The 11 Best Day Trips from Amsterdam

You’ve probably reached this page because you’re looking for the best day trips from Amsterdam. Good call, I’ve got you covered! I lived in the Dutch capital long enough to make dozens of day trips outside the city.

Amsterdam is one of the most fascinating and beautiful cities in the world. There are so many things to see and do in the city that most people opt to spend at least three nights when visiting. This amount of time is perfect because it also allows for a day trip or two to get out of the city and experience some other parts of the country.

The Netherlands is so small that just about everywhere in the county is feasible for a day trip from the Dutch capital city and even parts of Belgium and Germany). In this post we will discuss the 10 best day trips from Amsterdam.  

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Amsterdam as a Home Base – What You Need to Know

I’ve covered the city of Amsterdam in great detail in this post on how to experience the city like a local. We’ll repeat a little of that information here to get you acquainted. 

How to get to Amsterdam

You’ll most likely be flying into Amsterdam Schiphol airport, which is just outside the city. The airport is well connected to just about everywhere on the planet and has many direct flights to every continent except Australia.

From the airport the train takes about 15 minutes to Amsterdam Central Station. If coming from northern Europe, it’s easy to drive, take the train, or take the bus to Amsterdam too. 

How to get out of town for a day trips from Amsterdam

Public transportation in the Netherlands is superb. There are trains, trams, buses, and subways. Every destination discussed in this post is accessible on public transportation.

You can also rent a car from the airport, but parking can be a real pain in the Netherlands. Your best bet for most of these days trips is public transportation. However, having a car can be pretty useful for some of these places.

We have found Discovercars to have by far the best rental rates in Europe and we recommend them to our readers. You have to pay up front with them, but the booking is fully refundable, like other rental car agencies.

Click here to find a great deal on a rental car in the Netherlands!

Assuming you’ve opted for public transport, when you arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport you’ll find a train station within the airport. From the kiosks you should purchase a blue OV Chipkaart. Do not buy individual tickets per journey. The card will cost you 7 Euros but it will make your life a lot easier while you’re in the Netherlands.

At each station you’ll tag on and tag off. The best part about the OV Chipkaart is that all public transport throughout the entire country runs on it. So it’s not just for trains, but also local buses, trams, and subways in any city. 

You can easily add money to the card from kiosks at any train station with a credit card. The cost per ride depends on the destination but is never more than 27.40 euros. Do note, however, that the OV Chipkaart cannot be used on international trains to Belgium and Germany. You’ll have to buy a separate ticket for those journeys. 

Language 

Dutch is the language of the land, but the Netherlands has one of the highest rates of English proficiency in the world. It’s unlikely you’ll come across someone who doesn’t speak English on your trip. Most people are completely fluent. But it’s courteous to at least be able to say thank you: dankjewel (pronounced “daank ya vel”)

Money 

The currency is the Euro. You shouldn’t need any cash, but if you plan on going to a supermarket you’ll need some, since Dutch grocery stores do not take credit cards for whatever reason. So if you don’t have a European bank card you’ll need to pay cash.

Overall, Amsterdam is not cheap by European standards. Hotels in the city are overpriced and restaurants charge a lot more than they should. Outside of Amsterdam, though, things are pretty affordable. The further you get outside the city, the cheaper everything becomes. 

Food and Restaurants

I’ve dedicated an entire post to eating in the Netherlands, which focuses on Amsterdam. Refer to that post for a full rundown of Dutch food culture .

Smoking 

This is always a culture shock for Americans, but smoking is still very prevalent in the Netherlands. Not as much as France, but you can reasonably expect to get a fair amount of secondhand hand smoke on your trip.

It’s not allowed anywhere indoors, but if you’re sitting outside on the terrace at a café or restaurant just be prepared for cigarette smoke coming from all directions. 

