best golf courses in Netherlands
The Netherlands, a country known for its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage, surprisingly boasts a high concentration of golf courses, considering its relatively small size. With 279 golf clubs dotting the country, it’s a hidden gem in the world of golf. This abundance of courses offers an array of choices for golf enthusiasts of all skill levels. As of the latest figures, there were more than 396,000 registered golf players in the Netherlands, a testament to the country’s growing passion for the sport. In this article, let’s discover the top 15 best golf courses in the Netherlands which offer unique challenges and breathtaking views, reflecting the diverse beauty and golfing excellence of this charming country.
Location: Groot Haesebroekseweg 22, 2243 EC Wassenaar, Netherlands
Hague Golf & Country Club
If you want to understand the roots of golf in the Netherlands, you have to look at the Hague Golf & Country Club or Koninklijke Haagsche. It’s been sitting in the dunes near the city since 1893, and it carries a level of prestige that only comes with being one of the oldest clubs in the country. The course is essentially a masterclass in links-style design; it’s built to be a struggle even for people who play every day. The ground is sandy and constantly shifting in height, so you’re rarely hitting from a flat lie, and the bunkers are placed exactly where you don’t want them to be.
The clubhouse isn’t just a place to check in; it’s a traditional building that manages to be elegant without feeling stiff. You can grab a meal there while looking out over the dunes, which is easily one of the best views in the country. It’s a favorite for locals and travelers alike because the club actually puts effort into the hospitality side of things. Koninklijke Haagsche has become a Dutch institution over the last hundred-plus years, but it still feels like a living, breathing golf course where the history of the sport is still very much part of the daily routine.
2. Utrecht de Pan Golf Club (UGC De Pan)
Location: Amersfoortseweg 1, 3735 LJ Bosch en Duin, Netherlands
Utrecht de Pan Golf Club
Noordwijkse is widely considered one of the best and hardest courses in Europe. It sits right on the edge of the North Sea, so you’re dealing with the wind on basically every shot. It’s a classic links layout, which means the fairways are carved directly through these huge, rugged dunes. If you can’t keep your ball straight, the coastal shrubs and sand will eat your scorecard alive. It’s no wonder they’ve held the Dutch Open here nine times; it’s a genuine test of how well you can control your ball in the elements.
The vibe at the club is exactly what you’d want from a high-end coastal course. The clubhouse has a great view of the water, and it’s the perfect place to hide out and grab a meal once the wind starts picking up. Even though it’s a prestigious spot, it doesn’t feel stuffy, it feels like a place for people who actually love the sport. If you’re heading to the Netherlands to play, Noordwijkse is pretty much mandatory. It’s one of those rare courses where the landscape is so dramatic that you almost don’t mind how difficult the round is.
Location: Kennemerweg 78, 2042 XT Zandvoort, Netherlands
Kennemer Golf & Country Club
Kennemer is a classic links course that has been part of the Dutch golf scene since the 1920s. It was built right into the dunes, so the fairways follow the natural slopes of the land and the greens have a lot of movement. It is a challenging place to play because you are constantly dealing with uneven lies and bunkers that seem to be exactly where your ball wants to land.
One of the best things about the club is that it has three separate nine hole loops. They call them the A, B, and C courses, and you can mix them up so that no two visits feel quite the same. Since it is right on the coast, the wind is almost always a factor and the views of the seaside are great. The clubhouse is a good place to unwind because it feels traditional without being stiff. It is a foundational part of the sport in the Netherlands and a great example of why people love playing on the coast.
Location: Eindhovenseweg 300, 5553 VB Valkenswaard, Netherlands
Eindhovensche Golf
If you like playing through the woods, Eindhovensche Golf is probably one of the best spots in the country. It was designed by Harry Colt in 1930, and he really leaned into the forest setting. The fairways are pretty tight because of all the tall trees, so you have to be careful about where you land the ball. It is the kind of course that rewards being precise rather than just having a big drive.
The forest layout keeps things quiet and makes it easy to forget there is a city nearby. One thing the club is known for is keeping the turf in solid condition all year, which is not always easy with that many trees around. The clubhouse is old school and very welcoming, making it a natural place to hang out once you are done. It is a favorite for a lot of people in the Netherlands because it feels more like a retreat into nature than a typical golf club.
Location: Randweg 25, 2204 AL Noordwijk, Netherlands
Noordwijkse Golf Club
Noordwijkse is easily one of the most punishing courses in Europe. It is located right on the North Sea, which means the wind is a factor on every single hole. Since it is a true links course, the fairways are cut straight through massive, wild dunes. If you do not hit it straight, you are going to spend most of your day looking for your ball in the beach grass. It is a very raw and natural place to play, which is likely why it has hosted the Dutch Open so many times.
