Netherlands daytrips
Jul 4th, 2012, 07:51 AM
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Netherlands daytrips
In August we willl be based in Amsterdam for two weeks. Looking for recommendations for daytrips and what you like about the place. Our preference would be no more than 1 1/2 hrs. on a train to get there. In the past have visited Haarlem, Delft, Enkhuisen, Appeldorn and Den Hague. Thanks!
Jul 4th, 2012, 08:21 AM
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Utrecht to me though a largish city is one of the best in Holland with lots of neat places to visit - like the Moving Toy and Clock Museum - the famous cahtedral (built on a foundation of thousands of pelts of cow hides I was told) and neat canals, some days a sweet old-world market and in general some of the finest shopping in Holland - if interested in trains be sure to check out the Netherlands National Railway Museum in a former station on the edge of town.
Rotterdam, though mainly modern, also is a favorite of mine - striking contemporary architecture and a raft of neat museums, from the Ship Museum on the port to art museums and architecture museums and also Delftshaven - from where the Pilgrims set sail for the New World and a really old part of Rotterdam not blitzed during WW2 - you can also ascend the tall building with observation deck overlooking one of the world's largest ports to eagle eye the hectic activity.
so on one hand you have the Manhattan on the Maas type of city - for its many tall buildings and also lots of neat things to see and do.
Gouda is an old-looking town with a famous market square - really nice old town
Aalkmaar is also a neat old town but is famous for its Fridays in summer Cheese Market - old-world style with porters carrying loads of cheese balls by hand cart to be weigh - a great show and Aalkmaar also has other neat aspects.
And of course there is Marken and Volendam, sister cities and former fishing villages lying on opposite sides of a bay of the former Zuider Zee - Marken (can take a boat from Amsterdam many days) is really an open-air museum with folks clad in turn-of-the-century attire and left intact from that day - Volendam is more a real city but with a tremendous seafront hopping with cafes, etc.
I walked from Volendam to nearby Edam, a lovely walk along a dike overlooking the former Zuider Zee (after being dyked off from the North Sea now called the Ijsl Meer (sp?) I believe.
Edam, of cheese fame, is a small old town with imposing old Flemish facades overlooking a canal - very quaint - you can bus back to Amsterdam from Edam (and bus to Edam from volendam as well).
Well those are some of my favorite that you have not been too. I also love Haarlem and Delft.
Rotterdam, though mainly modern, also is a favorite of mine - striking contemporary architecture and a raft of neat museums, from the Ship Museum on the port to art museums and architecture museums and also Delftshaven - from where the Pilgrims set sail for the New World and a really old part of Rotterdam not blitzed during WW2 - you can also ascend the tall building with observation deck overlooking one of the world's largest ports to eagle eye the hectic activity.
so on one hand you have the Manhattan on the Maas type of city - for its many tall buildings and also lots of neat things to see and do.
Gouda is an old-looking town with a famous market square - really nice old town
Aalkmaar is also a neat old town but is famous for its Fridays in summer Cheese Market - old-world style with porters carrying loads of cheese balls by hand cart to be weigh - a great show and Aalkmaar also has other neat aspects.
And of course there is Marken and Volendam, sister cities and former fishing villages lying on opposite sides of a bay of the former Zuider Zee - Marken (can take a boat from Amsterdam many days) is really an open-air museum with folks clad in turn-of-the-century attire and left intact from that day - Volendam is more a real city but with a tremendous seafront hopping with cafes, etc.
I walked from Volendam to nearby Edam, a lovely walk along a dike overlooking the former Zuider Zee (after being dyked off from the North Sea now called the Ijsl Meer (sp?) I believe.
Edam, of cheese fame, is a small old town with imposing old Flemish facades overlooking a canal - very quaint - you can bus back to Amsterdam from Edam (and bus to Edam from volendam as well).
Well those are some of my favorite that you have not been too. I also love Haarlem and Delft.
Jul 4th, 2012, 09:27 AM
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Great suggestions from you PalenQ, as usual. Appreciate the descriptions of why you like these places. Have you visited Giethoorn? Sounds great on paper! I forgot to mention that we have been to the Zuidersee Open Air Museum. Wondering how different the Openluchtmuseum in Arnhem would be; sea vs land I suppose. The only thing about Alsmeer is that it would be crowded in Aug.and we want to get away to a quieter countryside (so I guess that rules out Utrect and Rotterdam). We may change our minds though, once we are in country. The Volendam to Edam walk sounds lovely; sounds like a winner. About how far would that be? Many thanks!
