We really want to go somewhere for one of our days in Amsterdam preferably somewhere not too far by train that can offer windmills, tulips and clogs, maybe interesting shops as well. Any advice?

http://www.zaanseschans.nl/

I agree with Johns suggestion. I also would suggest that if you get an early start, that you go to Alkmaar, which is a bit north of there. We went to see the cheese market and that was pretty much a waste because of the crowds. We (my daughter and I) loved the shopping in Alkmaar though.

Well, I don't have any personal info as to where to find tulips and clogs, but I can tell you that Haarlem, a very short train trip from A'dam, is a pleasant 1/2 day trip. Beautiful cathedral, nice little shops. We went for the morning, sat in the main square (forgot the name) and had a hot chocolate (it was a cold, rainy spring morning) and bought cheese and stuff. Very nice.

Zuiderzee outdoor museum has it all... a recreated Dutch village with craft demonstrations, very picturesque.
Easy train to Enkhuizen (which is also a nice town to walk thru a bit) - go to the Tourist Office just beyond the train station and buy the museum tickets, then go behind the TI and board the boat/ferry that takes you to the museum.
http://www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl/english.aspx

My daughter and I took a day trip to Brussels and highly recommend it. We saw several windmills from the train. Didn't get to walk up close to them obviously, but Brussels was beautiful....and allowed us to be in 2 countries on one trip.

The Zaanse Schans has the windmills and clogs. At least one windmill, de Kat, is open year round. They have a wooden shoe factory where I bought my pair of clogs. Tulips will be found in the floating flower market in Amsterdam. If you are in Holland from mid April to mid May go to Keukenhof for tulips and plenty of other blooming bulbs.

Since the Zaanse Schans is a rebuilt village museum, you might want to try an authentic city. In that case there is no equal for Haarlem, only 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam. The town square is the Grote Markt and the outdoor cafe is the Brinkman, good food but typical slow Dutch service so you can watch the 17th century scene for a long time.

ttt

The Hague (Peace Palace, Madurodam, various musea) and the seaside resort Scheveningen. 30 minutes by train.
Delft, very nice old city, Delft Blue pottery, marketsquare with old church where dutch royals are buried.40 min. by train.
The modern city center of Rotterdam, make a boattour through the large harbor, go the the top of Euromast, visit Hotel New York (Ex HAL headoffice), 60 min. by train..

Not windmills, tulips and clogs (that would indeed be the Zaanse Schans or maybe Marken or Volendam), but very Dutch in its own way is the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments in Utrecht:

http://www.museumspeelklok.nl/speelklok/uk/

not sure of the time of year, but this was an absolutely magical place:

http://www.keukenhof.nl/

and I don't even like flowers!

takes about 45 minutes from central station by special train and then you can either walk or rent bikes to the nearby gardens.

A very easy half day.

Keukenhof is only open when floers like tulips etc.bloom
That is mid march till mid/end of may.

<and I don't even like flowers!>

Never heard of such a thing.

NativeNewYorker,
Were there any windmills along the route to Haarlem?

Thanks

When you are riding the train to Haarlem from Amsterdam, you will see a windmill next to the river just as you're entering Haarlem. You've gotta be looking out the left side.

There are windmills -IN- Amsterdam. I found the Molen De Gooyer (Funenkade 5, houses a brewery called Brouwerij‘t Ij ). It's near the northeast corner of Artis Park.

There are others...
http://www.amsterdam.info/windmills/

thanks travelnut

Good observation Travelnut.

The Haarlem windmill is De Adriaan. There is a picture of it at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap...af.htm#Adriaan

The windmill website is
www.molenadriaan.nl/
It was rebuilt in the last few years after burning down in 1932. Click the British flag for the web site English version.

At Zaanse schans you see a few windmills, some of them working again. One makes mustard (for sale), one makes paints etc.
At the moment a new is (re)build ( it is an old one, coming from another place.)
You can see how chees is made (and tast it).