Windmills and tulip fields, oh my! Head to the Netherlands to experience it all—from Amsterdam’s historic streets and canals to the seafaring city of Rotterdam. For visions of sunflowers and other masterpieces, stop by the Van Gogh Museum or head to the Anne Frank House to learn all about the life and death of the famed diarist.
Mood: vacation favourites
Visit Netherlands: get started
Experience the Netherlands’ top attractions with our guide. Set off to visit the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse for candy-coloured tulips as far as the eye can see or plan a day trip to The Hague to see the world’s oldest House of Parliament still in use today. Spend some time in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum to admire Dutch Golden Age paintings like Rembrandt’s The Night Watch or make your way to Delft to browse its iconic blue pottery.
Netherlands travel guide
Destination facts
Language
The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, with 95% of the population also able to speak English.
When to visit
Visit from late-March to early-May to experience the famed tulip season, or summer for warm weather and plenty of festivals (if you don’t mind the peak season crowds).
What to bring back
Wooden clogs, Delft blue pottery, Christmas market ornaments, art prints, windmill replicas and Dutch-themed kitchenware.
What to eat
Make sure to sample many delicacies of Dutch market fare, from notable cheeses to sweet-tasting stroopwafels (waffle cookies) and poffertjes (mini pancakes) to savoury frietjes (thick-cut fries) and bitterballens (fried stew balls).
Fun fact
The Dutch own the greatest number of bicycles in the world, with a little over 22 million bicycles or roughly 1.3 bikes per inhabitant. Let this be your inspiration to hop on a bike and explore this beautiful country like a local.
Important info
For more information on all necessary travel documents and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page and the Government of Canada’s Travel and Tourism website.