Jul 4th, 2012, 09:32 AM
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Volendam to Edam as I recall was just a few miles, all along paths along the sea.
How about a day trip to Hooge Veluwe to see the Kroller-Muller Museum with about as many Van Goghs as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and also a neat outdoor statue park in a sylvan setting. Train to Ede-Weningen (sp/) then bus to the park entrance from where you can ride free bikes around the parlk (sand dunes with pine trees) to the museum and back or change to another bus straight to the museum.
From there you can bus back via Arnhem and the Open-air Museum (as I recall the bus stops near the entrance. I recall this being a museum of say turn of the century Dutch farming and rural life - bucolic setting and very very different from Zaans Schanse - more ordinary of what open air museums are like - fine but I was not entralled with it. Arnhem however is a pleasant town to wonder around in before taking a train back to Amsterdam.
Tot Ziens!
How about a day trip to Hooge Veluwe to see the Kroller-Muller Museum with about as many Van Goghs as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and also a neat outdoor statue park in a sylvan setting. Train to Ede-Weningen (sp/) then bus to the park entrance from where you can ride free bikes around the parlk (sand dunes with pine trees) to the museum and back or change to another bus straight to the museum.
From there you can bus back via Arnhem and the Open-air Museum (as I recall the bus stops near the entrance. I recall this being a museum of say turn of the century Dutch farming and rural life - bucolic setting and very very different from Zaans Schanse - more ordinary of what open air museums are like - fine but I was not entralled with it. Arnhem however is a pleasant town to wonder around in before taking a train back to Amsterdam.
Tot Ziens!
Jul 4th, 2012, 11:03 AM
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You will need a car for Giethoorn, which is worth the visit. You can also visit teh Weerribben National park. There some places there which are only accesible by boat. Nearby is Blokzijl, which is lovely, all Golden age houses set around a busy harbour, but still a very small village.
Schokland is a former island and World Heritage site and Urk is another former island, and fishing village where you may see a lady in her traditional dress if you are lucky. Don't visit Urk on a Sunday though.
Naarden Vesting is worth a visit, Muiden too, and if you are feeling adventurous then consider Spakenburg maybe, where you can see women in their traditional outfits, worn as their everyday wear, not for tourists.
You may enjoy a trip put to the Batavia in Lelystad. The town is not worth a visit, but the Batavia is interesting and makes for a nice day out. You can also see Gormley's (he of the Angel of the North in the UK) sculpture Exposure, known locally as the poepende man.
Schokland is a former island and World Heritage site and Urk is another former island, and fishing village where you may see a lady in her traditional dress if you are lucky. Don't visit Urk on a Sunday though.
Naarden Vesting is worth a visit, Muiden too, and if you are feeling adventurous then consider Spakenburg maybe, where you can see women in their traditional outfits, worn as their everyday wear, not for tourists.
You may enjoy a trip put to the Batavia in Lelystad. The town is not worth a visit, but the Batavia is interesting and makes for a nice day out. You can also see Gormley's (he of the Angel of the North in the UK) sculpture Exposure, known locally as the poepende man.
Jul 4th, 2012, 01:18 PM
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Hm-m, really interesting ideas PalenQ and hetismij2. Now I will have to do some more research on the places suggested! I was hoping to take a train to Geithoorn--not possible? Of course, I can look it up on the rail site, but if you already know.... PalenQ, sounds like I have Zuidersee and Zaans Schanse confused! Thank you both so much for the additional ideas--what fun to choose!
Jul 5th, 2012, 12:50 AM
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Giethoorn is an interesting little town for sure. You theoretically can reach it by public transport: take the train to Steenwijk (1 hour 50 minutes from Amsterdam cs), than 20 minutes or so by bus (line #70), stop at Hylkemaweg.
But... a car is more convenient, much faster (1 1/2 hours) and you'll be able to stop at a number of interesting places on the way. Amsterdam - Giethoorn by car.
Make sure you're there in the morning since it tends to get very, very busy in the afternoon. Do some research before you decide on Giethoorn. If you enjoy the scenery, by all means, go there. But do not expect lots of museums for example (there are two, one about mineral stones and another about agriculture life in the 1900's). It's a bit of a tourist-trap these days if you ask me.
But... a car is more convenient, much faster (1 1/2 hours) and you'll be able to stop at a number of interesting places on the way. Amsterdam - Giethoorn by car.