Weather and when to visit

The Netherlands is not known for its amazing weather. It doesn’t get too cold or too hot, but it rains a lot and can be very windy. The best months for weather are late April – June. May is the warmest month on average and the days are long, with sunsets well after 9:00 PM. Whatever time of year you go, you can have clear days or horribly rainy days. It’s just luck. 

The busiest months for tourism are July and August. From June through to about mid September the streets of Amsterdam can be totally packed full of tourists. Even some of the main sights outside of the city can be very busy too. If you ask me, the best month to visit is May, with the second best being June.

You can read more about the best time of year to visit the Netherlands here, where I go into detail month by month.

Where to stay in Amsterdam

I recommend staying at Mercure Sloterdijk Station on your trip to Amsterdam if you’re looking to save some money and avoid the loud noises that go all night in the city center. You’ll be a 5 minute train ride from downtown while avoiding all the drunk tourists.

They staff is excellent and the rooms are must more spacious than hotel rooms in the city center. I’ve stayed here over 20 times myself when I used to live in Groningen and travel to the city for work.

If you want to be closer to the action there are literally thousands of hotels in Amsterdam. I recommend the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station if you can afford it.

If that’s a bit out of your price range then you can check out the listings on booking.com to book something great. Hotels in Amsterdam are notoriously overpriced though, so just be aware when you’re searching and don’t freak out.

Travel Insurance

Before any trip to Amsterdam, make sure to purchase travel insurance so that you’re protected for the unexpected. We use World Nomads and had good experiences with them. World Nomads provides coverage for travelers in over 100 countries. You can search for a coverage plan using the link below.

Prefer to get further outside of the city? Consider a 7-day trip around the Netherlands!

The Top 11 Day Trips From Amsterdam 

Now that we’ve discussed the basics of visiting the Netherlands and how to get to all these day trip locations, let’s get right into it!

Edam, Volendam, and Marken

Just 20 km north of Amsterdam you will find a trio of idealistic Dutch fishing villages. Edam, Volendam and Marken are easy to visit together in one day. Edam is a cute little village mostly known for cheese (like many places in the Netherlands). The city center features some historic houses and canals as well as a famous cheese market. 

Volendam is a little Dutch fishing village known for fantastic seafood, especially smoked eel. For the best smoked eel stop into Smit-Bokkum, one of the best seafood restaurants in the Netherlands. Volendam has become popular with tourists so you won’t be alone, but it’s easy to find some quiet space along the water to enjoy some local seafood.

Lastly, Maarken is an even smaller fishing village south of Volendam. It’s located on an island – sort of, since there is a single road that leads there. The road ends in a parking lot where the bus stops, resulting in Marken being mostly car-free.

Only vehicles of residents are allowed past the parking lot. The main promenade along the water features local restaurants and historic wooden houses, which is unique in the Netherlands where almost everything was built with brick. 

How to get there

There used to be a direct bus from Amsterdam Central Station to Edam and Volendam, but now you’ll have to take the subway M52 line to Amsterdam Noord (Amsterdam North) station and hop on the 316 bus from there.

Edam and Volendam are close enough to walk between. To get to Marken from Volendam you’ll have to head back towards Amsterdam and get off in Monnickendam to transfer to Marken. Or better yet, just take an Uber. From Marken there is a direct bus back to Amsterdam Noord. 

Tour Option: Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Bus Tour

PRO TIP

The Edam cheese market only runs on Wednesday’s between 10:30 and 12:30 and only during the warmer summer months. If you can make it for the market you’ll be treated to a traditional medieval Dutch cheese market show.

Volendam and Marken are both small and can get busy in the summer so if you can visit on a weekday you’ll have lighter crowds. A day in Edam, Volendam, and Marken will give you a great feel for what the Netherlands was like before modern technology! 

Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans is a famous old Dutch village with multiple windmills along a picturesque river. It can get pretty crowded here too, especially with tour buses, but it’s neat to walk along the river and learn all about the history of windmills and cheese making. You can even see how the old time Dutch wooden clogs were made in the daily Clog Workshop. 

