Join the locals in an afternoon drink in one of the café terraces on the main square – it's great spot for cathedral views and people watching.

Take in the masterpieces at the majestic Frans Hals Museum. The 17th-century painter was the most sought after portrait painter of his time and the museum is filled with his works, as well as those of his contemporaries.

It’s well known that Gouda is a cheese-lovers paradise, so head to the Cheese and Craft Museum or one of the local delis to taste the genuine article. If you’re there on a Thursday be sure to visit the world-famous cheese market.

This large green area on the northeastern side of the city is made up of old peat meadows, woodland and ponds. There's a 5km walking route and you may be able to spot some of the rare species of birds that nest and overwinter here.

Unwind with a day at the spa. Tucked away in the city centre, the spa is housed in a 1920s bathhouse that was reopened in 2012 and restored to its former glory. You can book a variety of treatments from massages and facials to a range of more unusual offerings like the busleric body scrub and Turkish fish spa treatment. 

Stroll around the historic Delfshaven neighbourhood which emerged relatively unscathed after World War II. 

While the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen (Rotterdam’s art museum) is closed, this fascinating and unique temporary building has popped up next door to showcase 151,000 artworks in climate-controlled storage. You can see art restorers at work behind the scenes.