I love to drive somewhere and discover my own country as a tourist and wandering around. In the Netherlands everything is nearby we live somewhere in the middle.
10 things you can do in the Netherlands if you visit the first time or already been here before or even if you live here.
I do not go deep in because you can easily write a book over Amsterdam there are so many things to do to and see. Here a short list what to do in the Netherlands on vacation in Europe.
Wandering in Amsterdam
The windmill village Zaanse Schans
Giethoorn the Venice of the North
Discover the Tulip fields near Urk in Flevoland and eat fish at the old harbor
Go North and visit Friesland mentioned in Lonely Planet must visit 2018
The boulevard of Scheveningen
Kinderdijk the Windmill village
The sand dunes at Bergen or Egmond aan zee
Gardens of the Keukenhof
Veluwe national park
Wandering in Amsterdam
Wandering in Amsterdam means? Keep looking three times before you cross the street the bikers are everywhere.
We lived close to the city Amsterdam so we often go in the weekend to the city for some shopping or just walk true the Streets and look around. I never get enough of the 9 Streets, This neighborhood is full to bursting with vintage and designer shopping, specialty stores and cozy cafés.
There’s a never-ending selection of things to do in Amsterdam in any weather.
Hop on your bike, get lost by the canals, visit Rijksmuseum or van Gogh museum, catch the ferry to Amsterdam North and visit the NDSM wharf, take a canal cruise, buy some tulips at the bloemenmarkt, discover park life at the Vondelpark, go for some street food at the Food Hallen, take a beer at the many terraces of the Leidsche plein
The windmill village Zaanse Schans
A pleasant day trip from Amsterdam is a visit to the picturesque Dutch village Zaanse Schans, approximately 15km north of the city.
The Zaanse Schans is a residential area in which the 18th and 19th centuries are brought to life. Stroll past the bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh cookies, or take a look at the warehouse where clogs are made. You should be sure not to miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry and the various windmills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, barns and workshops. Make a cycling or sailing trip, browse the shops or treat yourself at the pancake restaurant.
Giethoorn the Venice of the north
There are no cars or roads here; tourists leave them out of the village and have to travel by water or on foot over the lovely wooden bridges.
Take a boat trip around the sparkling waterways of Giethoorn, a tiny village in the eastern part of the Netherlands. Known for its stunning naturescapes and cute cottages.
Venice of the North Giethoorn is a historic little town in the Netherlands nestled amongst a never-ending series of canals and waterways. The only way to navigate most of the town is by boat. In fact, the postman still delivers mail to local residents by boat to this day.
As the main cog in Overijssel’s canal system, Giethoorn – just like capital city Amsterdam – has earned the moniker ‘Venice of the North’. And just like Venice, you can tour the canals with a seasoned guide.
Enjoy the views of quaint thatched-roof cottages as you gently glide along Giethoorn’s picturesque canals. Cruising the canals of Venice of the Netherlands is a beautiful way to discover Giethoorn.
Discover the Tulip fields in Flevoland, and eat fresh fish at the old harbor of the former island Urk
On the road to the North on your way to Giethoorn or Friesland, you will pass Flevoland.
Every year between April an May the tulip flowers start to blooming and the land change to a colorful painting.
Be amazed by the colors and the variety of tulip fields.
The tulip route through Noordoostpolder is the longest continuous car route in Europe,
The tulip route is only available during the Tulip Festival which runs from about mid-April until around the beginning of May.
During the Tulip Festival, the route will be clearly indicated by special signposts, leading you past Noordoostpolder's most beautiful tulip fields and finish it at the former island of Urk visit the small village with many fish restaurants.
Urk is a charming little fishing village in the Flevoland region. A must see as it is one of the most traditional villages in the Netherlands. It's not a tourist destination like Marken or Volendam so still many things to see without the crowd.
Go North and visit Friesland
The West Frisian Islands and Frisian Lakes are what attracts the majority of tourists to this province. The islands are located in the Wadden Sea and are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accessing these islands is an experience in and of itself with mudflat hiking being the primary mode of transportation.
The town of Sneek is famous for their butter cake, known as Drabbelkoeken In the province’s capital city of Leeuwarden, travelers can visit the Fries museum to learn more about the area’s history and culture.
Boating and mudflat hiking are popular activities in the Friesland province and something that every adventurous traveler should try.
The Friesland province is one that is sparsely populated with a mere 160 people per square km. This makes the region a great destination for those seeking solitude and peace.
While the province does have a train system, railways only connect in major cities. Smaller cities can be access via bus, rental car or by boat in some cases. Much like the rest of the Netherlands, Friesland is a bike-friendly area and can easily be explored through its many biking routes.
More info at https://www.friesland.nl/en
