jackieanneo

Hi Guys, 28 y/o solo female traveler here!
Travelling MAY 13-24th so about 9 days travel time after travel in between.

Amsterdam then ???????

I already bought my non refundable airline ticket (in and out of Amsterdam, not open jaw unfortunately...but for a great price) and have reserved my lodging in Amsterdam for 2 nights total (only nights available for my rental).
I'll be there mid May, which by chance has it is a pretty fantastic time to visit that area (think tulips!)...
I have traveled a modest amount in southern europe's major cities, so Im not really thinking of heading south to save the travel time. I keep running into the same warning of not trying to see too much in one trip, and Im not looking to exhausting myself with travel but would love to immerse myself in culture. I enjoy metropolis areas but would love to maybe take 2-3 days in the middle of trip to break to somewhere more picturesque and lower key.


So, in the group of contenders Ive been thinking about: Berlin (a little far... 1 1/2 flight for cheap), Gieethorn, Bruges (per suggestions), Rotterdam maybe... And I love beer so maybe Belgium???

This is just where I have the issue and where suggestions would be so much appreciated.

PalenQ

If you want to base in A'dam the whole time there is a surfeit of sweet easy day trips- like to quaint old towns like Delft, Haarlem, Leiden, Gouda - bike rides to take. Rotterdam is fascinating in a different way - avant-garde architecture.

Take train to Rotterdam and boat from there to Kinderdijk and NL's largest grouping of windmills:

https://www.google.com/search?q=kind...HezuD7YQsAQIGQ

The Keukenhof flower extravaganza should be going in full tilt - take bus to Leiden then shuttle bus to vast gardens and hothouses showcasing the finest of the Dutch horticultural production:

https://keukenhof.nl//en/

If you want to leave Amsterdam for a few days Belgium makes an easy destination -base say in lovely Gent and day trip to Bruges, Antwerp or Brussels- or base in Bruges and do the same but Gent a bit more centrally located.

Or Germany - Cologne and its great cathedral just a few hours away.

Paris 3.5 hours by Thalys train.

Or any city like Berlin - a fascinating one for sure - not a bad train ride either.

For lots on trains check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com. If traveling on several trains check out the Benelux Railpass.

jackieanneo

Thank you so much! Great advice. I actually had the Keukenhof gardens and Kinderdijk on my list so this helps focus me!! Also love the tip to base in Gent and then just day trip out. Berlin seems like something not to miss also. I have been to Paris and believe me would have no problem visiting again but in such a short amount of travel time I wont allow myself to see something twice! Again, thank you for your advice

spaarne

<i> The Netherlands in May
Posted by: jackieanneo on Feb 15, 17 at 7:04pm</i>

May is probably the sweetest month of the year for Holland. There are several options for getting to Keukenhof. Here is a beautiful way to go, a bike ride from Haarlem http://www.enjoy-europe.com/travelog/Keukenhof2008.htm. You can rent a bike in Amsterdam and take it on the train to Haarlem. Mike's Bikes has good sturdy fietsen, the Dutch word for bike. http://www.mikesbiketoursamsterdam.c...ike-amsterdam/. It will cost &euro;6.10 for a ticket to take the bike on trains during non-rush hours and the ticket is good until midnight on any train. Details at http://www.ns.nl/en/travel-informati...the-train.html.

I suggest that you visit Keukenhof in the afternoon, on a sunny day if possible. The tulips close up for the night and come out again in mid day.

hetismij2

Plenty of good beer to be had in the Netherlands nowadays it isn't all Heineken thank goodness.

You could spend you entire trip exploring the Netherlands, visiting other provinces and just seeing how much there is on offer around the country. Not many people choose to do that sadly.

You could get a train or fly to Berlin if that rocks your boat, or head to Brugge for a couple of days. It isn't my favourite place, too crowded and too twee for me, but most people love it, but it does have a good brewery (as does Amsterdam and it isn't Heineken!). You could add Gent, or Antwerp or Brussels to that leg of the trip.
Rotterdam would offer a good contrast to both Amsterdam and Brugge.
Assuming your two nights in MAsterdam are at the start of the trip that only gives you one full slightly jet lagged day in Amsterdam, so I would concentrate on the city and then look for accommodation somewhere else so you can visit Keukenhof and or tulip field after that. Depending on what sort of a spring we get the tulips may be past their best - just warning you that if we get an early and warm spring that can happen.
Look to be back in Amsterdam or at an airport hotel the night before your flight out.

PalenQ

Me I rather fancy Heineken - from the tour they say it has a different formula from one exported to States -more a pilsener - we get half pils and half lager they said on tour once though may have changed.

I do like Gulpener though- always ordered that at my favorite Amsterdam cafe - the Flying Dutchhman near Centraal Station..a bar favored by Brit ex-pats.

spaarne

<i>hetismij2 on Feb 16, 17 at 1:49pm
Plenty of good beer to be had in the Netherlands nowadays it isn't all Heineken thank goodness.</i>

Yes. Also a number of breweries are now selling alcohol free beer. Sit and sip without feeling groggy. The alcohol free beer is typically labeled <b>0,0</b> and is pronounced <b>nool punt nool</b>.

menachem

just as a note: Giethoorn is not that easy to reach by public transport and overrun with tourists. It will underwhelm you.

Instead, do a day trip to Deventer, or even Amersfoort

hetismij2

True Menachem.
I used to always take visitors to Giethoorn back in the 70s and early 80s. Never go now unless it is winter.
Still worth a visit to the general area with a car though.
Amersfoort has an interesting centre and the Mondriaanhuis, where Piet Mondriaan was born. It's just down the road from me.
I'd probably recommend Deventer over Amersfoort though.

menachem

One one day: Deventer and Zwolle, or Zutphen and Deventer or Arnhem and Zutphen.

Or from Amsterdam: take train via Lelystad to Zwolle, explore Zwolle, take train to Deventer, explore Deventer, return to Amsterdam, either via Zwolle or via Arnhem.

In Amersfoort walking the perimeter of the old city walls, with the wall houses is breathtaking. Old city gates, intimate squares, good coffee places. And within an hour from Amsterdam.

hetismij2

You can also do a boat trip in Amersfoort on a little boat around it's canals. I don't know if they do the commentary in English though.
Amersfoort is an interesting contrast of very modern with very old all in the centre. It is a bit of a hike from the train station to the centre - taking a bus might be a better option.
My youngest son's house looks out on the old city wall.