Golf in the Netherlands

Golf in the Netherlands is a short golf blog post that looks at one of the most underrated countries to visit and play golf.

With the 20th Solheim Cup taking centre stage at Bernardus Golf in the heart of North Brabant, the international golfing spotlight shifts firmly to the Netherlands. While many travelling golfers associate North-West Europe’s lowlands purely with historic canals, Vermeer, and tulips, those in the know understand that the Dutch sandbelt hides some of the finest, most dramatic inland and links routing on the European continent.

As the Solheim Cup approaches, here is your complete insider's travel guide for graemefish.com—covering where to play, where to stay in Amsterdam and Eindhoven/Den Bosch, ideal dining options, and cultural highlights.

1. Top 5 Golf Courses in the Netherlands

Dutch golf is rich in heritage, boasting architectural masterpieces from Harry Colt, Tom Simpson, and C.H. Alison alongside modern creations by Kyle Phillips.

1. Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club (Royal Hague)

Location: Wassenaar, South Holland
Type: Coastal Dune / Links hybrid
Architect: Harry Colt & C.H. Alison (1938)
Overview: Perched among undulating coastal dunes near the North Sea, Royal Hague is widely considered the crown jewel of Dutch golf. Harry Colt and C.H. Alison utilised the violent, natural topography to carve out a layout where almost no lie is completely flat. Blind shots, dramatic elevation changes, and coastal breezes demand complete shot-making creativity.
Pro Tip: Manage your trajectory off the tee. The fairways follow natural dune valleys, meaning a misplaced drive can leave an awkward hanging lie into severely sloped greens. Precision over distance is paramount.

2. Utrechtse Golfclub 'De Pan'

Location: Bosch en Duin, Utrecht
Type: Heathland
Architect: Harry Colt (1929)
Overview: Tucked deep into ancient pine forests and heather-covered sandy dunes, De Pan is a timeless classic often likened to Sunningdale or Woodhall Spa. Colt's routing weaves seamlessly through natural ravines and heather banks, offering a serene yet mentally demanding test of strategic golf.
Pro Tip: Watch out for subtle green contours. Colt designed the greens to accept running approach shots, but missing on the wrong side of the heather ridges will test your short-game touch to its limits.

3. Kennemer Golf & Country Club

Location: Zandvoort, North Holland
Type: Pure Links
Architect: Harry Colt (1928) & Frank Pennink
Overview: Located just minutes from the North Sea beaches, Kennemer offers 27 holes of pristine, classical links golf across three 9-hole loops (A-Van Hengel, B-Pennink, C-Cormack). Having hosted the Dutch Open on numerous occasions (won by legends such as Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie), its tall dunes, deep pot bunkers, and fescue fairways deliver an authentic seaside trial.
Pro Tip: When the wind blows off the sea, club selection becomes a three-club puzzle. Keep the ball low, roll it onto the green fronts, and avoid the treacherous fairway turf bunkers.

4. Bernardus Golf (Solheim Cup Host)

Location: Cromvoirt, North Brabant
Type: Modern Heathland
Architect: Kyle Phillips (2018)
Overview: Host of the 20th Solheim Cup and former host of the KLM Open on the DP World Tour, Bernardus is a modern masterwork built on sandy heathland soil. Designer Kyle Phillips (famed for Kingsbarns and Dundonald) created a sprawling, visually stunning layout featuring wide fairways, strategic water hazards, and pristine, firm turf.
Pro Tip: While fairways are generous off the tee, Phillips’ green complexes require precise distance control and angle management. The run-off areas are quick, making low bump-and-runs or putt-offs mandatory recovery shots.

5. Eindhovensche Golf

Location: Valkenswaard, North Brabant
Type: Heathland / Woodland
Architect: Harry Colt (1930)
Overview: Set around a picturesque natural lake and surrounded by dense birch and pine forests, Eindhovensche Golf is an idyllic sanctuary of classic golf architecture. Its heather-lined fairways and quiet solitude offer a tranquil contrasting experience to the bustling tech city of Eindhoven nearby.
Pro Tip: Driving accuracy is key. The dense heather guarding the fairway edges will punish erratic tee shots, so opting for a 3-wood or hybrid to find the short grass is often the smart play.

2. Where to Stay: Luxury Basecamps

To combine world-class golf with rich Dutch culture and access to the Solheim Cup venue, split your stay between vibrant Amsterdam (for the coastal links) and modern Eindhoven or historical 's-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) (for Brabant golf and Bernardus).

Amsterdam

De L'Europe Amsterdam (5-Star Luxury): Situated along the Amstel River in the historic Canal Ring, De L'Europe offers timeless elegance, fine dining, and swift access toward Kennemer and Royal Hague.
Conservatorium Hotel (5-Star Contemporary): Located right in the Museum Quarter, this former music conservatory blends heritage architecture with sleek modern design, featuring an award-winning spa—ideal after 18 demanding holes.

Eindhoven & Den Bosch

NH Collection Eindhoven Centre (5-Star Modern): Situated in central Eindhoven, featuring panoramic sky-bar views, modern amenities, and convenient driving connections to both Bernardus Golf and Eindhovensche Golf.
The Duke Boutique Hotel (Den Bosch): For those wanting to stay right on the doorstep of Bernardus Golf (just 15 minutes away), Den Bosch offers charming cobblestone streets and urban boutique luxury.

3. Gastronomic Excellence: Where to Dine

NAMI at Bernardus Golf (Cromvoirt): Holding a Michelin Star and awarded Gault&Millau Terrace of the Year, NAMI delivers an exquisite fusion of Asian and European fine dining with panoramic views over the golf course greens.
Rijks (Amsterdam): Located adjacent to the Rijksmuseum, this Michelin-starred restaurant celebrates locally sourced Dutch ingredients transformed into modern culinary masterpieces.
Restaurant Tribeca (Heeze, near Eindhoven): Holding two Michelin stars, Chef Jan Sobecki delivers world-class French gastronomy in a serene Brabant villa setting—perfect for a celebratory post-round dinner.
Noble (Den Bosch): Located in a historic building overlooking the Bossche Broek nature reserve, offering refined small-plate dining and exceptional wine pairings.

4. Cultural & Sightseeing Highlights

Amsterdam Canal Cruise & Museum Quarter: Rent a historic wooden saloon boat for a champagne tour of Amsterdam's UNESCO canal rings before exploring Rembrandt’s masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum.
Historic Den Bosch Underground Boat Tour: Experience the Binnendieze—an ancient underground canal system beneath the medieval centre of 's-Hertogenbosch, followed by a tasting of the famous local pastry, the Bossche Bol.
Design & Innovation in Eindhoven: Explore the Strijp-S district, a converted former Philips industrial complex now serving as a vibrant hub for Dutch design, boutique shopping, and creative arts.

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Image by Ansgar Scheffold from Pixabay