Welcome to our travel blog! In this post we’ve shared with you our journey through the Netherlands. While the Dutch capital undeniably holds a magnetic charm, there is so much more to discover in this enchanting country. From picturesque windmills and vibrant tulip fields to quaint canal-side towns the Netherlands is a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to be explored.
As we’ve said before, in the past, our trips to Europe were a hopscotch between different countries. More recently though, we made a conscious decision to take it slow, especially now that we have a toddler in tow. Similar to how we explored Spain, we immersed ourselves in the sights, food and culture of one country. As we were travelling in the month of May, the Netherlands stood out to us as it’s the shoulder tourist season and it’s also the tulip season this time of the year.
Here is a summarised version of our one week in the Netherlands:
Amsterdam (Day 1 – 4)
Getting to Amsterdam: We landed at the Schiphol Airport and had a pre-booked taxi waiting for us, to take us to the hotel. In the past though, we have taken the train which is fast, convenient and takes about 20 mins to Amsterdam Centraal / city center.
Accommodation: We stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton, right next to the Amsterdam Centraal station. This is right in the city center making it very easy to explore most places of interest by foot or by taking trams. In the past, we have stayed in an AirBnb away from the city center but in an area that was well connected by tram.
Commuting: As we were centrally situated, most of our sight seeing was on foot. On some occasions, we took the trams which were very efficient, safe and pocket-friendly.
Things to do in Amsterdam:
- We had been to Amsterdam before so we had already visited some of the sights but if we had to pick, we’d suggest visiting the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House (i.e. if you’re into or curious about WWII history).
- This time around we had a great foodie day at Foodhallen. This is an indoor food market housed in a renovated tram depot, which gives it a trendy atmosphere. It’s open all days of the week, from 12:00PM onwards. The market features a variety of food stalls offering a wide range of cuisines from around the world with several vegetarian and vegan options. We think Foodhallen is a great to-do for foodies or anyone looking for a fun and enjoyable experience in Amsterdam. Watch our food vlog from Amsterdam, here.
- We also enjoyed exploring an outdoor market, called the Albert Cuyp Market. It’s open six days from Monday to Saturday and is a bustling hub of activity, featuring 200+ stalls selling a wide range of goods, including fresh produce, clothing, accessories, souvenirs and more. It’s also a great place to find authentic Dutch treats, such as stroopwafels, poffertjes, dutch style fries etc.
- Next on our list was visiting the Vondelpark. This is a free public park spread over 47 hectares and provides a green open space for walking, cycling, picnics etc. It also houses cafes, restaurants and children play areas making it a great family friendly destination.
- No trip to Amsterdam is complete without taking a canal cruise. We hadn’t made any advance bookings but luckily we found a spot on an open boat with KINboat. It was an hour-long cruise which started and ended back at the Centraal station and cost about 20 euros per adult and 10 euros for kids between 3-12 years and free of cost for kids below 3 years. We really enjoyed the beautiful sights and the leisurely pace of this cruise and recommend it as a must-do activity especially if this is your first time in Amsterdam.
- Lastly, in the spirit of taking it slow, we enjoyed several leisurely meals and coffee/drinks by canal side cafes. There are many in Amsterdam and you’ll spot so many along the network of canals in the city. Pop into any that you fancy and enjoy the beautiful views along with some Dutch treats.
Here’s our Amsterdam travel vlog which will bring the above to life. Give it a watch! Detailed Amsterdam Travel Guide, here.
- Day Trip from Amsterdam to the Dutch countryside: One of the days while we were still in Amsterdam, we headed out early in the morning for a day trip to explore the Dutch countryside. For this we booked a private car tour with Safar Limousine service.
Our first stop for the day was at Zaanse Schans. This is a small village famous for its well-preserved windmills, traditional houses, and crafts such as clog-making, and cheese-making. To get here from Amsterdam you can also take public transport or you may go for a guided tour as an alternative.
The entry to the village is free and you can take a walk through it and admire the historic windmills, iconic green wooden houses with their cute backyards, farms and farm animals, bridges and streams with ducks swimming around. If you’re with kids, chances are that they’ll have a great time here.
Travel Tip: Combine the visit to Zaanse Schans with a visit to Zandaam which boasts a unique architectural landscape with its colorful houses and traditional Dutch facades.
After this, we drove around the lovely Dutch countryside getting glimpses of the cottages, the farms and fields, occasionally coming across small patches of tulip fields as well. We made three additional pitstops on this tour – at Edam (a cute little town famous for its cheese), Volendam (a laid-back fishing town) and at the Henri Willig Cheese Farm (where you can learn about the cheese making process, sample and buy cheese to take back home).
