What is the Netherlands Famous For? 21 Best Things
The Netherlands is famous for many things, such as delicious foods like Dutch Cheese and Stroopwafels. It’s also known for its beautiful cities- storybook places like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, historical figures like Anne Frank, and magnificent artists like Vincent Van Gogh.
From the unique countryside full of windmills, goat crossings (yes- seriously!), and vast fields of tulips to cities with more bicycles than people, the Netherlands is a laid-back and beautiful country famous for plenty of different things.
So, What is the Netherlands Famous For?
The Netherlands is a country filled with history, culture, delicious food, and beautiful places. It is famous for a variety of things. Here are the top 21 things the Netherlands is most known for:
1. Tulip Fields
All over the world, the Netherlands is synonymous with tulips. In fact, The Netherlands is world-famous for its colorful tulip fields that stretch as far as the eye can see throughout the countryside. These fields span thousands of acres, with the most popular tulip field being the iconic Keukenhof Gardens!
Tulip season runs from March until May, and people worldwide travel to the Netherlands to see these famous flowers in full bloom. The Netherlands is actually the world’s largest commercial tulip producer, with billions of tulip bulbs exported every year.
2. Dutch Cheese
Dutch Cheese is a staple food of the Netherlands and a must-try item when visiting. While many types of cheese are produced in the Netherlands, the most well-known include Gouda Cheese and Edam Cheese.
Gouda Cheese is exported worldwide for its rich flavor and smooth texture, and there’s even an entire market dedicated to it in the town of Gouda!
3. Bicycles
There are around 1.3 bicycles per person in the Netherlands, making it the only country in the world where bikes outnumber people!
Bicycles are the primary means of transportation for most Dutch people, no matter the time of year. The Dutch city of Utrecht was recently named the most bicycle-friendly city in the Netherlands. However, Amsterdam isn’t far behind.
4. Windmills
The Netherlands is also famous for being the land of windmills, due to having over 1,000 historic windmills scattered throughout the countryside. These picturesque wooden windmills were initially implemented to help pump water out of the land, as many areas are below sea level and prone to flooding.
Today, the windmills have become an iconic symbol of Dutch culture.
5. Amsterdam
Known as the Venice of the North, Amsterdam is a beautiful, historic city full of canals and narrow houses. It is also the capital of the Netherlands and offers a large variety of historical and cultural sites.
The most popular places to visit in Amsterdam include the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, Vondelpark, and the Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam is also popularly known for its liberal, modernized (and somewhat scandalous!) culture of coffee shops and the Red Light District.
6. Canals and Canal Boat Tours
The Netherlands is famous for its beautiful canal cities such as Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht, and more. The Dutch have created these man-made canals for over 1,000 years for various purposes – like transportation and irrigation.
Today, the canals are a very popular tourist attraction, and many different canal boat tours can take you on a leisurely ride through the stunning and unique waterways. Especially in Amsterdam, where the UNESCO World Heritage Canal ring is located.
The canal culture in the Netherlands has also led to houseboats becoming popular places to live and stay for both locals and tourists.
7. Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is a famous Holocaust and World War II historical site located in Amsterdam. The house consists of the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis in WWII in an effort to escape persecution.
During this time, 13-year-old Anne wrote a diary detailing the families’ two years of hiding before the Nazis captured them.
The Anne Frank House is now a museum dedicated to the life of Anne Frank. While it preserves the Secret Annex hiding place, it also offers exhibits on learning about how to prevent and stand up to persecution and discrimination.
8. The Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is a famous art museum located in Amsterdam. The museum is dedicated to the life and work of Vincent Van Gogh, a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter that became one of the most influential artists in the West.
The Van Gogh Museum has over a thousand paintings, drawings, and letters from Vincent Van Gogh and his contemporaries.
9. Rembrandt
Rembrandt was another one of the Netherlands’ most famous artists who lived during the Dutch Golden Age. He was a painter and printmaker, becoming one of the most famous Dutch artists in the 17th century. He was mainly known for his work with self-portraits.
Today, the Rembrandt House Museum is dedicated to his life’s work and can be visited in Amsterdam.
10. Coffee Shops
Spoiler Alert: The coffee shops in Amsterdam aren’t known for their coffee!
Instead, coffee shops are where you can purchase and legally use marijuana. Coffee shops have been in operation for several decades, with the first starting in 1972. In 1976, marijuana was officially decriminalized and sold in licensed coffee shops.
The Dutch government did this because they believed decriminalizing and selling it in licensed establishments would result in safer use. Today, people 18 and over can visit Amsterdam’s coffee shops and get a unique insight into a cultural piece of the city.
11. The Red Light District
The Red Light District is a nightlife district in Amsterdam known for its red-lit windows which signal legalized prostitution.
Brothels have existed in Amsterdam since the 14th century. Still, they weren’t always legal – which meant dangerous working conditions for the women that worked at these establishments as they couldn’t report health or safety concerns to authorities.
In 1811, prostitution was legalized, and health checks were implemented to stop the spread of diseases. To show that the required health checks had been carried out, brothels would have red lights in the windows, which led to the area being called The Red Light District.
In the 1900s, this line of work was made illegal again and stayed that way until 2000. Once more, the Dutch government passed a law legalizing prostitution to provide better health and safety for workers.
Now, tourists flock to the Red Light District to see what all the fuss is about. It’s certainly not “the vibe” for everyone, but it’s a unique place to see- that’s for sure!
12. Heineken
One of the world’s most famous beers, Heineken, is from the Netherlands. What started as a small Amsterdam brewery in 1873 has become a worldwide phenomenon, with Heineken consistently ranking as one of the most popular beers worldwide.
Today, you can visit the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, an interactive brewery tour that takes you through the history of Heineken and, of course, includes a tasting!