The clubhouse is a good spot to relax, especially because it gives you a clear view of the water while you eat. It is a professional environment but it is not overly formal. The club also makes a point of protecting the coastal land it sits on, so the environment feels untouched. For anyone who actually enjoys the challenge of playing in heavy wind and sand, this is usually the top choice in the Netherlands. It is a long way from a manicured parkland course, but that is exactly why people travel there to play it.
Location: Soestdijkerstraatweg 172, 1213 XJ Hilversum, Netherlands
Hilversumsche Golf Club
Hilversumsche is a classic woods course that has been around since 1910. It was designed by Harry Colt, and you can tell he wanted the forest to be the main event. The fairways are not flat and the greens have a lot of movement, so you are always thinking about where to put your ball. It is a tight layout where the trees act as natural walls, meaning a bad hook or slice is going to cost you.
The best part about playing here is how quiet it is. The dense forest blocks out everything else, so it feels like you are miles away from the city. The club has a lot of history and has hosted the Dutch Open many times, but the clubhouse still feels like a comfortable place to relax. It is a top tier course for anyone who likes a traditional layout where accuracy matters more than power.
Location: Apeldoornseweg 450, 6816 SN Arnhem, Netherlands
Rosendaelsche Golf Club
Rosendaelsche is a massive piece of Dutch golf history. It was founded back in 1895 near Arnhem, so it has that established feel you only get with the oldest clubs in the country. Frank Pennink was the architect, and he basically used the existing woods and heathland to dictate the holes. It is a very natural looking course, but it is definitely not easy. The fairways are tight and the hazards are positioned to punish anyone trying to play too aggressively.
The mix of trees and purple heath makes it a great place to spend a few hours, especially since it feels so secluded. It is the kind of layout that requires you to actually think about your strategy rather than just swinging hard. After you finish, the clubhouse is one of the more welcoming ones in the Netherlands. It is a popular spot for locals because the atmosphere is more about the love of the game than just being a prestigious club. If you want to see how golf looked in the Netherlands over a century ago, this is the place to go.
Location: Deutersestraat 39d, 5266 AW Cromvoirt, Netherlands
Bernardus Golf
Bernardus is a fresh addition to the Netherlands, having only been around since 2018. It was designed by Kyle Phillips, and you can tell it was built with a big budget and a modern vision. The course is out in the Brabant countryside and features 18 holes that use the natural water and the shape of the land to keep things interesting. It does not have the century of history that some other Dutch clubs have, but it makes up for that with a layout that is fun to play and very well thought out.
The main draw here is how much they focus on the overall experience. The turf is usually perfect because they keep it to a very high standard all year. The clubhouse is a major departure from the older, more formal clubs in the country because it is sleek and has more of a high end resort feel. Between the quality of the greens and the food in the dining area, it has become a favorite for golfers who want a more polished, contemporary day out.
Location: Dolderseweg 262, 3734 BS Den Dolder, Netherlands
Lage Vuursche Golf Club
Lage Vuursche is a very private, quiet club tucked away in the woods near the village it is named after. Kyle Phillips designed it back in 2000, and he really utilized the forest to create a layout that feels secluded. The 18 holes are cut through dense trees, so you feel like you are in your own world while you are out there. The greens and fairways are always kept in top shape, which is a big part of why the membership is so sought after.
The main thing you notice here is the silence. Since it is surrounded by so much woodland, you do not hear any traffic or city noise, which makes it easy to focus on the game. It is a tough course but it is not built to be a punisher, so players of different abilities can still have a good time. The clubhouse is elegant but has a cozy feel to it, making it a natural place to hang out and talk after a round. It is a solid choice for anyone who wants a high quality game in a place that feels completely hidden away.
Location: Loes van Overeemlaan 16, 3832 RZ Leusden, Netherlands
Hoge Kleij Golf Club
Hoge Kleij is a course you really should not overlook if you are playing in the Netherlands. It is located near Amersfoort and has been around since 1926, with a design history that includes both Frank Pennink and Donald Steel. The course is set deep in the woods, so it feels very secluded and quiet. Because it is built on a forest floor, the ground is naturally uneven and provides a lot of interesting lies that you do not get on flatter parkland courses.
The 18 holes are known for having a lot of elevation changes, which is a bit of a rarity in this part of the world. You are constantly playing up and down hills, and the hazards are positioned in a way that forces you to actually think about your club choice. It is a very well respected club that has managed to keep its classic atmosphere while still being a legitimate challenge for modern players. The views from the higher points on the course are some of the best in the area, making it a favorite for people who appreciate a scenic but difficult round.
Location: Oude Haagseweg 200, 1171 PE Badhoevedorp, Netherlands
The International Amsterdam
The International is one of the newest additions to the Dutch golf scene, and it is located just outside the center of Amsterdam. It opened in 2012 and was designed by Ian Woosnam. Unlike the older dunes or forest courses in the country, this one has a very sleek and modern feel. The 18 holes are known for being a real test of skill because the fairways are rarely flat and the water hazards are scattered all over the layout. You have to be very precise with your shots if you want to post a decent score here.
