South Holland
South Holland puts canal towns, Delftware, a Vermeer and a modern port within a short train ride of each other. It suits a first trip to the Netherlands.
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South Holland is a province in the western Netherlands, on the North Sea coast. Its flat land is cut by canals and dotted with windmills and small towns, and its main cities are a short train ride apart. Delft is known for blue-and-white Delftware and for Johannes Vermeer, who lived and worked there. Leiden has one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands, founded in 1575. The Hague is the seat of the national government and home to the Mauritshuis museum. Rotterdam is the largest city in the province and a major European port. Its modern architecture followed the bombing of 1940 that destroyed much of the old center.
The region suits a first Dutch trip built around day trips by train from one base. Plan at least three or four days to see the cities without rushing. Bulb fields near Lisse bloom in spring, while May to September suits canal walks, outdoor cafés and a beach day at Scheveningen, the seaside district of The Hague.
South Holland in five
- Get an OV-chipkaart or a contactless card for trainsTrains, trams and buses use tap-in, tap-out fares. Tap a contactless bank card or an OV-chipkaart on the reader when you board and again when you leave, or you are charged the maximum fare.Getting around
- Rent a bike for the short hopsDen Haag, Delft and Leiden are flat and small enough to cover by bike, and bike paths run beside many roads. Cyclists have priority in bike lanes, so look before you step into one.
- Book Keukenhof tickets for a set dayKeukenhof in Lisse opens for only part of the spring. Buy your ticket online for the day you want before you travel.
- Carry a debit card for small paymentsMany cafés, bakeries and small shops in the region take cards for small amounts, and some take no cash. Carry a debit card that works abroad, and check its foreign transaction fees before you leave.Money and costs
- Take the tram to Scheveningen beachThe beach at Scheveningen is reached by tram from Den Haag city centre. Check the route in the HTM journey planner before you set out.Den Haag
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in South Holland, the full guide
Den Haag
- Price band: $$
Rotterdam
- Price band: $$
Delft
- Price band: $$
Leiden
- Price band: $
Things to do in South Holland
See all attractions in South Holland
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Visa-free Schengen short stays for many passports; check yours Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected; rounding up is enough
- Time
- UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh7°Low4°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Cold, short daysFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, short days
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Bulbs startingMarchRain
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Bulbs starting
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Tulip fieldsAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Tulip fields
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Tulips, mildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Tulips, mild
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Long daysJuneRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Busy, warmJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, warm
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Warm, busyAugustRain
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, clearSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Windy, dampOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy, damp
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Grey, darkNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Grey, dark
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Cold, festiveDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, festive
Average daily high and low in Den Haag, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in South Holland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 5%
South Holland
06:34 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today11°5°5%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed10°4°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°2°2%Friday: Clear. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat8°1°14%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sun9°4°12%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 02:17 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Delftabout 15 to 20 min by train from Den HaagBlue-glazed Delft pottery and a canal-lined old centre.Read the guide
- Leidenabout 20 min by train from Den HaagA university town with canals, museums and an old centre.Read the guide
- Rotterdamabout 20 min by train from Den HaagModern architecture, the Markthal and the Maas waterfront.Read the guide
- Keukenhofabout 20 to 30 min by bus from LeidenSpring bulb gardens in Lisse, open for a few weeks each year.
Before you go to South Holland
Rules for South Holland, checked
- Many passports allow visa-free Schengen stays. Check entry rules on netherlandsandyou.nl before you book.Source
- Declare cash above the EU limit when entering or leaving the EU. Check the Dutch customs rules on belastingdienst.nl.Source
- Coffee shops sell cannabis only to adults. Buying from street dealers is illegal, and taking cannabis out of the country is a crime.
- Cycle lanes are for cyclists and mopeds. Do not walk or stand in them, since cyclists move fast and have priority there.
Plan around South Holland
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Dutch trip
Read the guideGetting around by trainTrains, trams, bikes and car hire between the four cities
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa for a Schengen trip and how to check
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical daily prices in the region
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare the four cities as bases before you book
Read the guideDen HaagMuseums, the coast and the government quarter
Read the guideSouth Holland FAQ
Is South Holland worth visiting?
Yes, for art, old towns and the coast in a compact area. Den Haag, Delft, Leiden and Rotterdam are a short train ride apart, so one trip can cover several. Spring adds the bulb fields.
How many days do you need in South Holland?
Three to four days covers Den Haag, Delft and Leiden at a relaxed pace, with Rotterdam on a day or half day. Add a day for Keukenhof if you visit in spring.
Where should I stay in South Holland?
Den Haag suits most first trips, with the Mauritshuis, the tram to Scheveningen and fast train links. Rotterdam suits you for modern architecture.
How do I get between Den Haag, Delft and Leiden?
By train, which is the quickest option. Den Haag to Delft takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Tap in and out with an OV-chipkaart or a contactless card on every trip.
When is the best time to see the tulips?
The bulb season runs from late March to mid-May, and Keukenhof opens only for part of it. Check the Keukenhof website for the current dates, because the bloom depends on the weather.
Can I visit Delft without a car?
Yes. Delft is compact and reached by train from Den Haag, and the old centre is a short walk from the station.