Capitals of the Dutch provinces
Every Dutch province has its own capital, and on this map you fly past them all. You learn where the capital of each province lies — from Groningen and Leeuwarden in the north to Maastricht in the south, and from Haarlem and The Hague in the west to Arnhem and Zwolle in the east.
Some provincial capitals are also large, well-known cities, such as Utrecht, The Hague and Groningen. Others are smaller and quieter, like Assen in Drenthe, Lelystad in the young province of Flevoland and Middelburg in Zeeland. Note that a province's capital sometimes shares its name with the province, like Groningen and Utrecht, but often it does not — Haarlem is the capital of North Holland and 's-Hertogenbosch that of North Brabant.
Hop in the helicopter and fly to the capital of every province at your own pace — a fun, free way for kids and grown-ups to learn the provincial capitals.
▶︎ Play nowFrequently asked questions
What are the provincial capitals of the Netherlands?
Each province has its own capital: Groningen, Leeuwarden, Assen, Zwolle, Lelystad, Arnhem, Utrecht, Haarlem, The Hague, Middelburg, 's-Hertogenbosch and Maastricht. These twelve cities are the administrative centre of their province, home to the provincial government building and the seat of the provincial authority.
What is the capital of North Holland?
The capital of the province of North Holland is Haarlem, not Amsterdam. Although Amsterdam is the largest city and the national capital, the smaller city of Haarlem is the administrative centre of the province. This surprises many people, since Amsterdam seems the obvious choice.
Do a province and its capital always share a name?
No. Sometimes a province and its capital share a name, as with Groningen and Utrecht. But often they differ: Haarlem is the capital of North Holland, Arnhem of Gelderland, Middelburg of Zeeland and 's-Hertogenbosch of North Brabant. The Hague is the capital of South Holland.
What is the best way to learn the capitals of the Dutch provinces?
The most fun and fastest way to learn the provincial capitals of the Netherlands is by playing, with the free helicopter in Toponauts. You fly to each province's capital and place it in the right spot yourself, at your own pace — great for children and adults.