{"id":9920,"date":"2020-12-10T16:45:26","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T16:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tiqets-blog-staging.local\/netherlands-bucket-list\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T09:41:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T09:41:44","slug":"netherlands-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/netherlands-bucket-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlights and Hidden Gems in the Netherlands: Your Ultimate Netherlands Bucket List","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2013<\/em> This post was written by Camille Steens<\/em> \u2013 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small country, short bucket list? Think again! What the Netherlands lacks in size, it makes up for in culture, history and even nature. There is so much to add to your Netherlands bucket list you\u2019ll find yourself wondering when you\u2019ll have enough time to taste all those famous Dutch cheeses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fan favourites to add to your Netherlands bucket list<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each year we look to our reviews to uncover the world’s favourite museums and attractions. This year we combed through 750,000 customer reviews to find the best museums and attractions. Here are the top-rated museums and attractions in the Netherlands, and the perfect additions to your Netherlands bucket list in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Most Remarkable Venues in the Netherlands<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These experiences are some of the most visited venues with the highest ratings in the Netherlands. If you\u2019re making a Netherlands bucket list, these sights should definitely be on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Efteling | Fairytales and rollercoasters<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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“Together with my boyfriend were in laughter of joy from the start till the end. Thanks for the experience!” – <\/em><\/em>Muge, The Netherlands<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Photo by Natalia Deriabina on Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Most Remarkable Venue of 2020 is one of Europe\u2019s most visited theme parks and an absolute must see in the Netherlands.

Perfect for all ages, the Efteling\u2019s attractions are based on folklore, fairy tales and ancient legends. With nearly 50 attractions in this park, ranging from scary rollercoasters to picturesque boat rides, there is plenty on offer for thrill seekers and the faint at heart alike. The famous immersive Fairytale Forest is like a large living picture book, home to interactive displays of famous fairytales ranging from Little Red Riding Hood to Pinocchio and from the Little Match Girl to Snow White. In winter, Efteling turns into a winter wonderland with beautiful Christmas lights, bonfires and spectacular shows, making it the perfect place to warm your festive heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Madurodam | Tiny cheese and minuscule windmills<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

“<\/em><\/span>I will recommend this for young and old. It’s a fun day out and you learn about almost everything in the Netherlands. This is a must do if you’re planning a holiday to Amsterdam and surroundings.” – <\/span><\/em>Esther, South Africa<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Want to see the whole country in one day? At Madurodam they\u2019ve shrunk all of the Netherlands\u2019 landmarks to a reasonable size so they can fit into one park. Madurodam is a must see in the Netherlands, especially if you\u2019re visiting with kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Famous Dutch buildings have been replicated at a 1:25 scale, so you get to marvel at miniature canal houses, cheese markets and of course windmills. Immersive exhibits such as The Flying Dutchman (a restored KLM plane from 1945) and the Waterwolf (an interactive show about how the Dutch turned water into land) give a great insight into Dutch history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll learn lots about the country of cheese, water and clogs while enjoying a great day out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Rijksmuseum | Home to some of the world\u2019s most famous paintings<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

“Great museum and the staff there were very nice and helpful. I asked for assistance with locating different works of art several times and everyone was very accommodating.” – <\/span><\/em>Sibby,  United States<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by John Lewis Marshall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A must see in the Netherlands for any self-respecting art lover, the Rijksmuseum is home to some of the world\u2019s most famous paintings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rembrandt\u2019s Night Watch <\/em>is the museum\u2019s pride and glory and so it\u2019s being restored right there on site for all to see. Visitors can watch the researchers live at work. Other famous pieces on display are The Milkmaid and the Self-Portrait by Van Gogh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But art\u2019s not all it\u2019s got, the Rijksmuseum also contains an impressive collection of model ships, armoury and dolls\u2019 houses and provides a fascinating insight into 800 years of (art) history.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to put a visit to the Rijksmuseum on your Netherlands bucket list and admire the work of the Dutch Masters in one of Amsterdam\u2019s most beautiful buildings. You might even come across an evil monkey or two.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. ARTIS | The Netherlands\u2019 oldest zoo<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

“<\/em><\/span>Absolutely loved the zoo, a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Aquarium was wonderful and in such a lovely building. My favourite part was the rainforest house that you can walk through with bats, monkeys, birds and lizards roaming around free. Would definitely recommend a visit”. – <\/span><\/em>Katie, United Kingdom<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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The Netherlands\u2019 oldest zoo<\/a> isn\u2019t only a great day out for the kids, it\u2019s also a place rich with Dutch heritage. Besides hundreds of different species of animals that call ARTIS home the zoo contains several monuments, an impressive art collection, an aquarium, a zoological library and a planetarium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, a microbe museum was established as part of the zoo. The world\u2019s first \u201cMicrozoo\u201d, Micropia teaches its visitors about all the billions of ways that microbes influence our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An educational and fun day out at the zoo, what more reason do you need to put ARTIS on your Netherlands bucket list?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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