Amsterdam Is Overrated: 10 Day Trips in the Netherlands

Lots of people have asked me whether Amsterdam is worth spending a lot of time in, or if they should take day trips elsewhere in the Netherlands.

So first, is Amsterdam overrated as my title claims?

In some ways, yes.

I’ll start off by saying Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities in the world. It has the most nationalities and languages spoken in one city, hosting more than 5 million tourists every year.

There is of course a reason for that. Museums, history, art, a rep for being progressive and the romantic canals are some of the reasons why many tourists visit Amsterdam.

But as much as tourists love to travel to Amsterdam, having explored much of the country myself, I can safely say Amsterdam is overrated compared to other places in the Netherlands.

The historic streets and canals forming the crescent around the central station of Amsterdam are always packed with tourists. Worse yet, most are either drunk or under the influence of the infamous Dutch weed. The worst kind of tourist.

Whenever I visited Amsterdam, I made a point of avoiding the crowded tourist areas, which otherwise could have been lovely places to take a stroll through history.

Sure, you should still see Amsterdam during your trip to the Netherlands.

But you should put aside some time on your trip to see what the rest of the country has to offer. You will have a much better trip to Amsterdam if you take day trips to other places in the Netherlands!

I was surprised to find how many interesting, day trip-worthy cities near Amsterdam exist in this teeny tiny country, yet here they are.

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Day Trip #1: Utrecht

First on the list is actually the city I lived in. And I’m not totally biased in saying that Utrecht is better than Amsterdam.

Many people describe Utrecht as being like Amsterdam, only smaller, with prettier canals and without the tourists– sound like the perfect day trip? That’s because it is!

Utrecht is a medieval city that throughout history has served as the hub of the country, as it lies right in the center of the Netherlands.

Its canals are the most unique in the country because they are two story, meaning you can take stairs down from the street to hang out level with the water. There are lots of restaurants down next to the canals where you can enjoy a meal or drink.

The reason why Utrecht has these canals is because trade items brought on the canal were taken into the basement cellars straight off the water. A lot of these old storage centers have been turned into cute cafes, restaurants and even a night club.

Utrecht is now a vibrant student city, with lots of bars and events geared toward its youthful population.

Perhaps the biggest pride and more iconic feature of the city is the Dom Tower. It’s the tallest clock tower in the country and looms over the entire city center.

[Tip: If you’re a writer, Utrecht might be the best city in the Netherlands for a writing retreat. Check out my Writer’s Travel Guide to Utrecht, the NL: Writing Spots.]

Also: 

If you like biking, a bike ride to Kasteel De Haar is doable from Utrecht–I did it multiple times. If you’re not up for an hour long bike ride (one way), there’s a bus you can take from Utrecht.

This castle is the largest in the country, and the interior is gorgeous. I’ve been there three times and was impressed each time. It also has beautiful gardens, and the grounds are massive.

It’s also possible to bike from Amsterdam to Utrecht for a more active day trip. I know because I’ve done it. It’s about 40 km one way (which took me around 2 and a half hours). So set aside around 5 hours for the bike ride alone. It’s mostly through the middle of nowhere, which is nice if you like the countryside like me. But it’s not for anyone who’s out of shape and without a good GPS on their phone.

Day Trip #2: The Hague and Schevinegen

I would combine these two for one day trip from Amsterdam, since these two places are so close to each other.

Although Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, The Hague is the location of the Dutch government buildings. It’s also the location of the International Court of Justice, the international court of the United Nations.

This fact is actually the reason why I chose to do a Master’s in Public International Law in the Netherlands, and resultantly I have visited it several times. The building in which the court is located, the Palace of Justice, is absolutely gorgeous on the inside. I highly recommend you take a tour of the inside, which is the only way to get inside as a tourist.

There are also various museums throughout the city, such as the Mauritshuis art museum, and the large park is a nature oasis within the city.

Overall, The Hague kind of reminded me of Geneva, Switzerland. Both have lots of international inhabitants due to being hosts of UN buildings, and both drip in subtle elegance.

Once you have your cultural fill in The Hague, take a bus or tram over to the beach town of Schevinegen.

Here you can lay out on the sandy beach (if you’re lucky enough not to be caught in rain) or take a walk on the pier.

Luckily, while you can walk on top of the pier in nice weather, there is a space beneath it where you can take shelter in case of rain. You can enjoy food from the various restaurants housed in there, grab a drink from a bar or even shop.

Day Trip #3: Maastricht

So this city is a bit far for a day trip; it’s about 3 hours by train one way from Amsterdam. It is well worth it, though, and I’d recommend an overnight stay. I stayed only one night, but I wish I stayed more!

Maastricht is my favorite city in the Netherlands because of the rich and diverse history that makes it so unique.

It lies far down in the south and was fought over throughout much of history. As a result, many different cultures still have influence on it.

The reason why I like this city so much is because it differs a lot from other Dutch cities, having lots of French roots in addition to the Dutch. This city also feels more “European” than the rest of the Netherlands–again, probably due to the French influence.

While most of the remaining churches in the rest of the Netherlands are not very impressive inside due to the prominence of Protestantism, Catholicism was much stronger in the south. Therefore, the architecture and décor of the cathedral and other Catholic churches are gorgeous and much more grand.

Other highlights of this city are the underground caves, the fort and the remains of the medieval wall and gate. I particularly enjoyed the bookstore Dominicanen, which is housed in a former 13^th century church.

Day Trip #4: Lisse (Keukenhof Gardens)

Keukenhof’s tulip fields are probably the best way for a tourist to see the famous Dutch tulip fields. As a result, this is one of the most popular day trips from Amsterdam in the spring.

There are plenty of buses that go straight from Amsterdam to Keukenhof, the largest flower garden in Europe, and which runs along tulip fields.

