9 Most Charming Small Towns In The Netherlands
Tulips, windmills, cheese, and a propensity for art and culture. These iconic features embody the flat and idyllic landscapes of the Netherlands. Sandwiched between Belgium and Germany, the country, also known as Holland, is rich with medieval history and modern artistry best seen in the most charming small towns. See the Dutch's ingenuity in water management and canal-making in the eloquent village of Giethoorn. Delight yourself to fresh and exquisite Dutch cheese in Edam. Uncover the Netherlands' historic and turbulent past in fortressed dwellings like Doesburg and Naarden. But most of all, step into the impressionable paintings made by famous Dutch artists as you venture into the fairytale landscape of the Netherlands.
Giethoorn
Giethoorn, a mostly car-free dorp (village) with zero roads, is known widely as the "Venice of the North" due to the many boat-thronged waterways, walking paths, bicycle trails, and centuries-old thatched-roof houses composing the fairytale town. Only about 33 minutes from Zwolle, Giethoorn borders the lush and vibrant Weerribben-Wieden National Park, a gorgeous marshland once popular for peat and reed harvesting. Adjacent to the park is the De Oude Aarde (The Old Earth) museum, a farm museum illustrating the region's background and displaying an impressive array of minerals and gemstones. The Museum Giethoorn 't Olde Maat Uus also educates visitors about the town's traditional peat excavations since the 1200s. The main way to travel in Giethoorn is by canal or by walking, so you need to exercise a bit as you find accommodations at Hotel Harmonie, Hotel Giethoorn, or Hotel De Eese-Giethoorn.
Edam
What would the Netherlands be without its scrumptious cheese? In the dope dorp of Edam, cheese comes in high demand and abundance since the 16th century. The village is situated on the IJsselmeer (Lake IJssel) and is about 22 miles north of Amsterdam. Surrounding the town is the Beemster Polder, a UNESCO World Heritage site consisting of historic fields, waterways, and farms. The nation-praised Kaasmarkt (cheese market), restored to its original honor, is enacted weekly during the summer months for visitors to witness the cheese weighing process and purchase fresh, delicious golden produce.
Aside from cheese, Edam functioned as a major shipbuilding port from the 12th to 17th centuries. The town's 33 shipyards built many famous ships, including the Halve Maan, the vessel used by Henry Hudson in 1609 in his attempt to find a northern route to the East Indies, but he stumbled on the island of Manhattan. If you wish to stay a while, then choose either De Harmonie or De Krasse Man as places to enjoy a good slice of cheese.
Oudewater
Oudewater is the oldest town in the 'green heart' of the Netherlands, dwelling where the IJssel river and the Linschoten rivulet converge. It is these selfsame waterways where a maniacal epoch in human history forced townsfolk to drown their own neighbors—the witch trials. The Heksenwaag (Weigh House), located in Oudewater's urban center, was where accused witches were weighed to determine their innocence. Nowadays, the Weigh House stands as a museum solemnizing the strange and wild period of the witch hunts. Besides this historic structure, Oudewater also contains the Touwmuseum (rope museum) "De Baanschuur." This reconverted old barn was where line-tuners, or "baanders," stored hemp, yarn, and spindles for Oudewater's rope-making enterprise from about 1675 until the 20th century. Do consider spending your time at the Broeck Oudewater or Ruyge Weyde Logies.
Veere
Lounging on the banks of Veere Meer, Veere is a very venerable town that marries historic charm with waterfront beauty. The many 15th- and 16th-century architecture are worth a visit. For instance, the magnificent Campveerse Toren, a medieval tower on the Veere Meer that now serves as a guesthouse, promotes panoramic views of Veere's majestic landscape. Another is the Schotse Huizen ("Scottish Houses" as a reference to a once-flourishing wool trade with Scotland), which now accommodates the Veere Museum, where one can learn about Veere's illuminating past. But the most exciting structure to feel humbled by is Veere's Grote Kerk (Great Church), a late-Gothic cross-basilica that now hosts venues for theatrical or artistic performances. For accommodations, look to Bed and Bread, Hotel de Heeren, or Hotel Veere for a good night's rest.
Zutphen
Zutphen, about 19 miles from the city of Arnhern, lies on the bank of the rivers Ijssel and Berkel. This Hanseatic town beckons travelers with its medieval allure, as the Wijnhuis—a medieval wine house illustrating Zutphen's rich merchant heritage—exemplifies. The St. Walburgiskerk—a Gothic architectural marvel with a distinctive tower—and the accompanying Librije—a medieval chained library (one of three that have remained perfectly preserved throughout Europe)—further embody the stunning culture that Zutphen showcases. No need to worry about the time as you walk along the timeless medieval street, the Jufferenstraat, because the historic clocktower, the Drogenapstoren, acts as a monumental reminder. Other grand locations to visit include the Stedelijk Museum Zutphen, Museum Henriette Polak, and De Hoven Museum Boer Kip, the latter being the town farm of national painter Herman Kip. Luxuriate in this marvelous town by booking rooms at the Broederenklooster or Hampshire Hotel's Gravenhof Zutphen.
