14 Best Day Trips from Amsterdam | Complete Guide
- BY SANCHI LOHIA -
OVERVIEW
The city of Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. This city is known as party hotspot and famous as one of the best spots for nightlife around the world. Also there are several sights around this city which is just unmissable. From tulips festival in Keukenhof, to the picture postcard town of Zaanse Schans, to the home of UN headquarters, there is something for everyone. Here is list of the best day trips from Amsterdam.
LIST
1. See one of the world’s largest flower garden in Keukenhof
Distance: 35 KM, about 45 mins drive- This is one of the the world’s largest flower gardens and one of most iconic landscapes in the Netherlands.
- It covers over 15 km of footpaths and spans over 32 hectares of colourful, blooming parkland.
- Naturally, the best time to visit Keukenhof is the spring months when the flowers have burst from their buds.
- The view of fully bloomed tulips all around is simply breathtaking! For additional information, please visit the official website.
2. Discover the iconic windmills at Zaanse Schans
Distance: 22 KM, about 30 mins drive
- The beautiful charming town of Zaanse Schans is home a array of Netherlands most famous windmills. This place is Netherland’s most iconic and probably most photographed landscape.
- We would recommend taking a guided tour when coming here so that he can learn about the interesting history of this place and the windmills.
3. Have some cheese at Edam
Distance: 24 KM, about 35 mins drive- This town is world-renowned for its cheese production.
- You can sample different varieties of cheese and learn how this cheese is made and how its distinct flavours are created.
4. See the iconic yellow cube houses at Rotterdam
- This is the Netherlands’s second largest city. It mirrors Amsterdam in many ways, but it also is different in so many ways.
- The city has so much to offer for a day trip: you can go on a shopping spree, enjoy some delicious food, and visit a range of museums and attractions in and around the city centre.
- The iconic yellow cube houses and Euromast are the most must do attractions. From the top of Euromast, you can look out over Rotterdam’s picturesque cityscape.
- There are also some wonderful cafes and restaurants to explore.
5. Marken & Volendam
Distance: 25 KM, about 30 mins drive- These two small fishing villages are the two gems of Northern Holland.
- Marken is a remote fishing village. This charming small village is famous its preserved traditional Dutch culture and the art of shoe making. It is great and unique experience visiting a traditional show maker here and learn the ancient craft. You can pick a pair or two as souvenirs. The winding streets of these villages are very charming indeed and there the colourful townhouses are a treat to the eyes.
- The best way to travel from Marken to Volendam(or vica versa) is via the Marken Express Boat which offers wonderful views of IJsselmeer Lake(Driving ofcourse is the other option)
6. Spend a day in the city of Bruges, Belgium
Distance: 250 KM, about 3 hours drive- Bruges in a beautiful Belgian city filled with many historical buildings and churches.
- Things to do include the Brug Square in the city center filled with energy and historical Belgian buildings and the Town Hall.
- This city is home to the famous The Church of Our Lady, which is home to the Michelangelo’s ‘The Madonna of Bruges’ and other masterpieces.
7. Giethoorn
Distance: 120 KM, about 1 hour 30 mins drive- Giethoorn is a picture perfect fairytale like Netherlands village. This is hidden gem of Netherlands.
- Boating in this canals of this village with the scenic views of restored pretty farm houses, fresh flowers and lush green gardens will make you feel you are in some fair tale movie.
- If you are looking for a day trip away from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, this is highly recommended.
8. Bourtange
Distance: 250 KM, about 2 hour 30 mins hours drive- This is another jewel of North Holland, famed for it’s beautiful fortress known as Bourtange fort.
- This fort is built in the shape of a star. The aerial views are crazy. Dating back to 1593, this fort was once used by the Dutch army.
9. The Hague
Distance: 100 KM, about 1 hour 30 mins hours drive- The very famous city of Hague is the International City of Peace and Justice. It is the home to the UN’s International Court of Justice and the Peace Palace.
- With so much modern and historical cultural significance, The Hague is also the seat of the Dutch government and home to the Dutch royal family.
- If you are interested to exprience and learn the history and cultural heritage of the Netherlands, then The Hague is a great starting point.
- The Mauritshuis museum here features masterpieces by groundbreaking artists like Andy Warhol, Rembrandt and Vermeer and is a must-visit for any budding art critic.
10. Brussels
Distance: 200 KM, about 3 hours hours drive(Train takes almost same time)- Doing a day trip to Brussels is a great idea if you’re keen to tick off another European country during your visit to Amsterdam and you are short of time.
- Unmissable attractions include the Atomium, the Royal Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
- On the food part, when in Brussels you will have to try the traditional waffles, chocolates and beer.
11. Visit the picture postcard village of Kinderdijk
Distance: 104 KM, about 1 hour 20 mins hours drive- If you ever come across a picture postcard of Netherland, most of the time it will be an image of the UNESCO world heritage village of Kinderdijk. This is one of the most famous destination in the Netherlands after Amsterdam.
- This super pretty village is home to a array of windmills. This rustic charm of this vilage will make you fall in love with it.
- You can combine this with the Hague as it is just 1 hour away from here.
12. Shop at Batavia Stad
Distance: 60 KM, about 1 hour hour drive- Batavia Stad is the leading outlet shopping mall in the Netherlands and lies in the city of Lelystad.
- It is home to over 250 brands across 150 stores Batavia Stad offers you the opportunity to shop ’til you drop.
- This mall even has a shuttle bus service that ferries shoppers from the city centre to the outlet mall throughout the day, free of charge.
- There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to keep you in order throughout the day.
- Please note that the mall is open to air. So if the weather report suggests rain, don’t forget your umbrellas!
13. Visit the world renowned cheese town of Gouda
Distance: 80 KM, about 1 hour 15 mins drive- Fan of cheese? If yes, then you have to visit Gouda when in the Netherlands. You must have heard of the very famous Gouda cheese. Well, this place is home to Gouda cheese.
- Try to schedule your trip to Gouda on a Thursday as the Gouda Cheese Market happens every week on this day at the Market Square.
- Other things to do include the beautiful church of St.John which is famous for its exquisite stained glass windows.
14. Utrecht
- The beautiful university city of Utrecht is like a smaller, less crowded version of Amsterdam.
- On a day trip to this lovely city, you can explore the scenic city center, take in the view from the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, and dine at one of many great cafes and restaurants in town.
- The most unique thing about this city is the two story canal system. The below level, that is on the side of the canal is used for cafes all over the city center. The upper level is used for the roads.
- If you travel in the winter months when the canals freezes, it is possible to ice skate through the city.
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