Must-see attractions in South Holland

  • Kijk-Kubus Museumwoning

    Rotterdam

    Here, you'll be able to get a feel for what it's like to live in one of Rotterdam's most famous buildings, the 45-degree-tilted, cube-shaped apartments in…

  • Café De Unie

    Rotterdam

    A tribute to the original De Stijl building designed by JJP Oud and built in 1924, this cafe features the bright colours that are forever associated with…

  • Town Hall

    South Holland

    Commanding attention in the middle of the Markt is this mid-15th-century town hall. Constructed from sandstone, this regal Gothic structure is a testament…

  • De Valk

    Leiden

    Leiden's landmark tower windmill – built in 1743 and now a museum – is considered one of the best examples of its kind. Its arms still occasionally rotate…

  • Stadhuis

    Rotterdam

    One of the few city-centre buildings to emerge unscathed after the WWII bombardments, this grandiose building designed by HJ Evers was constructed between…

  • Goudse Waag

    South Holland

    This former cheese-weighing house was built in 1668. Check out the reliefs carved into the side showing the cheese being weighed. Today it houses a…

  • KPN Telecom Headquarters

    Rotterdam

    Designed by celebrated architect Renzo Piano and opened in 2000, the bizarre KPN Telecom headquarters building leans at a sharp angle, seemingly resting…

  • Zijlpoort

    Leiden

    Built in 1667 by Willem van der Helm, this grand stone edifice at Leiden's eastern edge is one of only two surviving city gates (there were originally…

  • Kaaswaag

    South Holland

    This museum on the upper floor of the Markt's waag details the history of the cheese trade in the Netherlands, with a focus on Gouda. The downstairs shop…

  • Stadhuis

    Den Haag

    Designed by US architect Richard Meier and completed in 1995, this often-maligned, huge, blindingly white building is usually referred to as the 'Ice…

  • Het Hof

    South Holland

    It was in this evocative courtyard that the states of Holland and Zeeland met in 1572 to declare independence from Spain. The Het Hof van Nederland Museum…

  • Burcht van Leiden

    Leiden

    This 11th-century citadel on a motte (raised earthwork) surrendered its protective function as the city grew around it and subsequently fell into…

  • Naturalis Biodiversity Centre

    Leiden

    This museum houses the first T-Rex skeleton in Europe. Its sections span botany, geology, entomology (insects), invertebrates, vertebrates and…

  • Gouda Kaasstad

    South Holland

    This staged cheese market on the Markt draws plenty of local and international day trippers, as do the stalls selling other dairy goods and souvenirs. A…

  • Witte Huis

    Rotterdam

    Dating from 1897–98, Europe's first 'skyscraper', the 11-storey, 45m-high Witte Huis, was designed by Willem Molenbroek in art-nouveau style using load…

  • Museum de Zwarte Tulp

    South Holland

    The small Museum de Zwarte Tulp displays everything you might want to know about bulbs, including why there’s no such thing as a black tulip, a mythical…

  • Leiden University

    Leiden

    The Netherlands' oldest university was a gift to Leiden from Willem the Silent in 1575 for withstanding two Spanish sieges in 1573 and 1574. The campus…

  • Morspoort

    Leiden

    One of two still-standing historic city gates (there were originally eight), the Morspoort was built in 1669 to a design by Willem van der Helm, who also…

  • Young Rembrandt Studio

    Leiden

    Leiden's most famous son is celebrated at this 17th-century house where he learned his craft between 1606 and 1630, studying in the studio of Jacob van…

  • Paleis Noordeinde

    Den Haag

    The king's and queen's official quarters at Paleis Noordeinde is not open to the public. The Renaissance formality of the structure is fittingly regal,…

  • Wereldmuseum

    Rotterdam

    Inside the 19th-century Royal Yacht Club building, this ethnographic museum celebrates multiculturalism. Mainly closed for renovation when we last visited…

  • Gravensteen

    Leiden

    The Gravensteen dates to the 13th century and was once a prison. Judges once watched executions from the gallery facing the plaza, which was known as…

  • Miniworld Rotterdam

    Rotterdam

    The Dutch love of the world in miniature is celebrated at the vast Miniworld, a ginormous, 535 sq metre, 1:87 scale model railroad re-creating…

  • Gemeenlandshuis van Delfland

    Delft

    This building with its elaborate sandstone facade was commissioned by Jan de Huyter, the bailiff of Delfland, in the early 16th century. The Delfland…

  • Oostpoort

    Delft

    This fairytale-style brick gate with its twin witch hats once guarded the eastern part of the city against invaders. Today, it's the sole surviving…

  • Santa Claus

    Rotterdam

    This controversial statue of a gnome-like Santa holding what may be a pine tree but may also be a butt plug (sex toy) was designed by American artist Paul…

  • Waag

    Delft

    This 16th-century weighing house behind the Stadhuis remained in use until 1960. It now houses the De Waag cafe and restaurant.

  • Marekerk

    Leiden

    The Marekerk dates to 1639 and has a beautiful octagonal wooden interior. Regular concerts and theatre performances take place here; check the agenda…

  • Willemswerf

    Rotterdam

    Designed by Dutch architect Wim Quist and completed in 1989, this striking office building has a facade featuring two huge intersecting wedges.

  • Latin School

    Leiden

    Before it became a commercial building, the gabled Latin School, built in 1600, was graced by a pupil named Rembrandt from 1616 to 1620.

  • Windmill

    Rotterdam

    This reconstructed 18th-century windmill overlooks the water at Delfshaven. It still mills grain; the interior is closed to the public.

  • Tuin Schoonoord

    Rotterdam

    This 1.2-hectare garden dates from the 1860s. It features 1000 or so plant species and has a tranquil pond filled with Japanese carp.

  • Beestenmarkt

    Delft

    Once the site of the town's cattle market, this large open space is filled with plane trees and surrounded by fine buildings.

  • Stadhuis

    Delft

    Delft's town hall has an unusual combination of Renaissance construction surrounding an early 14th-century tower.

  • Hofvijver

    Den Haag

    Overlooked by both the Binnenhof and the Mauritshuis, the picturesque Hofvijver inspires countless snapshots.

  • Museum 1940–1945

    South Holland

    This small museum explores the privations of the Dordrecht region during WWII. Museumkaarts are not accepted.

  • Willemsbrug

    Rotterdam

    Rotterdam's signature red-pylon bridge opened in 1981.

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