The Best Photography Spots in The Netherlands
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- By: Peter Orsel
The Netherlands is a small country, but it has oh so much to offer for photography. If you’re into Netherlands photography, this post tells you everything about some of the best spots, from someone who was born there.
There might be locations that you’ve never heard of. Some of them take effort to reach, but once you’re there, you’ll forget about the journey. These are the best photography spots in the Netherlands, all shot by myself over the years.
Visiting the Netherlands in April or May? Make sure you visit the best spots for watching the tulip fields. This post will tell you all about it.
In this post
Amsterdam City Center
An obvious first stop is Amsterdam. I love to take photos in the heart of Amsterdam and can’t get enough of the canals and houses all around it. Some of the best spots for photography are Amsterdam Central Station, Damrak, Dam Square, De Jordaan and De Westerkerk. My favourite moment is right before sunset or blue hour, so bring your tripod for long exposures.
It’s great to photograph the boats too, especially at night. You can create light trails with the canal houses in the background. If you’re visiting Amsterdam in December or January, keep an eye on the Amsterdam Light Festival. Each year the city gets lit up with light installations.
The part of Amsterdam you should avoid
If there’s one thing I could ask from you. Stay away from the Red Light District. Many of the women working there were trafficked, not there by choice, and it’s in fact forbidden to take photos here. Stick to the cheese shops, the regular cafes, the snackbars, or one of the many stroopwafel spots instead.
How to get around in Amsterdam?
Most of the photos you see in this post are within walking distance from each other. My advice would be: wander around the streets, and find your own interesting corners. There’s a lot to take photos of, and you don’t want to get home with the exact same shot like everyone else. It’s ok to shoot the classics, but go find other interesting spots as well.
Personal recommendation: have some fries at Manneken Pis while you take in the Damrak view. I love their fries and all their sauce options.
Zaanse Schans
It took me over 25 years to visit Zaanse Schans for the first time. I knew it existed, but had no idea what to do there. While exploring my own country during Covid, I decided to go, and I’ve been back a couple of times since. It’s a great spot to fly your drone and shoot the traditional windmills. There’s a lot to do when the shops are open, and you can easily spend a couple of hours there. This is also the spot with the famous traditional house with the reflections on the water. You’ve probably seen that photo before.
How to get to Zaanse Schans?
The best option is to visit Zaanse Schans by train. It takes just 17 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station, and from there it’s a short walk to the entrance. Parking a car costs a flat rate of 15 EUR. For the train schedule, you can use Google Maps, 9292.nl or the NS app.
Inntel hotel Zaandam
A great place to stay the night and take photos of is the Inntel Hotel in Zaandam. It’s located between Amsterdam and Zaanse Schans, and a relatively affordable option to stay the night, a perfect opportunity for both. The 12-story building is made up of around 70 traditional houses, stacked on top of each other. It’s one of those surreal buildings that you have to take photos of. If you take photos at night, don’t forget a wide angle lens and a tripod. Book it here.
Marken & Volendam
Marken and Volendam are two towns, perfect for a combined day trip north of Amsterdam. Marken is a small peninsula village and Volendam a fishing town, connected to each other by boat. You can do this route in both directions: visit Volendam first and take the boat to Marken, or start in Marken and take the boat to Volendam. Visiting Volendam first is the more popular option.
Marken
Marken is a unique town with beautiful houses, ideal for photography. Walking through this town feels like walking through a postcard. Marken used to be an island until a dyke connected it to the mainland. You can still see the small communities of houses that used to be separated but are now connected by roads.
On the east side of Marken you’ll find ‘Paard van Marken’, a lighthouse well known among Dutch photographers. It’s about a 30 minute walk to get there, since cars aren’t allowed past the church square.
Volendam
Volendam is usually more famous than Marken and known for De Dijk, the street close to the harbour. It’s also where several well-known Dutch singers come from, so you’ll probably spot a local celebrity too, whether you notice it or not.
Even though Volendam is more famous and I’ve been there multiple times, I haven’t gotten a lot of photos yet. It’s very photogenic, so I promise I’ll add photos as soon as I take them.
Muiderslot
Muiderslot is a castle located in Muiden, not too far from Amsterdam, at the point where the Vecht river flows into the IJsselmeer. It was built around 1285 and it’s one of the most famous castles in The Netherlands.
I captured it once by drone (in fact, this was one of my first drone photos), but haven’t visited the castle myself. It’s located right next to the highway, and it takes a small walk from the village to the castle. Parking is possible at this spot, from where it’s a small walk to the castle.
Planning to visit the castle itself? Book your ticket here.
Kasteel de Haar
Kasteel de Haar, known in English as De Haar Castle, is located in Haarzuilens near Utrecht, and it’s the largest castle in the Netherlands. Most of what you see today is a 19th-century rebuild by architect P.J.H. Cuypers, who also designed the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful castle of The Netherlands, which makes it an amazing photography spot. Planning to visit the castle and its gardens yourself? Book your ticket here.
