The cities of the Netherlands have gained their popularity among tourists from all over the world because of their unique atmosphere. Many have preserved medieval buildings - castles, fortresses, old churches. A distinctive feature of the Netherlands is an extensive network of canals, which is why cities are often compared to Venice.
Having visited the Netherlands, you can see old mills, get acquainted with the production of the famous Dutch cheese and watches. On the streets you can find establishments where visitors are offered to try pastries and drinks according to old Dutch recipes. Many cities are famous for their floriculture - the cultivation of tulips, which have become one of the hallmarks of the Netherlands.
The largest cities in the Netherlands
List of the largest cities in terms of population in the country.
Amsterdam
Capital of the Netherlands since 1814. It is one of the most popular tourism centers in Europe. The city has preserved many medieval buildings, which are held on stilts due to an extensive network of canals. There are many museums, including such famous ones as the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank Museum, Madame Tussauds and others.
Population - 860 124 people (2018)
Rotterdam
This city is known primarily for its modern architecture - for example, 40 cubic houses, or Markethall, built in a futuristic style. In the park not far from the river harbor, there is an Euromast with an observation deck at an altitude of 96 meters. The famous sights of old Rotterdam are the 18th century windmill, the old Cafe de Ooievaar and the Church of the Pilgrim Fathers.
Population - 829 875 people (2018)
Hague
It is the third most populous city in the Netherlands. The Hague is home to international legal bodies - the International Court of Justice and others. Previously, the city was the residence of kings. Of the sights, the Binnenhof Castle, where the Parliament of the Netherlands now sits, is known, the Peace Palace is the official residence of the UN. There are many museums in the city: Muzeon - the largest museum in the Netherlands; Escher Museum; Museum of torture of the Inquisition Gewangeport.
Population - 537 833 people (2019)
Utrecht
The city has preserved its historic center, including the Dome Cathedral, a 112-meter-high Gothic temple built in the 13th century. At the University of Utrecht there is the Sonnenborg Observatory, the museum of which is open to tourists. Every year in August-September, the city hosts an early music festival. The most famous museums are the Jukebox Museum and the Utrecht Central Museum.
Population - 352 866 people (2019)
Eindhoven
It is the largest city in the province of North Brabant. After World War II, the city had to be rebuilt almost from scratch, so its modern architecture attracts attention. Eindhoven is famous for its Van Abbe Museum - the largest museum of modern art in the Netherlands. Every year the city hosts a heavy music festival - Dynamo Open Air.
Population - 231 642 people (2019)
Tilburg
The city is recognized as the educational and scientific center of the country - students from many countries study at Tilburg International University. The city has a network of entertainment and trade establishments, sports clubs. The Museum of Textiles, the Museum of Nature and others are open for tourists. You can visit the historical center of the city with excursions - the Cavalry Barracks, the Hasselt Chapel.
Population - 217 259 people (2019)
Groningen
It is the largest city in the north of the Netherlands. The visiting card of the city is the Martin Tower, where the largest organ in Northern Europe is kept. A famous place in the city is Catcafe Op z'n Kop, where you can dine in the company of cats. Groningen is called the “capital of cyclists”. More than half of urban transport is bicycles.
Population - 213 705 people (2018)
Nijmegen
This is the oldest city in the Netherlands, the first mention of it occurs in the 1st century. The attraction of the city is the Valkhkoff park, where the ancient chapels of St. Martin and St. Nicholas. A popular place among tourists is the Velorama Museum, with a huge collection of bicycles that occupies three floors.
Population - 176 731 people (2019)
'S-Hertogenbosch
The name of the city is translated as "ducal forest". The artist Hieronymus Bosch was born in the city in 1450. An art center dedicated to his art opened in 2007. Among other exhibits, there are dolls-characters of Bosch's paintings. The symbol of the city is the Church of St. John built in 1220-1340. During the restoration of the church, the sculptors added the figure of an angel wearing jeans and holding a mobile phone.