One thing that makes the club stand out is how much they focus on being eco friendly with their maintenance. The whole place feels very polished, including the clubhouse, which is more like a modern lounge than a traditional dark wood golf building. It is a great place to relax after a round because the atmosphere is welcoming and the facilities are high quality. If you want a top tier game of golf that is close to the city and feels more like a modern resort than a history museum, this is probably the best choice in the area.
Location: Haarweg 3, 4212 KJ Spijk Gem Lingewaal, Netherlands
The Dutch
The Dutch is a modern club in Spijk that has become a big deal in the local golf scene since it opened in 2011. Colin Montgomerie designed it, and his influence is pretty obvious once you see the layout. It has already hosted the KLM Open a few times, so it is built to handle professional level play. The 18 holes are full of water and the fairways have a lot of movement, so you cannot really just coast through a round here. You have to stay sharp if you want to keep your score down.
One practical reason people love playing here is that the drainage is incredible. You can play right through a rainy stretch and the turf still feels solid, which is not something you can say for every course in the country. It is definitely a high end spot with a very polished feel, but the focus is clearly on the quality of the game. If you want to test yourself on a course that the pros actually use, this is one of the first places you should look.
Location: Veenstraat 89, 5124 NC Molenschot, Netherlands
North Brabant Golfclub Toxandria
Toxandria has been around since 1928, which makes it one of the oldest and most respected clubs in the Netherlands. It was designed by Harry Colt, and he really utilized the North Brabant landscape to create the layout. The fairways roll through heavy woods and patches of heathland, so the course feels like it was found rather than built.
It is a solid 18 hole course that stays interesting without being unfairly difficult. The hazards are mostly natural, and the greens have just enough movement to keep you focused. Since the forest is so thick and established, the course is incredibly quiet. It is the kind of place where you can just focus on the game and the scenery without any outside distractions. If you appreciate a traditional layout that hasn’t been over-engineered, Toxandria is one of the best examples in the country.
Location: Hooizak 7, 5761 RZ Bakel, Netherlands
Stippelberg Golf Course – Championship Course
Stippelberg Golf Course is a fairly new course, opening in 2011, and it is a great example of modern Dutch design. Michiel van der Vaart and Gerard Jol designed it on a massive piece of land that mixes woods and heathland. The first thing you notice is the sand; the bunkers are huge and they are everywhere. Because the course is so spread out, you do not really see other groups or hear much noise, so it feels like you have the place to yourself.
The 18 holes are a real test of strategy. You are dealing with a lot of water and those giant bunkers, so you cannot just grip it and rip it on every hole. You have to actually plan your way around the hazards. The clubhouse is straightforward and welcoming, which fits the overall vibe of the place. It is not an old, formal club with a hundred years of rules. It is just a high quality, quiet place to play a round of golf in the middle of nature.
Location: Maarheezerdijk 10, 5712 PC Someren, Netherlands
De Swinkelsche Golf Course – Championship Course
De Swinkelsche has made a name for itself as one of the top courses in the country despite only being open since 2011. It was designed by Frank Pont, and he did a great job of using the natural heathland and woods to shape the holes. The Championship Course is interesting because it balances out very difficult holes with some that are a bit more forgiving.
Even though the fairways look wide, the bunkers are huge and the water hazards are positioned to catch anything slightly off line. You really have to think your way around the course rather than just hitting as hard as possible. The terrain rolls quite a bit, so you are constantly adjusting for different lies. It is a high quality place to play if you want a round that feels rugged and natural rather than overly manicured.
From the historic links of Kennemer to the modern layouts of Bernardus and The Dutch, these top 15 best golf courses in Netherlands showcase the diversity and richness of golfing experiences in this beautiful country. Whether you prefer a serene heathland, a dense woodland, or a scenic coastline, there will always be a wonderful golf course that meets your personal preference. Have you ever played at these best Netherlands golf courses, share with us your experience by commenting on the box below. Thanks for your reading!
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Yes, most courses require a valid handicap certificate to ensure players meet basic skill standards and maintain pace of play.
The prime golf season in the Netherlands runs from late Spring to early Autumn, roughly May through September. During this period, temperatures are mild, daylight hours are long, and course conditions are at their best. Summer offers the most consistent weather, while Spring and early Autumn provide quieter playing conditions with fewer crowds
Green fees typically range from €50 to €150 depending on the course, location, and season. Premium venues tend to be on the higher and due to their championship layouts and top-tier facilities.
Most course follow standard golf dress code, requiring collared shirts and appropriate golf shoes. Traditional clubs may enforce stricter etiquette, while newer clubs are slightly more relaxed.
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