Spread your wings beyond the biggest two cities in the Netherlands, and there are some pleasant surprises in store.
Utrecht
This bike-mad city has a homogenously pretty medieval heart. The 112m Domtoren tower is worth the 465-step climb, both for the views and the somewhat trippy bell chamber. On the outskirts, the Rietveld-Schroeder House is a brilliant piece of De Stijl architecture, with a mesmerising jigsaw puzzle of sliding and unfolding walls on the first floor.
Den Haag
Regal buildings built for the Dutch parliament surround the Binnenhof, arguably the country’s grandest square. But Den Haag is home to two key (and very different art collections) as well. The Mauritshuis is a high temple of Dutch and Flemish art, with its pinnacle being Vermeer’s Girl With A Pearl Earring. The Escher in Het Paleis Museum, on the other hand is all about MC Escher’s drawings of mind-bending buildings.
Maastricht
The most European-feeling of the Dutch cities, Maastricht has a tremendous café scene that combines neatly with heritage sights dating back to eras of Spanish and Roman rule. Exploring the miles of defensive tunnels from Fort Sint Pieter that have been dug out through the centuries is the must-do.
