Amsterdam
3
Day Itinerary •
Netherlands
Three days in Amsterdam and surrounds reveal the finest concentration of Golden Age art, 17th-century canal heritage and extraordinary day trip destinations in Europe. The Rijksmuseum's Night Watch, the Anne Frank House hidden annexe, the Jordaan's 17th-century streets, the working windmills of Zaanse Schans, the smoked eel of Volendam and the tulip-origin story of Leiden's botanical garden are all within easy reach of a single canal-side base. This route explores the best of Amsterdam's world-class museums and canal culture before venturing into the extraordinary North Holland countryside of windmills and fishing villages and finishing with the university cities of Haarlem and Leiden. Three extraordinary days in the finest small country in Europe.
Best Time To Visit
April to October
Getting There
Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), 20 min to centre
Getting Around
Bicycle, tram and train
Budget Per Day
Approx 130 to 450 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, flat cycling and walking
DAY 1
AMSTERDAM
MORNING
THE RIJKSMUSEUM AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF DUTCH PAINTING
The Rijksmuseum is the most extraordinary art museum in the Netherlands, its extraordinary collection of 8,000 objects from the Dutch Golden Age including Rembrandt's Night Watch at 3.63 by 4.37 metres, Vermeer's The Milkmaid and the extraordinary Delftware collection giving the finest single museum experience in the country. The building by Pierre Cuypers from 1885 is the finest museum architecture in the Netherlands. Entry approx 22.50 euros. Book timed entry online. Train/Travel: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE AND THE CANAL RING
The Anne Frank House on the Prinsengracht is the most extraordinary heritage site in the Netherlands, the hidden annexe where Anne Frank and seven others hid from the Nazis for 761 days from 1942 to 1944, its extraordinary preserved interior and the remarkable original diary giving the most moving experience in Amsterdam. The Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht canal ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Anne Frank House entry approx 16 euros. Book months ahead. Train/Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
THE JORDAAN AND THE NINE STREETS, AMSTERDAM'S FINEST NEIGHBOURHOOD
The Jordaan is the most extraordinary neighbourhood in Amsterdam, its extraordinary 17th-century canal houses, the remarkable Noordermarkt with the finest organic market in the Netherlands on Saturday mornings, the extraordinary Westerkerk where Rembrandt is buried and the remarkable Nine Streets shopping district of independent boutiques and galleries making it the finest afternoon in the city. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Begijnhof in the heart of Amsterdam is the finest hidden courtyard in the city, a medieval enclosed convent court dating from the 14th century with the oldest wooden house in Amsterdam from 1425. Entered through an unmarked door on Gedempte Begijnensloot. Entry free. Entirely unknown to most visitors on
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Bakers & Roasters, Jordaan Outstanding Amsterdam breakfast at the finest brunch cafe in the Jordaan. Local bakers and extraordinary eggs. | Lunch: Brouwerij 't IJ, Funenkade Outstanding Dutch craft beer and lunch at the finest brewery in Amsterdam inside a windmill. | Dinner: Restaurant As, Amstelpark The finest seasonal Dutch cuisine in Amsterdam. Outstanding tasting menu. Book well ahead.
DAY 2
NORTH HOLLAND
MORNING
ZAANSE SCHANS, THE FINEST WORKING WINDMILL VILLAGE IN THE NETHERLANDS
Zaanse Schans on the Zaan river north of Amsterdam is the most extraordinary open-air windmill museum in the Netherlands, its extraordinary collection of six working windmills including the finest wooden windmill in the country, the remarkable traditional Dutch houses, the clog workshop and the extraordinary cheese farm giving the finest windmill experience in Europe. The windmill interiors are open to climb. Entry to the village free, individual windmills approx 5 euros. Train/Travel: 30 min train
MIDDAY
VOLENDAM AND MARKEN, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY FISHING VILLAGES NEAR AMSTERDAM
Volendam on the Markermeer is the most extraordinary traditional fishing village in North Holland, its extraordinary harbour of painted wooden boats, the remarkable smoked eel stalls, the traditional Volendam costumes worn daily by older residents and the extraordinary IJsselmeer views. Marken island connected by causeway gives the finest preserved fishing village character near Amsterdam. Smoked eel approx 4 euros per portion. Train/Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
EDAM AND THE FINEST CHEESE TOWN IN THE NETHERLANDS
Edam is the most extraordinary cheese town in the Netherlands, its remarkable 16th-century cheese weighing house, the extraordinary weekly cheese market from July to August, the fine collection of canal houses and the remarkable Edam Museum in a 16th-century house with a floating cellar making it the finest hidden town near Amsterdam. The Edam cheese is the finest in North Holland. Cheese market entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Broek in Waterland village north of Amsterdam, a 15-minute cycle from the city, is the finest hidden village in North Holland, its extraordinary painted wooden houses in muted green and grey, the remarkable village pond and the complete absence of tourist infrastructure making it the most authentic traditional Dutch
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: De Hoop op d'Swarte Walvis, Zaanse Schans Outstanding Dutch breakfast at the finest windmill restaurant in the Netherlands. | Lunch: Volendam harbour stalls Outstanding smoked eel and fresh herring from the finest harbour fish stalls in North Holland. | Dinner: De Fortuna, Edam The finest restaurant in Edam in a 17th-century canal house. Outstanding Dutch cuisine and local Edam cheese.
