Where to Stay

The Netherlands has the same standard chain hotels as the US, although I'd wager not as many. If you're adventurous, I'd stay in an Airbnb in "the center"👇. The stairs might be narrow and the bathroom might be down the hall, but you'll be that much closer to all the neat Dutch things.

Cities

Most Dutch cities, big and small, share a lot of qualities.
i.e. old-town Amsterdam is not unique.

The oldest part of the city is called het centrum or "the center". It's usually the medieval, fortified part, offset from the rest with bastions or bulwarks, and surrounded by a moat called a singel.

Each centrum will likely be full of centuries-old, beautiful brick buildings, deep brick-walled canals, stone streets, and cute little shops. The focal point of each centrum is one huge church with an unmissable steeple, surrounded by a large square called a plein (rhymes with "mine") where the local open-air market will be set up once or twice a week.

In summary - Amsterdam is for dorks and squares. The truth is that almost all Dutch cities share the same quaint old-world beauty, and Amsterdam merely added a world-renowned tourist-trap. The locals tell me that most new expats live in Amsterdam for the first year and then move to a more Dutch city when they realize their mistake.

The Coast

The Netherlands has a long North Sea coastline full of dunes, beaches, and little fishing villages. Despite the latitude (the Netherlands would be tundra in North America) the coast is a nice destination in the summer. The water in August will be a tad brisk, but you can still head to a beach, swim a bit and catch some sun. Most beaches boast a handful of fun sand-blasted beach-side restaurants where you can grab a sandwich, a coffee, and a beer. In many cases there's something akin to a boardwalk.

There's great fresh fish here - and more towards the coast. Grab some fried fish (kibbeling or makreel) when you see it.

For the adventurous, kite-surfing is huge here and the coastal winds in the fall and winter are great for lifting daredevils 40 feet in the air. (I have videos to prove it)

Beach-town recommendations

Katwijk and Nordwijk - cute little coastal towns, great for a bed and breakfast.

Scheveningen - a neighborhood of The Hague (Den Haag). It has a huge enclosed pier that's something between a boardwalk, a carnival, and a shopping mall.

The Countryside

If you're looking for a more rural spot, farm country is everywhere, but especially in the north and west. The Netherlands is very densely populated, so the middle-of-nowhere is still not going to be that far from a major road.

There are many great little Airbnbs on farms, in small towns, and in the occasional forest. They'll be hard to get to without a car, but the idyllic vibe is worth it.