We're going to be in Amsterdam for 5 days, then 6 days in Brussels, ending up at The Hague as a home base for an additional 3 days before we fly out of Schiphol. There is plenty to see and do in Amsterdam, and we are also planning to do a day trip to Haarlem. I would like to do an additional day trip on a Friday and I can't decide between Hoorn and Enkhuisen or the more touristy (but possibly more fun) Edam, Volendam & Marken loop. Thoughts, please?
Posted by
Asheville, NC
198 posts
I would also love to hear advice. I will be in Amsterdam in October.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2084 posts
A few years ago we got a €10 Waterland bus pass in Amsterdam and visited Volendam, Marken, and Edam and had a great time. We liked the flexibilty and value. You choose where to visit and how long to stay and it was easy to manage with frequent buses between stops. Monnickendam and Broek are among other towns you could visit, but we wanted to see these three as we had visited them on our first trip to Europe in 1972. It was easy to do and a lot of fun. I suppose they’re touristy, after all, we’re tourists and we were there! We traveled in early May and they didn’t seem all that crowded. Enkhuisen and Hoorn are next time. I googled just to see if the pass still exists and got Amsterdamtips.com which describes the pass. Safe travels.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
Hoorn and Enkhuizen are perhaps more »serious« destinations, both beautifully preserved port cities of the Dutch East India Company. In Enkhuizen many enjoy the open-air Zuiderzeemuseum, recreating the life in the fishing towns around the - now closed - sea inlet.
Posted by
307 posts
Instead of choosing, consider both as day trips.
We only saw Hoorn and Enkuizen; if I could, I would have preferred to do both
Posted by
OP
California
30 posts
Is doing both in one day possible? We only have 5 days in Amsterdam in early September and museums are high on my list. Our must-see list in Amsterdam includes the Van Gogh Museum, The Rijks, Stedelijk, Hermitage, City Museum. We're also going to Haarlem (Frans Hals Museum). Maybe the more touristy route would be a relief from all my serious museum days. We wouldn't want Mr. Wonderful to get museumitis.