DAY 3
HAARLEM AND LEIDEN
MORNING
THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM AND THE MUSEUMPLEIN
The Van Gogh Museum on the Museumplein is the most extraordinary single-artist museum in the world, its extraordinary collection of 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Vincent van Gogh including The Bedroom, Almond Blossom and the Wheatfield with Crows giving the finest account of his development from the dark Brabant peasant paintings to the extraordinary Provence colour of his final years. Entry approx 22 euros. Book timed entry months ahead. Train/Travel: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
HAARLEM, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SMALL CITY NEAR AMSTERDAM
Haarlem 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam is the most extraordinary small city in the Netherlands, its extraordinary Grote Markt with the finest medieval church in North Holland, the remarkable Frans Hals Museum with the finest collection of Dutch Golden Age group portraits outside the Rijksmuseum and the extraordinary Teylers Museum, the oldest museum in the Netherlands from 1784, making it the finest day trip from Amsterdam. Grote Kerk approx 4 euros. Train/Travel: 20 min train
AFTERNOON
THE LEIDEN BOTANICAL GARDEN AND THE HISTORIC UNIVERSITY CITY
Leiden 35 minutes from Amsterdam is the most extraordinary university city in the Netherlands, its extraordinary Hortus Botanicus garden from 1590 where the first tulip bulbs in the Netherlands were planted, the remarkable Leiden American Pilgrim Museum and the extraordinary Pieterskerk where the Pilgrim Fathers worshipped before sailing to America in 1620 making it the finest historic day trip in the country. Hortus Botanicus approx 9 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Molen van Sloten windmill in Amsterdam West is the only working windmill inside the city limits, a fully functioning polder windmill from 1847 still grinding grain and pumping water. The interior tour shows the full working mechanism. Entry approx 6 euros. Almost entirely unknown to visitors staying in the
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Brasserie Haarlem Outstanding Haarlem breakfast at the finest brasserie on the Grote Markt facing the extraordinary church. | Lunch: De Magere Brug, Leiden Outstanding Dutch lunch canal-side in Leiden near the Pieterskerk. Local gouda and Dutch brown bread. | Dinner: Ciel Bleu, Hotel Okura, Amsterdam The finest restaurant in Amsterdam. Outstanding two Michelin star Dutch cuisine on the 23rd floor. Book ahead.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Canal Ring, All 3 Nights The Dylan or Pulitzer Amsterdam. Approx 200 to 500 euros per night. Jordaan option Hotel V Nesplein or Sir Adam Hotel. Approx 150 to 350 euros per night. Budget Stayokay Vondelpark or Generator Amsterdam. Approx 30 to 80 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. Rijksmuseum: book timed entry at rijksmuseum.nl at least 2 weeks ahead. The Night Watch room opens at 9am.
2. Anne Frank House: book the first available slot online. Tickets sell out 2 months ahead in summer.
3. Van Gogh Museum: book at vangoghmuseum.nl. The museum is closed Monday in winter.
4. Volendam smoked eel: buy from the harbour stalls, not the restaurants. The finest in North Holland at 4 euros.
5. Amsterdam bicycle: ride on the right, give way to trams. Ring your bell before overtaking pedestrians.
6. Stroopwafel: buy fresh at the Albert Cuyp Market from Lanskroon. The finest in Amsterdam, warm from the press.
Total Budget
130 to 445 EUR/day