Travelling to the Netherlands isn’t only about Amsterdam. It pays to leave the city and visit other towns nearby, like the island of Texel, Zaandam and the Zaanse Schans open-air museum. These and other places offer unique experiences, historic architecture and different cultural traditions. One big plus is fewer tourists – I still haven’t forgotten the feeling when we stepped out of the main station onto the main street in Amsterdam.
If you have the time, the appetite and the money (I rarely have all three at once), then definitely head beyond the capital. And you’re in luck! You’ll find several ideas on where to go in this loaded article, subtitled “Amsterdam – day trips!” 🙂
Why head outside Amsterdam
Amsterdam is beautiful, but the surrounding area is what makes the Netherlands real. Here you’ll find authentic villages, open countryside and the sea, which don’t taste like an airport souvenir.
The island of Texel
An island in the north of the Netherlands that’s definitely worth seeing. Sandy beaches, endlessly long flats, but also a few hills. You’ll find more on how to enjoy a whole day on this island here.
Zaandam
Every one of you has surely seen the iconic photo of a beautiful wooden windmill rising above the still water of a Dutch canal. Well, it’s in Zaandam that you’ll find a whole cascade of those windmills – specifically at the Zaanse Schans open-air museum. It’s a popular tourist spot with an atmosphere of its own and definitely worth visiting.
Marken
A “living open-air museum”. Your first look at a map will grab you with Marken’s position. It’s an island that has been connected to the mainland since 1957 by a long causeway. For us the unique island experience was heightened by having a native resident show us round. We got a look at how clogs are made, saw the local harbour and the period costumes. Those in particular are iconic for this place.
The experience was all the more intense because Marken is where Dirk – Zdenicka’s “papa” – was born.
Egmond aan Zee
A seaside town in the west of the Netherlands, within driving distance of Amsterdam. At low tide you can enjoy kilometre-long walks on sandy beaches. There’s no shortage of cafés and restaurants. 🙂 In good visibility you can see the offshore wind farms and maybe… really, only maybe, the coast of Britain. If you do, definitely send us a photo.
Hoorn
A typically Dutch town. Crooked brick houses with pointed roofs, cobbled streets and the local people. That’s exactly what Hoorn is, where we enjoyed the local markets and that typically “English” weather. By which I mean rain, sun, wind, and repeat several times over. You can buy absolutely anything, just as you can eat absolutely anything (haring, kibbeling and so on) that takes your fancy.
Volendam
Volendam is a famous Dutch fishing village known for its typical wooden houses, picturesque waterfront and friendly atmosphere. You can visit the local museum – the Volendams Museum (the history of the village and its people). Honestly, I’ve never been in. Another draw is the chance to buy typical Dutch souvenirs and stroll the seafront promenade with a view over the water.
Alkmaar
Yes, Alkmaar has far more to offer than just a football stadium. It’s a historic town with a rich history and culture. The local market, held every Friday, is one of the oldest in the Netherlands and draws tourists from all over the world. At the Alkmaarsche Kaaswaag museum you can see how Dutch cheese is made.
You get to look right into Dutch cheese production and learn more about the history of cheesemaking in Alkmaar. During the tour you can see all the tools used in making cheese. Cheese isn’t actually produced there any more, though. Instead, you can buy some.
On top of that the town has beautiful canals, historic buildings and parks like the Stadspark, where you can rest and enjoy some nature. So yes, there are plenty of other interesting things to see in Alkmaar!
If you’re heading to Amsterdam too, you absolutely mustn’t miss these TOP 12 places we wrote about in our last article.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
Accommodation in Amsterdam isn’t the cheapest, but you can find both style and comfort in the various parts of the city. The tips below come from my father-in-law’s recommendations.
The centre (Grachtengordel) – ideal for a first visit
- Hotel Estheréa – a luxurious atmosphere by the canal
- Mr. Jordaan – a stylish boutique hotel
De Pijp – for food lovers
- The Arcade Hotel – with retro arcade games and a bar
Noord – modern, quiet and cheaper
- ClinkNOORD – excellent value for money
Book early through Booking.com – Amsterdam is often full, especially in spring when the tulips are in bloom (yes, I wrote that on purpose – inside joke)
How to get to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is easy to reach from every corner of Europe – whether you’re going for a weekend, a road trip or a Eurotrip.
By plane from Prague the flight takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. You land at Schiphol (AMS) – one of the best-organised airports in Europe – and get into the centre by train (20 minutes, every few minutes, around 6 €).
By car from Prague it’s roughly 900 km (about 9 hours’ driving). My father-in-law does it from South Bohemia in around 10 hours with a few short stops. If you drive, though, expect expensive parking – the centre of Amsterdam is not car-friendly.
By train there’s a direct connection from Berlin. From Prague it means changing in Berlin, and it actually works out much pricier than flying. It depends whether you really want to make a road trip of it – in which case some kind of Europe-wide rail pass may be worth it. Otherwise Amsterdam Centraal station is right in the heart of the city, as I mentioned at the start of the article.
By bus it’s genuinely painful. It’s the cheapest option, but it’s really long and not nearly as comfortable as the others. From Prague the journey takes around 13 hours.
