The towns of Holland – my Dutch Travel Guide

The Netherlands is one of those countries filled with charming small towns. (Italy also comes to mind as I write this!) Although, rereading this in 2025, I have to admit that every country has its fair share of beautiful little towns. Because the Netherlands is relatively compact, I was able to hop from one destination to the next with ease. In this guide, I’m sharing my favourite towns of Holland, mainly across the western and southern parts of the Netherlands, including which places I think are well worth visiting and which you might choose to skip.

As a grand finale, I cycled around the breathtaking Kinderdijk windmills, one of the highlights of my trip.

Welcome to My Dutch Travel Guide. Enjoy exploring the towns of Holland, and don’t forget to scroll all the way to the end!

Gouda

Yes, I’m talking about Gouda, the town that gave the world its famous cheese. It is an absolutely gorgeous place and easily one of my favourite towns of Holland.

Unfortunately, it rained almost the entire time I was there, so I spent much of my visit ducking into cafés and shops to escape the downpour. On the bright side, the rain led me to a lovely little Italian deli where I enjoyed a delicious pasta lunch, so it wasn’t all bad! Gouda has definitely earned a place on my “must return” list. Right alongside Zwolle. Read here – Cycling in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.

I don’t have many photos to share because of the weather, but trust me when I say this charming town is well worth a visit. If you’re exploring the towns of Holland, be sure to add Gouda to your itinerary. I’m sure you’ll love it.

Utrecht

Although Utrecht isn’t technically part of Holland, I couldn’t resist making a quick stop after visiting Gouda. Unfortunately, the rain was still following me, so I only had time for a brief stroll through the city centre. To be honest, driving into Utrecht wasn’t particularly inspiring. But as soon as I reached the old town, my first impression completely changed. The historic centre is absolutely beautiful, with its charming canals, centuries-old buildings and lively atmosphere.

Utrecht is definitely worth visiting, and I’m sure I would have appreciated it even more on a sunny day. Even so, my journey through the towns of Holland and beyond was proving one thing—the Netherlands is full of beautiful places that never seem to disappoint.

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My Dutch Travel Guide continues…

Laren and Leiden

I spent one evening with friends in the small town of Laren, just south of Amsterdam. Although I didn’t take any photos, it is a cute little town with a very stylish feel, full of glamorous-looking locals and elegant streets.

Next on my list were Leiden, The Hague and Delft, and luckily the rain finally stopped.

Leiden was a lovely small town and pleasant to walk around, but compared with some of the other beautiful towns of Holland and the Netherlands, I personally wouldn’t put it on the must-see list. It is nice, but not one of my absolute highlights.

Next on the Towns of Holland

The Hague was, unfortunately, quite disappointing for me. Perhaps my expectations were a little higher after visiting so many charming towns of Holland, but personally, I would easily give it a miss.

Of course, it depends on what kind of place you enjoy. But if you are looking for cute, idyllic old towns with lots of charm, The Hague doesn’t quite deliver in the same way. I only took one quick photo while cycling through, which probably says it all.

Delft City

Delft, on the other hand, was absolutely gorgeous and one of my favourite towns of Holland. With its picturesque canals, historic buildings and charming streets, it felt like the perfect Dutch town. Delft is also famous as the final resting place of the Dutch master Johannes Vermeer, which makes it an even more special place to visit.

If you’re planning a trip through the towns of Holland, make sure Delft is on your itinerary. It was one of the highlights of my journey and a place I would happily visit again.

Personally, I would give Rotterdam a miss. It felt much more like a business city than one of the charming old towns of Holland, so it wasn’t really what I was looking for on this trip.

Of course, Rotterdam has its own modern style and energy, but if you are after cute canals, historic streets and idyllic Dutch charm, I don’t think it quite delivers.For me, there simply wasn’t much to see compared with the other beautiful towns in the Netherlands.

Kinderdijk Windmills

Before leaving the Netherlands for Belgium, I wanted to see the iconic traditional windmills that the country is famous for. I found exactly what I was looking for at Kinderdijk, one of the most beautiful places in the Netherlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The network of 19 historic windmills and pumping stations has been keeping the surrounding land dry for centuries and is a remarkable example of Dutch water management. Cycling through the area, with windmills lining the canals, felt like stepping into a postcard.

It was the perfect way to end my journey through the towns of Holland and, without a doubt, the highlight of my trip around the Netherlands. If you’re planning your own Dutch adventure, don’t leave Kinderdijk off your itinerary.

And of course, the best way to explore the Kinderdijk windmills was by bicycle. How else would you do it in the Netherlands?

And so…

Thank you, Netherlands, for an amazing trip! You exceeded all my expectations, and I was genuinely surprised by just how beautiful the country is. I know I’ll be back. Probably sooner rather than later.

If I had to leave you with one tip, it would be this: don’t focus only on the big cities. While places like Amsterdam are famous for a reason, I found myself falling in love with the smaller towns of Holland and the Netherlands. Their canals, historic centres and relaxed atmosphere were, for me, the true highlights of the trip.

Maybe, in the Netherlands, bigger isn’t always better. Now it’s time to cross the border and see how Belgium compares…

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