More than 1,000 kilometres of navigable waterways offer a wide range of opportunities to enjoy the water in South Holland. At the same time, national parks, hiking trails and historic towns shape the province. You can discover its contrasts in specific places: on a boat trip through wetlands, along paths through changing landscapes, or in collections of Dutch and Flemish art.
Waterways, lakes and islands
Water sports in Zuid-Holland include swimming, sailing, boating, fishing, kitesurfing and diving. At Noordplas and Meeslouwerplas in Vlietland, you can also swim, surf, sail, canoe, row and motorboat. The area combines expanses of water with woodland and bird-rich wetlands, where creeks and reeds help shape the landscape. Nature trails, cycling paths and bridleways offer another perspective on Vlietland. The activities permitted at a body of water may vary; check the relevant safety and operating rules locally.
Nieuwkoopse Plassen can be explored by boat, on foot or by bicycle. Paths lead through pastureland and along Lusthof De Haeck. The area is of great importance for its populations of purple herons, marsh orchids and northern water voles; these are among the most significant populations in the Netherlands. Visitors can join ranger-led trips with Natuurmonumenten almost every day. You can also rent an electric whisper boat, canoe or SUP. Check dates and availability with the provider before travelling.
A ferry takes you to Tiengemeten in ten minutes; check the timetable before your trip. The island’s landscape includes a tidal creek connected to the Haringvliet, open marshland and the 19th-century farming landscape of Oude Polder. These varied landscape features give the trip its own character, without requiring any particular mode of transport.
National parks and trails through nature
South Holland has two national parks: De Biesbosch and Hollandse Duinen. De Biesbosch is Europe’s largest freshwater tidal area. Creeks, willow forests, numerous islands, polders and dikes define this landscape. Hollandse Duinen stretches along a broad strip of North Sea coast from Hoek van Holland to Hillegom. The national park brings together nature, culture and history near major cities and received official national park status in 2026.
You can also hike, cycle and mountain bike in Hollands Duin. Concrete bunkers and a wave-shaped anti-tank wall recall the Second World War. This historical connection is part of a nature outing, without reducing the landscape to a single story.
The province’s route network gives visitors access to hiking, cycling, riding and water routes. At the Groene Halte in Rhoon, hiking routes are between 7.5 and 20 kilometres long; they are signposted or connected to regional or local hiking networks. Check the latest route details before setting out. Bentwoud has a total of 80 kilometres of walking and cycling paths, including the three-kilometre Woudloperspad running trail. Woodland, shrubs, flower-rich meadows, wetlands and open spaces alternate here. This habitat is home to distinctive birds, butterflies and plants.
Art, architecture and local traditions
In The Hague, different perspectives on art history come together. The Prince William V Gallery was the Netherlands’ first public art collection. The Mauritshuis displays 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings, including Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp. The museum is also suitable for a visit with children; its world-famous paintings appeal to children and adults alike.
At the Royal Delft Museum, you can learn about the traditional process of making Delft Blue at the factory. The museum also offers tile-painting workshops. As dates and availability may change, check in advance if you would like to attend a workshop. Delft’s historic churches and buildings also recall the city’s history: members of the Dutch royal family, including Willem van Oranje, are buried in the Nieuwe Kerk; you can also climb its tower. The Oude Kerk is the city’s oldest church and houses the tombs of Johannes Vermeer and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. The Oostpoort, dating from 1400, is the only one of the original eight city gates still standing.
Leiden offers further insights into the region’s history. De Burcht dates back to the 11th century and offers views over the city. Molenmuseum de Valk is a grain mill dating from 1743 and the last surviving original mill of the 19 that once stood on Leiden’s city ramparts. Leiden also has 35 almshouses, most of which can be visited. Please be considerate of the residents.
In Gouda, local cheese traditions meet a seasonal market. It features cheese, stalls selling regional produce, cheese trading and cheese-making, as well as a craft market. Gouda cheese is still made using traditional methods in the polders around the city, then brought to the cheese market in the city centre and sold there. Check the market dates and schedule before your trip. In Kinderdijk, visitors can learn how people have lived below sea level for centuries and discover Dutch water management, past and present.
Discover more destinations: Zuidplas, Katwijk, Zederik, Middelharnis, Leerdam, Lisse, Midden-Delfland, Alblasserdam, Albrandswaard, Alphen Aan Den Rijn, Barendrecht, Bergambacht, Bernisse, Binnenmaas, Bodegraven, Boskoop, Brielle, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel, Cromstrijen, Delft, The Hague, Dirksland, Dordrecht, Giessenlanden, Goedereede, Gorinchem, Gouda, Graafstroom, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Hellevoetsluis, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Hillegom, Kaag En Braassem, Korendijk, Krimpen Aan Den Ijssel, Lansingerland, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Liesveld, Maassluis, Nederlek, Nieuwkoop, Nieuw-Lekkerland, Noordwijk, Noordwijkerhout, Oegstgeest, Oostflakkee, Oud-Beijerland, Ouderkerk, Papendrecht, Pijnacker-Nootdorp, Reeuwijk, Ridderkerk, Rijnwoude, Rijswijk, Rotterdam, Rozenburg, Schiedam, Schoonhoven, Sliedrecht, Spijkenisse, Strijen, Teylingen, Vlaardingen, Vlist, Voorschoten, Waddinxveen, Wassenaar, Westland, Westvoorne, Zoetermeer, Zoeterwoude, Zwijndrecht, Goeree-Overflakkee, Molenwaard, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Pijnacker-Nootdorp
For the main travel overview: The Netherlands.
