Exploring The Netherlands: A 6-Day Itinerary

The Netherlands is a small country, so it's possible to see a lot in just six days. You can easily take day trips from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, The Hague, and many other cities. To make the most of your time, it's recommended to stay in one place and take day trips to other locations. Amsterdam or Haarlem are good options for a home base, as they are well-connected and easy to navigate.

Day 1: Arrive in Amsterdam and explore the city. Some key spots to visit include the Anne Frank House, Dam Square, the Royal Palace, the Rijksmuseum, the Jordaan, and the Van Gogh Museum.

Day 2: Take a day trip to Keukenhof (if it's spring) or Alkmaar. You can also visit Aalsmeer, Leiden, or Zandvoort.

Day 3: Head to Delft and spend the day exploring the city.

Day 4: Day trip to Rotterdam and/or The Hague.

Day 5: Visit the Kröller-Müller Museum and end the day in Utrecht.

Day 6: Spend your last day in Amsterdam, taking a canal tour, renting a bike, and exploring the city's famous Red Light District.

Amsterdam

Day 1

• Arrive in Amsterdam and check into your hotel.
• Get a taste of Dutch food and wander around the city's canals.
• Visit the De Pijp district.

Day 2

• Start the day with a ride on the Pannekokenboot (pancake boat), an all-you-can-eat pancake tour along the IJ river.
• Take a train to Hoorn, a beautiful Dutch town known for its well-preserved architecture and sinking houses.
• Visit the Hoofdtoren, the Westfriesmuseum, and the Grote Kerk.
• Walk to Edam, a village known for its cheese, and then to Volendam, a fishing village known for its seafood.

Day 3

• Rent a car and head towards Lisse to see the famous Dutch tulip fields.
• Visit Zaandse Schans, a village with windmills along the river.
• Before returning to Amsterdam, stop by the city of Zandaam and check out the Inner Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam.

Day 4

• Take a train to The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government.
• Visit the Binnenhof, the Dutch parliament building.
• Explore the city centre and take a tram to the beach in Scheveningen.
• Spend the night in The Hague and enjoy the city's vibrant dinner scene.

Day 5

• Take a train to Maastricht, a city on the southern tip of the Netherlands.
• Explore the Basilica of Saint Servatius, Saint Jan's Church, and Fort St. Pieter.
• Have dinner on the Vrijthof Plaza, the central square of Maastricht.

Day 6

• Return to Amsterdam and explore the north side of the IJ river.
• Visit the A'DAM Lookout for a view of the city.
• Walk through the industrial neighbourhood and stop by Oedipus Brewing and Walhalla Brewery for an afternoon beer.
• End the day with dinner at Pllek and watch the sunset over Amsterdam.

Day trip to Zaanse Schans and Hoorn

Zaanse Schans is a peaceful village on the water, a short distance from Amsterdam. It is an open-air museum with windmills, residential houses, and old buildings that have been rearranged to recreate a typical Dutch village of the 19th century. The village is free to enter and explore, but there are several attractions that require admission tickets.

Getting to Zaanse Schans

You can get to Zaanse Schans by bus, train, car, or bicycle. From Amsterdam Centraal Station, you can take bus #391 or #891, which leaves frequently and takes about an hour. The round-trip ticket costs €8. Alternatively, you can take a train to Koog-Zaandijk, which takes about 17 minutes, and then walk for about 15 minutes to Zaanse Schans. The round-trip train ticket costs €7.20.

Attractions in Zaanse Schans

• Strolling around the village (2 hours)
• Visit the historical windmill (1 hour)
• Clog (wooden shoes) making demonstration (30 minutes)
• Cheese tasting (30 minutes)
• Bakkerijmuseum (30 minutes) - a small bakery museum
• Museumwinkel Albert Heijn (30 minutes) - a grocery shop showcasing its appearance a hundred years ago

Getting to Hoorn

After visiting Zaanse Schans, head to the nearby train station to catch a train to Hoorn. Hoorn is a stunning city along the Zuiderzee that used to be a major seaside port. The riches of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) resulted in charming architecture.

Attractions in Hoorn

• Hoofdtoren
• Westfriesmuseum
• Grote Kerk

Day trip to Keukenhof and/or Alkmaar

Keukenhof is a popular day trip from Amsterdam, particularly if you're visiting in springtime. The gardens are only open for eight weeks a year, from 21 March to 12 May in 2024, and they attract around 1.4 million visitors annually. Keukenhof is known as one of the most stunning gardens in the world, with over seven million flowers. You can get there by bus or car, or as part of a tour.

