Can you help with my Netherlands itinerary dilemma?
Feb 22nd, 2012, 11:13 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,897
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can you help with my Netherlands itinerary dilemma?
DH and I, and MIL are going to the Netherlands in early March. I know it's not the best time to visit but we're there to celebrate DH's b-day.
We will be based in Amsterdam for 7 nights; however, in reality, we only have 6 full days for sightseeing. I have come up with a tentative itinerary which gives us 4 full days in Amsterdam, plus 2 day trips.
Here's a brief summary:
<b>Day 1</b>
Anne Frank House, canal tour, Amsterdam (history) museum, old city center, flower market etc
<b>Day 2</b>
Full day trip to Den Haag (MIL's friend lives there so I want to give them maximum time to re-connect)
<b>Day 3</b>
Van Gogh Museum, walk around canal rings, museum van Loon and museum Geelvinck
<b>Day 4</b>
Hermitage Museum, Hortus Botanicus, Dutch Resistance Museum
We have tickets for concert at Concertgebouw that night
<b>Day 5</b>
Rijksmuseum, waterlooplein, Rembrandt house
We again have tickets for concert at concertgebouw that night
<b>Day 6</b>
Morning to Haarlem, afternoon to Delft
I arranged the itinerary this way because I can only "handle" one major museum per morning, so over the 4 full days in Amsterdam, we visit just one biggie each morning.
However, after I sent the itinerary to MIL, she says she'd like to visit one of the cheese-making towns. I guess our options are either Alkmaar or Gouda? Alkmaar is closer but neither the cheese market nor the cheese museum are open (they open in April). And I'm not sure what's there to see in Gouda.
I guess my question is - is it worth giving up 1/2 day or a full day to go visit Alkmaar or Gouda and skip some of the Amsterdam sights - <u>at this time of year</u> when some of the main attractions are not open? I know the towns are quaint - are they very different from Delft (which in my book is quaint)?
Any thoughts are welcome!
We will be based in Amsterdam for 7 nights; however, in reality, we only have 6 full days for sightseeing. I have come up with a tentative itinerary which gives us 4 full days in Amsterdam, plus 2 day trips.
Here's a brief summary:
<b>Day 1</b>
Anne Frank House, canal tour, Amsterdam (history) museum, old city center, flower market etc
<b>Day 2</b>
Full day trip to Den Haag (MIL's friend lives there so I want to give them maximum time to re-connect)
<b>Day 3</b>
Van Gogh Museum, walk around canal rings, museum van Loon and museum Geelvinck
<b>Day 4</b>
Hermitage Museum, Hortus Botanicus, Dutch Resistance Museum
We have tickets for concert at Concertgebouw that night
<b>Day 5</b>
Rijksmuseum, waterlooplein, Rembrandt house
We again have tickets for concert at concertgebouw that night
<b>Day 6</b>
Morning to Haarlem, afternoon to Delft
I arranged the itinerary this way because I can only "handle" one major museum per morning, so over the 4 full days in Amsterdam, we visit just one biggie each morning.
However, after I sent the itinerary to MIL, she says she'd like to visit one of the cheese-making towns. I guess our options are either Alkmaar or Gouda? Alkmaar is closer but neither the cheese market nor the cheese museum are open (they open in April). And I'm not sure what's there to see in Gouda.
I guess my question is - is it worth giving up 1/2 day or a full day to go visit Alkmaar or Gouda and skip some of the Amsterdam sights - <u>at this time of year</u> when some of the main attractions are not open? I know the towns are quaint - are they very different from Delft (which in my book is quaint)?
Any thoughts are welcome!
Feb 22nd, 2012, 11:19 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is cheese galore in stores all over Amsterdam. Unless your MIL wants to go somewhere to see a demonstration of cheesemaking - which is hardly an electrifying process - I should think that the markets and cheese stores in Amsterdam would suffice for a cheese hit.
Feb 22nd, 2012, 11:47 AM
#3
Day 6 is sort of a waste. Both Haarlem and Delft are worth more than a few hours. From Amsterdam Central Station it is a 15 minute ride to Haarlem, then a 10 minute walk to the central square, Cathedral etc. From Haarlem a 10 minute walk back to the station then 45 minutes train ride to Delft and another 15 minute walk to the Central Square.
