Water takes many forms in the Netherlands: as a tidal landscape, the basis for drained polders and an element of historic defence systems. There are also cycling routes through coastal landscapes and nature reserves. You can choose different focuses for your trip – such as nature, longer cycling tours or the history of water management.
Wadden Sea, Forests and Nature Reserves
The Wadden Sea is the world’s largest continuous system of tidal sand and mud flats. This natural area includes tidal channels, sandbanks, seagrass meadows, mussel beds, mudflats, salt marshes, estuaries, beaches and dunes. Harbour seals, grey seals and harbour porpoises also live in the Wadden Sea. Its many landscape types and marine mammals make it a varied destination for anyone interested in coastal nature.
The Veluwe offers a different kind of landscape, with forests, heathland, sandy areas, country estates and viewpoints. Bospaviljoen ‘t Leesten is a starting point for hikes or cycling tours through the heart of the Veluwe. You can walk and cycle in all Staatsbosbeheer nature reserves open to the public; in areas rich in water, boating is also possible. Staatsbosbeheer manages 270,000 hectares of nature, 95 percent of which is accessible to everyone.
Cycling on Different Scales
The Dutch cycling network covers 35,000 kilometres and is used for both everyday travel and leisure rides. In addition, the numbered junction network offers signposted routes that extend across most of the Netherlands. The 610-kilometre Dutch Coastal Route offers a different experience: this long-distance cycling route passes beaches, dunes, Wadden Islands and coastal towns.
Routes in nature reserves also vary according to activity. As of 31 December 2025, the network provided by Staatsbosbeheer included a total of 5,386 kilometres of marked walking trails, 2,313 kilometres of cycling routes and 296 kilometres of canoe routes. You can rent an OV-fiets from NS at more than 300 locations. The extent and availability of the service may change, so check the current offering before your trip.
Water Management as Cultural Heritage
The Beemster Polder is a reclaimed landscape created in the early 17th century by draining Lake Beemster in 1612. In the Kinderdijk-Elshout landscape, polders, drainage canals and dikes, together with 19 drainage mills, three pumping stations and two sluices, preserve the visible elements of water management. The network of mills is considered an outstanding example of Dutch drainage techniques that have been copied and adapted in many parts of the world.
The Dutch Water Defence Lines show another connection between water engineering and history. They provide a complete and unique insight into the interaction between fortifications and military water management over a period of 125 years. As a complete defence system, they extend for more than 200 kilometres along the edge of Holland’s administrative and economic heartland. They include the elongated New Dutch Waterline and the Defence Line of Amsterdam.
Urban Architecture, Art and Special Discoveries
In the Amsterdam Canal Ring, water becomes part of a 17th-century urban ensemble: concentric canals, gabled houses and numerous monuments define the area. The museums, meanwhile, offer different ways to explore Dutch art and history. The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands and presents more than 8,000 works. Its story spans over 800 years, from the medieval beginnings to Mondrian.
The Van Gogh Museum focuses on the work of one artist and houses the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s artworks. It includes more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings and almost all of his letters. The main building also has its own history: Gerrit Rietveld designed it, and it opened in 1973. Franeker is also home to the Eise Eisinga Planetarium, the oldest functioning planetarium in the world.
A seasonal highlight is Keukenhof, where more than seven million flower bulbs bloom. Opening dates and the flower display are seasonal; check both before your trip. Culinary discoveries can also be part of the experience: many cheese producers and specialist shops in the Netherlands offer cheese tastings.
Discover more destinations: Ameland, Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, North Brabant, North Holland, Overijssel, South Holland, Texel, Utrecht, Zeeland.
