Mural of the Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer on facade in Oude Molstraat The Hague

Get inspired - Your starting point for a special journey through the Netherlands

Be inspired by the Netherlands, where innovation and tradition complement and strengthen each other. Read our stories highlighting what makes the Netherlands so special and get to know icons of Dutch culture, from Dutch design to tulips. And discover the country’s varied natural beauty, too. The Netherlands is a country that’s always on the move, always changing, always looking to renew and reinvent itself. But this diverse and forward-looking country also has its much-loved classics. Read more about them on these pages.

What do you think of when you think of the Netherlands? Different people will have different answers to that question, from tulips and windmills to bikes and wide, open polder landscapes. Or maybe the canal parade on Queer & Pride weekend. Or the art of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh… The Netherlands is a country with many faces. It’s a place with a rich history and a wealth of cultural heritage, but it’s also home to vibrant cities, a frontrunner in sustainability and a trailblazer in fashion and design.

This is NL: Cultural treasures unveiled

On our This is NL page, find an overview of unmissable aspects of Dutch culture that you will almost certainly come across on your travels. Explore the art of the world-famous Dutch masters, and well-known parts of Dutch heritage, such as windmills, cheesemaking and flowers. In fact, flowers are such an important aspect of Dutch culture that we’ve given them their own article collection!

The Netherlands Reinvented

But any Dutch person will tell you that there’s a lot more to the Netherlands than just cheese and tulips. So don’t miss the stories in the New Dutch section, which looks at the country from a different angle. The Netherlands of today is innovative, creative and pioneering, and there’s a lot to discover about it. In addition to the Netherlands’ cultural riches, we also cover its beautiful natural scenery. Delve into our stories about Nature in the Netherlands and Water in the Netherlands. And how else to explore all this beauty but on a bike? See Cycling in the Netherlands for more.

Modern stories from the Netherlands

In the Spotlight is our regularly updated collection of articles that we have selected especially to represent the many facets of our country today. Get inspired by stories about sustainable innovation, art and creative design, the Dutch love of cycling and the country’s strong LGBTQ+ culture, which is celebrated with the annual Queer & Pride events.

Canal Parade Utrecht 2023 lady with bubbles

The Netherlands is a modern country that stays in touch with its roots, so you will find stories about Dutch heritage and history in this section, too. It’s from this perspective that we can understand the world today and that we can shape the future – something that Dutch design has made its mission.

Join us and explore the Netherlands of the past, the present and the future. We hope you enjoy your time here!