Watch our Dutch countryside explorations here.
Haarlem (Day 5-7)
Getting to Haarlem: The next morning, we packed our bags and headed out to the Amsterdam Centraal station to catch a sprinter train ride to the small town of Haarlem. It’s only a 20 min ride and no advance ticket booking is needed. You can simply check the train schedule and enter using a contactless card or wallet, like Apple Pay. And the journey costs only 5 euros per person.
Accommodation: We stayed at Hotel Lion D’Or, right next to the Haarlem station. This is walking distance from the central market square making it very easy to explore most places of interest by foot or by taking trains to towns nearby.
Commuting: As we centrally situated most of our sight seeing was on foot. To get to nearby towns of Lisse, Hillegom we took rides on sprinter trains.
Things to do in Haarlem:
Haarlem is known for cultural attractions, a charming atmosphere and a vibrant shopping scene. Many people choose to do a day trip to Haarlem but we chose to stay here a couple of nights, as it’s less crowded and more relaxed compared to Amsterdam.
- As the weather was lovely the evening we arrived in Haarlem, we decided to go for a canal cruise. Same like in Amsterdam we didn’t make any advance booking, we just showed up and bought tickets on the spot – and same as before we opted to go on an open boat to enjoy the sunny day. We went with Smidtje Canal cruises and it was a 50 min cruise for about 19 euros per adult. It was a very pleasant ride with pretty views and one that took you around the town with an audio guide pointing out places of historical significance.
- Haarlem also offers a diverse range of shopping opportunities, including clothing, shoes, and accessories. The city is known for its charming streets lined with boutique shops, specialty stores, and well-known brands. The area around the central market square is a good place to start your shopping exploration here.
- We also had a great time at the Saturday market in Haarlem which takes place in the central square in the city center. It is held from early morning until late afternoon, typically starting around 9 am. The market offers a variety of products, including fresh produce, flowers, clothing, accessories, home goods, and more. The market is an enjoyable way to immerse yourself in the local culture, taste regional products, and find unique items to take home.
- The Central Market Square / Grote Market is a bustling square lined with several historical buildings, the most imposing of which is the St.-Bavokerk church. It’s also a great place to hangout for some food and drinks in one of the many cafes and restaurants situated here.
In this next section let us share where and how we explored the world famous tulips in the Netherlands.
The tulip season in the Netherlands typically begins in late March and lasts until mid-May and the peak bloom period usually falls in mid-April, although the exact timing can vary depending on weather conditions. We visited the Netherlands in early May so we missed the peak bloom phase but we were still able to see and admire a lot of the colorful and vibrant gardens and fields.
- On a sunny morning we headed to the Keukenhof gardens located in Lisse town. This admittedly is a very touristy way of seeing the tulips but it boasts 7 million flowers and 800 varieties of tulips. We traveled to the garden from Haarlem and as we wanted to get there early to beat the crowds we took an Uber ride to get to it. However, public transport options are also available from both Amsterdam and Haarlem. The entry ticket is about 20 euros per adult and it’s wise to book online in advance. The garden is usually open to the public from late March to mid-May.
- After we were done in the garden we headed towards Rent-a-Bike cycling rental located just outside the main entrance to the garden. Surrounding the Keukenhof Gardens, you’ll find picturesque bike trails that allow you to explore the stunning tulip fields and the scenic countryside and we wanted to explore some of it. We rented two bicycles for 3 hours and it cost us 11 euros per cycle + 3 euros additional for a child seat. The cycle paths are very well marked and you can follow one or more of the bike trails from a map that the bike rental provides. Sooner than we expected, the tulip fields started to appear and we couldn’t help but make several pit stops to take lots of pictures. We loved cycling around the Dutch countryside spotting fields and farms and by the end of it we wished we had more time at hand to explore more of this area on bicycles.
- On our last day in the Netherlands, we wanted to explore more of the countryside and the tulip fields. For this, we took a sprinter train ride from Haarlem to a small town called Hillegom. And from the Hillegom station, we walked to the The Tulip Barn where you can pay to enter tulip fields. While it’s a touristy way of seeing the tulips, it costs only 7.50 euros per adult and they have placed several props in the fields – such as swings, a tractor, a scooter etc. providing fun photo opportunities. There’s also a children’s play area and a cafe for snacks and drinks making this a nice family friendly destination in the Dutch countryside.
This rounds up our exploration of the Netherlands. Thanks for stopping by and we hope that this gives you a starting point for planning your own itinerary to this beautiful country. As always feel free to leave your thoughts and questions below and we’ll try our best to answer them. Until next time, take care!
