If you like fairytale landscapes, you can take a tour of Holland and discover its charming villages. There is no doubt that The Netherlands It is a very picturesque country. It is located between Germany and Belgium and although it is very famous for its canals, Amsterdam and tulips, it has much more to offer the traveler.
If you really want to get to know Holland, then you should go and visit its old, very Dutch villages and towns. The good thing is that it is a small country and many of its towns are close to the sea, decorated with tulip fields and windmills, and best of all, never too far from the main cities. Therefore, point The 10 most beautiful villages in the Netherlands.
Kinderdijk
This should be the first destination if you want to take photos of windmills working. For many it is one of the most picturesque and scenic towns in the country and is very close to the city of Rotterdam.
The town has 19 old windmills, built between 1739 and 1740, very beautiful and practical. They were built to prevent flooding and are World Heritage since 1997. Holland has always had a big problem with the sea, so its defensive network of canals and mills has been protecting it very well for centuries.
Only two of these mills are open to the public and there is a visitor center that provides all the information about the site.
Zaanse Schans
It is a famous destination within Dutch tourism because it also has its historic windmills and fairytale houses. At some point in its history it had around 50 mills along its canals, but today there are not that many.
Those that have survived have been restored and some relocated and put back into operation. Today you can visit five of them and you can even climb inside. Each one has its particular characteristics.
The town also has not one but seven museums to visit. For example, there is a charming XNUMXth century bakery that still makes bread, or there is also the first branch of the Albert Heijn supermarket, a classic commercial chain in that country.
Giethoorn
Canals and thatched houses. It looks like a town straight out of a postcard and in fact, for many it bears the tilde of most beautiful village in Holland. The houses are connected by bridges and it seems that you are on to something similar to Hobbiton.
There are no roads in the historic center of the town, so It can only be circulated in boats. That is why it is also known as the Venice of the North. It emanates peace and tranquility and if you add the incredible beauty of its gardens to the canals, bridges and houses, you will never want to leave.
To tour you can rent a boat or walk from bridge to bridge. There are cafes, shops and you can even rent a bike.
Lisse
Do you like tulips? Then Lisse must be on your route. Maybe not in spring when she explodes with tourists but if you want to see the Tulips fields in all splendor or watch the parade Bollenstreek Bloemencorso then you will have to put up with the crowds.
The gardens are only open for a few weeks from March to mid-May, but luckily that's not the only thing this little Dutch town has to offer. Beyond the Keukenhof Gardens there is also the castle, open to the public all year round. the same the Zwarte Tulip Museum or the beautiful Sint Agathakerk Church, with an interior with precious paintings.
Valkenburg
An village with traditional architecture, a window to past centuries. It still retains some of its medieval walls and the mysterious Church of San Nicolás, in Gothic style. In addition to the wall there are some gates and the ruins of a castle centenary that have been left on a hill.
In fact, the Valkenburg castle ruins are the tallest castle ruins in the whole of Holland.
Appingedam
It is located in the northeast of the country and he is not sure how old this town is, but it seems that the area has been inhabited for at least a thousand years. Today we are talking about the region of Fielingo, which in medieval times it was part of Friesland.
used to be a seaport and more than a town it looks like a small city. Before, the goods arrived here and were then transported by canals to the northern regions of Germany, Westphalia and even to the Baltic Sea area. Have lots of medieval architecture, mainly in the center. The best known building is the kitchens above Damsterdiep.
In the Second World War it suffered enough damage from the Nazi artillery and the people had to abandon everything, leaving only a few brave defenders. All until Canadian troops liberated it in 1945.
Reconstruction took decades. Since 1972 Appingedam is a protected area, which has helped it to improve, beautify itself and underpin its historical identity.
Harlingen
this is a nice seaside town on the shores of the Wadden Sea, north of the country. It has a great history related to the fishing industry, so the beaches are crossed by the boats that leave for the sea.
The port is very nice, with canals that you can explore and also has some headlights, what makes this town an enchanting destination.
Domburg
This town It is on the North Sea and is one of the oldest seaside towns in the Netherlands. Its main attraction is the beach, especially in the summer months, but it is divine off its coast.
It is a small town, but it has many cafes, bars and restaurants and even a spa. And as if that were not enough, even a windmill that can be visited.
Volendam
This town has the advantage that it is close to amsterdam. Is another one fishing village with a nice old town ideal for walking. It has multiple trails and little bridges and there are typical houses everywhere. It is best to walk through the old quarters of Oude Kom and Doolhof.
Volendam has three museums, a charming boardwalk overlooking the bay with its shops and restaurants. It is on the Markermeer lake and its old harbor is beautiful.
Brands
The houses in this Dutch town are built on stilts so most of it is isolated from the mainland. On the side of the peninsula there is a small center criss-crossed with canals with little wooden houses. It is something very typical of the country.
Marken also has a little navy where they moor their fishing boats and right there there are some restaurants and fish and seafood stalls. There is also a old lighthouse to visit.