Devious political maneuvering and four ancient, working telescopes are central to the world's second-oldest observatory.

A 'living museum' in Leiden, the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands.

A relic of the old jail still stands in its original location.

An ancient Egyptian temple sits within a modern European museum.

An unassuming rod in the Netherlands was once the old standard unit of length for the entire Dutch empire.

Only a few walls remain of the last church the Pilgrims used before they sailed to North America.

A 14th-century fortified keep showcases the masterpieces of an ingenious 20th-century clockmaker.

Tintin's creator is celebrated in an immersive museum that's an astounding work of modern art.

Medical history with an amazing, if frighting, collection of wax diseases on display.

A wonderfully kitsch bookstore the size of a supermarket.

A little sculpture with a large wardrobe.

The former headquarters of history's oldest megacorporation.

Europe's official "zero-level," the equator of elevation.

The facade of this bank has changed little over the centuries, including its unique welcome sign.

A rare tour of an aristocrat's private home reveals valuable 17th-century paintings from artists like Rembrandt.

An Amsterdam street lined with antique shops each one dedicated to a different obscure collection.

A little-known cafe in an old copper bridge tower with 360-degree views of the harbor.

An overlooked marble is the only surviving in-place 18th century example of the measurement that changed how we define distance.

Housing the famous Norwegian ice-defying 19th century polar exploration ship.

Hans Christian Andersen for the postmodern world.

Pre-Nazi swastikas adorn the sculpted pachyderms flanking this brewhouse portal.

The de facto symbol of Copenhagen is this bronze fairytale which cannot seem to keep its head for very long.

This pair of gilded girls atop an Art Deco building in Copenhagen were built to function as a weather indicator.

Danish tourist destination well known for open stalls where vendors sell marijuana on the street.