There’s no entry fee to the village and you’re free to just walk around. Some of the individual buildings do have entrance fees, however, such as the Zaanse Schans Museum and the Weaver’s House, where you can learn about the history of Dutch sailmaking. There are endless things to keep you entertained at Zaanse Schans. A half a day in the village will be more than enough. 

Before heading back to Amsterdam, you might want to stop by the city of Zandaam to check out one of the craziest hotels in the world, Inner Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam. You’ve probably seen photos of this funky building on Instagram. It’s possible to walk from Zaanse Schans to the nearest train station and take the train two short stops to Zandaam. From there it’s a short train ride back to Amsterdam. 

How to get there

There is a direct bus from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaanse Schans. The 391 bus runs every 30 minutes and drops you off right at the entrance to the old village.

If you don’t mind a bit of a walk though, it’s far quicker to take the train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station and walk about a mile from there to the village. If you’re driving, parking is not free, but there are plenty of street parking spots on the side roads in the industrial area nearby. 

Tour Option: Zaanse Schans 3-Hour Small Group Tour

PRO TIP

As mentioned before, it can get pretty crowded. Arrive early in the morning if you’re visiting in summer to avoid the crowds. If you’re visiting in the other seasons it shouldn’t be a problem which time of day you visit. 

Hoorn

Hoorn is one of the Netherlands’ hidden gems. Not a lot of blogs talk much about Hoorn (other than my 7 day Netherlands Itinerary of course). The city is not overrun with tourists like some of the other places on this list. In fact, very few tourists stop by Hoorn at all. 

Hoorn is a beautiful coastal town with quintessential Dutch architecture and charm. It’s known for its well preserved historical buildings as well as its sinking houses. Due to poor soil many building foundations have settled inconsistently in the Netherlands.

You can see tilted houses in Amsterdam, but none as defined as the ones in Hoorn. Some other sites to stop by are the Hoofdtoren, the Westfriesmuseum, and the Grote Kerk (big church).

How to get there

Hoorn is a 32 minute train ride from Amsterdam Central Station. The train leaves every 30 minutes and will cost you about 9 euros. If you’re driving, there are limited parking lots, but you should be able to find a street parking spot for free. 

Tour Option: Full Day Private Dutch Golden Age Cities Tour

PRO TIP

Stop by this spot here for the view in the picture above. 

Lisse (seasonal)

If you’re visiting Amsterdam in April you’ll be able to witness the famous Dutch tulip fields. Flowers are big business in the Netherlands, and no region of the country has more widespread flower fields than Lisse.

Lisse itself is a small town without a whole lot going on when the flowers aren’t blooming. So this day trip is limited to the month of April, when you can spend the day in search of beautiful photos of the famous tulip fields. 

A great way to avoid other tourists is to skip Keukenhof Gardens – the world famous flower garden – and head straight to the flower fields near Lisse. There are tons of fields of tulips and other colorful flowers all around this area, though mostly to the west of Lisse. Some key things to note about visiting the flower fields:

• The fields are private farms so technically you’re not supposed to walk through them, though you’ll see many people ignoring the rules. 
• Don’t pick flowers from the fields. If you want some tulips people sell them from the side of the road for a very good price.
• Don’t park on the road. The roads are narrow here and they will be crowded with other people looking for photos of flower fields. There are places to pull off and leave your car every so often.

How to get there:

Getting to Lisse is not as easy as some of the other destinations on this list. You’ll need to combine a train and a bus. There are a few different options so be sure to check ns.nl for the best route at the time of your departure.

This is a destination where it’s better to have a car. With a car you’ll be able to freely cruise the side roads in search of the best flower fields. A rental car from Amsterdam Schiphol for the day will run you about 50-100 euros. 

