We only have one evening and another full day in Amsterdam. I'm intrigued by visiting the countryside though. I'd love to see some windmills, farms or smaller towns. Is it possible to spend half a day taking a quick train to the country, biking around and returning to see the Anne frank house? And what cities/direction would we visit?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Not much of the Netherlands is more than an hour away from Amsterdam by train or bus. A half-hour bus to Edam or half-hour train to Hoorn are popular places to start excursions that include a couple more neighboring towns. Many people take a full day to include the other stops. Perhaps more appropriate to your timing would be a 4-hour Yellow Bike (www.yellowbike.nl) guided tour that leaves at 10:30 and rides 15 miles through the countryside; I know some of our staff have liked this one. Ideas above re described in Rick Steve's Amsterdam guidebook.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15576 posts
There are good places to visit, but don't expect rolling hills. Phoenix is hillier than the Netherlands.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
1967 posts
The Waterland area (Durgerdam, Ransdorp, Holysloot, Broek in Waterland) and further Monnickendam and Marken, just north-east of Amsterdam is nice for biking. You can make a detour to Zaanse Schans for seeing windmills.
Posted by
Kamloops
26 posts
Joy Ride bike tours does a countryside trip leaving from Vondelpark, visiting a windmill, cheese farm and clog maker. It was a highlight of our trip!!! If you haven't gone already, check them out.
Posted by
Kelowna, BC, Canada
433 posts
I second the Joy Ride tour. It was fun biking out in the country. The cheese factory was also "informative". The milk is pumped into the vat over there, the vat is heated to this temperature and the cheese comes out over there. Any questions? :)
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Do you have your Frank House tickets already ordered from online? If not, be sure to order them as soon as you know when you'll be there. They sell out of advanced tickets months in advance. Otherwise, you wait in line for hours. In that case you are best to arrive by 7:30 to get inside when they open at 9:00. You'd be out by 10:30.
Haarlem is a short train ride and there are trails you can bike nearby.
Posted by
Washington
919 posts
Amsterdamse Bos (wood/forest) is right outside of town and the goat farm is fun for kids (okay, pun intended) of all ages. It's a nice ride along the Amstel and then into the woods. Plenty of cycling trails. Love NL! Have a fun time!