Overview
Planning your trip
Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to The Netherlands.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is rightfully known for its tulips, canals, and bikes, but the northern European city is also brimming with classical and cutting-edge architecture, museums, and even beaches. Its capital, Amsterdam, is among Europe’s most visited cities, but the country’s compact size and expansive rail network make it easy to move around by train, bus, or bike. Visit smaller cities and towns, including Utrecht, with its medieval city center; Alkmaar, where hefty wheels of cheese fill the street during the Friday cheese market; and countryside villages like Kinderdijk, with its tulip fields and preserved wooden windmills.
After boarding the Viking Longship, you have the afternoon to get acquainted with Amsterdam before setting out on your Grand European Tour. You might take a leisurely bike ride along picturesque canals lined with gabled mansions; admire the country’s homegrown talent at the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum; or see what’s in bloom at the Bloemenmarkt.
Sergey Borisov / Alamy/Alamy
