Netherlands Guide
Zuid-Holland and Utrecht
Zuid-Holland, or South Holland, is the most densely populated province of the Netherlands, incorporating a string of towns and cities that make up most of what is commonly called the Randstad (literally "Rim-Town"). By and large, careful urban planning has succeeded in stopping this from becoming an amorphous conurbation, however, and each town has preserved a pronounced identity. Historically, Zuid-Holland is part of what was once simply Holland, the richest and most influential province in the country. There are constant reminders of this pre-eminence in the province's buildings: elaborate town halls proclaim civic importance and even the usually sombre Calvinist churches allow themselves decorative excesses. All the towns offer good museums and galleries, as well. In addition, the coastal cities – especially Leiden and Den Haag – are only a short bus or tram ride from the wide sandy beaches of the North Sea coast, while the pancake-flat Randstad landscape is at least brightened by rainbow flashes of bulbfields in spring.
Highlights
1 Leiden Patterned by canals, this old university town has, among its several attractions, some delightful botanical gardens in the Hortus Botanicus.
2 Den Haag Fascinating city that boasts the Mauritshuis, arguably the country's most impressive art gallery.
3 Delft A lovely little town, and one-time home of Vermeer, with one of the prettiest market squares in the whole of the Netherlands.
4 Rotterdam This gritty and boisterous port city has resurrected itself in flash modern style after extensive war damage, complete with its own Museumpark.
5 Gouda Archetypal Dutch country town, home of the famous round cheese and a splendid set of stained-glass windows in St Janskerk.
6 Utrecht Admire Gerrit Rietveld's De Stijl furniture design and architecture in his home town.
Read more ▼
- Practical Information ▼
- City/Town ▼