Canals, windmills and a country at cycling speed
Amsterdam's canal ring, the windmills of Kinderdijk, the tulip fields of spring and Rotterdam's bold architecture. A guide to travelling the Netherlands from the saddle of a bike, with a warm stroopwafel in hand.
November 14, 2026 · 2 min read
The best way to get to know the Netherlands is to get on a bike. Flat land, cycle paths that reach everywhere and towns woven together with water invite you to explore this small country at a slow, pleasant pace. This guide visits the best-known stops together with the food culture.
Amsterdam: the canal ring and museums
Amsterdam's canal ring, laid out in the 17th century, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Narrow, tall merchants' houses, bridges and houseboats lining the canals are the city's postcard.
The Rijksmuseum is home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch, and the Van Gogh Museum holds the largest collection of the painter's work in the world. After the museums, the best thing to do is sit in a canal-side café and watch the bikes cross the water.
Kinderdijk and the tulip fields
At Kinderdijk, near Rotterdam, 19 windmills tell the story of the centuries-long Dutch struggle with water. The mill network has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
In spring the fields along the Dutch coast burst into colour. The Keukenhof gardens in Lisse open only in the spring months and, with millions of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils, become one of the most visited places in the country.
Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague
Rotterdam, home to one of Europe's largest ports, is known for its bold, modern architecture. The Cube Houses and the Markthal, opened in 2014 with a giant fruit-and-vegetable artwork covering its inner walls, are among the city's landmarks.
A short train ride takes you to Delft, famous for its blue-and-white pottery, and to The Hague, the seat of government. The Mauritshuis in The Hague displays Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring.
The table: cheese, stroopwafels and bitterballen
Gouda and Edam are Dutch cheeses known worldwide, along with the towns that gave them their names. The stroopwafel, a thin waffle filled with caramel syrup, is best eaten warm; poffertjes, small fluffy pancakes cooked in a special pan, come with powdered sugar and butter.
In a café in the late afternoon, bitterballen, crisp fried balls with a creamy filling, are served with mustard. The word the Dutch use so often, 'gezellig', describes exactly these warm, friendly, cosy moments.
Good to know
- Cycle paths are marked with reddish asphalt; don't walk on them.
- Intercity trains are frequent and fast; most of the country can be reached in a few hours.
- For tulip season, mid-spring is the best time.
