Places around Amsterdam - Explore the cities (2023)

Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans is a popular tourist destination near Amsterdam, with several well-preserved windmills of various functions located very close to each other. This makes Zaanse Schans one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands. An interesting fact is that in different regions of the Netherlands you can also find different constructions of windmills, which is why Zaanse Schans has a sense of uniqueness. Here you can find many interesting attractions such as the only surviving windmill in the world for producing paints, a bakery museum, a clock museum, a distillery museum and the famous Zaanse museum. This is an interesting place to visit if you want a day of Dutch culture outside of Amsterdam.

Keukenhof

One of the most impressive and distinctive Dutch attractions in Holland is the Keukenhof flower park, which is a great place for a romantic stroll. The Netherlands is the biggest exporter of flowers in the world. It is here in Keukenhof that the Dutch flower industry sets out to show what it has to offer, resulting in huge landscaped flower gardens. Every year you can see over 7 million planted flowers blooming on over 320,000 square meters or 79 acres of land, set in the grounds of Keukenhof Castle, built in 1642. Keukenhof usually opens in late March, April and starts in May. So if you visit Holland on King's Day, the flowers will likely be in full bloom. Holland's famous tulip fields are located around Keukenhof, so you can cycle, sail or even take an aerial tour of the region.

Visita a Keukenhof
Once a year, the big flower parade called Bloemencorso takes place on the outskirts of Keukenhof. At Meet The Cities, we recommend visiting this parade to see the carnival carts filled with amazing floral creations. This flower parade will take place on April 22, 2023.

The Keukenhof flower park itself can be admired in all its glory for several months of the year. In 2023, Keukenhof will be open from March 23, 2023 to May 14, 2023.

Volendama

Volendam is a Dutch fishing village and a popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. Each region of the Netherlands has its own variation of traditional clothing, but the traditional folk costumes of Volendam are world famous. That's why people come here to see and take pictures of people in traditional Dutch dress, and even to wear it. Volendam is also famous for its excellent fish restaurants, where smoked eel is a traditional local delicacy. You can also hire a boat from the harbor and spend a relaxing day sailing the waters. In the Netherlands, Volendam is known as the city of singers because, despite being a relatively small village, Volendam is known for producing many Dutch folk and pop singers and for its own distinctive sound, which is very popular in the Netherlands.

Madurodam

If you want to see all the beautiful parts of Holland in one day and with a panoramic view, you can do it in Madurodam. Madurodam is a miniature park that houses most of the sights in the Netherlands. Models of the park are constructed as accurately as possible and are based on 1:25 scale. The park also offers many children's games related to historical events in the Netherlands.

Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk is one of the most characteristic and beautiful parts of the Netherlands. When we think of Holland, we think of windmills. Nowhere else will you find as many iconic windmills packed together and working together as in Kinderdijk. The watermills were originally built in the 15th century, but now the 19 windmills are mostly from the 18th century and collectively pump water from the polders. Holland has drained land and managed water since the Middle Ages. Kinderdijk is a place of historical interest as you can see how water was managed in the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to modern times.

A trip to Brussels or Paris

You can spend weeks in Amsterdam and discover more interesting things to do. However, if you are going on a trip around Europe, then you do not have to limit yourself to one city. Amsterdam has good public transport connections. Many high-speed trains from Amsterdam go directly to Rotterdam, Brussels and Paris. For €35 (2018) you can travel from Amsterdam to Paris in three and a half hours by train. For a seasoned tourist, it's definitely worth considering.

cheese fair

The Netherlands is the land of cheese and the home of cheese for centuries. If you want to experience a bit of Dutch culture and cuisine, a visit here could be fun. On certain days, cheese markets can be found in Alkmaar, Gouda, Edam, Hoorn and Woerden. A trip to Alkmaar for the traditional cheese market, eating cheese and drinking beer on the terrace or on a canal cruise is a great way to spend the day. If you are more curious to know where the world famous Gouda cheese comes from, you can visit Gouda and see the typical Dutch cheese makers at work.

Eftelinga

Efteling is the largest theme park in the Netherlands and one of the oldest theme parks in the world. What started out as a fairytale forest where children's stories come to life has evolved over the years into more of an amusement park with roller coasters, roller coasters and indoor attractions for children such as a carnival festival where dolls play fantasize to showcase cultures from around the world. world world.The world in a fun way. Efteling is a lovely place for a family day out.

Giethoorn

Giethoorn is a beautiful green village with 800 years of history in the east of the Netherlands. It is located next to the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, which is the largest wetland in Western Europe. It is known that in the old part of the village there are no roads. The main means of transport in this village is the boat, as many of the houses are built on small islands that can only be reached by waterways or by walking or cycling over one of the 180 bridges. Giethoorn is the perfect place for a relaxing boat trip, a canoe trip or a bike ride through Giethoorn and the surrounding nature.