If you don’t have a car you’ll want to rent a bike in Lisse to explore the flower fields. Without a bike there will just be too much walking to see what you want to see.

Lastly, there is a tourist bus that goes from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport directly to Keukenhof Gardens. Just look for the queue of 1000 people out front of the airport. If you don’t want to rent a car or a bike, you’ll have to settle for just a visit to Keukenhof. 

Tour Option: Keukenhof & Windmill Village Guided Tour

PRO TIP

Keukenhof Gardens is incredibly touristy and jam packed. It’s only open 6 weeks per year and those 6 weeks are nuts. My personal recommendation is to skip it. It’s nice, but just feels artificial. The acres and acres of flower fields outside the park are the real attraction, and I think you’ll agree once you see them. 

Zandvoort and Bloemendaal aan Zee (seasonal) 

Fancy a day at the beach? The Netherlands might not be known for its amazing beaches, but if you want an endless sandy beach packed with restaurants and bars with no open container law, then Zandvoort and Bloemendaal aan Zee are for you. Just a half hour west of the city are Amsterdam’s premier beach destinations. 

Located on the North Sea facing the east coast of England, the Dutch beaches are a popular getaway for locals on a nice summer day. Zandvoort is more popular, as it’s easier to get to with a direct train, but Bloemendaal is more hip. Each beach is lined with a series of mostly outdoor restaurants and beach bars.

The sand is tan colored and there is plenty of it between the sea and the restaurants. The beaches can get pretty crowded, but since they are so deep and spread out you’ll never be jam packed like an Italian cove beach. 

The water in the North Sea is cold, like really cold, all year round. Most people don’t even go in the water. They just chill on the sand with a cooler of beer. You can bring whatever drinks and food you want to the beach, and if you run out the restaurants are always eager to sell you more!

How to get there

Zandvoort is a 30 minute train ride from Amsterdam Central Station. The train leaves every 30 minutes and if it’s a hot day you can expect it to be crowded with people going to the beach.  

To get to Bloemendaal you’ll have to take the train to Haarlem and then hop on the #81 bus to Bloemendaal. Or if you want some exercise, it’s about a 45 minute bike ride from Haarlem station. Parking is limited and overpriced, and on a nice day can be impossible to find. It’s best to take the bus.  

PRO TIP #1

The restaurants along the beach all serve essentially the same menu at the same price. There’s not a lot of variation. They’re all pretty good though, so if you fancy lunch or dinner you can choose based on your preferred ambiance and how crowded each place is. 

PRO TIP #2

The sun sets after 10:00 PM in peak summer in Amsterdam. That means it’s totally possible to go to the beach in the evening. You could spend the day exploring the city then catch the train to Zandvoort for a few hours on the beach followed by a late dinner watching the sunset over the North Sea. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve done that after work! 

The Hague

While The Hague is technically not the capital of the Netherlands (Amsterdam is), it kinda should be. All the government buildings are located there and all foreign embassies as well. The Binnenhof is the Dutch parliament building and you can go in and walk around for free. It’s a beautiful building to admire from the outside too. 

But perhaps The Hague is most famous for having the international criminal court, where multinational court cases are decided and arbitrated. It’s also known for the Hague Convention, which established various international laws. If you hear someone on the news say “The Hague” you can be almost certain it’s about one of these two things.

You can’t really visit the International Criminal Court for tourism purposes, but it’s a public courthouse and thus open to the public. No prior registration is needed to attend a hearing, just identification. 

There are many other things to see and do in the Hague as well. The city center is easily walkable, but you can also take trams all over the place anywhere you want to go.

Some other sites to be sure to check out are The Mauritshuis (if you’re into art), the Noordeinde Palace (the Dutch answer to Buckingham Palace), and Lange Voorhout, one of the most charming streets in the country.

How to get there:

Amsterdam and The Hague are well connected so you’ll never be waiting long on a train. There are various different options for getting there, including a few direct trains, so consult ns.nl before you depart. 

