Great places to see near Amsterdam and where to stay outside the city
With windmills, canals and tulips galore, discover stunning places to explore near Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most popular cities, and rightfully so, as it’s also one of the most beautiful, with its picture-perfect canals, quaint architecture and welcoming cafes. But Amsterdam is a small city and it can get very crowded. Plus, don’t forget to explore further afield as there is a lot to do and see within easy striking distance of Amsterdam. Check out our list of the best places to see and stay near Amsterdam that are worth a day trip or overnight stay outside the city.
01
The Windmills – Zaanse Schans
The historic neighbourhood of Zaanse Schans is the best place to see Holland’s most iconic structures: windmills. There are eight beautiful and historic windmills to explore in Zaanse Schans. All of them were constructed in various locations across the country in the 1500s and then were relocated here (between 1961 and 1974) to preserve them.
Only 20 minutes from Amsterdam by train, Zaanse Schans immerses you in traditional Dutch architecture, especially if you take a Dutch Countryside Tour with Windmills, Volendam & Marken.
02
Flower Strip – Bollenstreek
Visit Amsterdam in the spring or summer and you’ll see flowers everywhere. Tulips are Holland’s most famous bloom, but there are also crocuses, daffodils, dahlias, carnations and more, all planted in gloriously colourful fields.
The main area, the Flower Strip (Bollenstreek), covers 20 miles between Haarlem and Leiden. A lovely way to experience the Flower Strip is to take inspiration from the locals and head out on a bicycle tour of the region.
03
Keukenhof Gardens
If you’re visiting the Flower Strip, pop to the world’s largest flower garden nearby. Some seven million blooms grow across Keukenhof Gardens’ 80 acres. The serene landscaped gardens, ponds and pathways provide a peaceful alternative to the giant open fields of the Flower Strip.
Combine your journey with a private sightseeing tour to Keukenhof and the windmills.
04
Haarlem
The small market city of Haarlem equals Amsterdam with even more Gothic architecture, medieval streets and historic sites. The centre of the action is the Grote Markt, a photogenic town square in front of the impressive Church of St Bavo and home to a charming market.
In Haarlem you can also tour the De Adriaan windmill on the banks of the River Spaarne, which offers stunning views over the rooftops and canals. Owing to its busy market, Haarlem is also a great place to sample Dutch food, including the country’s many delicious cheeses. For a sobering dose of history, the Corrie Ten Boomhuis is a fascinating museum about resistance to the Nazis during World War II.
05
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is Holland’s second-largest city. Though it was heavily bombed during World War II, it now has a dazzling collection of modern architecture, including the tallest building in the Netherlands, the Maastoren tower.
It also celebrates cutting-edge design in its De Rotterdam building, with its unusual interlinking of three glass-fronted tower blocks. A relaxed, friendly atmosphere along with great restaurants and cafes make Rotterdam an ideal place to spend a couple of nights.
06
Marken & Volendam
The little fishing village of Marken was an island for several centuries after a storm separated it from the mainland in the 1300s. It was only reconnected to the mainland by a dyke in the 1950s. Marken retains its traditional atmosphere thanks to its many wooden houses built on stilts. It’s a wonderful place to see examples of traditional Dutch culture and crafts, including the famous wooden clogs.
The best way to get to Marken is by boat from Volendam, another fishing village on the mainland that boasts a popular promenade full of cafes, souvenir shops, and bobbing boats. You might even spot some local residents wearing traditional Dutch clothing.
07
Edam
You wouldn’t want to visit the Netherlands without trying one of its most famous cheeses. Made in the town of Edam, the iconic waxed cheese of the same name is very much the village’s most-famous export, and you’ll find plenty of shops selling it. Between April and September, head to the De Kaaswaag museum for an exhibition on cheesemaking.
Cheese-aside, the village itself is simply beautiful and charmingly quaint, with well-preserved medieval architecture, a 14th-century bell tower and the Kwakelbrug, a drawbridge still operated by hand.
08
Giethoorn
This pretty, mostly car-free village contains a collection of thatched-roofed cottages on manicured lawns overlooking dozens of tiny canals. In the Overijssel province of the Netherlands, you’ll find the atmosphere is a pastoral and serene change from the looming Gothic townhouses of Amsterdam.
Because the village is criss-crossed by so many canals (indeed, some houses in Giethoorn can only be reached by boat), there are also a lot of bridges—more than 170—which you can explore on a guided sightseeing tour to Giethoorn from Amsterdam.
09
Utrecht
Utrecht is an ancient university town 25 miles south of Amsterdam. It has the classic Dutch layout of circular canals that grow outwards from its central Dom Tower.
Alongside the photogenic canals, old converted warehouses now function as cafes, bars and boutique hotels that help give Utrecht its exciting, trendy reputation.
Find somewhere to stay by checking out the best hotels in Amsterdam.
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