Travellers the world over are drawn by Amsterdam’s enigmatic beauty, making it one of the must-see European holiday destinations. With so many extraordinary cultural attractions in Amsterdam, you may be tempted to overlook the many amazing places and things to do outside Amsterdam. Before your trip make sure to consider some of the other incredible gems the Netherlands has to offer on your European travel itinerary.
If you are planning your first trip to Amsterdam you will want to spend at least a couple of days seeing the amazing sites Amsterdam has to offer. Amstredam’s Museumplein Square is home to the Rijksmuseum and the exquisite paintings by the 17th Century Golden Age Masters, the modern Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House, which should not be missed.
Next, look further and find the amazing Jordaan area with its picturesque canals and bridges, eateries, cafés and curiosities as well as the incredible cheese markets dotted around the city. You will see there is so much more to explore than Amsterdam’s storied Red Light District and infamous Coffee Shops.
After seeing Amsterdam’s amazing historic sites and touring its lovely canals, such as the Herengracht or the Singel, leave a couple of days for trips outside the city to some of these quaint destinations and things to do outside Amsterdam.
What is the Netherlands known for outside of Amsterdam?
Outside of Amsterdam, the Netherlands is known for its charming canal-lined cities like Utrecht, Delft, Leiden and Gouda. These charming Dutch cities are adorned with historic market squares, cobblestone streets and towering church steeples and abundant cultural treasures.
The Netherlands’ remarkably small but dense footprint makes touring the provinces of North and South Holland extremely easy and inexpensive by rail, or even travel by bike.
Explore the Netherlands’ alluring countryside, traditional villages and idyllic landscapes dotted with windmills along their abundant canals.
#1. Gouda Historic Charm in the Dutch Cheese Capital
The enchanting, picturesque city of Gouda in the province of South Holland is known for its iconic staple – the tasty Gouda cheese. In addition to being famous for cheese, they invented the famous Dutch treat the Stroop Waffle in Gouda 200 years ago!
Pronounced ‘How-da’, the historic city of Gouda has everything you picture when you think of the idyllic Dutch town. Undeniably charming, Gouda is a favourite European tourist destination for so many visitors, myself included. I find it one of the most charming little cities I’ve visited in the Netherlands.
Gouda is a must-see day trip when in the Netherlands. It’s an easy off-the-beaten-path day trip by rail or car from Den Haag (The Hague), Rotterdam, and Amsterdam and can easily be seen in under a day.
Try combining a morning trip to Gouda with an afternoon and evening trip to Delft for the perfect day in the Netherlands.
Read our full Travel Guide to the incredible city of Gouda here.
#2. Delft Hidden Courtyards, Backstreet Cafés and Canals
Delft is a fairytale-like destination, with the same 17th-century building façades encircling Delft’s Markt Square that Johannes Vermeer looked out onto when painting his exquisite Dutch masterpieces like the Girl with a Pearl Earring in 1665.
This cozy, picturesque Dutch city, nestled within the heart of South Holland, Netherlands is a day trip gem not to be missed. Discover Delft’s hidden courtyards, backstreet cafés and canals in this extremely popular Netherlands day-trip destination by exploring Delft on foot or by bicycle.
Thursday is Market Day in ‘Markt Square’ with up to 150 stalls set up in front of the Nieuwe Kerk. On Saturdays, look for Delft’s Antique Market, my personal favourite, running along the city’s canals, selling everything vintage.
Read all about this incredible day trip destination in our Delft Travel Guide here.
#3. Holland’s Sensational Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in Spring
Open for only eight weeks a year from March to May, no trip to the Netherlands in the springtime is complete without a trip to Holland’s world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens. The gardens are situated in the tiny town of Lisse, Netherlands, less than 40 minutes south of the city of Amsterdam.
Rent a bike and bicycle around the area’s flower fields for free, or purchase a ticket and explore the park’s perfectly manicured 79-acre grounds and pavilions.
