What to do and see in North Holland Province, The Netherlands: The Best Historic Sites

April 4, 2022 Janean Rudisill

Mostly jutting northward from its largest city of Amsterdam and its capital of Haarlem, the Noord-Holland region has much more to offer beyond those two wonderful cities. At Muiden is the magnificent Muiderslot Castle, as if it stepped out of a fairy tale. Showing more wear but no less interesting is Brederode Castle at Santpoort. At Zaanstad is Zaanse Schans, one of Holland’s top tourist destinations and a family-friendly open air museum of windmills, traditional buildings, crafts and shops.
Restaurants in North Holland Province

1. Kaeskoppenstad

Postbus 9261, 1800 GG Alkmaar The Netherlands +31 6 19966241 http://www.kaeskoppenstad.nl/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 21 reviews

Kaeskoppenstad

2. Sijpekerk

Nieuw Loosdrechtsedijk 171 De 15de eeuwse Sijpekerk Nieuw Loosdrecht tegenover kasteel Sypesteyn, 1231 KS Loosdrecht The Netherlands +31 6 89445812 http://www.sijpekerk.nl
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Sijpekerk

3. Willet-Holthuysen Museum

Herengracht 605, 1017 CE Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 20 523 1870 [email protected] http://www.willetholthuysen.nl/
Excellent
49%
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39%
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9%
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4.5 based on 769 reviews

Willet-Holthuysen Museum

Visitors can tour this 17th-century canal-side house in Amsterdam, which is filled with furnished period rooms and works of art that were donated by the owner Louisa Willet-Holthuysen to the city in 1895.

Reviewed By alicebenjipietro

This house is beautiful and I was in the mood for a small museum instead of one of the larger and more overwhelming ones. It consists of three floors with an audio guide and takes about an hour, and there is a lovely garden in the back. The paintings (especially of dogs) and art collection is quite impressive for the couples house. I was really amazed on how beautiful and intricate the details were - I would highly recommend giving this house a visit. Each room is so specifically designed and carefully thought through. The staff are also quite friendly. Another plus - there is a bathroom located on each floor. This is a place I would consider holding a private event. Loved it.

4. Joodse Begraafplaats Muiderberg

Googweg 6, 1399 ER Muiderberg The Netherlands http://www.joodsamsterdam.nl
Excellent
25%
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4.5 based on 4 reviews

Joodse Begraafplaats Muiderberg

5. Anne Frank House

Prinsengracht 263 - 267 museum entrance Westermarkt 20, 1016 DK Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 20 556 7105 [email protected] http://www.annefrank.org
Excellent
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4.5 based on 62,301 reviews

Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House (Dutch: Anne Frank Huis) is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. The building is located on a canal called the Prinsengracht, close to the Westerkerk, in central Amsterdam in the Netherlands. As a visitor, you experience this story through a audio tour, quotes, photos, videos, and original items. The Anne Frank House can only be visited with an online ticket for a specific date and time.

Reviewed By Skiforever1223 - Salt Lake City, United States

This is a very special museum for many reasons but I was pleasantly surprised by how beautifully the museum created the narrative and the spaces they created. My two teenage daughters and I will never forget this experience. I loved the amazing artwork at the end portraying scenes recreated from the hiding place and also recommend taking time to watch the touching tributes video at the end where you hear visitors’ experiences and guest book comments from Nelson Mandela, Steven Spielberg and more. Read or re-read Anne Frank’s diary prior to visiting to really feel the spirit of this young reminder of so many tragically lost. You do have to reserve tickets online. Per the website: 80% of tickets are released exactly two months in advance at 12:00* hours noon, 20% on the day itself. Every day at 9:00* hours, the tickets for the day are made available on this site. (*Amsterdam time). The museum recommends this for children 10 and older. I would recommend 11 yrs. for a well-prepared child. It is a quiet, sober tour and there is one brief concentration camp scene that is graphic. Bag check and audio guides included with your ticket and there is a cafe and shop for after your tour. No photography. You line up outside at your assigned time slot until it’s time for your group to go in and it’s best to take a picture of your ticket rather than try to pull it up in your email because connectivity is spotty. The actual house/store is encased and preserved by the museum surround on Prinsengracht street. We booked an evening visit which also added to the poignancy as you leave the museum and see the canals lit by street lights. Highly recommend.

