Top Things to do in South Holland Province
Top Restaurants in South Holland Province
Countries
What to do and see in South Holland Province, The Netherlands: The Best Things to do
Encompassing two of the Netherlands’ three largest cities (Rotterdam and The Hague), Zuid-Holland (South Holland) is also home to important towns like Leiden, Gouda and Delft. And many lovely smaller towns dot the gorgeous green landscape. Alphen aan den Rijn has several interesting attractions, including Dutch history theme park Archeon. Picturesque Kinderdijk, birthplace of the legend of the Cat and the Cradle, also has many windmills that together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Restaurants in South Holland Province
1. Keukenhof
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,079 reviews
Keukenhof is the independent, international showcase for the Dutch floricultural sector, with a special emphasis on flower bulbs. In the space of 8 weeks Keukenhof demonstrates what the Dutch floricultural sector has to offer. The focus in the park is on the 7 million spring flowering bulbs. 100 flower bulb companies display their products and 500 growers present an enormous variety of cut flowers and pot plants at more than 20 flower shows.
Reviewed By devnprt1 - Las Vegas, United States
Even though the tulips blooming season is very fickle due to the weather, lots of other type of flowers inside large building. Cafes are available for indoor and outdoor seating. You could spend a half day easily strolling through the large, 80 acres, of paths, ponds and indoor pavilions full of flowers and the famous tulip fields (when in bloom.) If you go, arrive in the morning before the crowds.
2. Royal Delft - Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,046 reviews
Royal Delft, established in 1653, is the last remaining Delft earthenware factory from the 17th century. The world famous blue and white earthenware is still entirely handpainted according to centuries old tradition. Visit Royal Delft and see how we still authentically produce Royal Delftware!
Reviewed By gaia43 - Turners Falls, United States
I have never been a big fan of Royal Delft pottery though knowing it’s history and evolution; seeing master painters at work (up to ten years of training!); and touring its facility with a “magical” garden, large gift shop and lovely cafe have “sold” me. No, I may not purchase Delft pottery pieces though I have learned to appreciate and respect how it came to be and continues to enrich the world with its beauty.
3. The Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,908 reviews
The Mauritshuis is home to the very best of Dutch Golden Age painting. The compact, yet world-renowned collection, is situated in the heart of The Hague, right next to the government centre. Masterpieces such as Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt, The Goldfinch by Fabritius and The Bull by Potter are on permanent display in the intimate rooms of this seventeenth-century monument.
Reviewed By ViolettaM239 - The Hague, The Netherlands
Mauritshuis is a one of a kind well thought, conveniently arranged for all art lovers needs museum- four in one experience to the highest standards: exuberant historic building in the hart of the city, exquisite art collection, smart marketing model on all souvenir collection at the museum shop (hard to resist) and a stylish cafe to share impressions over a cup of coffee about Dutch Golden Age masterpieces. So far, Mauritshuis has offered the most enriching, 360 degree satisfaction experience from the first visit onward and by now I've been two or three times including the themed event. And want to come back for another great collection.
4. National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 546 reviews
The National Museum of Antiquities is housed in an old monumental building and ‘Begijnhof’. It is the Dutch centre for archaeology. A large part of the collection consists of objects related to ancient Egypt. Unique is the two thousand year old Egyptian temple in the central hall of the museum. Besides ancient Egypt, the museum covers the Middle East, the Classical world and the early history of the Netherlands. The entire collection consists of more than 80,000 objects, including statues of Roman emperors, Etruscan tomb finds and mummies.
Reviewed By 500dank - The Hague, The Netherlands
Had a wonderful visit with my family. Loved the collection which is marvellous! Especially the artefacts covering ancient Egyptian time. To my personal opinion, only the British Museum in London can match this. The temporary exhibit (untill 15 march 2020) was on Cyprus. The museum consists of three floorws and is housed in a fantastic, historical building, in the middle of the historical town centre of Leiden (Rapenburg). It's completely accessible: we brought our 8 month old son in his buggy and had no problems in navigating the museum. Baby changing facilities are located in the disabled toilet on the ground floor. In the entrance hall of the museum you can find and visit the Temple of Taffeh (free of charge, as it is before the ticket barriers), which was gifted to the Netherlands. The audio tour is free of charge too (but behind the ticket barriers). Museum staff was very friendly and helpful. One note in regard to parking: some reviews here complain about parking, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the museum itself. People who complain about parking, have themselves to blame for not planning their journey properly: The museum is located in the middle of the historical city centre of Leiden. so it's completely logical that there isn't a large parking garage to accommodate visitors. My advice is to plan your journey ahead, be sure you know where to park in Leiden or check the museum website if you don't and/or are not familiar with the historical centre of Leiden. If you come by public transport: the museum is about a ten minute walk away from the Leiden Central station. Concluding this review: this is a must visit if you like museums with ancient artefacts!