Holland’s iconic tourist destination has been open each spring since 1949, bringing an amazing 1.5 million visitors per year during its short 8-week opening season. The park offers various indoor and outdoor gardens featuring an array of every possible variation and colour of tulip and exotic flora as well as exhibitions on the history of the Dutch nation’s fascination with this beautiful flower. Around the park get a glimpse of the stunning striped flower fields that surround the area.
See the beautiful flowers and get a picture of what to expect at the Keukenhof Gardens in our Travel Guide.
#4. Holland’s Largest Castle Utrecht’s de Haar Castle (Kasteel de Haar)
The earliest records of Castle de Haar or Kasteel de Haar date back to 1391. Located in the countryside just 10 kms outside of the historical city of Utrecht, and a short 30 minutes south of Amsterdam, de Haar Castle stands prominently as the Dutch nation’s largest and most impressive fully restored castle.
Inside you will find a stunning display of exquisite glass and woodwork within its 200 rooms. A 20-year refurbishment of the property was undertaken in 1892, financed by the Rothschild family and led by architect Pierre Cuypers, famous for designing Amsterdam’s Central Station and Rijksmuseum.
Utrecht’s de Haar Castle features majestic gardens modelled after the Palace of Versailles, ornate interior detailing, and remarkable tapestries making de Haar Castle a must-see day trip on your visit to Holland. The castle is also very easy to get to from the closeby cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague.
#5. Utrecht – Called One of the Most Beautiful Dutch Cities by Locals
Located in the heart of the beautiful Dutch countryside, the historic city of Utrecht‘s storied history shines through its centuries-old canals like the central Oudegracht Canal, Utrecht’s unique wharf-side basement cellars and its Dom Tower or ‘Domtoren’ at 112 metres (367 feet). Dom Tower is the tallest church tower in The Netherlands standing incredibly high above its grand cathedral.
Walk or Bike Tour the city by Exploring the 6 km loop along the Stadsbuitengracht (outer city canal) which lets you circumnavigate the entire old city of Utrecht. Try a canal tour of this beautiful ‘gracht ‘ or canal on a sunny day and stop to enjoy a great picnic in this amazing Dutch city.
A well-established University city (the University dates back to 1636), Utrecht is home to plenty of nightlife as well.
Read why the Dutch locals call Utrecht one of the most beautiful Dutch cities.
#6. Bike Touring Holland’s Stunning Coastal Sand Dunes
Two-thirds of the Netherlands’ 450kms of coastline is protected by the picturesque Sand Dunes stretching inland for up to 2 km. These natural areas are the perfect place to experience the glorious seascapes of Holland as you walk or Bike Tour through the sands and along the North Sea Beaches.
Holland’s Sand Dunes are conservation areas critical to the preservation of the Netherlands itself. The areas form a natural high ground along the ocean saving the country, much of which is below sea level, from flooding.
Time your trip so you have time to stop for lunch along the sea at one of the many beach club restaurants that line Holland’s incredible North Sea beaches.
Read more about biking the Sand Dunes near The Hague along the North Sea to the beach town of Noordwijk.
#7. Leiden Finding Hidden Gems in this Enchanting City in the Netherlands
The quaint city of Leiden, in South Holland, the Netherlands is not as well known as its larger Dutch neighbours but is a must-see European travel destination. Leiden is a city full of historic charm and can be a great off-the-beaten-path reprieve from the more hectic summer travel hotspots like Amsterdam and Utrecht.
Come for the canal-side bistros, cobblestone sidestreet cafes and laid-back ambiance of this wonderful and vibrant university city. There are far too many things to see and do during a day trip, so you may want to plan to spend a couple of days to cover it all!
Learn more about what to see in Leiden in our comprehensive guide to Leiden travel.
Conclusion
You will find that the Netherlands has so many delightful places to visit that you will never have time to catch them all on one trip. A great way to experience these cities is to plan out a map of day trips and spend a half day in each little city, such as a morning in Gouda and an evening in Delft or a trip to de Haar Castle in the afternoon.
Let us know in the comments below which Dutch Day trip you plan to take!