Midweek trip to Holland - Qs re. transport, destinations, etc.
 

Hello everybody - I plan to visit Amsterdam (or rather: the greater A'dam region) with a friend in mid-September.
After checking hotel rates in Amsterdam proper, I think about spending those three nights in Haarlem instead.
With possible flight connections and airfare in mind, I think we will have 1/2 day (Tuesday, arrive AMS around noon) + 2 full days + 3/4 day (depart from AMS around 8/9pm).

The only thing I am pretty sure about is that we probably don't want to go elsewhere on arrival day and will spend PM hours in Haarlem.

Otherwise, interests are history, culture, photography (taking pictures as well as photo exhibitions), walking around more or less aimlessly, smaller sized museums (not necessarily art museums) with have a regional focus or are a bit quirky. Just to explain the latter: I've found a "dolhuys" turned into museum in Haarlem as well as one explaining how the polders were "made" - which I would find more interesting than the Rijksmuseum (especially since I've been there before).

To get around I've found this public transport pass for the region:
https://www.discoverholland.com/amst...-travel-ticket
It looks like a good deal. Is it?
Even when the euro amount of savings may be limited due to the limited area it covers, I like the idea of being able to use literally any bus, tram or train that comes along.
It does not cover Alkmaar, though. But Marken, Edam, Volendam.. any of the latter three a personal favorite?

Any input is welcome, and thank you in advance.

I'm sure you know to buy your tickets for the Anne Frank House 2 months before your trip, if you plan to go on this trip.

A Fodorite friend recommended the Museum Van Loon. We both enjoy house museuem. Unfortunately, it was closed when I got there (King's Day).
https://www.museumvanloon.nl/

I wanted to go to the houseboat museum but didn't have time. Also thought I may go to the Museum of Bags and Purses if I had time, but didn't. I wanted to take photos for a friend. Not sure if you would be at all interested.
https://www.amsterdam.info/museums/houseboat_museum/
https://tassenmuseum.nl/en/

I took a salon boat canal cruise and LOVED being on a small boat. The captain/ guide reminded me of Bill Nighy - and very funny and charming.

I signed up for a tour of the Red Light District but it was extremely lame and bailed after about 45 minutes. Walk to a corner and huddle to talk about something. Walk to another corner about two blocks away to huddle together to talk about something, etc. The guide was a very nice young lady but a total waste of time.

Thank you very much!
The Museum van Loon looks very nice!
I've been to the Anne Frank House before. Twice, actually.
But in another century when you just had to wait in line for a while on a busy day.

Maybe Leiden instead of Haarlem? 10 minutes by train (frequent)

Student city, beautiful central canal.

Foam is a photography museum in Amsterdam. Maybe the Stedelijk would appeal to you too.
You can enjoy the local beers (and I don't mean Heineken) in both cities.
You may enjoy Cruquis pumping station.

Personally none of the villages you mention appeal, but of the three Marken is perhaps the nicest.

I'm not sure how far out you pass covers.

Took note of the museums you mentioned.
The pumping station you mentioned is the place I found on the TI website.

Since none of the three villages appeal to you, would you rather visit Alkmaar (or some other place)
The pass does not cover Alkmaar, but I'd just need an extra ticket from Uitgeest to Alkmaar if we wanted to go there.
This is the area which would be covered by the pass:
https://www.holland.com/web/file?uui...ontentid=64762

I had reservations in Leiden but changed my reservations. I really wanted to go to Delft too. I DID go up to visit heti in the north. LOVED Harlingen - and meeting heti!

What about Muiden and Muiderslot?
Or go to Aalsmeer and visit the Historic gardens (which are for produce not a garden as we know it). Listen to DH give the audiotour in English ;)
Broek in Waterland and rent a boat? Or just go to the three you mentioned. Volendam is very touristy but you may enjoy the kitsch.
Or just spend time north of the river in Amsterdam. An interesting area to visit in it's own right.
If you want a polder museum you could go right up to Lelystad and visit Batavialand.

If Cowboy wants to buy and get the most from the ticket he mentioned then Leiden etc are out of the question.
If he is happy to buy another ticket then I would recommend Rotterdam as a contrast to Haarlem and Amsterdam, giving him another excellent photo museum and photo ops galore.

Thank you very much for all that input.
Just to clarify: While we plan to use that regional pass as much as possible, it would also be no problem to pay extra for rail to get to places outside that travel pass area like Leiden or Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is in fact one of my favorite cities, not only in NL, but in general.
My travel companion has never been to the Netherlands, while I have been in almost every province at least once.
So I try to arrange a mix of the obvious and touristy "Holland/Old Dutch" and some quirky destinations.

Sounds great. I love Harlingen.

Fotomuseum in Rotterdam now has a wonderful and insanely beautiful retrospective of Ed vd Elsken's colour photography. I've been twice already. It's something to behold.

Cowboy: consider going! https://www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl/...sken-in-kleur/

It was great and anytime you are in the area...

Thanks! Guess that will mean one day in Rotterdam :-)

:) thanks!

They've even done a re-working of Tokyo Symphony.