6. Portuguese Synagogue

Mr. Visserplein 3, 1011 RD Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 20 531 0380 [email protected] http://www.portugesesynagoge.nl/
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4.5 based on 1,452 reviews

Portuguese Synagogue

7. Museum Het Rembrandthuis (Rembrandt House)

Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 20 520 0400 [email protected] http://www.rembrandthuis.nl/index.php?lang=en
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4.5 based on 6,800 reviews

Museum Het Rembrandthuis (Rembrandt House)

Rembrandt lived and worked from 1639 to 1658 in this 17th-century house, which today is a museum that pays tribute to the artist's life and career.

Reviewed By Fitz48 - Aurora, United States

We visited the Rembrandt House in late April and got in for free with the I Amsterdam card. There were no lines and the museum was not crowded. They have excellent free audio tours in multiple languages including English, Dutch, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Russian. We noted that they also had a children's audio tour in English in Dutch; however, I think most but not all children would find this museum to be boring. Since Rembrandt both lived here, ran and art school and worked here for 20 years and because of the inventory that was conducted when he went bankrupt is still in existence, the curators have been able to accurately refurbish the home with objects of the period. For those with mobility issues or claustrophobia, it is important to understand that the spiral staircases are steep and narrow. While there were many interesting exhibits in the museum, three stood out for me as especially interesting. First was the entrance where a chair was kept on an elevated platform for people watching on the street. Second, the beds, especially the maid's box bed in the kitchen clearly shows that the occupants slept sitting up (for their health). Finally, the highlight of the museum was the 20-30 explanation and demonstration as to how artists made their paints during the age of Rembrandt. This helps you see the paintings in the Rijksmuseum, Mauritshuis, Hermitage and other museums that you will see in the Netherlands.

8. Begijnhof

Gedempte Begijnensloot, 1012 RM Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 20 622 1918 http://www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl/
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4.5 based on 4,570 reviews

Begijnhof

Tucked away just off Spui, this delightful collection of houses arranged around an open court is well worth searching out.

Reviewed By EileenMtShasta - Mount Shasta, United States

Definitely worth a quick visit, such a nice and peaceful place with two churches and the oldest house in Amsterdam, from the 1400s (it is the black house right in front of the statue of the Begijn lady). I went as part of Rick Steves free "Amsterdam City Walk" audio guide. Do a search online and download it for free!

9. Sint-Bavokerk (Church of St. Bavo)

Grote Markt 22, 2011 RD Haarlem The Netherlands +31 23 553 2040 http://www.bavo.nl
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4.5 based on 1,085 reviews

Sint-Bavokerk (Church of St. Bavo)

Reviewed By Buddy_from_Oz - Greater Adelaide, Australia

If you're in Haarlem, don't miss a visit to St Bavokerk. Stunning architecture, fascinating history and a visually impressive organ played by both Mozart and Handel - and, surprisingly, mentioned in Herman Melville's Moby Dick. This was also the local church of Corrie ten Boom who, with her family, secretly helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust. The ten Boom museum is a few minutes walk away.

10. Molen De Adriaan Museum

Papentorenvest 1a, 2011 AV, Haarlem The Netherlands +31 23 545 0259 [email protected] http://www.molenadriaan.nl
Excellent
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4.5 based on 546 reviews

Molen De Adriaan Museum

Reviewed By TheGoodShag

This was great. A tour around a working windmill with a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Lots of info not only about this windmill but also other windmills in The Netherlands. Don't miss itt.

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