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From vibrant city breaks to tranquil beach holidays, things to do in North Holland for everyone. Explore Amsterdam’s museums, cycle past scenic canals, or visit the historic windmills of Zaanse Schans. Stroll through Haarlem’s beautiful streets, see the spring flowers at Keukenhof, or bask on Zandvoort beaches. From Dutch towns and medieval villages to seafood stalls and traditional villages, North Holland has something for all types of travelers. A perfect blend of culture, nature, and local character that every single visitor takes away with them unforgettable memories.
Top 10 Things To Do In North Holland
Discover the best things to do in North Holland, from historic city strolls and North Sea beaches to cycling tulip fields, visiting windmills, and exploring museums.
1. Sail Amsterdam’s Unesco Canal Belt
Photo: Giovanna De Martino / Unsplash
Amsterdam’s network of canals is more than a beautiful setting; it’s the lifeblood of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the top things to do in North Holland, a canal boat ride offers a different perspective of Amsterdam’s hospitable past, architecture, and lifestyle. Enjoy a serene morning boat tour of the city’s historic canal belt, sailing along stunning 17th-century merchant houses, quaint bridges, and vibrant waterside cafes. As your boat glides under arched stone bridges and alongside charming, slightly leaning buildings, you’ll feel the legacy of trade, water engineering, and artistry that shaped Amsterdam.
Average Cost: €15 – 25 / ₹1,350 – 2,200
Top Highlights: Canal boat cruise, 17th-century houses, evening city lights, Jordaan walk, audio guide history
2. Step Into Dutch History At Zaanse Schans Windmills
Photo: DimiTalen / Wikimedia Commons
The most genuine experience in North Holland, this open-air museum comes alive with its picturesque windmills, quaint green wooden cottages, and working craft shops. Along cobblestone paths beside the idyllic River Zaan, you will discover rustic windmill-driven sawmills, skilled artisans laboriously hand-crafting wooden clogs, and dairy farms producing creamy Gouda and Edam. Stop by a windmill to watch its giant wooden gears spin, or taste warm stroopwafels hot off the griddle. With its relaxed vibe, hands-on education, and soak-up-the-culture experience, Zaanse Schans is a family experience for history nuts and shutterbugs alike.
Average Cost: €10 – 20 / ₹900 – 1,800
Top Highlights: Windmill tours, clog demos, cheese tasting, stroopwafels, historic crafts village
3. Explore Art And Architecture In Haarlem’s Old Town
Photo: Ludvig14 / Wikimedia Commons
Cultural pearl just 15 minutes from Amsterdam, Haarlem is the most rewarding thing to experience in North Holland. Picturesque, walking town combines artistic elegance, medieval appeal, and modern-day hospitality. Begin your tour at the heart of the town, lively Grote Markt, which is ringed with old buildings, like the towering St. Bavo’s Church, where Mozart was known to play as a child on the famous Müller organ. Art lovers can get lost in Dutch Golden Age art at the Frans Hals Museum or discover an odd mix of art and science at Teylers Museum, the Netherlands’ oldest museum.
Average Cost: €10 – 15 / ₹900 – 1,350
Top Highlights: Grote Markt, Frans Hals Museum, Teylers Museum, St. Bavo’s Church, boutique shopping
4. Soak Up The Sun And Surf At Zandvoort Beach
Photo: Walkerssk / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Zandvoort Beach is one of the most energising day trip experiences to enjoy in North Holland, with beach charm blended with an uninhibited spirit. A short train ride from Amsterdam, Zandvoort greets you with expansive sandy shores, wave-tumbling seashores, and a lively boardwalk attitude. Whether you’re sunbathing on the beach on the coast, surfing waves on the North Sea, or promenading along the coast, this is your perfect beach holiday. The beach bars and restaurants of Zandvoort serve up delectable seafood, cocktails, and chilled out music, just the way to soak up the sun in the afternoon.
Average Cost: €5 – 20 / ₹450 – 1,800
Top Highlights: Beach bars, surfing, sunbathing, boardwalk, Zuid-Kennemerland Park hikes
5. Pedal Through Peaceful Dunes On Texel Island
Photo: Julia Taubitz / Unsplash
As a restful escape from the urban world, one of the most fascinating things to do in North Holland is an island break to Texel. A short ferry ride from Den Helder, Texel is the Wadden Islands’ largest of the Netherlands and another world with its sea-battered dunes, serene beaches, and laid-back pace. Rent a bike and cycle across the island’s fairytale scenery, pedalling past red-tiled villages, picturesque lighthouses, and grazing sheepfields on route. Nature lovers will be delighted by the Ecomare centre, where rehabilitated seals and hands-on exhibits on sea life await.