Both

Utrecht is a 2000 year old city founded by the Romans. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. One of the most distinctive features of Utrecht, unique in the world, are the canals below street level with their own piers. If you go down to the lower level of the street near the canals, you will find many chic restaurants and Dutch crepes to enjoy. As Utrecht has probably the most beautiful canals in the Netherlands, it's fun to rent a pedal boat and navigate the canals on the water.

The largest cathedral in Holland, the Dom Church, is located in the heart of the city. The town is dominated by a Gothic church 112 meters high. The church is open to the public if you are up to the challenge of climbing the narrow stairs. There are also many terraces and cafes in the city center where you can enjoy a beer in the sun. This is because Utrecht is home to the largest universities in the Netherlands. Therefore, there are many students who like to drink half a liter of beer during the day. Unsurprisingly, Utrecht also has a very active nightlife, with many trendy cafes, cinemas and clubs.

Utrecht is in the heart of the Netherlands and is a bottleneck for public transport, so if you take the train from Amsterdam you can be there in 30 minutes. Excellent infrastructure and a large shopping center have made Utrecht a popular shopping destination. It is definitely a recommendable place to visit.

To do

The Hague is the third city of the Netherlands. The Hague is known as the international legal capital of many international institutions such as the International Court of Justice at the Peace Palace. While Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, The Hague is home to the Dutch Parliament, the Supreme Court and the King. many excellent buildings and museums, such as the sensational Escher Museum. The Hague is also home to many statues of important historical figures who changed the course of Dutch history. There are many things to see in the city. On hot summer days, the Dutch and Germans usually go to The Hague in search of Scheveningen beach.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a working-class port city located on the banks of the Meuse River, with the largest port in Europe. The city really stands out from Dutch cities for its modern and innovative architecture. While other Dutch cities prefer a traditional look, Rotterdam is the only Dutch city where tall buildings and state-of-the-art architecture are common. This is partly due to the need to rebuild the center of Rotterdam after the Second World War. The center of Rotterdam offers a great shopping experience. The best way to get to Rotterdam for shopping is to use the so-calledtremfrom Amsterdam.

delta plants

Delta Works (Deltawerken) is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, as it is one of the greatest civil engineering achievements of the last century. Holland has been draining water and reclaiming land from the sea since the Middle Ages, and anti-water organizations predate the country itself. Therefore, most of the Netherlands is below sea level. After the North Sea flood of 1953, the Netherlands decided there would never be flooding again and built a network of weak dams, dykes, storm surge barriers and other water defenses to secure the country's future. Walking through Zeeland, you will be able to see these historic structures that show how the Dutch controlled the ocean.

Maastricht

Maastricht is a very historic and romantic city founded by the Romans two thousand years ago on the banks of the Meuse River. It is located in the mountainous southeastern part of the Netherlands, close to the German and Belgian borders. Over the centuries, the city has accumulated a mixture of architectural monuments, with influences from all neighboring countries. There are many cafes and restaurants in the city as people take pride in living the good life. Being in the Catholic part of the Dutch carnival is celebrated lavishly in Maastricht.

Flevolândia

Flevoland is the largest man-made island in the world. The Netherlands built a large dam, the Afsluitdijk, which separates a large bay from the North Sea, turning it into Lake IJsselmeer. And on this lake the province of Flevoland was reconquered from the sea. Much of Flevoland is used by agriculture and nature, so it has the largest tulip fields in the Netherlands, making it a great place to take a bike ride or even a viaduct. But you can go shopping, for example, at the Batavia Stad clothing store.

Amsterdam defense line

Holland has a tradition of using water to repel invaders. There are water defense lines throughout the Netherlands. If the Low Countries were invaded by a foreign power, areas would be flooded to prevent enemy influx. This gave Holland a decisive advantage in several defensive encounters. Amsterdam is surrounded by a network of historic fortresses and waterways that can be flooded, making Amsterdam almost an island. Although the water supply systems around Amsterdam were never used during the war, they worried the Germans enough not to invade the Netherlands during World War I. Currently, the Stelling van Amsterdam functions primarily as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is open to the public.

Fort Bourtange

Fort Bourtange is a century-old star-shaped fort with star-shaped moats, originally intended to protect the road from Germany to the city of Groningen. The founder of the Netherlands, William of Orange, ordered the construction of this fortress to cut the line between Groningen and Germany. Despite many attacks, the fort was never captured by foreign forces. It now functions as a tourist attraction of historic value with several museums and occasional historical reenactments.

Naardena

Naarden is a star-shaped fortress city. It is one of the best preserved fortifications in Europe. The fortification has double canals and forms part of the Dutch defensive waterways. For a cultural traveler who has arrived in Amsterdam by car, this might be worth a visit due to its proximity to Amsterdam, allowing you to walk along the city's double walls and see the six bulwarks, enjoy a city drink or visit the Museum of the Dutch Fortress.

Castelo de Haar

Kasteel de Haar is the largest and probably the most beautiful castle in the Netherlands. A neo-gothic castle with 200 chambers, towers and bridges and an iconic setting is exactly what you would expect from a dream castle. The castle and park are open to guided tours where you can really see the majesty of the castle and its interiors. And see the antiques that the Baron's family has collected over the years.

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