Tour Option: Guided Trip to Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague

PRO TIP

Just outside of The Hague is the perfectly little Dutch city of Delft, home to the country’s main technical university (like the MIT of the Netherlands) and the world famous pottery Delft Blue. It could be worth riding the train one extra stop for a quick tour of Delft. Though note that you can buy Delft Blue pottery all over the country.

Haarlem

Haarlem is only about 15 minutes from Amsterdam Central by train. I lived in Haarlem for two years. It’s a beautiful little Dutch city that is easy to walk around in a few hours. The main cathedral in the central square is the second largest in the country, and the most beautiful in my opinion.

There are all sorts of little alleyways to get lost in Haarlem. For a cool experience grab lunch at the Jopenkerk, a brewpub located in an old cathedral.

Speaking of cathedrals, Haarlem is known for having a crazy number of cathedrals per capita. Ironic, as the Dutch these days are some of the most least religious people in the world. You’ll hear church bells everywhere in the old city.

Another spectacular one is located just outside the city center. Kathedrale Basiliek Sint Bavo has two towers that rise above the surrounding houses and overlook the city. 

How to get there:

There is a train between Haarlem and Amsterdam about every 8 minutes and the ride takes about 15 minutes. It’s very common for people who live in Haarlem to work in Amsterdam, so it’s incredibly well connected. 

Tour Option: Sightseeing Boat Tour with Snacks and Drinks

PRO TIP

Haarlem is a popular place for people from smaller Dutch villages to come shopping. On weekends it can get pretty busy, as it is a very small and compact city. If you can, visit Haarlem on a weekday for a more relaxed experience.

If you do go on a weekend though, try to go on a Saturday morning so you can experience the Saturday market. The main square will be full of vendors selling everything from fresh stroopwafels to kitten mittens. 

Giethoorn

I’ve dedicated an entire post to Giethoorn and it focuses on whether or not it’s really worth visiting this apparent “car-free” village. Giethoorn is certainly a beautiful little place, full of canals and little cafes on the water. At the same time, it’s also super over-hyped.

It has car-free parts, but is no Venice. Whether or not you want to visit Giethoorn is entirely up to you. If you do be sure to read my full guide first.  

How to get there

Giethoorn is a bit of a hike on public transportation. From Amsterdam Central you’ll have to change trains in Almere and then take a bus from Steenwijk. The whole journey will take you just over two hours each way.

Once you get there it’s easy to walk everywhere. But if you don’t want to deal with changing trains and buses, consider renting a car. The drive is about 90 minutes and there is sufficient free parking available. 

Tour Option: Giethoorn Day Trip by Bus and Electric Boat

PRO TIP

The canals of Giethoorn can be ridiculously crowded on a nice summer day. To avoid the crowds go on a weekday if you can. And if you’re visiting in summer go early in the morning.

Once you’re there, be sure to rent a boat. No prior boating experience is necessary. It’s just like driving a go-kart. There are various companies that rent out boats by the hour, too many to list here. A simple Google search for boat rental Giethoorn will give you a few ideas. 

Kasteel de Haar

Kasteel de haar (Castle de Haar) is perhaps the most striking castle in all of the Netherlands. Located just northwest of Utrech, it’s an easy day trip or afternoon trip from Amsterdam. The castle is open to the public from 10:00 to 17:00 every day. 

The castle was the private residence of the Van Zuylen family. The current Van Zuylens still reside in the castle occasionally. It’s a beautiful building with splendid grounds, easy to enjoy by yourself, with friends, or with family. 

How to get there:

It’s possible to get to Kasteel de Haar on public transportation, but you’ll spend more time getting there than actually being there. From Amsterdam you’ll take a quick train to Utrecht then change trains, then get on the #127 bus, then wall 20 minutes. 

