We will be staying in Haarlem for 4 days in early October. Looking for a battle plan. One day touring Haarlem, take a train to Amsterdam and spend one day there (what are the must sights?..... trying to get tickets on-line for the Anne Frank house but it is too early. Is one day enough for Amsterdam? Train day trips out of the area to see windmills, fishing villages, etc??? Where are places that we should visit outside Haarlem & Amsterdam? Thanks for any help. Rick
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2787 posts
Do you have a guide book for Amsterdam and the Netherlands yet? If so, great. Otherwise, I would encourage you to get one as soon as possible. If you need one, you can purchase one elsewhere on this web site. We have been to that area several times and we have found using that RS guide book to be very valuable in planning our trip.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
It depends on your interests what's a must-see and what not. A guide book helps you to make an informed choice. You'll probably find two days for Amsterdam not too much.
A nice day trip would be to take the train to Hoorn via Alkmaar, and return to Haarlem via Amsterdam Sloterdijk (where you'll have to change trains). Alkmaar is a small, historical city. Hoorn is a harbour town, whose former importance still shows. The local museum - Westfries Museum - gives you a good look in its glory days. This round trip gives you views of very Dutch countryside. For schedules: www.ns.nl/en/journeyplanner/#/
Posted by
OP
Groveland, MA, USA
101 posts
Thanks folks. I do have all the guide books but like everything else, the more you see the more confused one gets
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
the more you see the more confused one gets
One trick is to find a »theme«. There is no need to run after everything which gets three stars in a guide book.
A few years ago I spent some 10 days in Rome, exclusively dedicated to baroque architecture. No gardens. No Roman ruins (walking the Via Appia, an old dream, was an exception). No museums. It was a rewarding visit.
What's wrong with missing the ever so popular Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank Huis? If one is interested in the Dutch Golden Age, the Rijksmuseum is the place to be. And if one is interested in the - impressive and special - story of Jews in Amsterdam, the Jewish Historical Museum is much more rewarding.
Posted by
Ithaca, NY, USA
740 posts
I would suggest 2 days minimum in Amsterdam. If you are going to the Anne Frank House, you might also be interested in the Dutch Resistance Museum (which will be much less crowded). If you are planning on either of these and have not yet done so, I highly recommend reading or listening to the audio book of Miep Gies' book, "Anne Frank Remembered." Not only does it put the Franks' story into context, it also paints a very vivid picture of Amsterdam before, during, and after WWII...and of the Dutch people. When you are in Amsterdam, you will recognize many streets and places from the book.
If you like art at all think about visiting the amazing Van Gogh museum (I recommend getting tickets on line as soon as they are available for your dates, and if at all possible, planning to visit first thing in the morning when it is much less crowded.) The audio guide is very good. I also recommend the Rijksmuseum. See what guided tour options are available, because it is rather overwhelming on your own.
Rick did an episode on Amsterdam that aired in 2014. You may also get some ideas from that. Have fun!!!