Hello. We are a Canadian couple in our early 60s hoping to visit in late March for about eight days. I have been doing a lot of research but need some guidance on where to base ourselves. On this trip we would like to spend two or three days in Amsterdam, visit the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Keuhenhof Gardens, take a walk along a beach, see working windmills and visit a castle, probably De Haar castle. Small towns and parks are more our style rather than large cities and we welcome suggestions of other places to visit, preferably not touristy areas.. We will be relying mainly on public transportation but will probably rent a car for the day to visit the cemetery. Due to dietary and budget considerations, we would prefer a vacation rental rather than a hotel. I have found lovely rentals at a great price in or near Ultrecht as well as one or two near Haarlem. Do you think Ultrecht is too far for the day trips we want to make? If we stay in the Haarlem area, we can day trip to Amsterdam but accomodations are pricier there than in Ultrecht.
Thank you kindly for your help.
Posted by
1533 posts
Haarlem is absolutely lovely and charming and we would probably stay there next time we visit Amsterdam. Haarlem is like being in the suburbs and commuting to Amsterdam for work. Very close and easy commute via train.
Posted by
Haarlem, Netherlands
176 posts
You can cycle to the beach at Bloemendaal aan Zee or take the train from Haarlem to Zandvoort. Keukenhof can also be easily reached. De Adriaan is a working windmill in the city center you can visit. Ruine van Brederode in cycling distance is a good example of a Dutch (but ruined) 15th century castle.
Posted by
The Netherlands
2014 posts
“Do you think Ultrecht is too far for the day trips we want to make?”
I think Utrecht is an ideal base, but only if you stay somewhat close to the train station Utrecht Centraal. From that train station, you can reach the Keukenhof in about 1.5 hours by train and bus. Amsterdam is only 25 minutes by train.
You’re visiting very early in the spring flower season, so I would visit the Keukenhof as late in your trip as possible.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for your suggestions, it looks like Haarlem would be a good base for our trip.
Posted by
9225 posts
We did a week in Amsterdam a couple of years ago. Lodgings there are expensive.
Are you an art lover? There are two great art museums there, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum.
Also, the Ann Frank House is very historic, but book early.