Suggestion need for day trip from Amsterdam
 

I need some good suggestions for places to visit that are an easy day trip from Amsterdam. I am traveling with my 11 year old son and would like to find a location with windmills and other kid friendly sites. Any help is greatly appreciated!

From Amsterdam, one afternoon we did the 2:30 p.m. “Best of Holland” excursion to Volendam and Marken, with a stop to see wooden clogs made, Gouda cheese created, and to visit windmills. It was by bus, with a boat from Volendam to Marken. A lot of fun. Even our two teens liked it. It was relatively inexpensive.
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Zaanse Schans is the obvious choice for windmills. Kinderdijk is furhter away and maybe not quite so kid friendly. I read bout this in my paper today - it sounds like it could be a fun thing to do: http://www.wetlandssafari.nl/index2.htm
The NEMO museum in Amsterdam may appeal to your son too.
If you want to go for a bike ride I suggest going to the Hoge Veluwe NP and using the free bikes there for a safe ride on nearly traffic free roads.
A day at the beach maybe? Bloemdendaal or Zandvoort would be good places to go, though if it is very hot, most of Holland will have beaten you to it.

I agree that Zaanse Schans is the obvous choice. There are several windmills there, most you can go into and see what their use is/was. Then there is the clog making, the cheese making, the bakery, etc. And the pancakes...let's not forget the pancakes. I spent a beautiful Sunday there a couple weeks ago and it was one of those places that we had very low expectations of based on what we'd read/heard and we had a delightful time.

Wonderful suggestions! Thanks so much. What do you think of the Open Air museum in Arnhem?

hi giggles36kd- there is a wonderful openair museum in Enkhuisen, the Zuiderzeemuseum. You might do a Google search for Zuiderzeemuseum - I think your son would love it and it's a great day trip. Your son may be a little old but you can rent the traditional costumes, wooden clogs and hat included for your time there. Enjoy your stay.

The wife and I just returned from a trip to London and Amsterdam. On day three in Ams, we were supposed to take a day trip to Brugge, but got on the wrong train! We ended up in the town of Alkmaar, which turned out to be a really nice surprise. Beautiful canal houses, a nice park with a windmill, no crowds. Only about a 30 minute ride from central station on the train.
Also saw Keukenhoff gardens - really beautiful