Average Cost: €15 – 30 / ₹1,350 – 2,700
Top Highlights: Ferry ride, bike tour, seal watching, dunes, sheep cheese, local beer
6. Watch The Cheese Market Come Alive In Alkmaar
Photo: Call Me Fred / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Among the best unforgettable experiences in North Holland is savouring the charming personality of Alkmaar, especially its world-famous Cheese Market. Held at medieval Waagplein square, this bustling spectacle presents Dutch cheesemaking culture in all its colourfulness. Watch red-hatted cheese porters officiate over a centuries-old weighing and trading ritual, with markets full of colourful life. Alkmaar is, though, more than this. Walk beside its beautiful canals, old streets, and friendly shops to uncover the city’s history. Visit the Stedelijk Museum to find out about Dutch art and culture, or visit the Beatles Museum for something truly off this planet.
Average Cost: €15 / ₹1,350
Top Highlights: Cheese carriers, market shows, historic square, stroopwafel snack, Stedelijk Museum
7. Ride Through Blooming Tulip Fields In Bollenstreek
Photo: acediscovery / Wikimedia Commons
One of the most enchanting things to do in North Holland is to witness spring among the tulip fields of the Bollenstreek. Each year, this world-famous bulb-growing region bursts into vibrant colour as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths bloom in endless rows. Travel the Flower Route from Haarlem to Alkmaar by car or bike to enjoy the rainbow-like scenery. Visit flower farms for fresh blooms and photos, or come during the Bloemencorso, a lively parade of flower-covered floats. With its sweet scents, rural charm, and festive spirit, the tulip season offers a magical escape that captures the essence of Dutch spring.
Average Cost: €15 / ₹1,350
Top Highlights: Flower Route drive/bike, tulip fields, spring bloom photos, Bloemencorso parade
8. Discover Maritime Legends In Hoorn And Enkhuizen
Photo: W. Bulach / Wikimedia Commons
Hoorn and Enkhuizen’s turbulent seafaring history is among the most fascinating things to see in North Holland. Begin in Hoorn, once a major Dutch East India Company hub, where the historic harbour and the Westfries Museum tell tales of global trade and Golden Age glory. Ride the vintage steam train to Enkhuizen, a picturesque port town featuring the Zuiderzee Museum—an open-air village with historic homes, boats, and artisan workshops. Wander cobblestone streets, explore old ships, and enjoy peaceful harbour views. This scenic route is perfect for history lovers and anyone drawn to the Netherlands’ maritime legacy.
Average Cost: €20 – 30 / ₹1,800 – 2,700
Top Highlights: Westfries Museum, Zuiderzee Open-Air Museum, steam train ride, old harbours
9. Taste Local Life In Volendam And Marken Villages
Photo: Rene Cortin / Wikimedia Commons
Possibly the most authentic North Holland experience is the entrance into Volendam and Marken’s charming world. Start the day in Volendam, a lively fishing village famous for its busy harbour, colourful houses, and fresh seafood. Try raw herring like the locals or pose for a souvenir photo wearing traditional Dutch outfits. Walk along the beach and browse tiny souvenir stalls and cafes. And travel by picturesque ferry boat across Markermeer to Marken, an isolated island formerly linked only by water that now has a causeway connecting it to the mainland.
Average Cost: €10 – 20 / ₹900 – 1,800
Top Highlights: Ferry ride, seafood tasting, traditional dress photos, clog factory, lakeside walk
10. Cycle Through Quiet Beauty In Beemster And De Rijp
Photo: Arhu / Wikimedia Commons
If you’re wondering what to do in North Holland for a peaceful escape, a visit to Beemster Polder and De Rijp is ideal. Start in Beemster Polder, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its 17th-century grid of canals, dikes, and farmlands. Cycle past green fields, grazing cows, and historic farmhouses. Just nearby, De Rijp offers old-world charm with cobblestone streets, wooden drawbridges, and gabled houses. Once a whaling village, it now feels like a step back in time. Relax at a canal-side café with appelgebak or visit the small museum to explore its rich maritime history.
Average Cost: €10 – 15 / ₹900 – 1,350
Top Highlights: UNESCO polder landscapes, canal biking, drawbridges, local museums, appelgebak cafés
Discover the best things to do in North Holland, a region rich in Dutch heritage, coastal beauty, and artistic flair. Wander through Haarlem’s flower fields, cruise the iconic canals of Amsterdam, or explore centuries-old windmills. Each moment feels like a postcard come to life. Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, or art enthusiast, North Holland has something special for you. Plan your unforgettable journey with TripXL today.
Cover Photo: Vince Colson / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
