The Netherlands
 

Everyone posts about Amsterdam. Has anyone taken a week or two and traveled all around the Nethelands? Is it doable by trains?
I was reading Fodor's very own page on the Netherlands and it reads as if there are extraordinary "wonders" outside of Amsterdam.

I lived in Haarlem, just west of Amsterdam. The NL has one of the best train and bus systems in Europe. For train schedules use www.ns.nl.

Also get the Fodor's book on Holland and the Michelin Green Guide to The Netherlands to guide you around. You'll be sorry that you have only two weeks.

Yes, completely doable by trains. Delft, Gouda, Leiden, Utrecht, Maastricht-these are some of my favorite places in Holland. You might even want to go to the Alkmaar Cheese Market about a half hour from Am'dam's Centraal station-where on Fridays I believe, men put on white caps and as part of a tourist show, carry big wheels of cheese to a 14th century weighthouse (Waag). Yes, a little "cheesy" but I still liked it-'cause I like Dutch cheese, and it's a lovely little town in itself-really, what's not to like about Holland? Everything is easy, travel around the country is a breeze.

The Netherlands is a beautiful country and easily navigated via their rail system. We have visited Amsterdam several times, as well as Utrecht, Gouda, Haarlem, Leiden, Spaarandam, Muiden, Hilversum (quick stop), Aalsmeer, Delft, den Hague, Scheveningen, Rotterdam, and Maastricht. They are all wonderful towns that have a lot to offer - museums, churchs, architecture, lovely views - quintessential Dutch. And there are many more towns that we would like to discover.

Last year we spent 2 weeks touring through the BeNeLux region, travelling by rail. If you would like to e-mail me, I would be happy to send you our itinerary, so you can have an idea of what can be covered. Please put Fodor's in the subject line. [email protected]

Happy planning and happy travelling. Peace.

Robyn

ooooo... splendid. 2 Weeks is never enough time "away". I don't like driving here in the US, the thought of striking out on my own in Europe, well!

I'll get the books and start my "research"...

Thank you all

Look into the outdoor folk musuem (Zuiderzee) at the town of Enkhuisen, which is an attractive smallish town itself.

SuzieC; and don't miss De Veluwe, the national park in the middle of Holland. There's a great museum there with lots of Van Gogh paintings. You get to the park with public transport, then pick up a free bicycle to get around the park.
The general area there is lovely too. Nearby Arnhem was a famous WWII battleground, and there's palace 'Het Loo' in Apeldoorn.

I just remembered two more towns we have visited, which are also worth a look around - Arnhem and Amersfoort.

You can check out the following website for the Netherlands Rail.

www.ns.nl

We have used their Netherlands rail pass, which we found to be affordable. The last time we purchased one (in 2001) it was $48 USD for 3 days, available at the International Counter at Amsterdam Centraal. Peace.

Robyn