Thorn
Once part of the Imperial Abbey of Thorn—or the imperial abbey of the Holy Roman Empire—the town of Thorn is widely known as the "white town" because of all the white-washed brick houses. With its position on one of the major Dutch rivers, Meuse, and the Netherland-Belgium border, Thorn creates a rosy atmosphere that will make your spirits bloom. The St. Michael's Church stands as a splendid paragon of Maasland Gothic architecture.
Meanwhile, the Abdij Lilbosch or the Abbey Church, a former Romanesque abbey turned cultural center, dates back to the 14th century. It was from there that Thorn operated as an independent state for more than eight hundred years, governed by various postmistresses and 33 abbess-queens. To this day, Thorn continues to be a historic inspiration for female empowerment. Nature enthusiasts can explore the Thorn-Wessem ferry route for scenic sights of the Maas River. As for those who need to refresh and recharge, look no further than the Hotel Abdijhof Thorn.
Doesburg
Located about 22 minutes from Zutphen, Doesburg is an idyllic Hansa town (Hansa refers to an alliance between a number of European trading cities). It sits tranquilly on the river IJssel at its confluence with the River Oude Ijssel and was once an old fortified village built around 1700 by military engineer Menno van Coehoorn at the behest of Prince Willem III.
Indeed, half of Doesburg resembles the iconic and formidable star-shaped fortresses—complete with High and Low Defensive Lines—that have repelled many medieval sieges. These lines can be walked from the Turfhaven or Kraakselaan road (Low Defense Line) to the ramparts, dry ditches, and trenches of the High Defense Line. History buffs might also fancy visiting the Doesburgse Mosterdfabriek, a mustard factory from the 16th century, and the imposing church tower called Martinitoren. Doesburg is also a gateway to the tulip-populated National Park Veluwezoom. Do stay a while at the Stadshotel Doesburg, Guesthouse in Het Voorhuys, or B & B Red Deer.
Zierikzee
On the island of Schouwen-Duiveland, just 43 miles from Rotterdam, Zierikzee is a heartwarming town with a rich maritime history. The Sint-Lievensmonstertoren—a masterpiece of Gothic proportions—and the town's three ancient gates—Nobelpoort, Noordhavenpoort, and Zuidhavenpoort—are some of the many icons illustrating Zierkzee's harbor heritage. In addition, there are also the Burgerweeshuis (an old orphanage), the Dikke Toren (church tower), the Gravesteen (a 16th-century stone-built house), and the Zierikzee's Lutheran Church. The town's historic harbor, like the Oude Haven (Old Harbor), offers leisurely boat adventures. Nearby, the Oosterschelde National Park is a paradise for much of Holland's flora and fauna, including porpoises. If you need a place to recharge, then get comfortable at the Hotel van Oppen, De Theetap, or B&B De Schuur.
Naarden
If you Google the town of Naarden, the most noticeable shape you will see on the map is the beautifully arranged star formation, encircled by moats and impenetrable bulwarks. Because of its strategic location on the banks of the Gooimeer and its 20-minute proximity to Amsterdam, Naarden's bastion fort, called Naarden Vesting, has remained unbroken since the turbulent 16th to 17th centuries, unlike Doesburg's star fortress. Naarden commemorates its fortified position every third Sunday from May to September through a 17th-century reenactment called "Garnizoensdagen."
Within the town walls, the Comenius Museum and the Vestingmuseum provide glimpses into Naarden's religious, military, and cultural heritage. The Het Spans Huis (The Spanish House) referenced an event from 1572 when a large part of Naarden's people were murdered by Spanish troops. For a better view of the town's starry figure, climb the tower of the Grote Kerk. Least you forget, remember to rest up at the Fortress Hotel, ROOM One-Twenty-One, or B&B Naarden Vesting.
If you notice some of the still life paintings depicting the typical and realistic happenings of the Dutch—a deviation from the Flemish Baroque genre of the 1600s—then you might see that the Netherlands remains as humble and quaint as it was many years ago, albeit with added modernity. Strolling through the most charming towns of Holland, you will feel like an admirable and admiring figure in a painted masterpiece conjured by the likes of Van Gogh or Rembrandt. You might be the image of a pleased customer eating cheese in Edam, the picture of perfect piety in Veere's Grote Kerk, or a portrait of serene austerity on the ramparts of Naarden. Whatever pose you wish to mimic for the pictures, whether during the tulip mania or beside Holland's windmills, the Netherlands' small towns will leave you wanting for more.
