Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is a vibrant hub of culture, history, and entertainment. While there are endless things to see and do in the city, sometimes you just want to get away and explore other parts of the country. Luckily, Amsterdam is situated in a prime location for day trips and excursions. Plenty of charming towns, stunning landscapes, and unique attractions within easy reach. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful countryside escape, a taste of Dutch history, or a thrilling adventure, there’s a day trip from Amsterdam that’s sure to satisfy. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best day trips and excursions from Amsterdam to help you plan your next adventure.
Discover the Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken in one day
Amsterdam is not the only place in the Netherlands that is worth a visit. And that’s a good thing, because if you’ve seen everything in Amsterdam, there’s still plenty to do in the area. Taste the tastiest fish in the Netherlands. Discover why cheese and the Netherlands are so inextricably linked. Take a look at the world-famous windmills and step into the typical Dutch clogs. Explore the countryside and historic villages around Amsterdam during this tour to the Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken.
From Amsterdam you travel to a number of historic villages and places in the vicinity of the capital. The first destination is the Zaanse Schans. Here you will get a good picture of the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th century. In this area in the Zaanstreek you will learn more about the craft and way of life of that time. You will walk past authentic cottages and the famous windmills. The next destination is Edam, the village where Edam cheese was invented. Here you will walk past all the highlights of the town. Via Edam you travel further to Volendam. In this fishing village you will visit a local cheese producer and learn more about the production of the dairy product.
The last destination of the tour is Marken. This peninsula has an authentic character, because the island was separated from the mainland until the end of the 20th century. A walk through the small streets and along the wooden houses on stilts is therefore a special experience. On Marken you also pay a visit to the clog factory, where you can see how this traditional footwear was made. At the end of the tour the bus will take you back to the meeting point.
With this online ticket you will visit the North Holland places the Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken. During the tour there will be a Spanish or English speaking guide who will provide you with all the important information, you will get access to the wooden shoe workshop and the cheese farm, you can enjoy a cheese tasting and you will be taken everywhere by bus. The meeting point will be near the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace. From here you will drive by bus to your first destination. The tour takes about 6.5 hours.
More information about Zaanse Schans
The Keukenhof, the largest flower park in the world
According to many, spring is the most beautiful time of the year. The time when the forests turn green again and the animals reappear. In the morning you are awakened by the whistle of the birds and the sun coming through the crack of the curtains. It is also the time of the flowers. Bulbs emerge and rows of beautiful tulips, daffodils and hyacinths appear. And nowhere can you enjoy the special phenomena of spring more than at Keukenhof.
Lisse is home to the largest flower park in the world, the Keukenhof. The gardens have a rich history. In the 15th century, Countess Jacoba of Bavaria bought her fruit and vegetables here. Two centuries later the castle of Keukenhof was built and the landscape expanded. In the 19th century the gardens were decorated in a new English way. The concept of the Keukenhof was only conceived in 1949, when well-known flower bulb growers proposed to create an exhibition of spring bulbs in the gardens.
This was the beginning of an enormous success. Visitors from all over the world visit the Keukenhof to admire ornamental plant cultivation. The Keukenhof consists of a number of gardens and pavilions where a total of 7 million bulbs have been planted. Here you can find rows of lilies, tulips, orchids and roses. In addition to the beautiful flowers, the landscape is full of trees, lakes and floral artworks. Take a stroll through the gardens and enjoy the beautiful views and the wonderful scents.
The Keukenhof is easy to reach from Amsterdam. With this online ticket you can take the bus from This is Holland, opposite Amsterdam Central Station. It’s an hour’s drive to the flower park. The ticket offers you quick access, a multilingual brochure and a City Map of Amsterdam. In addition, within a certain period of time, you can decide when you want to get on the bus. This applies to both the way there and the way back.
Order your Keukenhof tickets here!
Dutch Venice; a day trip to Giethoorn
The Netherlands and water are inextricably linked. More than a quarter of the land is below sea level and this makes it both our friend and our enemy. The Netherlands is known for its dikes and dunes, which protect the country from the water. Large rivers enter here, which were used a lot in the Golden Age. The water also makes the Dutch landscape beautiful. Several cities are known for this, such as Amsterdam and Utrecht with their canals. Dutch people live on the water and the best way to discover it is by visiting the water village of Giethoorn.
Giethoorn is a town in the east of the Netherlands. Here you can best discover how the Dutch live on the water, because the inhabitants of this village also literally do it. The village can only be explored through the water. A boat is the only means of transport that counts here, as there are no roads here. Nowadays, however, there is a cycle path. Giethoorn consists of all kinds of islands connected by bridges. The area consists of reedland, lakes and forests where many farms and houses can be found. The characteristic houses with their thatched roofs give you the feeling that you are in the Netherlands of a few centuries ago.
With this online ticket you will experience Giethoorn from the water. You will take a boat trip where the guide will tell you all about the place. It is possible to rent a bike or boat, but this is not included in the ticket. The meeting point is in front of the Victoria Hotel, directly opposite Amsterdam Central Station. From here you walk to the bus that will take you to Giethoorn. The tour takes about 9 hours, which gives you plenty of time to explore the village and have a nice meal somewhere. Giethoorn is also known for its culinary restaurants.
Order here already your day trip to Giethoorn!
Excursion to Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague from Amsterdam
Visit the political capital of the Netherlands. Where you can stroll along the boulevard of Scheveningen and visit numerous museums. Take a look at the miniature world in Madurodam and discover the city where Delft Blue became famous. And for every visitor, Rotterdam is a great destination. The artistic city consists of enormous skyscrapers and countless sights. Visit the largest cities of the Netherlands in one day during this tour through Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague.
During this day trip from Amsterdam you will visit the big cities in the west of the Netherlands. The tour starts in Rotterdam, the Maasstad. Here you drive by bus to the old harbour and the famous Cube Houses. The river Maas flows through this city, which makes the port of Rotterdam the most important in Europe. It is also inevitable that you take a boat trip across this river to admire the city. A visit to the market hall of Rotterdam is also on the program. The next destination of the day is Delft. Here you will have time to choose a terrace for lunch. Afterwards you will get a tour through the city, where you will visit De Porceleyne Fles, the ceramics factory where Delft Blue was made in the 17th century.
The last big city on the programme is The Hague. This is where the government and parliament have established themselves and most embassies and ministries can also be found here. This makes it the political capital of the Netherlands. During the tour through The Hague you get to see the Binnenhof, the Peace Palace and Palace Noordeinde. Before you return to Amsterdam, you will visit Madurodam. At this park you can see the most important places in miniature and learn more about the history of the Netherlands in an interactive way.
With this online ticket you will join a tour of the major cities of Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague. From Amsterdam Central Station you travel by bus to your first destination. The guide will provide you with important information and access to the market hall, the ceramics factory and Madurodam is included in the price. In addition, the guided tours and the boat trip are also included in the ticket. The tour takes about 9,5 hours.