7 Great Historical Attractions in the Netherlands

At just over 16,000 square miles, the Netherlands is among the smaller European countries. Relative to that size, however, its history is surprisingly broad and diverse, thanks to its beginnings that stretch back hundreds of years prior to the nation’s official founding in 1815.

Historical sites, monuments, and buildings throng the densely populated country. One can explore restored military fortresses, Renaissance-era libraries, and ancient churches, as well as any of the hundreds of museums. Here are several attractions in the Netherlands that history lovers will enjoy.

In the latter half of the 16th century, wardens at the Catholic Walburgiskerk in Zutphen felt that the time had come to establish a community library. The idea was that an educated public was one that would be less likely to stray from God’s teachings. Materials were collected and installed in the newly constructed library at the church, and De Librije was opened to the public.

The reading room was immediately popular, to such a degree that books began to disappear from the reading tables. The decision was made to chain the books to the tables, to prevent any further loss of such precious and expensive resources. While many books were looted from De Librije during times of military unrest in the Netherlands, and the focus of the library changed following the Reformation, several original books remain, still chained to their lecterns.

Today, as one of only three remaining chained libraries, De Librije exists as a museum, with guided tours available to the public. Visitors can see the rows of reading tables with their books, explore the museum archive, and admire the original woodcarvings.

2. Vesting Bourtange

During the Eighty Years War, embattled Dutch forces had to seek out new ways to fortify and defend themselves from Spain’s armies. In particular, William of Orange wanted control over the single road providing access between Germany and the then-Spanish-controlled city of Groningen.

After much consideration, the star-shaped fortress that would become known as Vesting Bourtange was built. The Italian-engineered design of thick, squat walls and multiple corners allowed the defenders better visibility while also helping to deter their attackers. While the fortress at Bourtange never quite saw the level of conflict it was designed to prevent, the star fortress design was later adopted by other cities in the Netherlands, such as Coevorden and Willemstad.

Vesting Bourtange now operates as a living, open-air museum. The inhabitants of the village are all involved in the upkeep and operation of the fortress, which has been restored to its historic appearance. Here, visitors will find shops, a candle-making factory, and several small museums dedicated to the history of the fortress and village. There are also special events throughout the year, including battle re-enactments and bustling markets.

In the southern end of the Netherlands, near the Belgian border, stands an even older vestige of the country’s military past: Kasteel Valkenburg. Castle records indicate that the first structures were built in the 12th century, somewhere around 1115. This first castle was demolished after a siege by Henry V in 1122, then rebuilt later, and destroyed again by John III of Brabant. The castle ruins as they stand today are the remnants of the castle that was built in the 14th century.

Kasteel Valkenburg is unique in the Netherlands in that it is the only castle that was built on a natural, existing hilltop. Climbing up to the castle rewards visitors with incredible views of Valkenburg below from multiple angles, and it is easy to see why the original architects chose the site for their defensive fortification.

Under the castle, the network of caves created by the extraction of marlstone became an additional defensive feature. Known today as the Velvet Cave, the tunnels and passageways allowed for furtive supply missions and surprise ambushes of the castle’s attackers. In later centuries, a chapel was built in the caves, murals were painted, and now at Christmastime, one of the most unusual and enchanting Christmas markets in Europe is held in the subterranean space.

4. Nieuwe Kerk

Standing sentinel over the Market Square in Delft and visible for long distances in all directions, is the awe-inspiring 14th-century Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church. At 108.75 meters (354 feet), it is the second-tallest church tower in the Netherlands, just behind the Dom Tower in Utrecht. On a clear day, visitors who brave the 376-step climb to the top of the church tower are reportedly able to see as far as Rotterdam or the Hague.

In 1584, when William of Orange, founder of the House of Orange-Nassau, was assassinated, he had to be interred in the Nieuwe Kerk. His family vault in Breda was not an option due to the Spanish occupation of the city, and so alternate plans had to be made. Since then, all Dutch monarchs and many other members of the royal house have been interred in the private family vault here. While the vault itself is not open to the public, those admiring the stonework and stained glass in the church can also view William’s elaborate marble tomb, erected between 1614 and 1622.