5. Rotterdam Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,824 reviews
Reviewed By Mark_Daemen - Ghent, Belgium
We had a great time in this Zoo. We spend over 4 hours and didn't get to see it all. Naturally everyone has its favorites. We liked the gorillas that where inside with the warm weather and the hyenas chewing on bones. We went to see the feeding of the sharks and the tigers. Probably we, and most visitors, expected too much of it as the animals got bored soon so there was not much to see. Great lay out by continent so you have a great mix of different species (birds, mammals,...) in every continent. The food in the restaurant are typical dutch fast food options. I tried a 'broodje kroket' that really missed taste, with or without the accompanying sauce. Broodje Unox (hot dog) had the same problem. Perhaps best to take a picknick with you. Great bakeries (like Koekela) in Rotterdam. We came with an Uber from the centre for 7 euro which is cheaper than the 3,50 euro/person for a two hour ticket for the bus as you will take longer than two hours in the Zoo. Probably the same with a taxi.
6. Netherlands Architectural Institute
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
7. Rotterdam Centraal Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,324 reviews
Reviewed By marcomC5864DZ
Apart from a great organization, an easy-to-move around lineup, I enjoyed the spectacular architecture. It is worth the visit just for it. As well lots of shops, restaurants, a central location and good connections with the city transport system, makes it a good location to arrive in town (and it's just 20' from Amsterdaam)
8. Scheveningen Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 433 reviews
Reviewed By ghazalefb - Ratingen, Germany
This beach is really clean and beautiful. Just 3 hours drive from Germany and then you will find a wonderful clean beach.
9. Markthal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,668 reviews
The Markthal (English: Market Hall) is a residential and office building with a market hall, located in Rotterdam. The building was opened on October 1, 2014, by Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Besides the large market hall, the complex houses 228 apartments, 4600 m2 retail space, 1600 m2 horeca and an underground 4-storey parking garage with a capacity of 1200+ cars. The Markthal was designed by architectural firm MVRDV. The grey nature stone building has an archwise structure like a horseshoe. The building has a glass facade on both sides, these are made up of smaller glass windows. The smaller windows are mostly squared and around 1485 millimeters wide. All of these are hung around a structure of steel cables, 34 metres high and 42 metres wide, which makes it the largest glass-window cable structure in Europe. Each facade has 26 vertical and 22 horizontal cables. The inside of the building is an 11.000 m2 artwork by Arno & Iris Coenen, named Hoorn des Overvloeds (Horn of Plenty).
Reviewed By Pannekoek77 - Oosterhout, The Netherlands
Food stalls galore! A visit to Markthal Rotterdam is like going on a journey of culinary discovery. Located in Rotterdam close to the Cube Houses and Central Library, it is a residential and office building with a market hall below. With a unique, captivating structure and glass facade, the interior of the building is decorated with eye-catching artwork, titled 'Hoorn des Overvloeds' (Horn of Plenty/Cornucopia). Easily accessible via public transport, Markthal is a 5-minute walk from the Rotterdam Blaak train station. For those travelling by metro, it is approximately 6 minutes on foot from the Beurs subway interchange station. There is an underground parking garage (paid parking) with a parking guidance system and electric vehicle charging stations, supermarkets, pharmacy, florists, health food shop and bank. A lively and colourful indoor market with food stalls, cafes and restaurants offering a diverse selection of foodstuff, this place is clean and well-maintained. Delicatessens offering artisanal food to tempt the taste buds can be found here. The wide variety of cheese, meats, chocolates, sweets, specialty coffee, fruits and vegetables found here is impressive. With something for everyone - this is a 'marketplace' where you can find high quality food products. In addition to buying groceries, visitors can explore the hall and buy a snack to eat on the go, enjoy a light meal as well as dine-in. From 'Jamie's Italian' by Jamie Oliver (the famous British celebrity chef) to Bram Ladage (Dutch fries and snacks - Echt lekker!), visitors will find European, Middle Eastern, Latin American, North American and Asian food fare. A big plus is that Markhal caters to visitors with different food preferences and budgets. As part of their efforts to combat food wastage, Markthal supports the Foundation Food Bank Rotterdam. In addition to providing entrepreneurs a venue to grow their businesses, Markthal is a great venue for both locals and tourists to bask in the bustling atmosphere of Rotterdam. Recommended for gourmet lovers and food connoisseurs as well as those who would like to admire the breathtaking artwork - this market hall offers a cornucopia of food choices. It was definitely a memorable visit to this modern architectural work of art.
10. Botanical Gardens (Hortus Botanicus)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 744 reviews
Reviewed By 390davidw390 - Neath, United Kingdom
The Botanical Gardens are a real joy with a history dating back centuries, It is the birthplace of the university history of Leiden. It's a must to any visit to Leiden