Population - 162 165 people (2018)
Harlem
Haarlem has long been known as a center for floriculture - growing tulips. The Flower Festival is held there in the spring. Many medieval buildings have survived in the city, including the town hall and the Hartcamp villa, in the greenhouse of which about 250 species of plants have been collected. The famous Teyler Museum, which displays paintings from the Northern Renaissance.
Population - 161 265 people (2019)
Arnhem
Since the 19th century, the city has been known as a cultural center and a place where many Dutch artists worked. Architectural landmarks are the Koepelkirch Church, St. Peter's Mint, and the Sabelsport Fort, which was a prison in the Middle Ages. The gloomiest building in the city is Daewelshuis, during excursions, where you can find out where this name came from, and hear many legends and beliefs about the house.
Population - 159 265 people (2019)
Enschede
The easternmost large city in the country, almost on the very border with Germany. Enschede is known for its museums - art, where a collection of works of the Renaissance is collected, and natural science, in which you can see ancient equipment - machines, vehicles and the like. De Waarbeek City Park offers a variety of activities for the whole family.
Population - 158 986 people (2019)
Amersfoort
The symbol of Amersfoort is the 94 meter high Toren tower. Now it has an observation deck. The Newland area is built in a futuristic style, its parks are home to many animals that have not left the city with its buildings. There are many museums in Amersfoort, including art and history. More than 800 Soviet soldiers who died during the war are buried in the old cemetery of the city.
Population - 156 286 people (2019)
Delirium
City in North Brabant. The most famous sights are the city castle, founded in the 16th century, the Bouvigne castle on the outskirts of the city, and the old Grotekerk church. Among the museums are the Museum of Beer and the Museum of General Maczek. Valkenberg City Park is one of the most beautiful park complexes in Europe.
Population - 154 880 people (2018)
Zwolle
This is an ancient city, the inhabitants of which were among the first to join the medieval Hanseatic League of merchants. Among the sights of Zwolle, the famous "pepper shaker" tower, which got its nickname because of its shape, the Church of St. Michael, and the remains of the fortress wall with the city gates. The city is home to one of two Dutch restaurants that have three Michelin stars - "De Libre" ("Library"). It is housed in the library building of a former Dominican monastery.
Population - 127 497 people (2019)
Leiden
The city has many canals, the most beautiful of which are the Old Rhine and Rapenburg. In the center of the city, on the walls of houses, there are plaques with verses, including those of Russian poets - M. Tsvetaeva, A. Blok and others. The most famous castles of Leiden are Gravenstein, which has been a prison since the 16th century, and the Leiden castle-fortification of Burcht of the 11th century. Popular museums include the Windmill Museum, the Natural Science Museum, and the State Museum of Antiquities.
Population - 124 899 people (2019)
Maastricht
The most famous sights are the Cathedral of St. Servatius, and the "Gates of Hell". This is the gate of the city's fortress wall. During the capture of the city by French troops, the captain of the musketeers d'Artagnan was killed; a monument in his honor was unveiled in the city park. A unique bookstore has been created within the walls of the former Dominican church. At the same time, the interior of the temple is completely preserved.
Population - 121 565 people (2019)
Dordrecht
It is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. It is called "Venice in Miniature". Near Dordrecht are the village of Kinderdijk, famous for its collection of mills, and the National Park de Biesbosch. The city is home to the Dutch Courtyard Museum and the Art Gallery. The oldest church in the Netherlands, the Grote Körch, is also known.
Population - 118 654 people (2019)
Alkmaar
The city is known as the "cheese capital" of Holland. It houses the famous Cheese Market, and the Cheese Museum, where exhibits are devoted to the manufacture and various types of cheese. There are many attractions in the historic center - the Grothekerk church, the town hall, the old library, and the House with a nucleus. During the siege by the Spaniards, it was hit by a cannonball, but the walls survived, and no one was hurt. Now the core is still in the wall of the house.
Population - 108 558 people (2018)
Delft
The name of the city comes from the word "Delf" - moat, canal ", and indeed, a network of water canals is developed in it. Delft is famous for its porcelain products. The famous sights include the Old Church of 1246, the Eastern Gate, the Town Hall and the Royal Porcelain Factory.
