Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most poorly kept travel secrets, with 15 million tourists visiting the city of 800,000 people in 2013 alone. It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t yet sold the charms of Holland’s most ubiquitous tourist destination. But what many visitors don’t realize is that being in Amsterdam puts the rest of the Netherlands at your fingertips. Taking any of these three-day trips from Amsterdam is a great start
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porcelain de Delft
Delft has all the bikes, canals and townhouses of Amsterdam, without any of the grand circumstances and pomp of the big city. Centered around a 15th century town hall and a 13th century church, Delft is not only one of the most important Dutch cities in the Netherlands, it is even an attractive alternative base.
Places to stay in Delft, from hotels, hostels, to Airbnb apartments, tend to be much cheaper than hotels in Amsterdam, whose frequent and short train service to Delft makes for one of the easiest day trips. to take, in any direction. Or, to give this idea more spin, you could stay in Delft and take day trips to Amsterdam!
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Hague
When you think of The Hague, the first thing that generally comes to mind is the International Criminal Court, or some high-profile case that has recently been heard. What you may not realize is that The Hague, known in Dutch as ‘Den Haag’, is the home of the Dutch Royal Family, who also might not realize it still exists.
Although the central Binnenhof square boasts a structure built between the 13th and 19th centuries, The Hague’s most interesting architecture is its many high-rise buildings (for the Netherlands, anyway), which are a rarity in this country of low altitude. The Hague is also the closest Dutch city to Scheveningen, the most popular seaside resort in the country and a charming place at any time of the year.
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Utrecht
The Dutch did not secure their place in the historical canon until the late Middle Ages, which is just one reason why the city of Utrecht, founded in AD 47. By the Roman Emperor Claudius, it might surprise you, especially given the modern vibe. This city full of students tends to give most days of the week.
Of course, modern times are the last thing on your mind as you explore De Dom, a 13th century Gothic church that took over 200 years to build, or the dozens of other old churches, houses and other buildings that dot the historic center. from Utrecht Utrecht is also home to a wealth of modern charms, from quaint cafes to eclectic music shops and performance venues to gastronomy from around the world.
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Kinderdijk
Few places in the Netherlands are more traditionally Dutch than Kinderdijk, which consists of several 17th-century windmills towering over a low plain that, in any other country in the world, would have long ago been claimed by the sea. If you visit in the spring months of April or May, many of the nearby fields will be covered in tulips, a coincidence that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into some kind of Dutch dream.
Even more Dutch is the fact that you can take a boat there, once you get to the southern city of Rotterdam anyway, which is also a great option for a day trip from Amsterdam, in case you don’t. have you noticed, many of them.
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Choose your own adventure
The whole of Holland, whose cultural, architectural and historical richness hides its small geographic footprint, is literally at your fingertips when you stay in Amsterdam. While you could spend all your time in the Netherlands exploring its capital, but one way to transcend the typical tourist trip is to stay two or three days in Amsterdam, then take one or all of them! – These day trips to fully complete your experience. You can even travel to nearby countries like Belgium and Luxembourg if you run into itchy feet while in the Netherlands.