Sometime between the 9th and 11th centuries, a large hill or motte was constructed in the center of the city of Leiden. Meant to be used in the defense of the city, the motte was originally topped with a wooden structure, and later with a stone castle and tower now known as De Burcht van Leiden (Leiden Castle), one of the oldest examples of a castle in the Netherlands.

Not intended for permanent habitation, the castle—an example of a shell keep—was largely meant as a refuge for citizens in times of siege. A notable example of the structure being used for this purpose was when the young Countess Ada of Holland barricaded herself there in 1203, in defense of her claim to lead the county of Holland. Unable to keep herself and her army sufficiently provisioned, Ada was forced to surrender the castle and her county to her uncle William I after only a few weeks.

Thanks to the growth of the city around the castle grounds, De Burcht van Leiden was no longer necessary from a military standpoint beginning sometime in the 14th century. It still stands in the city center, accessible via an ornate set of gates and a steep set of stone steps. Visitors can climb the steps to the old keep, then ascend further inside to the top of the walls for a spectacular 360-degree view of Leiden.

6. The Colonies of Benevolence

The Netherlands is a country with a long history in pioneering progressive social initiatives. Unfortunately, not all of them have been a runaway success — for example, the Colonies of Benevolence.

In the 19th-century United Kingdom of the Netherlands, land was acquired to build what would become known as the Colonies of Benevolence. An initiative created by statesman Johannes van den Bosch, the Colonies were meant to be places where poverty-stricken individuals and families from larger cities could live, work, and build new lives under heavy discipline and oversight. They were given small furnished homes with land and clothing that they would pay back through their work. The idea was that to have something to work for was a better benefit to the poor than dependence on charity.

The goals were lofty, the colonies thoughtfully laid out, and the work and education plentiful. On paper, this was a revolutionary way to combat poverty and improve the lives of the poor. The reality was that colony inhabitants couldn’t truly thrive under the heavy thumb of van den Bosch’s Society of Humanitarianism, the soil was too poor for many people to produce enough goods to pay their obligations, and eventually living in the colonies became stigmatized, with residents ashamed of having been sent to them.

Today, the remnants of the villages of Willemsoord, Fredriksoord, and Veenhuizen are a living reminder of this ambitious yet ultimately doomed social experiment. Some of the original cottages and other structures remain, and the Museum de Proefkolonie tells the stories of the Colonies and the people who lived in them. The sites were collectively declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

At 2,000 years old, Nijmegen is the oldest documented city in the Netherlands — though this is often hotly contested by southern Maastricht. That the city has an extraordinarily long history is undeniable in any case, and the sheer number of eras it has lived through make it a fascinating city indeed.

Nijmegen began as a major Roman settlement, thanks to its strategic riverside location. It has also been a residence of the famed emperor Charlemagne. Remnants of the city’s medieval walls and defense towers still stand where they were built, such as De Kruittoren, now the linchpin of Kronenburg Park. The history here is rich and very visible.

During World War II, Nijmegen was the unfortunate victim of an “erroneous bombardment” by Allied forces. Huge swaths of the city—already demoralized by German occupation—were completely devastated by the dropped bombs. Not long afterward, the Allies and the German forces used the streets of Nijmegen as a battleground, causing further devastation and destruction.

Nijmegen would go on to restore as many of the damaged older buildings as possible, while also constructing completely new ones and later designing entire new neighborhoods. The result is that today, the city of Nijmegen is a living archive of its own very long story. Visitors can stand in the market square and observe ancient history on their left and the modern age on their right. There is perhaps nowhere else in the Netherlands with such a remarkable blend of old and new.

To visit the Netherlands is to be immersed in a long, storied history. Those who look beyond the canals and tulip fields will be able to experience more of the country’s past in dozens of unique ways, from soaring cathedrals to the most humble cottages. Nearly every city and hamlet has some sort of story waiting to be heard. The Netherlands is a beautiful, fascinating destination for history lovers from all walks of life.