Hot Spots › Netherlands
Amsterdam
Amsterdam has been working hard to manage its own overtourism problem and deserves credit for being one of the few cities to publicly say it would prefer fewer visitors rather than more. The canal ring is still beautiful, the museums are still excellent, and the cycling infrastructure is still extraordinary. But accommodation costs are high, the tourist zone around the Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein has limited appeal for people who are not specifically there for the nightlife, and the city's charm is most legible in the neighbourhood just beyond where most visitors stay.
Crowd pressure
The Red Light District is effectively a tourist processing zone. The canal ring streets are extremely busy in summer. The city has implemented tourism management policies including banning new hotels and introducing tourist taxes.
Why visit
The canal ring is genuinely beautiful, the museums (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Anne Frank House) are world-class, and the cycling culture is worth experiencing.
Best window
March (tulips) or October-November for lighter crowds
Getting there
Schiphol is one of Europe's main hub airports. Excellent public transport within the city.
The honest version
Accommodation is expensive and the city has been vocal about wanting fewer tourists. The famous coffee shops and Red Light District attract a specific type of visitor that affects the atmosphere.
Instead of Amsterdam
Instead of
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Try
Utrecht
Netherlands
Utrecht is 30 minutes from Schiphol, has a canal system that is architecturally more interesting than Amsterdam's in some ways (double-deck wharves), a strong food and bar scene, and a fraction of the tourist density. Entirely different character but the same Dutch canal city experience.
Instead of
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Try
Ghent
Belgium
Ghent is a medieval canal city 1hr from Amsterdam with extraordinary waterfront architecture, great food, and a working city identity that Amsterdam's tourist zone has largely lost. The Van Eyck Altarpiece alone makes the journey worthwhile.
Layers
Region
At a glance
- Country
- Netherlands
- Region
- North Holland
- Heat Score
- 86/100
- Cost level
- $$$
- Alternatives
- 2