You could join the queue in the afternoon, but what a waste of precious time! You could visit the Corry Ten Boom House in Haarlem instead - https://www.corrietenboom.com/.

This year Keukenhof closes on May 13th so be sure to factor that in. I really love it! This year I will miss it by 4 days as I arrive on the 17th.

Here is something I enjoyed outside of Amsterdam. Alkmaar. https://www.kaasmarkt.nl/en/

Buses go regularly between Haarlem-Keukenhof and Leiden - public buses. I'd do Keukehof first and end up in Haarlem.

If you walk out of Haarlem Station (an Art Deco monument in its own right) the bus station is right in front of it and slightly to the right. Use 9292.nl (also phone app) to plan your journey. There's a Starbucks right next to the station should you have to wait.

If looking around Haarlem be sure to see the Grote Markt or huge market square with ubiquitous bell tower towering over all. Can walk thru town center and catch bus on other side too I believe.

It's nice to twin Haarlem with Zaanse Schanse - large windmill grouping not far from Amsterdam. Easy to go by train from Haarlem to there with one change.

https://www.google.com/search?q=zaan...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Haarlem has the Corrie t'Boom House - Haarlem's version of Anne Frank House and Frans Hal Museum in old convent (I think) - anyway a major museum.

It'as also known as Cannabis City for its coffeeshops - was one of the first to have them - if that interests you. I think there is a museum of some kind.

There's no direct connection Haarlem - Zaandijk by train: you need to track back to Amsterdam, then change on a train direction Zaandam. If you want to see something pretty special, take a bus from Amsterdam CS to the village of De Rijp.

No direct train but backracking to Amsterdam-Sloterdijk is going about ten minutes then changing there for Zaanse Schanse. Not nearly like having to go back to Amsterdam C.S.

bookmarking

Yeah, but for Zaanse Schans. Really. Not worth it, imo. Haarlem is very nice, as you well know, with, for instance, the amazing Teylers Museum in it. Ever been there Pal?

Nope but looks interesting. For windmills Zaanse Schanse is great - a least for Americans - at least I enjoyed it the two times I went. Yes there is that tourist souvenir shop with all the hackneyed Dutch souvenirs like wooden shoes, tiny wind mills, tulip bulbs, etc. Where all the bus tours end up.

Sounds like a full day to do Kuekenhof then Haarlem, with a few interesting museums. Would it be worth it to stay in Haarlem for dinner? If so, what are your favorites? And is it safe and easy for two women to return to Amsterdam by train at night?
Will do the bike trip Menachem suggested, the Waterland Loop. Are there places worth stopping along the route, for either sightseeing or eating? And also are the roads well marked, so we won't get lost.

I have a couple of favorite stops on that loop:

Het Sluisje on Nieuwendammerdijk (that entire stretch is beautiful imo) Cafe 't Sluisje
Thee Tante, or De Oude Taveerne in Durgerdam
Hotel Café De Zwaan in Ransdorp

Btw, there's a great cheeseshop, Dikhoeve, just outside Ransdorp on Nieuwe Gouw
There's a large shopping mall, Boven 't Y on your way back, or you could track back along Nieuwendammerdijk and end at Het Sluisje.
Directions are all marked: look out for the red on white direction signs at crossroads.

Perfectly safe for women getting back by train to Amsterdam from Haarlem at night.
Haarlem dinner: check out www.iens.nl

BTW, here's the official ANWB route:

https://www.anwb.nl/fietsen/routes/waterland

You can cycle "by numbers". That route includes Monnickendam, but as you see from the map, you can easily cycle from 39 - 44, then cycle to 40 to shorten your loop. Or, indeed take in more and cycle back from 75 to 40 and so to the ferry to CS again. These numbers are very clearly signposted, and at every number station you get a map, showing where you are and where the other numbers are.

Always a joy to realize that scenes like these are with 5 minutes' cycling off the ferry

We were disappointed in Zannse Schanz too but loved our day at UNESCO site Kinderdijk, easy acces by waterbus from Rotterdam.

You cannot get lost on a bike as there are bike paths with signs pointing to next towns all over. Have a good map or GPS however - lots at Tourist Info VVV in Centraal Station and across the street (assume still there).

I wonder if those maps extend to Durgerdam and Ransdorp.

Here's a description of the rather brilliant Knooppunt Netwerk, a facility that is aimed at recreational cyclists, of which there are a lot, in NL

https://richardtullochwriter.com/201...rdam-to-laren/

Zaanse Schans was put together as a tourist attraction by Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn. (the ubiquitous supermarket over here).

Kinderdijk in its entirety is still functional and if the water rises to sufficient height, the mills there are still used to pump water from the polder into the river Lek, although now there is a modern diesel pumping station too.
Another great site to experience a world gone by is the Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen.

If you do get lost be sure the Dutch bikers will surely speak some English and help send you on the right way.