How about this instead. In the evening of day 3 (or day one if you are up to it) go to Haarlem and enjoy the lively night scene at the square. Have dinner there at one of the many restaurants on the square. There is a nice one outside of the concert hall, another nice one at the Stempel Hotel which is just off the square across from the Catherdral, but all are fun. Save room for dessert at the wonderful gelato shop that is one of the shops along the side of the Cathedral.
Day six spend in Delft. A visit to one of the Delftware studios is a nice way to start - Royal Delft gives a good tour and it is about a 10-15 walk from the train station. You can pick up some nice Delftware at the giftshop if you like. Ride back to town center - a pedicab is nice - about 6 euros. Have a herring snack a the stand near the entrance to the square and maybe the antique lace shops there would have some appeal to your group. Take a canal tour of Delft - very nice. Look at the windmill, if the blue flag is flying you can visit inside and go up. Have dinner on the square, enjoy the evening and back to Amsterdam.
How about this instead. In the evening of day 3 (or day one if you are up to it) go to Haarlem and enjoy the lively night scene at the square. Have dinner there at one of the many restaurants on the square. There is a nice one outside of the concert hall, another nice one at the Stempel Hotel which is just off the square across from the Catherdral, but all are fun. Save room for dessert at the wonderful gelato shop that is one of the shops along the side of the Cathedral.
Day six spend in Delft. A visit to one of the Delftware studios is a nice way to start - Royal Delft gives a good tour and it is about a 10-15 walk from the train station. You can pick up some nice Delftware at the giftshop if you like. Ride back to town center - a pedicab is nice - about 6 euros. Have a herring snack a the stand near the entrance to the square and maybe the antique lace shops there would have some appeal to your group. Take a canal tour of Delft - very nice. Look at the windmill, if the blue flag is flying you can visit inside and go up. Have dinner on the square, enjoy the evening and back to Amsterdam.
Feb 22nd, 2012, 12:36 PM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Van Gogh museum and the Rijks are next door to each other. It may make more sense to do both together, then combine the Waterlooplein with the Hermitage.
For a cheesemaking demonstration, which really is not that interesting imho, you could perhaps go to Zaanse Schans, and see the demostration there and combine it with visiting the windmills.
Check opening times at www.zaanseschans.nl
Alternatively go to Delft then get the train to Gouda via Rotterdam, and back to Amsterdam either direct or via Utrecht (also worth a visit imho!) depending on your timing.
Gouda has a fantastic townhall on the Markt and an old waag (scale house). This sadly doesn't reopen until April 1st. The cheese market is on Thursdays in the summer only, but the town itself is worth a visit.
For a cheesemaking demonstration, which really is not that interesting imho, you could perhaps go to Zaanse Schans, and see the demostration there and combine it with visiting the windmills.
Check opening times at www.zaanseschans.nl
Alternatively go to Delft then get the train to Gouda via Rotterdam, and back to Amsterdam either direct or via Utrecht (also worth a visit imho!) depending on your timing.
Gouda has a fantastic townhall on the Markt and an old waag (scale house). This sadly doesn't reopen until April 1st. The cheese market is on Thursdays in the summer only, but the town itself is worth a visit.
Feb 22nd, 2012, 01:06 PM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As mentioned by previous poster, certain destinations are close to each other that you can remedy some time constraints you are seeing by grouping such places together. Of course this is contrary to one museum, etc, per day rule you plan to use.
Another one is Den Haag and Delft. They are practically neighbors, but you are planning to do them as two different trips. There is a convenient street car connecting the middle of Den Haag to Delft.
Connection wise, Delft does not connect directly to Gouda. Need to go by Rotterdam or Den Haag. Gouda is a trivial trip from Amsterdam. Since my hotel in Amsterdam did not include breakfast, I took an early train out of Amsterdam and had a breakfast at Gouda town square and saw the town come to life.
One cheese town I really liked was Edam. Unlike Gouda, Edam is a small rural town. I was there in September, however.
Another one is Den Haag and Delft. They are practically neighbors, but you are planning to do them as two different trips. There is a convenient street car connecting the middle of Den Haag to Delft.
Connection wise, Delft does not connect directly to Gouda. Need to go by Rotterdam or Den Haag. Gouda is a trivial trip from Amsterdam. Since my hotel in Amsterdam did not include breakfast, I took an early train out of Amsterdam and had a breakfast at Gouda town square and saw the town come to life.
One cheese town I really liked was Edam. Unlike Gouda, Edam is a small rural town. I was there in September, however.
