Thirteen Nights in June

Hi, Captain Ed, your itinerary looks good. I have not been to Amersfoort, but it does look interesting, and I don't think you need to worry about skipping Haarlem. I enjoyed Leiden more, and would encourage you to visit there if you get a chance. I liked Den Haag, but if I had to choose between the two, I would go with Leiden, and I definitely think your teenagers would enjoy it. It's a very cool university town with lovely canals and scenery, and a wonderful vibe about it.

Honestly, I probably would not rent a car, as Dutch public transportation is very good and you can get just about anywhere quickly by train or other form of transit. It sounds wonderful and I know you will love the Netherlands!

I was in the Netherlands last May/June, and it is such a lovely time of year! It ranks as one of my all-time favorite trips.

We spent two nights in Leiden and enjoyed it. The evening strolls were particularly nice. Be sure to visit Molenmuseum de Valk and climb inside the windmill. We did Delft as a day trip, and it seems like a good base. We took a day trip to Gouda and really enjoyed the town. The Kamphuisen Syrup Waffle Factory tour was a fun treat. I liked Woerden, which is not far from Gouda. We were there on a Saturday, and there was a small cheese market. It felt very local. Gouda cheese is actually made in Woerden. The name comes from the fact that the cheese was traded in Gouda.

Another base town for us was Utrecht, which is easy to reach from Delft or Hoorn. It was the largest place we stayed in, but it never felt crowded. It has an interesting old town. In the Oudegracht area, the canals are two levels, so you can have a drink or meal right next to the water.

I've never been to Den Haag or Rotterdam. My husband visited both cities 12+ years ago, and he has no desire to see them again. He much prefers the Dutch small towns. However, visiting Amsterdam is a must if you have never been before.

Your itinerary looks good. The only change I would make is spending one less night in Amersfoort and adding another night in Delft because you have more day trip options from Delft.

My husband considered renting a car for our trip, but he was strongly advised against it by locals on TripAdvisor. The public transportation system is very well connected and easy to use, so having a car is more of a hassle than a benefit. We got everywhere by train or bus. There is even a train station located at the airport. I downloaded the NS app and used it frequently. If you don't want to tap in and out using a credit card at the train station, you can purchase tickets through the app.

Thank you Mardee and LaurieC for your thoughtful replies. Leiden seems like a city we would enjoy. We will definitely visit.

We penciled in overnight stays in Hoorn due to its harbor, attractive downtown, and location between Edam and Enkhuizen. Does anyone recommend staying in Edam (or anywhere else in the area) instead?

I vote for staying in Hoorn. The train station is a good hub for the area, and Edam has no train station at all.

We started our trip with 2 days in Hoorn. We loved the town so much that we extended our trip by 3 days and revisited it again. Hoorn is a charming place with a great central square (Roode Steen). The harbor is also nice. Both areas offer several restaurants. There is a pleasant park along the water, and we strolled there most days/evenings. On one of our longer walking jaunts, we ended up at a beach.

Enkhuizen is equally as lovely, but it doesn't offer as many train connections as Hoorn.

Between Hoorn and Medemblik runs a steam train or tram. The latter is also charming and has a medieval castle that is open to public, from there you can take the old ferry to Enkhuizen. Back to Hoorn is an easy train ride. You can do the trip in opposite direction if you like. Enkhuizen has an interesting open air museum.

https://www.stoomtram.nl/en/boat-and-steamtram/
https://kasteelradboud.nl/en/

You can rent bikes in for exploring the area just north of Amsterdam, or take a bike on the train to Breukelen (or rent them there or take an OV-fiets at the train station) for instance to enjoy the old mansions along the Vecht river. There are conditions for taking bikes on the train.

https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/bikes-on-the-train.html

Amersfoort is for most off the beaten path but certainly worth a visit.