Amsterdam - A Day-Trip Diversion
 

We'll be visiting Amsterdam for 3 days in June and I'd like to line up a diversion if we decide to take one for a few hours.

I'm thinking of Haarlem and/or Vaanse Schans.

Any comments or suggestions?

We live in South Florida so a beach isn't an option.

Personally, I would have liked to spend more time in Den Haag and Rotterdam. Outside of the Netherlands, I would venture to Brussels on the Thalys, but that would be a day trip, and purely for the chocolate souvenirs ;)

Probably a silly question for me to ask, but are you biking anytime during your stay? If biking, I think I remember my friend telling me that Haarlem and Den Haag are easily bikable.

Pardon my ignorange, but where's Vaanse Schans?

This was posted a week or so, looks like good overview and a pleasant way to spend a day.

www.rederijtriton.nl

Oops sorry, posted to soon.

Meyer, are you thinking de Zaanse Schans?

Actually, I'm not really sure we'll have the time but I wanted a couple of hours out of a city.

This trip includes Prague, Budapest, Bruges and Amsterdam.

We'll end up im Brussels for the last day as we leave from there to come back to the US.

Both Haarlem and Zaanse Schans are pleasant and close enough for a half day trip, 15-20 min. by train. Some people have said they thought Zaanse Schans was a little touristy - the buildings and windmills were all moved in from different parts of the Netherlands - but we found it enjoyable to stroll around. (And a great spot for Kodak moments - it's "postcard" Holland.) Haarlem might take you a little longer if you want to see the church, the Frans Hals museum, etc.