Keep in mind that the Keukenhof park is only open for a few weeks each year- the few weeks that tulips are in bloom. This is usually in March and April, so if you’re not going to be in the Netherlands then, don’t bother visiting the park. It will be closed!

If you do happen to be in Amsterdam at this time, definitely make the trip! I wouldn’t go on a weekend as it gets very crowded then, so try to go on a weekday.

Not only can you visit this humongous park with lots of garden ideas held within, but you can take a boat on the canals running through the tulip fields or rent a bike to bike along the fields as well.

Day Trip #5: Rotterdam

This city is one of the most unique cities in that it feels much more modern than the rest of the country. There’s a reason for that: in World War II, much of Rotterdam was destroyed.

This important port city made the most of this and began a hub of interesting, modern architecture. If you’re a fan of odd, mind bending buildings, this is the city for you.

Some of the most notable are the Cube Houses, Erasmus Bridge and the Market Hall.

If you’d like an expert to tell you more about the architecture of this city, consider taking a tour. It’s one thing to wander around the city alone marveling at the architecture, but a completely other experience to have a local architect give you more in depth knowledge.

Day Trip #6: Delft

This small city has an adorable city center and a vibrant student life. Perhaps what Delft is most known for, however, is its pottery.

The Royal Delft Blue pottery is world famous and extremely expensive. If you visit the factory you will learn why that is so: each Delft piece is hand painted and crafted in a long process.

(Don’t worry–you can buy fake Delft pottery all over the country, which is much more affordable!)

The factory is now a museum, and it’s really worth the visit. You learn a lot about the process and could even see an artist making a piece in person! They also hold a large collection of Delftware and you will learn how to identify if a piece of pottery is authentic Royal Delft, or just a knockoff.

When you’re done, don’t miss the main square in the city center, where the City Hall and large church tower are located.

Day Trip #7: Giethoorn

This is one of the most unique and magical little villages in the Netherlands. Why? Because instead of roads, they have canals!

Like a whimsical version of Venice, travel through the village is by done mostly by boat. You can take a boat ride on the canals of the village and admire the cute little houses that are hundreds of years old.

Take a break from all the biking in this country, because it’s not an option for most of Giethoorn. And ditch your car if you have one, because it won’t get you far in this carless village.

I’d recommend taking this tour. It includes a coach bus transportation, a stop at the famous dike keeping the country from flooding, a guided boat tour in Giethoorn and a free canal ride back in Amsterdam.

It will be cool comparing the quaint village canals in Giethoorn to the busy city canals in Amsterdam, so put this village on your list of day trips to take!

Day Trip #8: Haarlem

Located only 15 minutes away from Amsterdam, this can even be a half-day trip if you’re pressed for time. I visited this city during Christmastime, and I highly suggest visiting Haarlem at this time too.

This is because the entire city center becomes a giant Christmas market; seriously, it’s huge! The Christmas markets I’m used to only take place in the main square of the cities. In Haarlem, this is also true, but vendors are also located in the old, small streets around the main square.

This is a great way to experience the historical city center of Haarlem. You can get some hot gluhwein to keep you warm as you stroll down the magical, medieval streets.

Day Trip #9: Zaanse Schans

The Netherlands is famous for its windmills, but most of the country no longer has a great abundance of them. Zaanse Schans is an exception. So if you’re searching for the best day trips from Amsterdam involving the famous Dutch windmills, choose Zaanse Schaans!

Although it’s quite touristy, it’s worth visiting if you want to see rows of authentic windmills and the Dutch countryside. This is where you’ll get some great pictures of Dutch cliques and see how Dutch villages used to look like.

But if you’re trying to escape the hoards of tourists in Amsterdam, you won’t find that here, especially in peak season.

Day Trip #10: Amersfoort

The cute little medieval town was a very relaxing day trip. When I was there, I saw hardly any tourists, and certainly very few non-Dutch tourists. This makes it a great place to experience an authentic Dutch city.

Its city center is very compact and heavily fortified with impressive forts. Amersfoort was a very important trade port in the medieval times, and this shows with the way the old town is built.

The city center is also known throughout the country for great shopping. I personally hate shopping so I skipped this part, but it’s worth checking out for any shopaholics.

Tips for Time Constraints:

If you’re pressed for time and can’t take multiple day trips from Amsterdam, and therefore want to experience as much as you can in one day, consider this tour. It will take you to Rotterdam, Delft and The Hauge, and includes tickets for a harbor cruise in Rotterdam, the Delft pottery museum, the Madurodam (city of miniatures) and city tours of each city.

If you’d prefer exploring on your own, consider buying the Holland Pass, which will get you access to attractions, discounts, skip the line passes and more in the Netherlands. Choose Small Holland for two free attractions, Medium Holland for four free attractions and Large Holland for six free attractions.

Bonus: Antwerp

This city is located in Belgium, but it’s near enough the Dutch border that a day trip to Antwerp from Amsterdam is manageable. It’s only about an hour away by train and about two hours away by bus. I took a bus and it was less than $10!

Even if you don’t arrive to the city by train, you have to experience the central station. The architecture is so impressive and elegant, and this elegance echoes throughout the entire city. The reason for the wealth of this city is its history as a diamond-trading hub.

I absolutely fell in love with the city center. If you go, make sure to find Vlaeykensgang, a “secret” little medieval alley that was restored to look like it did when first built in the 16^thcentury.

So what do you think?

Have I convinced you that Amsterdam might be overrated compared to all the amazing place you can take day trips to?

I certainly think so, and I hope you don’t leave Amsterdam without a day trip elsewhere in the Netherlands!

Any other suggestions for day trips from Amsterdam? Leave them in the comments below, because there are certainly more than just 10!