Make sure you're there in the morning since it tends to get very, very busy in the afternoon. Do some research before you decide on Giethoorn. If you enjoy the scenery, by all means, go there. But do not expect lots of museums for example (there are two, one about mineral stones and another about agriculture life in the 1900's). It's a bit of a tourist-trap these days if you ask me.
Jul 5th, 2012, 07:32 AM
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Zaans Schans is about 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam and is a large group of working windmills and old buildings associated with them plus a large indoor museum on the Zuider See. You can walk around the area on paths and one mill is usually working and can be visited.
I went last in winter and due to an unusually cold winter many folks were skating between the mills.
An easy half-day day trip from Amsterdam - train station Kook Zaandijk (sp?) and a short walk from there.
Zaandvort on the sea makes a very different type of day trip - walking paths for miles thru dunes (bike paths go all the way to the Hague) - nude beach on southern end but Zaandvort is one of the North Sea's hoppingest resorts - just like walking along the sea seeing what's up - beach is lined with pubs attracting a youngish crowd. Train right to the beach, via Haarlem.
I went last in winter and due to an unusually cold winter many folks were skating between the mills.
An easy half-day day trip from Amsterdam - train station Kook Zaandijk (sp?) and a short walk from there.
Zaandvort on the sea makes a very different type of day trip - walking paths for miles thru dunes (bike paths go all the way to the Hague) - nude beach on southern end but Zaandvort is one of the North Sea's hoppingest resorts - just like walking along the sea seeing what's up - beach is lined with pubs attracting a youngish crowd. Train right to the beach, via Haarlem.
Jul 5th, 2012, 10:03 AM
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If Giethoorn is a tourist trap (which sadly it has become over the years) I hate to think what that makes Zaanse Schans and Volendam.
Avoid Zandvoort if the weather is at all warm. It will be full.
Avoid Zandvoort if the weather is at all warm. It will be full.
Jul 5th, 2012, 11:47 AM
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I've never heard of Giethoorn but curiosity has put it on my list of 2 dos for Holland.
Muiden is also on my list of day trips - for its castle and town - I know little about it - is it a worthwhile day trip - very close to Amsterdam i believe.
Muiden is also on my list of day trips - for its castle and town - I know little about it - is it a worthwhile day trip - very close to Amsterdam i believe.
Jul 5th, 2012, 11:07 PM
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I am also heading to the similar direction in September.
The main destination is driving A1 to A6 to the Schokland Museum. There seems to be many options heading back to Amsterdam. Are there interesting routes back along the North Sea?
1. Back trace A6/A1 to Amsterdam. Can add Muiden Castle.
2. Back trace A6 to Naarden, then back to Amsterdam.
3. Back trace A6, take N302 across Houtribdijk to Enkhuizen, then to Hoorn. Take A7 back to Amsterdam. This route does not seem to be scenic.
4. Go north on A6 to Joure, then A7 to Bolsward, continue across Afsluitdijk to Den Oever, then N99 then N249 through Anna Paulowna, cross over to N502 at De Stolpen, then to N9 at Burgervlotbrug, get off N9 at Schoorldam and onto Duinweg. Drive through Bergen to N511. Continue on N512 then to N203 at Castricum. While I would like to drive around dyke area, this route seems to be just too much of that. Is there places to stop other than Alkmaar? I like towns with different architecture. Marken was unique in this respect.
The main destination is driving A1 to A6 to the Schokland Museum. There seems to be many options heading back to Amsterdam. Are there interesting routes back along the North Sea?
1. Back trace A6/A1 to Amsterdam. Can add Muiden Castle.
2. Back trace A6 to Naarden, then back to Amsterdam.
3. Back trace A6, take N302 across Houtribdijk to Enkhuizen, then to Hoorn. Take A7 back to Amsterdam. This route does not seem to be scenic.
4. Go north on A6 to Joure, then A7 to Bolsward, continue across Afsluitdijk to Den Oever, then N99 then N249 through Anna Paulowna, cross over to N502 at De Stolpen, then to N9 at Burgervlotbrug, get off N9 at Schoorldam and onto Duinweg. Drive through Bergen to N511. Continue on N512 then to N203 at Castricum. While I would like to drive around dyke area, this route seems to be just too much of that. Is there places to stop other than Alkmaar? I like towns with different architecture. Marken was unique in this respect.
Jul 6th, 2012, 07:28 AM
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Greg, route 4 is the longest and probably not actually that interesting. Get off the A6 and explore a bit of Friesland before going back over the Afsluitdijk and down the A7 to make it more interesting.