It’s better to have your own car when visiting Kasteel de Haar. If you don’t, you can always Uber from the nearest train station. And if you have some extra time at the end of the day, there are plenty of awesome things to do in Utrecht to fill the afternoon.

Tour Option: Castle De Haar Guided Tour from Amsterdam

PRO TIP

The castle is most spectacular from the outside. Inside, it’s not all that different from other European palaces. The ticket for Kasteel de Haar is 19 euros per adult. But if you don’t go inside and just enjoy the grounds and the view from the outside, it’s only 7 euros.

Antwerp, Belgium

While some of the most popular Belgian cities like Ghent and Bruges are a bit too far for a day trip from Amsterdam (though you can get to Ghent in about two and a half hours), the gorgeous city of Antwerp is just across the border and a quick direct train ride from Amsterdam.

Antwerp is known for being the center of the global diamond trade. You’re probably not shopping for diamonds on a day trip though, so we’ll leave that aside for now. 

Antwerp has an incredibly beautiful central square, known as the grote markt. It’s lined with buildings featuring traditional Flemish architecture (which is very similar to Dutch architecture). The stunning City Hall building is also located on the main square. And the massive Cathedral of our Lady Antwerp is just behind a row of buildings on the square, its tower visible from almost anywhere downtown. 

Since Antwerp is in a different country, the culinary options are different. Be sure to try traditional Flemish stew if you’re not full already from waffles and chocolate. And do we even need to discuss Belgian beer?

There are numerous beer cafes in the city to get your drink on. Antwerp is a decently large city so you’ll only be able to scratch the surface on a day trip, but you’ll get a great introduction to Belgium for planning your next trip to Europe. 

How to get there

Antwerp is an easy direct train from Amsterdam Central Station. The Thalys train takes about 1 hour 15 minutes and drops you right in the heart of Antwerp. The cost of the journey can really vary though. If you get a sale it can be as cheap as 38 euros round trip. You could also pay as much as 180 euros. 

Tour Option: Private 3-Hour Historical Sightseeing Walking Tour

PRO TIP

Avoid eating at the overpriced and touristy restaurants on the main square. Get a few blocks off for the best Belgian food with classic ambiance and tasty brews to accompany your meal. 

Dusseldorf, Germany

Dusseldorf is not a place you hear often when talking about day trips from Amsterdam. But this modern German city offers a stark contrast from Amsterdam. While German and Dutch cultures have a lot of similarities, they are quite different. And a day in Dusseldorf will show you why.

The city was mostly destroyed in WW2 and has been rebuilt. Only a few original historical buildings remain. There are certainly far more beautiful cities in Germany, but German culture is rooted deep in Dusseldorf.

Stop by Zum Schlüssel to experience a traditional German brewery. They don’t even ask you what you want to order when you sit down. They just bring you beer whether you want it or not. You won’t find anything like that in the Netherlands!

Dusseldorf is a medium-sized city, so a walking tour around the city will take most of the day. Be sure to check out a few other historic breweries on your walk and taste some fantastic authentic German food. 

How to get there

The ICE127 international train runs from Amsterdam to Dusseldorf and takes just over two hours. You’ll have to book tickets in advance through NS International. Round trip can cost as low as 40 euros or as much as 80. 

Tour Option: Brewery Tour with Alt Beer Tastings

PRO TIP

For some of the absolute best pork knuckle on the planet be sure to stop by Schweine Janes Altstadt. Pork knuckle is a staple of German cuisine and no one makes it better than this place. Enjoy!

Day Trips from Amsterdam – FAQs

Final Word 

As you see by now there is no shortage of awesome day trips from Amsterdam for you to experience on your stay in the Netherlands. And we didn’t even get into Utrecht, Rotterdam, and some of the other hip Dutch cities. Let alone overnight trips like Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Cochem, and Bremen.

From quaint little Dutch villages to bustling cities in other countries, Amsterdam is close to some awesome places. You’ll never get bored in the Dutch capital with all these amazing day trip options!