum, University of Groningen, Old Town; Lauwersmeer National Park, which proves that the city is intertwined with nature, and Noorderplantsoen, the indispensable point of festivals, are among the unique stops you can visit.

9. Lead

Located on both sides of the Old Rhine river, the city of Leiden is another Dutch city where you can ride a bike and meet with nature.

There are many places where you can go on a historical and cultural exploration, from the National History Museum to the Volkenkunde Museum, from the Windmill Museum to the Laiden Castle in this charming city that makes people happy. In addition, the Botanical Gardens located in the city center bring you together with the magnificent nature of the city.

10. Arnhem

Built around the Nederrijn River , Arnhem is a city in the East Netherlands and is home to one of the best open-air museums in the Netherlands.

Arnhem, which you should definitely add among the places to visit in the Netherlands, offers an impressive heritage with Park Sonsbeek, Burgers’ Zoo, War Museum, Bronbeek Museum, Nederlands Water Museum and National Heritage Museum.

11. Volendam

Overshadowed by the touristic cities of the Netherlands such as Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Eindhoven, Volendam is a seaside town that is as cute as it is small and does not look for places told in fairy tales.

Located only 25 minutes away from Amsterdam, Volendam literally adorns dreams with farmhouses where animals graze in the garden and canals in the middle of the houses.

In this town where you can take a nature trip, you can visit the Mariabeeld Statue and the lighthouse called Paard van Marken; You can visit the Volendams Museum.

12. Brands

In fact, Marken is a peninsula and at least as peaceful as Volendam . The fact that the country is below sea level can be understood at first sight from the houses built on poles on this island.

The Marker Museum, Paard van Marken, a lighthouse, and the Original House of Marken are among the places to visit. In addition, The Clog Experience, which is the place of making wooden shoes, one of the symbols of the Netherlands, and the Old Cheese Factory, where you can taste the history of Dutch cheeses, are among the places you should visit.