Amsterdam in November
 

My husband and I were looking for someplace to take a quick trip in Europe in November. A friend suggested Amsterdam, and I was wondering if that was a good choice for a 4 day trip (5 if you count the day that we leave). We like to walk a lot, see interesting shops, etc and visit museums (pretty much like everyone else). Any thoughts on Amsterdam in November for 4 days?

It's a favourite for short breaks for Brits and other Europeans. The weather will be pretty dismal and the days short as everywhere else in northern Europe, but I always regard that as a good excuse to dive into another nice café for coffee and cake. Plenty of museums as you'll see from the destination guide, lots of shops and the odd street market or two.

And its other big advantages are that the historic centre is compact and public transport is excellent, both within Amsterdam and for day trips outside the city.

Heard it rained there all summer. Days will be short but it shouldn't be too cold. If it gets too cool, visit Deco Spa.

We spent 4 days in AMS late April/early May. I won't detail our days again but you can find my trip report on this board. You'll have plenty to see, excellent food, wine, cafes, museums, etc etc. I hope we get back again within a year to see all the things we missed! On our next trip, I'm going to try and stay nearer the town center - Pulitzer will be the first choice!

It's a great destination for in-between seasons, so much to see indoors, and when it clears up, out you go. Be rainproof and chilled-wind-proof, and you'll have tons of fun! There's something for every type of interest. Try a rijstafel in an Indonesian restaurant - it's a multi-course (and I mean multi!) feast that will tax your eating capacity, so walk before and walk after the meal and go easy on the beer so you won't fill up too quickly.

WK

Here's the other thread for Macksix.

Sorry macksix for piggybacking on your question, but is Haarlem worth a day trip from A'dam? I'm planning a November visit too.

It's always worth getting a different view of the Netherlands from the touristy bits of Amsterdam, and the train service makes it easy - Haarlem is barely half an hour away. I don't think I'd put it above the Hague and Delft, which are also doable in a day, but it's a pleasant little town and has the Frans Hals museum, if you like his work (and there's more to it than the Laughing Cavalier). I'd check to make sure which days the market is on in the main square (I once found there some very cheap modern tiles with transfer prints of old Dutch illustrated proverbs, which suited my kitchen very well). You could also visit Utrecht for the museum of mechanical musical instruments (more fun than that sounds), but Delft and the Hague come first for art and history. There are lots of other possibilities, even in November.

Very cool. Thanx a bunch, PatrickLondon.

Thanks for all of your advice. I didn't realize I had posted 3x. Sorry!!

Macksix - my husband & I went to Amsterdam in November (I won 2 tickets on KLM). Yes, it was cold. We live in Texas so our idea of cold is different from someone, I imagine, from Minnesota! Armed with coats, wool pants, and gloves - we had a wonderful trip. We happened to be there for the Sinter Klaus (spelling?) parade & celebration. It was rainy but it didn't hamper us. Have a wonderful trip!

I was in A-dam in early November two years ago. It was cold, damp, and windy at night in particular. I found having a lightweight/compressible down-filled jacket to be just the thing. The city was not jammed with visitors and the museums were uncrowded.

As someone has said, it would be easy to take daytrips by rail.

Thanks again so much for all of your helpful suggestions! Sounds like it will be a treat, even in chilly November.

Whatever you do, don't forget to nip into a brown caf&eacute; or a neighborhood restaurant to enjoy either <i>Hutspot</i>, a thick stew of potatoes, carrots, meat and onions or <i>Erwtensoep</i>, pea soup with sausage served with thick brown bread. Both really, really hit the spot on a chilly day. Both are Dutch specialties, esp. in the autumn.