Unmissable day trips from Amsterdam
There’s so much to be discovered when you step out of the city centre to explore the wider Amsterdam Area. Whether you have a half day to explore, or are looking for an overnight stay, the following list highlights the best experiences to be had in the Amsterdam Area.
Old Holland
Discover the windmills of Zaanse Schans
A trip to Holland wouldn’t be complete without seeing a windmill. At Zaanse Schans, one of the area’s most visited attractions, visitors can marvel at no less than eight restored windmills. The historic (yet artificial) village allows a glimpse into houses, old factories and the windmills themselves. An incredible insight into the industrial heritage of Old Holland, when the area around the river Zaan was a hub for linseed oil, paint, paper and mustard production.
Top tip: The Zaan Boat windmillhopper tour offers a picturesque route to the village.
Take a cycling adventure through Waterland
Cycling is terrific in the Netherlands, especially the greener routes through the countryside. Rent a bicycle near Amsterdam Central Station, hop on the free ferry over to Amsterdam Noord and follow the North Holland Canal into Waterland, a vast area of farmland, small villages, nature reserves and waterways. Shorter routes to Durgerdam and back take a couple of hours. For a full day of cycling, venture along the dyke to quaint Monnickendam and up to Marken, with its green wooden houses and cafes. A ferry connects Marken to another fishing village, Volendam. Perfect for sampling kibbling or herring, the local delicacies.
Top tip: A bus or car can be driven directly to Volendam if you’re short on time. Edam is close by too!
New Land
Hunt for giant landscape art
Not so long ago, Flevoland, the Netherlands’ youngest province, was just a large body of water. Now reclaimed, it boasts large expanses of nature, such as the Nieuw Land National Park and entirely new cities like Almere and Lelystad. Spatial planning has allowed for some incredible futuristic architecture in the towns and modern art hidden in the countryside. An array of six enormous sculptures by artists such as Anthony Gormley, Daniel Libeskind and Richard Serra were made in response to and with the surrounding landscape. They can be discovered by guided tour all in one day.
Top tip: After a day of artseeing, enjoy the evening at the Big Lake to sample fresh fish and local cuisine along the waterside.
Learn about maritime history
Batavialand, a shipyard near Lelystad, transports visitors back to the bygone era of Dutch maritime history, when the East India Trading Company (VOC) would trade exotic spices by grand sailing ships. The infamous Batavia sailing ship has been restored to its 17th-century glory, and visitors can wander through its decks. The Bataviawerf is dedicated to preserving ancient shipbuilding craftsmanship, allowing insight into the blacksmith’s forgery and wood workshops. The world’s most considerable reconstruction of a ship, Battleship De 7 Provinciën, is displayed too!
Top tip: Ship lover? SAIL, the world’s largest free nautical event celebrating tall sailing ships, happens in Amsterdam every five years.
Flowers of Amsterdam
Take to the water!
Most locals agree that the best way to see the Amsterdam area is by going to the water and exploring its rivers, canals, and leisure lakes. The Westeinderplassen, in the Aalsmeer territory, is a linked network of waterways, marinas and lakes a 30-minute drive southeast of Amsterdam. Perfect for a unique boating adventure! Whilst the ‘West End Lakes’ are home to many privately owned islands, visitors are welcomed to moor at Starteiland (Start Island), a great point to begin boating from and popular for picnics and barbecuing.
Top Tip: Adrenaline seeker? The Loosdrechtse Plassen’s open water is best for waterskiing and speedboats.
Admire flowers as far as the eye can see
Tulips (along with cheese and clogs) are symbols of Dutch culture, and every spring, the Amsterdam Area is in full bloom with fields and parades of flowers. Famously, flowers are viewed at the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. Seven million daffodils, hyacinths and tulips bloom between March and May! Known as the ‘Garden of Europe’, it’s one of the most visited attractions. Explore the beautiful sights and smells of the flower fields in the surrounding area too. A bike, car or boat can be rented to navigate your way through the flowers. It is forbidden to walk through the fields.
Top Tip: Secret flower fields? Try these areas in Lisse: Zwartelaan, Essenlaan and Loosterweg-Zuid.
Amsterdam Beach
Enjoy surf, sand and sea on the Dutch coast
Just northwest of Amsterdam, where the river IJ meets the sea, is home to the most expansive stretch of beach in the Netherlands. It catches the brunt of the wind coming in from the North Sea, which makes it perfect for watersports, windsurfing and paragliding for the more fearless. Along the beach at IJmuiden aan Zee, there are dedicated areas for watersports and sunbathing. So, if flying a kite or sipping drinks at one of the many beach bars is your thing, there are quieter spots just for that!
Top tip: Timboektoe beach bar at Wijk aan Zee is a hidden gem. Cosy fireplaces in winter, sunny terraces in summer and events for all the family.
Spot wildlife amidst the dunes
Zandvoort is a wide seaside area, lined not only by a vast array of beach bars, but sand dunes too. The dunes are an extensive network of sand and nature reserves, great for exploring! Stroll through Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland, or the dunes at Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. Ensure you always stay on the trails to protect nature and animal life. Along the beach, there are over 30 beach bars and restaurants to choose from, and those seeking adventure can try various water sports, such as kite and windsurfing.
Top tip: For a truly bohemian bar experience, try Woodstock 69.
Explore enchanting castles right out of a storybook
It’s hard to imagine that there are numerous castles, fortresses and grandiose waterside estates a short distance from Amsterdam centre – but there are! One that epitomises the fairy tale fortress is the medieval castle Muiderslot. It boasts turrets, a drawbridge, battlements and a moat. Now a national museum, Muiderslot’s interior and enchanting gardens have been restored to their former glory. Guided tours give insight into the castle's legacy since its construction as a defence post at the mouth of the River Vecht in 1280.
Top tip: No to whimsical castles? Rent a boat out to the James Bond-esque hidden fortress: Fort Pampus.
Haarlem
Stroll quaint streets, which have it all!
A quieter, quainter version of Amsterdam, the nearby city of Haarlem, offers it all! There are windmills, impressive churches and cathedrals, canal cruises, unmissable art museums, hidden medieval courtyards (or ‘hofjes’) and charming craft beer breweries. Visit on a Saturday, when a weekly market springs up around the Grote Kerk, surrounded by quaint cafes and restaurants with buzzing terraces.
Top tip: Haarlem is only a 20-minute train ride away from Amsterdam.
