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The Netherlands Itinerary Help...

Posted by (Lehigh Valley, PA) on

I am planning to spend 6 nights in the Netherlands at the end of Sept 2025 and am trying to plan my itinerary. Of course I would like to see it all, but really need to make the most of my time there and not cram too much in. Any suggestions on my tentative itinerary below would be appreciated.

Note I have intentionally not included Amsterdam since I did visit before but never ventured out of the city, so for this trip I would like to see more of the country.

I am not a big museum person, so no interest in planning for in-depth museum visits. More interested in experiencing the culture and vibe of the locations. Choosing Rotterdam as a base since I love architecture and there is much I would like to see and do there.

I will be arriving via the DFDS ferry from the UK and returning to the US from Schiphol airport. I will not have a car and will be using public transport.

Day 1- Rotterdam (3 nights)

Train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam.

Explore the city.

Day 2-

Day trip to Delft and the Hague.

Delft AM and the Hague PM. Dinner in the Hague before heading back to Rotterdam.

(Wondering if just a half day in each would be enough?)

Day 3-

Visit the SS Rotterdam AM.

Day trip to Leiden PM. Dinner in Leiden before heading back to Rotterdam.

(Wondering if I should skip Leiden and spend more time in the other locations, or if it would be a must visit? In research I have done I am thinking this town would appeal to me more vs similar cities like Haarlem or Utrecht.)

Day 4- Zaandam (3 nights)

(Choosing Zaandam only as a convenient transport hub for my days here, but could consider somewhere else to visit where I want to go. Maybe Amsterdam/Leiden?)

Train from Rotterdam to Zaandam.

Day trip to Zaannse Schans PM. Dinner in Zaandam.

Day 5-

Day trip to Edam/Volendam/Marken. Dinner in Marken or Zaandam.

(Planning to visit in the order above. Really would like to experience the coastal areas but wondering if late Sept would be a good time and if all would be doable in a day?)

Day 6-

Day trip to Enkhuizen/Hoorn. Dinner in Hoorn or Zaandam.

(These towns are high on my list and seem to be easily accessible. Just want to make sure both are doable in one day?)

Day 7-

Head to the airport AM.

Posted by
8123 posts

Hard to know what appeals in Rotterdam for you, there are things to see, but it is a big modern city,

Delft, The Hague, and Rotterdam are minutes apart, I would be tempted to base myself in Delft, in the middle of the three, and day trip to the other two. Much more relaxing in the evening, a joy to stroll in, but if a more modern city interests you with the activity it offers, then follow your heart.

Posted by
41 posts

I agree with Paul; basing yourself in Delft would be the better choice. It is very walkable and quaint. It is a pleasant spot to spend your evenings.

Hoorn and Enkhuizen are lovely! We took a trip last May/June, and we started with two nights in Hoorn and did a day trip to Enkhuizen from there. We couldn't get enough of walking around these adorable towns and their parks. In fact, we loved these spots so much that we extended our trip by 3 days and revisited them again. (Believe it or not, we actually got money back when we changed out flights!) In Hoorn, we had two good dinners at Ridderikhoff, and De Kade has a nice patio near the water. In Enkhuizen, 't Ankertje is a local brewery with a wonderful patio next to a canal, and we had delicious dinners at Bij NAP and De Eendracht.

Posted by
236 posts

The Hague is maybe my favorite city in the world. I would base there, myself. Rotterdam is interesting but it's a large city.

But, you've got the right idea on the kinds of places you're looking to visit. Like, Hoorn. Hoorn is a gem and I feel that if you've located Hoorn in your searches then you are doing the right research and you're going to land in the right spots.

Posted by
7 posts

Thank you for all the wonderful tips.
After review I am now thinking I will stay only 2 nights in Rotterdam and 4 nights in Haarlem vs Vaandam.
Haarlem seems somewhat similar to Leiden and is a bit closer to the areas to the north that I want to visit and a more interesting place the Vaandam, so seems better as a base.
Although Rotterdam is not tops on most peoples lists, it is a place I really want to visit since I am a modern architecture enthusiast and also an ocean liner buff, so touring the SS Rotterdam is something I have always wanted to do.
Although The Hague is highly recommended by all, I think I will keep it on the agenda as a half day trip after visiting Delft vs using either as a base.
Not sure I would need to visit beach areas of Scheveningen or Zaanvort if I will be visiting the coastal areas of the north, but if time allows either would be easily accessible from either The Hague or Haarlem.
Any other tips would be appreciated!

Posted by
717 posts

Joseph, I will be able to comment further on your Rotterdam choice in a couple of weeks after we have been there. Like you we are interested in architecture (my dad was an architect so it most definitely informs my travel, including modern architecture) and large ports! We are staying in Rotterdam for 4 days before moving on to northern Italy. We will explore Delft for 1/2 day but we are looking forward to the contemporary vibe of Rotterdam (we have been to Amsterdam twice).

Posted by
977 posts

Our tour guide Tim, on our recent Rick Steves Belgium and Netherlands tour is a huge Rotterdam fan. (Starting in 2025 the tours go to Rotterdam, but not our 2024 tour.) He does independent tours as well at guided-by.com/tim. But in light of your common fascination with Rotterdam, you may be interested in reaching out to him perhaps for a day tour of Rotterdam. You'll never meet anyone more enthusiastic (and a really nice guy!) I don't think day tours are his norm, but it never hurts to ask.

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