The Netherlands is a charming, very comfortable motorhome destination: a flat country (ideal for driving and for cycling), with impossibly colourful tulip fields, storybook windmills, canals, beautiful cities and a cycling culture that fits perfectly with motorhome travel. Here are some ideas for touring it.
The tulips and windmills
The great icon: in spring (especially April), the tulip fields paint the landscape in colour, and the Keukenhof park is a spectacle. And the windmills: the Kinderdijk complex (a World Heritage Site) or Zaanse Schans are living postcards. The essence of the Netherlands.
The cities
- Amsterdam: its canals, museums and atmosphere (park on the outskirts, at a Park & Ride, and go in by public transport or bike).
- Rotterdam: modern architecture and cutting-edge design.
- Utrecht, Delft, The Hague, nearby Ghent... charming cities everywhere.
The cycling culture
Holland is a cyclist's paradise: bike lanes everywhere, flat terrain and short distances. Bringing bikes in the motorhome here is a great idea for exploring (see bike racks and cycle touring).
Practical tips
- Spring for the tulips (April); the rest of the year is equally charming.
- A good network of campsites and motorhome areas, though free overnight parking is regulated.
- Park outside the cities (Park & Ride) and get around by bike or public transport.
- The wind in coastal and flat areas can be noticeable.
In summary
The Netherlands offers tulips, windmills, canals and beautiful cities in a flat country ideal for cycling and motorhoming. The step to take today: if you're going in spring, plan to see the tulips (Keukenhof) and the windmills of Kinderdijk, and bring your bikes to explore the cities like a local; it's the best way to experience Holland. Link it with routes through Europe.