Netherlands
A culture-rich weekend in Zuid-Holland
September is a lovely time to discover the Netherlands. In three days, you travel from an ancient town to a bustling port city, ending your trip in a nature park. What you don't do: Amsterdam. What you do: feel like you have experienced much more than your time allowed.
7 September 2026 · Wayloha editorial · 3 sources
Friday evening and Saturday morning: Delft
Start in the centre of Delft. This city has looked almost unchanged since the 1600s, with its narrow streets, canals and canal houses. You can walk through it in an hour. Take the train from Schiphol or another station: public transport in the Netherlands is reliable.
The advantage of Delft is that it costs much less time and money than Amsterdam, yet feels just as authentic. On Saturday, you can take in the town, eat at a terrace, and you are ready for the next step.
- Get off at Delft Station. Walk to the Marktplein; it takes five minutes.
- Buy a Museumkaart (€65) for free entry or discounts at 420+ museums all year: it pays off quickly.
In De Biesbosch, you paddle through rivers and creeks, and suddenly you have completely forgotten the noise of the city.Netherlands
Saturday afternoon: Rotterdam
Hop on the train to Rotterdam (20 minutes). This is a completely different story: a port city with modern architecture and brick bridges over enormous docks. Where Delft feels eighteenth-century, Rotterdam feels contemporary.
Skip the museums and walk along the Erasmusbrug and the Maas. The Kop van Zuid district is free to wander around. Use 9292.nl for routes: that app is essential for travellers without a local map.
- Walk along the Erasmusbrug and the quays of the Maas.
- Buy a day pass for public transport in Zuid-Holland (€12-15): valid for train, tram and bus.
Sunday morning: De Biesbosch
Travel to De Biesbosch, a nature park about an hour from Rotterdam. This is a freshwater delta with rivers, creeks and islands. You leave the world of stone behind completely.
You can walk along paths with little bridges. It is truly beautiful, and you do not need to plan anything. If you like, you can paddle a canoe through the water. Say goodbye to shopping streets and cafés; this is pure nature.
- Rent a canoe through the park itself (ask upon arrival).
- Walk via the markers: no map is needed, but bring your mobile phone.
