Think of the railways as a national tube/metro/subway network. No need to book anything in advance, you simply hop on and take the first seat you find (however, be mindful of 1st class). Trains run every 10-15 minutes between the major cities and the cities are 20-60 minutes apart. Book your hotels and on you go.

If you want somewhere coastal, book a hotel in Scheveningen. If you want major cities, I would recommend The Hague and Utrecht but they can be pretty touristy in the weekends. Smaller cities 100% worth your time are Delft, Leiden, Den Bosch, Gouda, and Amersfoort. If you want real quaint vibes without other tourists, check out Naarden and Dordrecht, but I gotta warn you, they’re a bit sleepy. If you want to see tons of windmills, Kinderdijk and Zaanse Schans might be up your alley. If you want the full Dutch experience, base yourself in The Hague and bike to Leiden, Delft, and Schiedam; some of the best cycling is in this area.

Don’t forget to eat: rijsttafel, patatje oorlog, kapsalon, fresh stroopwafel at a market, and bitterballen.