| Noord-Holland |
Noord-Holland is a peninsula between the North Sea in the west and the IJsselmeer in the east. The province has picturesque landscapes and villages, with drawbridges, windmills, and tulip fields as well as the historic harbor villages such as Volendam and Marken, where Dutch traditional costumes are still worn. The capital is the beautiful city Haarlem, other cities are Amsterdam, Zaandam and Alkmaar. |
Highlights In the region:
De Zaanse Schans
On the banks of the River Schans, De Zaanse Schans is a collection of old Dutch houses assembled from the surrounding (now industrialized) region. The town's main attraction is its open-air Windmill Museum.
Highlights In Enkhuizen:
Zuiderzeemuseum
Open-air museum with exhibitions on what it was like to live and work on the Zuyderzee (now IJsselmeer) hundred years ago. |
Haarlem
Little has changed on the quiet streets of quaint Haarlem since medieval times. This charming town boasts a sprinkling of beautiful Dutch almhouses as well as some of Holland's finest museums. Haarlem is older than Amsterdam and from the 11th to the 13th century it was the seat of the counts of Holland. |
Sightseeings:
Frans Hals Museum
Teylers Museum
Corrie Ten Boom House |
Zandvoort aan Zee
Zandvoort aan Zee, a village nicely situated on the North Sea, with a beautiful beach strip, has been a tourist attraction for the Dutch and visitors for many decades. |
Sightseeings:
Zandvoort Circus
Circuit Park Zandvoort |
Marken
This photogenic little fishing village sits on land that was once an island. The fishing industry, alas, has died out because of land reclamation, and today Marken relies on a daily catch of tourists. |
Edam
This city's name is synonymous with Dutch cheese, and there's plenty of it to be found. The 17th-century architecture includes a cheese-weighing station and many places where you can taste or buy the famous cheese. |
Noord-Holland Province & Cities