If you're visiting Keukenhof independently, it's highly recommended that you buy your tickets in advance as they are cheaper than buying on the door, and the gardens can get very busy. There are various ticket options, including combi-tickets that cover your transport and entry to the gardens. You can also buy a tourist day ticket that allows you to take any bus, tram or metro to Keukenhof and the Keukenhof Express buses.

If you're visiting Keukenhof, it's worth noting that the gardens themselves don't include the famous tulip fields. These can be found nearby, particularly towards Groot-schermer and Graft, and between Alkmaar and Schermerhorn. However, it's important to remember not to enter the fields.

Alkmaar is a charming Dutch town known for its well-preserved architecture and sinking houses. You can get there by train from Amsterdam. While you're there, you can visit the Hoofdtoren, the Westfriesmuseum, and the Grote Kerk (Big Church). Alkmaar is also famous for its cheese market, which takes place on Fridays.

One day in The Hague

The Hague, also known as Den Haag, is a coastal city in the Netherlands and the International City of Peace and Justice. It is easily accessible from Amsterdam, with direct trains taking just under an hour.

Morning

• Take the train to Den Haag Centraal or Den Haag HS station.
• Head to the city centre for breakfast. Try Pim Coffee & Vintage for pastries and coffee, or Scally's for a full English breakfast.
• Stroll through Chinatown and try some bubble tea.
• Visit the Van Kleef Distillery, the oldest distillery in the city, and taste some traditional Dutch alcohol.
• Explore the UNESCO-recognised Passage, a beautiful shopping arcade.
• Walk through the Binnenhof, the location of the Dutch Parliament and some of the oldest parliament buildings still in use.
• Walk down Noordeinde, the heart of the historic part of the city, and admire the architecture.
• View the Noordeinde Palace, the working residential palace of King Willem-Alexander.

Lunch

Enjoy a fresh, organic lunch at FOAM, or try Pizzeria II Vesuvio for some fresh pizza.

Afternoon

• Visit the Peace Palace, a beautiful building that houses the International Court of Justice.
• Head to the Mauritshuis art museum to see masterpieces by Dutch painters such as Vermeer and Rembrandt.
• Check out the Panorama Mesdag, a 360-degree panoramic painting of the Scheveningen fishing village in 1881.
• If you're travelling with kids, spend the afternoon at Madurodam, a miniature version of the Netherlands with replicas of landmarks and windmills.
• Alternatively, spend the afternoon at the beach in Scheveningen, a popular seaside resort.

Evening

• Explore the Zeeheldenkwartier neighbourhood, known for its antique shops and cosy cafes.
• Have dinner at Bleyenberg, a modern Dutch restaurant, or Warung Bude Kati, a family-run Indonesian restaurant.
• Enjoy a cocktail at Syndicaat, a vintage-inspired cocktail speakeasy in Chinatown.

One day in Delft

Morning

Start your day in Delft with a trip to the leaning Oude Kerk (Old Church). The church is said to date back to the 1200s-1300s and is considered the oldest building in Delft. You can buy a combination ticket for the Old and the New Church, which will save you some money. The church is a must-see if you're interested in gothic cathedrals and you can see the grave of Vermeer here.

Next, head to the Stadsbakkerij de Diamanten Ring, the oldest bakery in Delft, to sample some traditional Dutch treats. If you're visiting on a Thursday or Saturday, be sure to visit the antiques flea market along Hippolytusbuurt and Voldersgracht.

Lunch

There are plenty of great places to eat lunch in Delft. Try Kek for vegan-friendly, healthy food and delicious salted caramel lattes. Alternatively, head to 't Postkantoor for more traditional Dutch food.

Afternoon

Walk off your lunch by exploring the historic city centre of Delft. The compact city can be crossed in 25 minutes, so it's perfect for a leisurely stroll. Head to the Markt, the city's central square, which is surrounded by over 50 historic buildings. Here, you'll find the Delft City Hall and the New Church, where members of the Dutch royal family are buried.

If you're feeling energetic, climb the 376 steps to the top of the New Church tower for panoramic views of Delft and, on a clear day, Rotterdam and The Hague.

Evening

For dinner, try Hummus for delicious, vegan-friendly Algerian-street food and a great selection of craft beer.

End your day with a drink at De Klomp, the oldest beer cafe in Delft, or Locus Publicus, which has an extensive local beer selection.

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