One of the best parts of living here is how much sits a short train or ferry ride away. These are spots we've filmed and genuinely love. Here's a taste of each, with our video so you can get a feel for it before you go.
Keukenhof: the tulip gardens
If you're here in spring (roughly late March to mid-May), Keukenhof near Lisse is unmissable: millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in one spectacular garden. Go early on a weekday to beat the crowds, and book your tickets online in advance.
Zaanse Schans & Zaandam: the windmill village
Just 20 minutes from Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is a living postcard of working windmills, wooden houses, and cheese and clog workshops, right beside the striking modern architecture of Zaandam. An easy, rewarding half-day out.
Texel: the island escape
Texel is the largest of the Wadden islands, a short ferry hop from Den Helder up north: wide open beaches, dunes, sheep, lighthouses and proper get-away-from-it-all air. Perfect for a summer weekend with a beach house and a couple of bikes. We filmed our trip there in two parts:
A temple on the way: Vinayagar Temple, Den Helder
Right by the ferry port at Den Helder, there's a beautiful Vinayagar (Ganesha) temple, a lovely little piece of home before you cross over to Texel. We stop by in part 1 above, it's well worth a visit if you're making the trip.
WILDLANDS Adventure Zoo, Emmen
Up in Emmen in the northeast, WILDLANDS is a huge modern adventure zoo, part safari, part theme park, with animals across jungle, savannah and polar worlds, boat rides, and plenty indoors for a rainy day. A brilliant full day out if you have kids. Tickets and info at wildlands.nl.
More to explore
We've also covered Amsterdam in a day and weekend escapes further afield. See the Amsterdam city guide and our weekend trips & Europe guide.
Questions & answers
- When's the best time to visit Keukenhof, and is it worth it?
- Keukenhof is only open roughly late March to mid-May, with peak tulip bloom usually around mid-April (weather permitting). It's absolutely worth doing once. Go on a weekday morning, book tickets online in advance, and combine it with the flower fields nearby (rent a bike) for the full effect. Outside that window the gardens are closed, so time it right.