To make 1 0r 2 more interesting you could get off the A6 at Lelystad, and instead of taking the Houtribdijk take the Oostvaardersdijk (N701). Visit the Batavia maybe, and Gormleys poepende man, or the Osstvardersplassen. Then call in at Naarden or Muiden on the way back to Amsterdam. Naarden is certainly worth a visit imho, especially the church.
You could also include Urk in your trip if you are going to Schokland. Another former island, but one which survived and thrives. Just don't go there on a Sunday.
The Houtribdijk is not very interesting imo, and can be dangerous.
To make 1 0r 2 more interesting you could get off the A6 at Lelystad, and instead of taking the Houtribdijk take the Oostvaardersdijk (N701). Visit the Batavia maybe, and Gormleys poepende man, or the Osstvardersplassen. Then call in at Naarden or Muiden on the way back to Amsterdam. Naarden is certainly worth a visit imho, especially the church.
You could also include Urk in your trip if you are going to Schokland. Another former island, but one which survived and thrives. Just don't go there on a Sunday.
The Houtribdijk is not very interesting imo, and can be dangerous.
Jul 6th, 2012, 07:32 AM
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Another thought - you could come back via the N50 and A28 to visit Kampen, and Elburg.
If you have the time you could then include Spakenburg (and or Naarden/Muiden) before heading back to Amsterdam on the A1.
If you have the time you could then include Spakenburg (and or Naarden/Muiden) before heading back to Amsterdam on the A1.
Jul 6th, 2012, 07:36 AM
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auleen - Kampen, mentioned above by hetismij, is another possible day trip by train - and the train to Kampen is quite unique - trekking over polders to this seaside town renown for its coffee.
At least that is what my B&B owner kept repeating to me when I told him I was heading to Kampen the next eday - he kept muttering, "Kampen they got good coffee there" over and over.
And yes they did have good coffee but about the same as any coffee in Holland - strong and goog.
Kampen is an ancient town that makes a nice walk around - a rather unique type place an the Ijslmeer but once a important port on the Zuider Zee.
At least that is what my B&B owner kept repeating to me when I told him I was heading to Kampen the next eday - he kept muttering, "Kampen they got good coffee there" over and over.
And yes they did have good coffee but about the same as any coffee in Holland - strong and goog.
Kampen is an ancient town that makes a nice walk around - a rather unique type place an the Ijslmeer but once a important port on the Zuider Zee.
Jul 6th, 2012, 08:26 AM
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http://www.floraholland.com/EN/ABOUT...tAalsmeer.aspx
Does a visit to the Aalsmeer flower auction interest you? I did it - bus from Amsterdam to Aalsmeer right to near what is called the world's largest auction action under one roof - commericial auction of blooms, many of which are then whisked to nearby Schiphol Airport to be flown all around the world.
I enjoyed it very much.
Also this year Floriade, the every ten years extravaganza showcasing Dutch Flower business takes place near Venlo.
http://www.floriade.com/
Does a visit to the Aalsmeer flower auction interest you? I did it - bus from Amsterdam to Aalsmeer right to near what is called the world's largest auction action under one roof - commericial auction of blooms, many of which are then whisked to nearby Schiphol Airport to be flown all around the world.
I enjoyed it very much.
Also this year Floriade, the every ten years extravaganza showcasing Dutch Flower business takes place near Venlo.
http://www.floriade.com/
Jul 6th, 2012, 09:30 AM
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If you've gone as far as Enkhuizen, you might take the ferry across to Friesland (Stavoren). All Noordoostpolder destinations (Urk, Schokland) are well beyond 2 hours from Amsterdam though. The south of the country is interesting too: Den Bosch, Breda, you might even go to Antwerp from Amsterdam. And yes, by all means Rotterdam!
That being said, how about renting a boat (sloep, motor launch) and going by Amstel to Ouderkerk a/d Amstel, have a picknick or nice lunch there and head back? Or walk in Waterland: Durgerdam, Holysloot, Uitdam, dinner in Monnickendam, back by bus? Or rent a sloep and spend a day exploring De Vecht river or Loosdrecht (sailing) ?
That being said, how about renting a boat (sloep, motor launch) and going by Amstel to Ouderkerk a/d Amstel, have a picknick or nice lunch there and head back? Or walk in Waterland: Durgerdam, Holysloot, Uitdam, dinner in Monnickendam, back by bus? Or rent a sloep and spend a day exploring De Vecht river or Loosdrecht (sailing) ?