Haarlem
Haarlem is a small version of Amsterdam. The houses and squares are very similar, but quieter, with more of a small village feel. A great plus of Haarlem is that it has its own mill in the heart of the city. It’s about 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central Station and a perfect day or half day trip from the capital. I visited on a gloomy and sometimes rainy day, but still managed to get some great photos.
Fun fact: Did you know Harlem, New York was named after this town?
Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen
This enormous park on the coast of the Netherlands is known for its wildlife photography opportunities. In this park, you’ll see wild deer, rabbits, and a variety of birds. It’s also the spot to capture foxes in the Netherlands. I’ve been there a couple of times now, but haven’t had a lucky encounter with a fox yet. Others say they see them everywhere, so I guess it was bad luck. During my visits I’ve mainly captured deer, and they are beautiful photography subjects too.
If you plan a visit to Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, be prepared to walk as the park is huge. The park is car and bike free, and you can enter from multiple entrances.
Opening hours are from sunrise until sunset. If you come by public transport, navigate to this spot. There’s a car park too. It should take about one hour from Amsterdam or 30 minutes from Haarlem.
Entering the park costs 1,50 EUR. You can buy your ticket online or at the entrance. You can easily spend a full day here, but for the best experience I recommend going right after sunrise. Once the gates open, you’ll be surrounded by peace. Oh, and animals.
Noordwijk
Noordwijk or Noordwijk aan Zee is a coastal village with a beautiful beach. It’s located in the tulips area of the Netherlands, so if you’re in the Netherlands in April or May, Noordwijk is an easy add on to your trip. What stands out is the Noordwijk Lighthouse. It’s a beautiful place to catch the sunset and end your day, as the sun sets over the North Sea. You can park here and a short walk will take you to the beach and the lighthouse.
Scheveningen
Another famous beach town is Scheveningen. It’s located right next to The Hague and offers the famous Pier of Scheveningen. Next to Zandvoort, this is the most famous beach of the Netherlands.
There are plenty of places to eat around the pier, and there’s a lot to do besides photography. This is also one of those spots that photographs especially well during sunset.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a popular city and unlike Amsterdam a very modern city. The architecture is all very abstract and straight. All of this a result of the rebuild of the city after the bombings during the Second World War.
Right now it’s one of the trendy cities in the Netherlands, and it offers a lot of things to take photos of. Street art, modern buildings and the famous Erasmusbrug, as you can see above.
There are two famous photo spots in the center of Rotterdam. The first one is the Kubuswoningen (Cube Houses) as you can see above. The Kubuswoningen are actually a hostel, and you can book it here if you want to.
Right around the corner of the Cube Houses you can find Markthal, a huge arched market hall with a colourful ceiling mural.
Kinderdijk
Along with Zaanse Schans, Kinderdijk is one of the most famous locations to spot traditional mills in the Netherlands. It’s part of Unesco World Heritage, and you can walk around here for free. I only visited Kinderdijk during daytime, so my photos surely aren’t the best you will find from this location.
The most beautiful photos I have seen from the mills at Kinderdijk are the ones during winter when the water is frozen and people are ice skating across the mills. It doesn’t get more Dutch. However, don’t plan your trip around this, as it only happens once every couple of years, and the winters in the Netherlands are unpredictable. You either gotta be local or lucky you’re around at the right spot at the right time.
If you’re around the area anyway, definitely make time for Kinderdijk. If I had to pick a favourite of the two, I think Zaanse Schans is more diverse for photography than Kinderdijk.
Harderwijk: Aquaduct Veluwemeer
I added Harderwijk to this article because it features the famous Aquaduct Veluwemeer that has been all over Instagram over the past years. This aqueduct feels inverted, as the cars go under the waterway, while boats can continue their regular route above. An amazing piece of Dutch infrastructure and efficient water management, as no delay is caused by boats crossing a road.
The best way to capture this is by drone. There’s a variety of locations where you can fly from. Please prepare for European drone laws, which are some of the strictest in the world.
Giethoorn
Giethoorn is a famous small village more towards the north of the Netherlands. It’s particularly famous for all the canals and the lack of roads through the village. This is why it’s also known as the Venice of the Netherlands.
This is the perfect destination for a day trip. You can rent a fluisterboot (whispering boat) without needing a license. These small boats are very slow and fully electric, making it very peaceful to wander through the canals of this town.
A big side note: during the summer months, it gets extremely busy on the waters. In July and August, you don’t want to be here midday. It’s much better to rent a boat outside of holiday season in the Netherlands, and start your trip early in the morning, preferably around 9 or 10AM. You’ll avoid the tour groups, and your experience will be more relaxed.
A little bit of feeling for navigating a boat is useful as well, or it will feel like you’re in a bumper car experience. If you don’t have any skills in controlling a boat, opt for the tour boats instead or hire a captain/guide for your private boat.
Besides the town, you’ll visit the Bovenwijde lake. There are some small islands where you can stop for a picnic. The lake is about 1 meter deep, so it’s safe to get in the water, even if you’re not that good of a swimmer.
