10 Day Trips from Amsterdam in Spring

DAY TRIPS, FAVORITES, GETAWAYS, NETHERLANDS

Are you looking for places to visit in the Netherlands in April and May? Would you like to take a day trip from Amsterdam this spring? Here are a few ideas!

10 Day Trips from Amsterdam in Spring

The weather is improving and the flowers are blooming – it’s time to go exploring! The Netherlands is a small country so you can easily reach many wonderful and interesting places on a day trip from Amsterdam. Here are 10 of my favorites for a sunny spring day trip.

1. Delft

Famous for the blue and white pottery, Delft is a charming city with lots of wonderful sights to discover. Delft is easy to reach from Amsterdam by hopping on a direct train. Learn all about the city of Delft on a private 2.5 hour walking tour or explore on your own. Check out the burial site of the House of Orange in the Nieuwe Kerk. Be sure to visit the Vermeer Center to learn more about the famous local painter. Prepare for your trip by watching The Girl with the Pearl Earring again? You can see the famous painting at the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

2. Zaanse Schans

This open air museum is beautiful in the spring and summer months. Check out the windmills and get a dose of Dutch history. Afterward make your way to one of the restaurants for pannenkoek or maybe a beer and bitterballen. Don’t miss a taste of the locally made jenever. The duindoorn is my favorite flavor. You can reach Zaanse Schans with the train and some walking but you can also go on a small group tour.

3. Rotterdam

Jump on the train and watch the Dutch countryside pass by on your way to Rotterdam. This city looks quite different from Amsterdam, and there is plenty to explore. Visit one of the many museums. If you like modern art check out Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen or the Kunsthal. The Fotomuseum is pretty great too! I also think it would be interesting to take one of these architecture walking tours. Dine at one of Rotterdam’s food markets to sample what the city has to offer. You can check out more of our Rotterdam tips here.

4. Keukenhof

Probably the most famous springtime destination in the Netherlands, Keukenhof is an enormous garden full of tulips and other blooms. It’s easy to see on a day trip from Amsterdam. You can take public transport there or book an all inclusive visit. Keukenhof gets busy on weekends so be sure to get your tickets online in advance. Check out our Keukenhof guide for more information.

If you are feeling extra adventurous, grab a bicycle and ride through the tulip fields in the surrounding area.

5. de Hoge Veluwe

Spring is an excellent time to visit one of the biggest National Parks in the Netherlands, the Hoge Veluwe. Grab a free white bicycle and head out on the many kilometers of paths and trails. If you are in the mood for art, stop at the Kröller-Müller Museum. It has the second largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world, after the Van Gogh Museum of course. Architecture and history lovers should make a reservation for a guided tour of the Berlage designed hunting lodge, Jachthuis Sint Hubertus. The park is a bit of an adventure from Amsterdam but can be done in a long day. Or you can opt to spend the night nearby in Arnhem.

6. Leeuwarden

Did you know that Leeuwarden is the 2018 European Capital of Culture City? Well, indeed it is! Check out the Mata Hari exhibition at the Fries Museum, see the leaning tower of Oldehove, go on a cultural walking tour, or even take a Leeuwarden beer tour. Take a look at the calendar to see what special events are on this spring.

7. Waterland

When the weather is warm it is lovely to cycle from Amsterdam through Waterland to visit Volendam, Monnickendam and Marken. Depending on the weather you might want to take a bus instead. Waterland is a wonderful place to visit in any season but the spring brings flowers and greenery to the surrounding area, making a gorgeous bicycle ride from Amsterdam. In Monnickendam, Volendam and Marken you’ll find charming wooden houses, a small harbor and cute (if touristy) shops and restaurants are what keeps visitors coming back.

If you don’t feel like cycling through Waterland you can also take a guided tour by bus which goes to Marken, Volendam and Edam. To learn more about visiting this beautiful area, click here!

8. Hilversum

Why do you want to head to Hilversum in the spring? Well, if you are a fan of botanical gardens, Hilversum is home to a special small garden that you might enjoy. The Pinetum Blijdenstein has many varieties of conifer trees including a giant sequoia. In the spring the rhododendrons and other flowers are blooming. It’s a great place to spend an hour among the plants.

9. Antwerp

Did you know you could visit Belgium on a day trip from Amsterdam? Well, I would definitely recommend spending longer, but if that is all the time you have then seize the day and make your way to Belgium. You can grab a direct train from Amsterdam Centraal to Antwerp, it takes a little over an hour. Check out our tips for exploring Antwerp here.

10. Giethoorn

Giethoorn is a charming, mostly car-free village in the northeastern area of the Netherlands. It is not just car-free, many of the homes can only be reached by boat! Visit in the springtime to see the sweet little canals, footpaths and old thatched roof houses all lined with flowers. You can take a guided tour that will bring you from Amsterdam to Giethoorn by bus, and then take you on a canal boat tour.

Or explore on your own – go for a stroll or rent a small electric boat to tour this peaceful village. The perfect spring getaway!

I hope you enjoyed these tips for 10 day trips from Amsterdam in spring. Don’t miss our tips for weekend getaways too.

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