Fun places in the Netherlands for a weekend getaway

With Finds by Mino, we're constantly searching for the most fun outings and activities so you don't have to. Now that the new year has begun, we feel the urge among Dutch people to get away for a nice break.

🌍 Are you thinking of a weekend in London? Or maybe Paris? All very nice, but for a successful weekend getaway you don't need to cross national borders at all! Nice cities, beautiful nature areas and what about the Dutch coast? To help you on your way, we've put together a list of fun places in the Netherlands for a weekend away. Go and enjoy a nice break!

Take the boat to Texel

⛴️ Texel is the nicest island in the Wadden Sea. As soon as you board the boat, you feel the hustle and bustle of the mainland slip away and you immediately enter a relaxed vacation mode. Whether you're looking for peace and quiet or want to plan an active weekend away, Texel has it all. You can explore this island in all sorts of ways. Because it's a compact island, cycling is a fun way to explore Texel. Tip: stay in Den Burg. Here you're centrally located on the island and everything is within reach. Did you know that Texel has very beautiful beaches? The beaches have pole numbers, which is very handy. At Pole 21, 28 and 31 you'll find the most beautiful beaches.

What to do on Texel?

• 🔍 Climb the lighthouse and look out over the Wadden Sea from 47 meters high.

• 🚶‍♂️ Take a long walk through the Slufter nature area.

• 🌲 Climb the Fonteinsnol lookout tower in a beautiful pine forest near Den Burg.

• 🦭 Spotting seals and tasting a Texel beer (Skuumkoppe) shouldn't be missed either.

Staying overnight in the Veluwe

🌿 Have you ever spotted the Veluwe Big 5? This is the moment! If you're looking for fun places in the Netherlands for a weekend away in nature, then the Veluwe is high on the list. Hoge Veluwe National Park in Gelderland is a beautiful nature area (one of the most beautiful national parks in the Netherlands) where space has also been made for culture and art. So you'll find the Kröller-Müller Museum in the middle of the park with masterpieces by Van Gogh, among others. When the sun is shining, you can also enjoy spending time in the museum's sculpture garden. Here you'll find impressive artworks.

🚵‍♀️ The Veluwe is a good place for mountain biking, taking walks and spotting wild animals. The Veluwe Big 5 consists of: red deer, wild boar, roe deer, fox and the Scottish Highlander. And watch out, who knows you might also see wolves passing by. In the Veluwe there are countless opportunities to stay overnight in nature. From tiny houses, to holiday parks and detached accommodations. Staying overnight in a nature house is really recommended!

What to do in the Veluwe?

• 🖼️ Visit the Kröller-Müller Museum, with the second largest Van Gogh collection in the world.

• 💜 Are you here during the heather blooming season? Then definitely don't skip the Posbank.

• 🏘️ Visit Elburg, one of the most beautiful villages in the Netherlands!

City trip Maastricht

🏙️ Maastricht is a fun city for a night away in your own country. The city itself, but also the surrounding area is perfect for a relaxing weekend. In the Limburg hills you can, for example, walk and cycle in beautiful surroundings. Maastricht is a beautiful city where there's lots of fun things to do. The 'Wyck' district is the nicest, here you can perfectly stroll, shop, eat and drink. But the city center, on the other side of the water, is also gorgeous and you can definitely keep yourself entertained for two days.

What to do in Maastricht?

• 🎨 Art lover? Then visit the Bonnefanten Museum.

• 🚶‍♀️ Stroll through 't Wyck, by far the nicest district of the city, with lovely boutiques, cafés and restaurants.

• 🏰 Take a trip to Valkenburg (for example to discover the caves).

• 🥧 Eat a piece of Limburg pie at the Bisschopsmolen, one of the oldest still working mills in the Netherlands.

Discover Burgundian Zuid-Limburg

🍷 Drive a bit further and you're in Zuid-Limburg. When you think of nice places in the Netherlands for a weekend away, Zuid-Limburg is really at the top. Here you have the feeling that you're not in the Netherlands and therefore you're really completely away for a while. You'll find the three-country point in Vaals, the Limburg hills, nice cities and many cozy restaurants and cafés!

What to do in South Limburg

• 🚦 Cross all borders at the three-country point in Vaals.

• 🏘️ Visit the white town of Thorn.

• 🌾 Visit Limburg's largest heathland area, the Brunssummerheide.

• 🍺 Have a beer at the Gulpener Brewery.

• 🚴‍♂️ Active activities in the Meuse Valley.

• 🗝️ Go on an adventure in the caves of Valkenburg.

Camping in the Biesbosch

⛺ Are you crazy about nature and looking for nice places in the Netherlands for a weekend getaway? The Biesbosch is a perfect choice. It's one of the most beautiful nature areas in the Netherlands. A water-rich area where you can completely relax. In the Biesbosch you can camp at various campsites. Most campsites are located on the edge of the Biesbosch. Tip: campsite De Biesboschhoeve is located right in the middle.

Do you want to stay somewhere really special? Then go pole camping. In the Biesbosch you can camp at the pole camping fields of the Bevert or the Paardenkop. You can only get there by canoe or rowing boat so you're completely isolated from the inhabited world!

What to do in the Biesbosch?

• 🛶 Canoeing on the water, that's when you really see the Biesbosch properly.

• 🏛️ Visit the Biesbosch MuseumEiland, an impressive museum where you learn about the history of this beautiful nature area.

Finds by Mino

🇳🇱 So you have plenty of nice places in the Netherlands for a weekend getaway! Finds by Mino keeps searching for the most fun outings and activities. Stay tuned! Do you have a tip for this section yourself or something you'd like us to check out? Let us know in the comments!