Gasselterveld / 't Nije Hemelriek
Even a lot of Dutch people can’t tell you where this is, and I’m lucky to have grown up close to it. It’s a lake that makes you feel like you’re visiting a tropical destination, or one of the lakes in Canada, similar to Eibsee in Germany. It’s located in a national park in the province of Drenthe.
During summer it can get crowded, so come early. The lake has a 5km loop to hike around, and there’s a mountainbike trail covering over 32km of tracks. The lake works well for both drone and regular photography. It’s also a popular spot for portrait shoots, and you’ll likely see fellow photographers during golden hour.
On one of the rare hot days in the Netherlands, bring your swimwear for a swim. It’s not difficult to get here, but it’s further away from the main cities in the Netherlands, so I recommend coming by car. Parking costs €2 for one hour, up to a maximum of €6 for the whole day.
Bourtange
Bourtange is an old fortress town in the northeast of the Netherlands, and aerial photos of this town have reached all around the world. The village was built in a star shape to keep attackers out. Every year, a role-play recreation of the Battle of Bourtange takes place, a fantastic event to capture. Besides that, it’s a beautiful little village to spend a few hours in.
My best memories of this village include seeing it covered in snow. Entrance is free, and the village, where people still live, is always open. If you also want to visit the shops and museums, it’s best to come during the day.
Groningen
The city of Groningen is a student city in the north of the Netherlands. It has multiple beautiful photo spots, two of which will be highlighted in this article. In terms of demographics, it’s one of the youngest cities in the Netherlands, with 1 out of 4 inhabitants being a student.
Reitdiephaven
The first stop is the photo as seen above. Reitdiephaven is more of a quick photo stop than a destination. This neighbourhood in Groningen is known for its pastel-coloured, Scandinavian-style houses. Take the privacy of the people into account, as people are living here.
Hoge der Aa
In the city, you find Hoge der Aa. This canal view looks very similar to Amsterdam and Haarlem. The difference? Groningen feels even more like a small village than both of the other cities.
Not done with photography yet? Don’t forget to visit Grote Markt and Forum for a view on Martinitoren, and visit Vismarkt for a different view on the Aa-kerk, as seen above.
Kiekkaaste
Far in the northeast of the Netherlands, you’ll find Kiekkaaste. The word means ‘watching cage’ in dialect, referring to the countless birds you can see in this area. It’s a peaceful spot, best visited during sunrise or sunset. The sun rises on the land side and sets on the sea side.
It’s a protected area where birds breed. Drone flights are restricted here, especially during the early and late hours, since they can disturb nesting birds.
It’s the hardest place to reach on this list, since there’s no public transport to the bird watching cage. Many people skip the north entirely, let alone the northeastern corner. If you go, stay in the province of Groningen and combine it with a visit to Bourtange or the city of Groningen. Navigate by car to this spot. From there it’s a 15 minute walk along a long bridge to reach the cage.
Best time to visit for Photography in the Netherlands
My favourite season for photography in the Netherlands is spring. All the leaves that fell off for winter are coming back, and the country gets as green as it can be.
April: Perfect for a combination of tulip fields and the photo spots in this article. It’s not the greenest yet, but a beautiful season for the best of both worlds. Expect a lot of tulip tourists, but other places in the Netherlands will be relatively quiet. For a guide to the tulip fields, head over to this post.
May, June & September: Best for the shots in this article. Decent weather with a chance of good sunny days, not a lot of tourists around, perfect for a photographer.
July & August: Peak summer in the Netherlands. Expect some very (unpleasant) hot days, and national tourism at its peak. Visiting the famous sights is still doable, but the country gets more expensive due to holidays all over the country.
October: Autumn starts. You’ll want to visit some national parks as the trees change colour. Amsterdam is still very beautiful. Temperatures can be a bit colder, and the water locations in this article become a bit less vibrant.
November – March: The season to avoid if photography is your main purpose. The leaves have fallen off, there’s a lot of rain, and the country is grey. The only good part: light festivals happen in cities like Amsterdam and Groningen. If night photography is your thing, this is your season.
FAQ about the Best Photography Spots in The Netherlands
Is the Netherlands good for landscape photography?
Yes. The Netherlands has a lot of locations with water involved, creating wonderful reflections in your shots. The sunsets are beautiful, and the country has beautiful national parks. It’s a small and flat country, but has a lot to offer for photographers.
Do you need a car for these photography spots?
Not for all of them. Amsterdam City Center, Zaanse Schans, and Marken are reachable by public transport. For the places in the North, you want to have a car.
Are these photography spots free to visit?
Most are free or low cost. Parking (and petrol) will be your main expense to visit the places in this article.
What is the best lens for Netherlands photography?
A wide angle lens covers most of what’s on this list, from the canals of Amsterdam to the windmills at Zaanse Schans. A drone adds a lot of value at the more open spots like Gasselterveld and Kinderdijk.
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About Me
Peter Orsel is a Dutch travel photographer based in Bali, specialized in drone and landscape photography. He has visited over 40 countries and writes detailed, no-nonsense guides based on firsthand experience.
One Response
I really love this place and thinking of buying property there