a week in The Netherlands
May 4th, 2012, 05:17 PM
#1
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a week in The Netherlands
My Niece and Nephew (early 20s) will be spending a week in Holland and will be based in Amsterdam. Any suggestions for things they "must" see?
They are also interested in going to North Holland via public transport and were thinking of Edam. Volendam etc.
They would be interested in cycling around (leisurely pace). Any suggestions would be welcome!
Thanks
They are also interested in going to North Holland via public transport and were thinking of Edam. Volendam etc.
They would be interested in cycling around (leisurely pace). Any suggestions would be welcome!
Thanks
May 5th, 2012, 06:41 AM
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I won't suggest "must sees" as one persons must sees are someone else's so whats.
To get to Volendam, the bus is right outside the tourist office at Central Station. Can't remember the number, but TI can tell. At Volendam take the boat trip (short) to Marken to sompare differences.
Zaanse Schans can be reached by train and has lots of windmills, some of which are open to visitors.
The cheese market in Aalkmar on Friday mornings is quite a sight. The cheeses are laid out on tarps on the square and are bought by wholesalers and then carried by runners to their trucks. Can be reached by train.
Haarlem, 15 minute train ride, has Monday and Saturday market in central square, Frans Hals Museum, Corrie ten Boom House and lots more.
In Amsterdam, tons to see and do! Museum of the Resistance (World War II story), Reichsmuseum, Ann Frank House, Church in the Attic, Merchant's House, Beginhof, and much more!
If they are going this year, the Floriade which is only put on every ten years, might be of interest. I went thirty years ago on one of my visits and I don't know if it is in the same place or not, but they can google it. It is an immense flower show. I remember most the beds of lilies--most of them were over 6 feet tall. There lots of beds of summer perenniels and annuals as well as indoor exhibits. (It was July when I went.)
A day trip to the Hague by train is interesting and nearby Maudurodam with its miniature town of well known Dutch buildings was a sight to see.
Delft is a train trip away.
I have been to the Netherlands quite a few times over the years and have barely scratched all that there is to see and do.
To get to Volendam, the bus is right outside the tourist office at Central Station. Can't remember the number, but TI can tell. At Volendam take the boat trip (short) to Marken to sompare differences.
Zaanse Schans can be reached by train and has lots of windmills, some of which are open to visitors.
The cheese market in Aalkmar on Friday mornings is quite a sight. The cheeses are laid out on tarps on the square and are bought by wholesalers and then carried by runners to their trucks. Can be reached by train.
Haarlem, 15 minute train ride, has Monday and Saturday market in central square, Frans Hals Museum, Corrie ten Boom House and lots more.
In Amsterdam, tons to see and do! Museum of the Resistance (World War II story), Reichsmuseum, Ann Frank House, Church in the Attic, Merchant's House, Beginhof, and much more!
If they are going this year, the Floriade which is only put on every ten years, might be of interest. I went thirty years ago on one of my visits and I don't know if it is in the same place or not, but they can google it. It is an immense flower show. I remember most the beds of lilies--most of them were over 6 feet tall. There lots of beds of summer perenniels and annuals as well as indoor exhibits. (It was July when I went.)
A day trip to the Hague by train is interesting and nearby Maudurodam with its miniature town of well known Dutch buildings was a sight to see.
Delft is a train trip away.
I have been to the Netherlands quite a few times over the years and have barely scratched all that there is to see and do.
May 5th, 2012, 06:53 AM
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When will they be here? Without knowing their interests it's hard to make recommendations really.
Edam and Marken are nicer than very touristy Volendam.
They could get a train out into the country and rent bikes for a ride. Many station have bike hire places, or failing that there is usually a shop in the town/village which hires bikes.
They could go to Texel for a day, or two, for a taste of one of the islands. That would in fact be a good place to hire bikes.
They may enjoy Utrecht, or even Rotterdam - it is a lively city and the modern architecture is interesting despite what others may say about it.
Or go to the Biesbosch and rent canoes for a different look on the Netherlands.
They may enjoy the Batavia in Lelystad. Or Muiderslot and Naarden.
They should check out who is on at Melkweg and Paradiso while they are in Amsterdam if they want to go to a concert for a good price.
Edam and Marken are nicer than very touristy Volendam.
They could get a train out into the country and rent bikes for a ride. Many station have bike hire places, or failing that there is usually a shop in the town/village which hires bikes.
They could go to Texel for a day, or two, for a taste of one of the islands. That would in fact be a good place to hire bikes.
They may enjoy Utrecht, or even Rotterdam - it is a lively city and the modern architecture is interesting despite what others may say about it.
Or go to the Biesbosch and rent canoes for a different look on the Netherlands.
They may enjoy the Batavia in Lelystad. Or Muiderslot and Naarden.
They should check out who is on at Melkweg and Paradiso while they are in Amsterdam if they want to go to a concert for a good price.
May 5th, 2012, 07:06 AM
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Rick Steves's Amsterdam book describes how to do the Edam/Volendum/Marken loop. You start from the Amsterdam Centraal, find Arriva bus station which is not necessarily easy to find since it seems to move around. Buy Waterland unlimited day ticket which covers Arriva bus rides for Amsterdam Centraal-Edam, Edam-Volendum, Marken-Amsterdam Centraal from the driver for about 9€ cash. Volendum-Marken is by boat which you pay separately. Edam is a picturesque town in a farmland. I did not care for Volendum perhaps by the time I got there, it was filled with big bus tour groups. Marken, on the other hand, was a quiet place to spend time on a quiet afternoon.
May 5th, 2012, 09:31 AM
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If your niece and nephew can get out towards Arnhem, they might enjoy the De Hoge Veluwe National Park. There's a good modern art museum there and free bicycles to ride around the 20 square miles of parkland. See: http://www.hogeveluwe.nl/en/14
If your niece and nephew are interested in history, the Hartenstein Airbourne Musuem in Arnhem is good.
If your niece and nephew are interested in history, the Hartenstein Airbourne Musuem in Arnhem is good.
May 5th, 2012, 10:09 AM
#6
we just spent 5 nights in Holland - 3 in Delft and 2 in Maastricht, the latter specifically so that we could see the floriade.
regarding the latter - i wouldn't bother! DH described it as Epcot without the fun, and whilst there were a few interesting bits, they were outweighed by the rest of it which was pretty poor.
perhaps it will get better as the season goes on, but at the moment, it's defiinitely not worth the trip.
however, we did like pretty Edam, and even Vollendam, [we didn't get to Marken, sadly] and also Entkuitsen, where there is what looks like an excellent outdoor museum - we arrived too late to see it.
the lonely Planet guide to Holland has an excellent section about cycling, including suggestions on where to go on cycling day trips from amsterdam, so it would be a good buy for your niece and nephew.
regarding the latter - i wouldn't bother! DH described it as Epcot without the fun, and whilst there were a few interesting bits, they were outweighed by the rest of it which was pretty poor.
perhaps it will get better as the season goes on, but at the moment, it's defiinitely not worth the trip.
however, we did like pretty Edam, and even Vollendam, [we didn't get to Marken, sadly] and also Entkuitsen, where there is what looks like an excellent outdoor museum - we arrived too late to see it.
the lonely Planet guide to Holland has an excellent section about cycling, including suggestions on where to go on cycling day trips from amsterdam, so it would be a good buy for your niece and nephew.
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