Population - 103 163 people (2019)
Deventer
It is an ancient city founded in the 8th century. In the old days it was one of the largest trading cities of the Hanseatic League, but due to the shallowing of the rivers it has lost its importance in trade. Deventer is famous for its carpet factories. The famous educator and scientist of the Renaissance Erasmus of Rotterdam was born in the city.
Population - 99 957 people (2019)
Leeuwarden
It is the capital of the province of Friesland. Like Deventer, it was a large trading city, but after the river, which had been a trade route, became shallow, it fell into disrepair. The city is known for its "Leaning Tower of Pisa" - the tower at Aldehof, which is tilted at a slight angle. In the historic center, the building of the former chancellery, the church of St. Boniface, and other ancient buildings. In 1954 in Leeuwarden a monument to a cow was erected with the inscription: "Our mother".
Population - 92 460 people (2018)
Helmond
City in North Brabant. In Helmond there is an ancient castle of the XIV century, around which a park is now laid out. Of modern architecture, the Cubic Houses by Peter Blum are well known. One of them houses the Spielhaus Theater. The Municipal Museum with rare exhibits is open for tourists and residents of the city.
Population - 91 524 people (2019)
Purmerend
The city is home to about 80 thousand people, while the rapid population growth began only in the XX century. The city was founded by a wealthy banker from Amsterdam - Willem Egert. In 1410 he built his Purmerstein castle, around which the city gradually grew. Now it is a suburb of Amsterdam. Interestingly, the bus station in Purmerend is called "Tram Square" in translation, but trams do not run there.
Population - 80 117 people (2019)
Schiedam
The most famous landmark of the city is the 5 tallest mills in the Netherlands, with a height of about 33 meters. The former winery houses a museum dedicated to the Dutch juniper alcoholic drink, jenever, and its production. Also famous is the Museum of Contemporary Art in Schiedam.
Population - 77 999 people (2019)
Gouda
Gouda is famous for its cheese, one of the varieties of which bears the name of the city. Of the sights, the city hall is known - one of the oldest in Europe and the building of the weighing chamber, which now houses the Museum of Cheese. The city has a museum-harbor, where you can see old ships. Church of st. John's is known as the longest in the Netherlands and contains unique stained glass windows.
Population - 73 181 people (2019)
Horn
In Horne there are many preserved houses of the 17th-18th centuries, but there are buildings that were built much earlier. This is the old harbor administration building, the Hofttorren tower, the Chamber of Weights and Measures ("Weighing House") and others. In the port of the city there is a monument to the yungs Among the modern architectural sights, the building of the congress center and theater, opened by Queen Beatrix in 2004, is well known.
Population - 73 080 people (2019)
Almelo
It is known for its well-preserved ancient architecture - unlike the neighboring towns, Almelo was hardly damaged during the Second World War. One of the oldest café-bakery in the Netherlands, Bolletier, has been operating in the city since the 19th century. The city park is also famous, where various events are held - mostly musical.
Population - 72 849 people (2019)
Zaandam
Zaandam is famous for the fact that in 1697 the Russian Tsar Peter I studied carpentry here. "Peter's House" is open to visitors as a museum. Nearby there is a monument to the emperor, donated to the city by Nicholas II. Popular among tourists is Zanse Schans - a village near Zaandam, which has preserved many old mills and houses. There is also a Dutch clock museum, a bakery and a cheese factory. One of the Zaanse Schans mills is the last working wind turbine in the world. She is involved in the production of paint.
Population - 72 597 people (2010)
Vlaardingen
In the historical center of the city there is an old Suspension Bridge (another translation is the Bridge of Libra), next to the church and the town hall. There is an open-air museum in Vlaardingen harbor. There are old boats of fishermen and merchants. The city also has a Fisheries Museum. Of the monuments, the most famous is the memorial to the crew of the Wellington bomber of the US Air Force, who died during air battles over the city in March 1942.
Population - 72 404 people (2019)
