Amsterdam is certainly one of Europe’s most fascinating cities, however this information to one of the best day journeys from Amsterdam is right here to introduce you to a few of the most superb locations to go to past the confines of the capital metropolis of the Netherlands.
Earlier than we dive deeper into one of the best day journeys from Amsterdam, although, right here’s a quick overview of this lovely metropolis of canals, the so-called Venice of the North.
Amsterdam in a Nutshell
Conjuring up vivid photos of picture-perfect canals, historic structure, and colourful tulips, there’s no scarcity of unimaginable issues to do on a visit to Amsterdam.
For artwork lovers, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are unmissable, contrasting conventional work from the outdated Dutch masters with the colourful works of one of the crucial beloved fashionable artists of all time.
One other museum in Amsterdam that’s nicely price a go to is the Anne Frank Home, which takes guests into the key hiding place the place Anne Frank lived along with her household for a number of years throughout World Struggle II, protecting her now-famous diary.
Whereas in Amsterdam, you can also’t miss taking within the metropolis’s picturesque canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, on a ship tour. Or if you happen to’d relatively see town the best way the Dutch do, soar on a bicycle. Ideally, take a guided tour and discover on two wheels.
For foodies, Amsterdam is a good metropolis for locating typical Dutch dishes, in addition to a big selection of worldwide delicacies.
On the subject of Dutch meals, a few of the greatest issues to attempt are stroopwafels, a scrumptious chewy waffle-like cookie, and bitterballen, a breaded and deep-fried snack full of meat that’s generally eaten alongside a chilly mug of beer.
Amsterdam additionally works nicely as a base for day journeys that allow you to discover one of the best of the Netherlands. Different locations across the nation are simply accessible from Amsterdam, which is the most important metropolis within the Netherlands and a well-connected transportation hub.
Among the most typical scenes related to the Netherlands, like rows of iconic windmills or countless fields of tulips, could be discovered outdoors town within the Dutch countryside.
The Netherlands can also be a reasonably small nation, making it simple to go to different locations by public transport – practice or bus – on a day journey earlier than returning to Amsterdam within the night. Let’s check out a few of the greatest day journeys from Amsterdam.
8 Greatest Day Journeys From Amsterdam
1. Giethoorn
Amsterdam could also be nicknamed the Venice of the North due to its many canals, but it surely’s not the one place within the Netherlands the place yow will discover these waterways. In truth, many different cities and cities within the Netherlands have canals, as this low-lying nation on the North Sea traditionally used them for transportation and commerce.
One of many prettiest canal cities within the Netherlands is Giethoorn. This small village northwest of Amsterdam is thought for being solely car-free in its middle. You possibly can solely get round by bicycle, on foot, or by boat in Giethoorn’s community of canals.
With its thatched-roof homes and completely landscaped flower gardens, Giethoorn appears like one thing straight out of a storybook. It’s the right vacation spot to spend a day taking a ship tour, exploring the bike paths of the encompassing countryside, and having lunch in one of many cafés in Giethoorn’s village middle.
You can too lease one of many small whisper boats that most individuals use to get round if you happen to’d wish to discover the city’s canals by yourself. Museum Giethoorn can also be price a go to. Housed in a historic farmhouse, this museum exhibits what life was like in Giethoorn over the previous centuries.
2. Keukenhof
Tulips are one of the crucial iconic symbols of the Netherlands. Though these vividly-colored flowers didn’t really originate within the Netherlands, they turned extremely modern in the course of the Dutch Golden Age.
They even sparked a market frenzy often known as tulip mania, the place costs for a single tulip bulb soared to as a lot as ten occasions that of the common artisan’s wage.
To this present day, tulips are related to the Netherlands, and they’re grown everywhere in the nation and offered in flower markets in each metropolis and city. Probably the greatest locations to see tulips in bloom is the flower gardens of Keukenhof, about 40 miles southwest of Amsterdam.
As a caveat for this present day journey, you possibly can solely do it within the spring in the course of the tulip season. The gardens at Keukenhof are closed for the remainder of the yr. However if you happen to’re visiting Amsterdam from mid-March to mid-Could, it’s nicely price making the journey to Keukenhof to see greater than seven million colourful flowers in bloom.