13. Stroopwafel
Stroopwafels are a famous Dutch treat that you’ve just got to try if you’re ever in the Netherlands!
A Stroopwafel consists of two thin cookie-like wafers held together by a caramel filling. They are best served fresh and warm and can be found all over the country!
A cool trick with the Stroopwafel is that if you have a hot cup of coffee, you can place the Stroopwafel on top of the cup to warm it up – yum!
14. Delft Blue
The Netherlands has become famous for its Delft Blue-world-famous Dutch pottery that is typically white with blue patterns. Trust me, you’ve seen it before!
This pottery is considered a popular collectible item and can also be very expensive. Authentic pieces can go from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands. Delft Blue was first created in the Netherlands and was especially popular during the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age.
15. Wooden Clogs
Wooden Clogs, or Klompen in Dutch, have become another symbolic icon of Dutch culture.
Wooden Clogs began to be worn in the 13th century, and an official Wooden Clog Makers Guild existed in Holland in the 16th century. The working class wore Wooden Clogs since they were waterproof and sturdy– perfect for farmers and other working-class professions.
While no one wears Wooden Clogs today, you’ll still find Wooden Clogs across the Netherlands – most of which have been beautifully painted and serve as a symbol of Dutch culture.
16. Tallest People
Another thing this country is known for is having the world’s tallest people. The average height of a Dutchman is 182.53 cm (about 6ft) tall, and the average height of a Dutch woman is 168.72cm (about 5ft 6in) tall.
Therefore, the Netherlands has consistently ranked as having the world’s tallest people.
17. The Color Orange
Why is the Netherlands famous for the color orange?
Well, orange is the official color of the Dutch Royal Family. The Royal Family is part of the House of Orange dynasty, which began in 1544 when William of Orange inherited power.
18. Kings Day
Kings Day is an annual festival held on April 27th to celebrate the King of the Netherlands’ birthday.
The festival is essentially a giant street party with music, dancing, food vendors, and street fairs. Also, everyone wears orange (the color of the Dutch Royal Family) to celebrate.
19. Narrow Canal Houses
The Netherlands is famous for its beautiful but narrow canal houses (Grachtenpand in Dutch). These buildings were intentionally built narrowly in order to avoid taxation.
In the 16th century, the Dutch government imposed a tax on the width of people’s homes. As a solution to pay less tax, people began to build very narrow but tall houses on the canals.
Another interesting thing about the canal houses is that there is typically a hook on top of them. The hook is used on moving days because the houses are often so narrow that they have to lift heavy furniture up outside and through the window to get it in!
20. The Hague
While the official capital of The Netherlands is Amsterdam, The Hague is known for being the seat of the Dutch government. The Hague has also become known as a city of international peace and justice as it is home to the United Nations International Court of Justice.
21. Fairytale Villages like Giethoorn
The beautiful countryside and abundance of canals create some gorgeous places to visit in the Netherlands.
One place that the Netherlands is famous for is the village of Giethoorn. This scenic and adorable village has no streets – instead, the only way to get around is by boat through the canals.
Famous Things to Buy in the Netherlands
There are many great things to buy in the Netherlands. Below are some of the most famous souvenirs to buy:
- Dutch Cheese such as Gouda, Edam, or Maasdam
- A piece of authentic Delft Blue Pottery
- A painted Wooden Shoe – also known as a Klompen
- Small windmill statues or magnets – as historic windmills are an icon of Dutch culture
- Dutch treats like Dutch Apple Pie, Bonbon Chocolates, or Stroopwafels
- Tulip bulbs to grow some of the colorful flowers at home
What is the Netherlands Known For? FAQ
There are many things that the Netherlands is known for, including some of the interesting facts listed below:
What is the Netherlands Known As?
The word Netherlands means the low country, since the translation of “Nether” is low, and “lands” is country.
You may have also heard of The Netherlands being referred to as Holland. Technically, Holland only refers to the provinces of Nord-Holland and Zuid-Holland, and there are actually 12 provinces in the Netherlands.
So, Holland is actually only a part of The Netherlands and not the entire country.
What is the Netherlands Known For Producing?
The Netherlands is known for producing flowers, specifically tulips. It is the largest tulip producer in the world, producing around 3 billion bulbs each year. Most bulbs are exported, making tulips a very profitable business!
The Dutch are also known for their cheese and produce and export large quantities of cheese, other dairy products, and different meat products.
What is the Netherlands Best at?
A recent study found that the Netherlands is the best at speaking English as a non-native English-speaking country. In fact, the Dutch people have been ranked as the number one non-native English speakers worldwide, with over 90% of the population speaking English.
What is the Netherlands Famous For? Conclusion
The Netherlands is a stunningly beautiful country famous for many things like its historic windmills, beautiful canal cities, and seemingly endless fields of colorful Tulips.
It was also the home of many artists that influenced Western art, such as Van Gogh and Rembrandt, and historical figures like Anne Frank, that left a significant mark on history.
While the country may be small in size, it certainly is not small in influence, as some of its most popular items, like Delft Blue pottery, tulip bulbs, Gouda cheese, and Heineken beer, are famous across the globe.
If you’re headed to Amsterdam soon, here are some more helpful tips:
✅ My favorite Amsterdam itineraries for 4 days or one day in Amsterdam!
✅ All the Canal Cruises I recommend in Amsterdam- including private tours!
✅ An Amsterdam Bucket List to complete!
✅ Everything you need to know for visiting the Anne Frank House
✅ Top Weekend Trips from Amsterdam
✅ Review on my #1 Place to stay in Amsterdam
✅ If you’re biking around the city, here’s what you need to know!
✅ Wondering if you can speak English in Amsterdam? Or do you need to greet in Dutch?
