Slow city breaks: See more of the Netherlands with our guide to going beyond the icons

The Netherlands deserves more than a hurried weekend away. Slow down and extend your stay to appreciate the cultural make-up of this remarkable country. Delve into its long history, see lesser-known treasures and enjoy quintessentially Dutch activities. This guide will help you to connect with the Netherlands in a more meaningful way.

Rotterdam’s bold architecture makes an immediate impression. A forest of yellow cube homes forces a rethink on conventional angles, while the skeletal form of the Delftse Poort reimagines a traditional city gate. The building that houses Art Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first publicly-accessible storage facility, is as striking as its contents. In the extraordinary Markthal, food stalls cluster under a massive mural-clad arch. While much of Rotterdam was flattened in World War Two, historic Delfshaven survived. Today, trendy restaurants and antique stores replace fishing boats and gin distilleries. Reach it, and other city landmarks such as the swan-like Erasmusburg, by sustainably-fuelled water taxi.

Train it to Schiedam, the gin capital of the Netherlands and home to the world’s tallest windmills. Jenever – a juniper flavoured spirit from which gin evolved – has been produced here for centuries. Taste some of the 500 varieties held at Jeneverie’t Spul. Foodies should also ride the rails to Gouda to learn the difference between siropwafels and stroopwafels at a Bergs Bakery workshop. Other essential stops include the city’s historic Goudsa Waag, a 17^th century weighing house, and the seasonal cheese market.

In The Hague, admire the magnificent architecture of the Binnenhof, one of the world’s oldest parliament buildings. Close by, you’ll encounter the Peace Palace, home to the UN International Court of Justice. The city’s also a magnet for culture and art lovers thanks to museums such as Mauritshuis (don’t miss its famous Johannes Vermeer’s painting: Girl with a Pearl Earring), while foodies will appreciate its standout seafood and Indonesian restaurants. Don’t miss the seaside suburb of Scheveningen. From the golden sand, watch kite boarders and windsurfers catch a wave. On the pier, arrange a surf lesson, get your adrenaline pumping on its zipline, bungy jump from its tower or opt for a more sedate Ferris wheel ride.

Hop on a train to canal-ringed Delft, which gained its charter in 1246. The city is famous for its signature blue and white pottery; visit the Royal Delft Museum to join a ceramic painting workshop. Art aficionados can also celebrate the 17th Century through the works of Delft-born Johannes Vermeer. Travel to Leiden, a characterful university city big on architecture. Don’t overlook the Leiden Botanical Garden; the first tulips to bloom in the Netherlands did so there in 1593.

Explore Utrecht at a leisurely pace by SUP, kayak or bike – two wheels have priority in the Netherlands’ fourth largest city. In Dom Square climb 465 steps up Dom Tower for an unrivalled view over Utrecht’s rooftops and explore 2,000 years of history below street level at Dom Under. Wander the botanical gardens (March to November); amid the greenhouses and themed gardens, visit 19^th century Fort Hoofddijk. Indoor highlights include the Centraal Museum’s diverse artefacts and the melodic musical machines within Museum Speelklok. When it’s time to refuel, join an inspirational vegan food walking tour or enjoy terrace dining at a canalside restaurant.

Day-trippers should consider Amersfoort. Get your bearings on a Waterlijn canal cruise before alighting to admire the medieval Muurhuizen (Wall Houses) and turreted Koppelpoort. South of the city, tackle the scenic mountain bike trails and cycle paths that riddle Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park. Meanwhile, half an hour by bus and train from central Utrecht, the splendid Kasteel de Haar is the Netherlands’s largest castle. Rebuilt from a ruin in the 19^th century, it now boasts opulent interiors and manicured gardens.

In 1944, Arnhem was the focus of fierce fighting during Operation Market Garden. Follow the Liberation Route to learn about the campaign at the Airborne Museum at Hartenstein, pay your respects at Oosterbeek’s Airborne War Cemetery and cross “the bridge too far” which the Allies initially failed to retake. Arnhem’s Eusebius Church was also a casualty, bombed to a ruin. Rebuilt post-war, the tower’s glass balconies now provide a unique view over the city.

Over in nature-rich Nijmegen, amble along the renovated Waalkade, its delightful riverside promenade. Nearby, hike past Highland cattle foraging on purple heather at Mookerheide and wild horses grazing within Ooijpolder nature reserve.

Hire an electric vehicle to get you to the Kröller-Müller Museum within the De Hoge Veluwe National Park. From its car park you can pick up a white bike to tour the expansive parkland and its sculptures. Inside the museum, art enthusiasts will delight in the second largest Van Gogh collection in the world. There’s also much to recommend Paleis Het Loo at Apeldoorn, easily reached by bus from Arnhem. It’s a sumptuous 17^th century palace built for the House of Orange-Nassau.

Maastricht’s storied past is fascinating to uncover. Begin your trip with a visit to Fort Sint Pieter, a pentagonal fortress built around 1700 that overlooks the city and the River Meuse. In Maastricht’s historic centre, admire the treasures within Saint Servatius Basilica, a Romanesque-style church flanked by three squares. Five minutes’ walk away, the bookshelves of the extraordinary Boekhandel Dominicanen breathe new life into a deconsecrated 13^th century Gothic church. To the south, wander the narrow streets of the Jerkerkwartier district. Stumble upon de Bisschopsmolen, an artisan bakery beside a centuries-old watermill that’s the perfect place to try cherry vlaai, a traditional Limburg pie.

The rolling hills and chalky marl soils that characterise the countryside beyond Maastricht are ideal for wine-production. First planted in Roman times, vines returned to this area in the 1970s. Sip dry whites such as Rieslings and Pinot Gris as you tour vineyards like Apostelhoeve and Nekummerhoeve in the Jekerdal valley. Further east, explore subterranean Valkenburg, a labyrinth of passages created when marlstone was mined for the now-ruined castle. Come to Velvet Cave during Advent to experience its enchanting underground Christmas Market.