Tulips are on show in all their glory, as are daffodils, hyacinths, and different spring flowers. With quite a few gardens, waterways, strolling paths, and viewpoints, you possibly can simply spend a full morning or afternoon soaking within the floral fantastic thing about Keukenhof.
3. Rotterdam
Whereas Amsterdam is all about its historic attraction and Seventeenth-century canal homes alongside tree-lined waterways, Rotterdam is a younger metropolis full of placing, fashionable structure. Virtually solely reconstructed after World Struggle II, this port metropolis was reinvigorated with a daring new design.
Because the second-largest metropolis within the Netherlands after Amsterdam, Rotterdam makes for a singular, contrasting day journey from the Dutch capital. Simply forty minutes south of Amsterdam by high-speed practice, there are many alternative ways to spend a day on this revolutionary and vibrant metropolis.
Among the most iconic items of structure within the metropolis embrace the Erasmusbrug, a futuristic bridge within the middle of town, the Kijk-Kubus dice homes, and the Markthal, a colourful fashionable construction housing a terrific meals corridor.
It is a good spot to cease for lunch and benefit from the numerous delicacies of Rotterdam, which is thought for being a foodie metropolis.
Apart from marveling on the structure, there are numerous different issues to do in Rotterdam. Museumpark is residence to a public park and lots of nice museums showcasing artwork, historical past, science, and extra.
Delfshaven is a picturesque neighborhood outdoors town middle that truly survived the destruction of World Struggle II, giving it a glance that’s extra just like Amsterdam.
4. Delft
Delft is a small metropolis south of Amsterdam that’s greatest identified for its signature hand-painted blue-and-white pottery, which has been standard and extremely desired all over the world because the 1600s when it was launched.
This metropolis has many different historic ties, too. It’s the birthplace and remaining resting place of the Dutch Previous Grasp painter Johannes Vermeer, and the previous royal seat of the Home of Orange.
You possibly can simply get to Delft from Amsterdam. It’s only a 45-minute high-speed practice trip away. While you arrive in Delft, you’ll discover many similarities to Amsterdam, together with tree-lined streets with canals and historic homes.
Nonetheless, Delft has a way more relaxed and laid-back ambiance, being about one-tenth the scale of Amsterdam.
On a day journey to Delft, you can begin your go to in Markt, the historic city sq.. That is the place you’ll discover the Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, which is definitely fairly an outdated church, courting again to the 14th century. Many members of the Home of Orange are entombed right here.
You can too climb to the highest of the church tower, the second-highest within the Netherlands, for nice views over town.
No go to to Delft is full with out experiencing the Royal Delft Museum, the place you possibly can be taught extra about how the enduring blue-and-white pottery is made. You must also spend a while wandering town’s canals. Taking a canal cruise can also be an choice if you wish to see town from the water.
5. The Hague
Though Amsterdam is the official capital of the Netherlands, the seat of the federal government really lies in The Hague, a metropolis 40 minutes south by practice. The Hague can also be the house of the Dutch royal household. It’s a cosmopolitan metropolis that provides loads of actions for an ideal day journey.
One of many prime issues to do in The Hague is go to the Mauritshuis, a museum housing Dutch masterpieces from artists like Vermeer and Rembrandt, together with Vermeer’s well-known portray Woman with a Pearl Earring.
Simply across the nook is Escher in Het Paleis, one other nice museum that homes works from Dutch fashionable artist M.C. Escher.
One other factor you possibly can’t miss in The Hague is seeing the Binnenhof, a sprawling waterfront Gothic fort courting again to the thirteenth century, which now homes the Dutch Parliament.
All of those sights are positioned within the middle of The Hague, however if you happen to enterprise additional outdoors the guts of town, you possibly can go to Scheveningen, the seashore district.
Situated about 20 minutes from town middle by bus, Scheveningen has an extended, sandy seashore lined with eating places, bars, and seashore golf equipment. The North Sea isn’t precisely the Mediterranean, however on a sunny and heat day, there’s no higher place to be.
6. Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is without doubt one of the best day journeys from Amsterdam. Situated within the close by city of Zaandam simply outdoors Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is an open-air museum and heritage village the place you possibly can see conventional wood windmills and colourful historic farmhouses.
Though Zaanse Schans was really constructed within the Nineteen Sixties, the windmills and houses relocated right here for preservation date again to the 18th and nineteenth centuries. Entry to Zaanse Schans is free, however there are smaller museums and exhibitions throughout the village that do require admission.
Apart from visiting museums and getting into the historic windmills and farmhouses, you can too be taught extra about different conventional facets of Dutch tradition in Zaanse Schans.
For instance, you possibly can watch a cheese-making demonstration, style locally-made candies, or attend a wood clog workshop to see how the well-known Dutch footwear are made.
Zaanse Schans may be very near Amsterdam, making it ultimate for a fast day journey. It takes lower than half-hour to get to Zaanse Schans by bus or practice, so it’s a really quick journey. In the event you’re feeling adventurous, you can too get there by bicycle, which takes a bit of over an hour.
7. Edam-Volendam
Edam-Volendam is a municipality north of Amsterdam that makes for a wonderful day journey. It consists of two adjoining small cities, Edam and Volendam, every with its distinctive attraction. Each cities are simply reachable inside half-hour by bus from Amsterdam.
In Edam, a city that has been synonymous with cheese because the Seventeenth century, among the best issues to do is pattern the scrumptious native Edam cheese.
There’s a small museum on the town referred to as The Story of Edam Cheese that takes you on a journey by way of the centuries of Edam cheese manufacturing. Admission to the museum additionally features a sampling of cheeses.
The city of Edam additionally options picturesque canals the place you possibly can stroll alongside, admiring the historic homes that line the waterfront. In the event you’re visiting on a Wednesday in the course of the summer time, you can too expertise the Edam Cheese Market within the city’s predominant sq..
Over in Volendam, an outdated fishing city, you possibly can uncover colourful wood homes and brightly painted fishing boats within the harbor. This small city can also be identified for its cheese-making, with the Volendam Cheese Manufacturing unit providing excursions and tastings.
In the event you’ve had your fill of Dutch cheese, one other great point to do is go to the Volendam Museum, which is devoted to the wealthy historical past of the city, or cease for lunch at one of many eating places on the Volendam Dike.
8. Marken
Final however not least, among the best day journeys from Amsterdam is Marken. This charming village can really be visited together with Edam-Volendam as a result of it’s not too far-off. Marken is positioned on a small island within the Markermeer, a big lake within the Netherlands that’s surrounded by wetlands.
From Volendam, you possibly can take the Volendam Marken Specific, a ship that makes many crossings all through the day and has a complete journey time of half-hour.
You possibly can simply spend a few hours wandering round Marken earlier than returning by boat to Volendam or by bus again to Amsterdam throughout the bridge that connects the island to the mainland.
Marken is a historic fishing village that’s well-known for its colourful wood homes and conventional Dutch tradition. It’s very small, consisting of only a handful of slim streets, however yow will discover numerous good waterfront eating places to cease in for a meal.
There’s additionally a strolling path that takes you round the entire island, providing good views of the city, the bucolic countryside, and the sandy seashores alongside the waterfront. The Wood Shoe Manufacturing unit in Marken can also be a well-liked cease for guests, and you’ll be taught extra about how this iconic footwear is made.
Let JayWay Assist You Plan The Greatest Day Journeys From Amsterdam
In the event you’re planning to go to Amsterdam quickly, including a few days to see extra of the Netherlands on simple day journeys from the Dutch capital is a good suggestion. From what you noticed on this information to one of the best day journeys from Amsterdam, there’s no scarcity of gorgeous locations to go to in lower than an hour from Amsterdam.
Our professional journey planners and native employees on the bottom will allow you to choose one of the best day journeys from Amsterdam, in response to your journey model and preferences. Furthermore, they’ll handle all of the logistics to make sure a singular expertise that’s additionally hassle-free. So, don’t delay, we’re solely a cellphone name or e mail away!
Born and raised in Athens, Maria’s obsessed with journey and storytelling, a mix that makes her ultimate for her function as our content material supervisor.