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Exploring the Dutch Countryside around Amsterdam

Holland countryside is a very general term which refers to the whole Netherlands except for the big cities.

Here we should include all the beautiful windmills, colourful tulip fields, medieval castles and small and cosy villages the country has.

One, two or three days are not enough to explore the whole countryside, but if you want to focus on a particular region and see a little bit of what this country has to offer, then the best thing you can do is to set your camp in a big city and take daily trips to the nearby villages.

Holland countryside Netherlands Windmill Landscape
Netherlands Windmill Landscape

I know that big cities like Amsterdam are very expensive, but you should not book your accommodation in the centre of the city, but somewhere close to a metro station. So you have quick access to Amsterdam city centre and easy access to public transport which help you get to some iconic destinations from the country.

We did so! We set out camp in Amsterdam at Crown Plaza and from there we take daily trips to the nearby area. The rooms were clean and spacious, the breakfast was tasty and varied and the services were good. And we were just 15 minutes away by metro from the city centre.

Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Edam and Marken best of Holland countryside

These 4 attractions are representative of the Netherlands countryside and are located really close to Amsterdam.

You can make a tour to all of them in one day or you can take your time and explore each of these places in multiple days.

Let me tell you a few words about each of them!

1.  Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans is the most popular windmill village in the country and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for years.

In the XVII century, more than 600 windmills were built, the area becoming the first industrial zone from the country. The main purposes of the windmills were to produce paint, make oil and grind spices.

Netherlands Zaanse Schans Windmill Landscape
Netherlands Zaanse Schans Windmill Landscape

In the area, there are multiple museums, like The Bakery Museum which shows you how an old bakery looked like, or the Museumwinkel, which presents the grocer’s store from the past.

It is a great way to discover how people used to live dozens or even hundreds of years ago.

2. Volendam

Volendam is a very nice town in the Holland countryside, a traditional fishermen village. Its cosy atmosphere, wonderful museums and old harbour make from this town an ideal escape from big-city stress. From the old harbour, you can take a boat and stop in Marken, another beautiful village located just a few minutes away from Volendam.

3. Marken

Marken is a small village with a total population of 1770 people. It is unique because of its little houses made from wood and its landscape. The village is located on a peninsula which was isolated by the mainland because of a storm from the XIII century. For many years, the inhabitants of this city earned their daily bread by fishing and nowadays their traditions are kept alive by most of the inhabitants.

Netherlands Marken
Netherlands Marken

4. Edam

This is the place where the cheese with the same name was born. Cheese lovers, you know about this cheese, but let me tell some words about this cheese to the ones who don’t like cheese that much.

Edam is a mild cheese flavour cheese, not very smelly if we compare it with other cheese. Its flavour is sharper and becomes firmer as the cheese ages.

You should try and taste it! With good wine, it is incredibly tasty!

Holland countryside offers many other great attractions! Some of them are located further to Amsterdam, while others are the ideal destination for a day trip from the Netherlands capital.

Here are other interesting places to visit in Netherlands.

Logistical tips and tricks for your trip

Book your accommodation

We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.

You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.

Don't forget travel insurance

We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money, plus COVID coverage.

When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.

Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected events and cost like illness, COVID, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.

We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.

Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.

We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.

Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.

We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.

Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.

Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.