Keukenhof Gardens (Lisse) - The world's largest bulb garden is in full bloom from March to the end of May. It's an amazing 70 acre park, filled with flowers, streams, fountains, even a windmill. Don't worry if you miss the spring season, the Summer Garden (Zomerhof) is great for kids. Run around the gardens planted with flowers that bloom in summer. There's a playground, labyrinth, and animal pastures.

Archeon (Alphen aan den Rijn) - This archeological theme park has a faithful recreation of houses and lifestyles from Dutch history, from early Stone Age through the Middle Ages. What's fun about this park is that the park personnel are versed in the craft and lore of each era (and all speak English). We watched a blacksmith hammering an iron ring, a woman cooking Roman delicacies over a smoking brazier, a Stone Age denizen dressed in skins and furs making primitive tools. At the entrance to the park, stop to climb up the log watch tower.

Kinderdijk (near Rotterdam) - If you want to see windmills, this is the place. In the 18th century, 19 windmills were built to drain the land (below sea level) and pump the water into the River Lek. April-Sept., tour the inside of a windmill, where you'll see all the gears and wheels and living quarters. Saturdays in July and August, the windmills are rigged with sails, and the arms turn round and round. For a view of the windmills from the water, take a boat trip.