Mostly jutting northward from its largest city of Amsterdam and its capital of Haarlem, the Noord-Holland region has much more to offer beyond those two wonderful cities. At Muiden is the magnificent Muiderslot Castle, as if it stepped out of a fairy tale. Showing more wear but no less interesting is Brederode Castle at Santpoort. At Zaanstad is Zaanse Schans, one of Holland’s top tourist destinations and a family-friendly open air museum of windmills, traditional buildings, crafts and shops.

Though often overshadowed (especially for tourists) by its much larger and more famous neighbor Amsterdam about ten miles east, Haarlem’s history actually goes back further. And with about 150,000 people, it’s the capital of the Noord-Holland region. The Teylers Museum, with its unique collection of art and artifacts, is the oldest museum in the Netherlands. The fantastic Frans Hals Museum has many works by the artist and other Haarlem schoolers. Grote Markt, the main town square, is a must-see.

Encompassing two of the Netherlands’ three largest cities (Rotterdam and The Hague), Zuid-Holland (South Holland) is also home to important towns like Leiden, Gouda and Delft. And many lovely smaller towns dot the gorgeous green landscape. Alphen aan den Rijn has several interesting attractions, including Dutch history theme park Archeon. Picturesque Kinderdijk, birthplace of the legend of the Cat and the Cradle, also has many windmills that together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With its gridded boulevards and 1960s high-rise buildings, Milton Keynes stands out for its distinctly non-British urban planning. Beyond the concrete sprawl, quirky public artworks and an abundance of museums and cultural venues hint that this is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities.

Modern Esbjerg is the country's largest port and the base of Denmark's oil industry. Central sights are easily explored on foot, and buses shuttle to the Fisheries and Maritime Museum, where Denmark's fishing history is celebrated. Visitors should explore the main streets: Skolegade is crammed with bars, and pedestrian-only Kongensgade bustles with 150 shops and restaurants. Home to the original Legoland, this city of 85,000 also offers fun daytrips to picturesque Fano, 12 minutes away by ferry.