Please help me choose one of this spot

Posted by Jen on 05/13/15 06:27 PM

Hi,

I have half day spare time exploring surrounding areas of Amsterdam. I would like to experience an authentic native village/town that's not too touristy (touristy, a bit crowded is OK as long as it's not highly commercialized). I have options so far as follows:
1. Leiden
2. Volendam, Edam and Marken
But I read reviews about nothing much to see in Edam and Marken. Volendam is too touristy unlike years ago where native still could be seen wearing traditional clothes
3. Zaanse Schans
this is actually an open air museum but the pics look really lovely. I read that the entrance fee only is Euro20 already and almost everything else inside is charged. I also have planned to visit Kinderdijk windmills the day before. Is it still worth it visiting this one?
4. Delft -> if I pick this one, I would do a transit here first from Rotterdam on the way to Amsterdam. Could I leave my luggages somewhere? Also, I plan to visit Delfthaven in Rotterdam the day before. I know that it's still different but the scenic could be similar. Is it worth to visit or better continue to the venues above?

TIA.

Posted by o.kok

05/13/15 11:45 PM

7 posts

I recommend Edam. Leiden and Delft really need longer than half a day. If you've seen the Kinderdijk you're right: Zaanse Schans is similar. Volendam and Marken are a bit touristy, but Edam seems the perfect choice for a quiet, mellow afternoon. You'll find few foreign tourists there. Yes, there is a cheese market, but it's really about the town itself. You will be transported into the 17th century and you'll see houses exactly like in Vermeer's 'Little Street'. There are several places for a nice lunch (Hotel Cafe Fortuna on 9 Spui Straat is one). Make sure to walk to the end of Voorhaven where it becomes Oorgat since there is a small cemetery of Edam Jews who died in WW II. A small monument across commemorates the tragedy. Edam will be an afternoon well-spent.
To get there: take bus 312. The central station bus stop is behind the station on the waterside on the second floor: you'll need to use the escalator outside. The trip takes about 20 minutes, and runs every 20 minutes from CS. We never fail to visit Edam when we're near Amsterdam and just returned from an April trip. Make sure you tell the bus driver that you want to go to the old part of Edam (Voorhaven) as you don't want to get lost in the surrounding suburban parts. Look on Google Maps street view and you'll get a good preview.

Posted by Jen OP

05/14/15 08:17 AM

464 posts

Hi o.kok
thanks so much for the recommendation. I really appreciate it

cheers

Posted by Chani

Tel Aviv

05/14/15 08:22 AM

15777 posts

I went to Marken and Volendam on a 1/2 day tour 30 years ago and they were touristy then. Delft is small, I would not count on finding a place to store luggage.

Edam sounds very nice - I'm putting it on my "next time" list.

Posted by Jen OP

05/14/15 04:07 PM

464 posts

Hi Chani,

thanks for pointing out the high possibility of no luggage locker in Delft. That's our main concern if we choose Delft at the end since it's be on our check out day from Rotterdam otw to Amsterdam.

Posted by T.

Seattle, WA, US

05/14/15 05:05 PM

1005 posts

I love Delft--easy to navigate with a youthful vibe thanks to the University. The Delft Train Station has been under construction for some time and may not have its lockers available. But according to Rick's guidebook, the tourist information office will store your bags for free while you check out the town. However, it's a bit of a walk from the train station to get there, so you might want to consider another alternative.