Weekend Trips From Amsterdam: 9 Magical Places For Your Bucket list!

Amsterdam is one of those cities which is on people’s bucket list for so many reasons. From the gorgeous canals and the old house lined streets. There is so much to see. But where do you go from there?

Luckily the Netherlands is filled with amazing places to visit and most of them are easily accessible because the city has a great transport system. Yes! You don’t even have to rent a car!

It is important to note which time of the year you head to the city. Some weekend trips from Amsterdam are seasonal. Keukenhof is one example. Alternatively if you visit with kids you can check out some of the cool theme parks.

I always recommend taking trips out of the city when people head to Amsterdam for a week or more. It gives you a chance to really explore the country!

If you are looking for weekend trips from Amsterdam, then don’t worry we have you covered.

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Great Year Round Destinations For Weekend Trips From Amsterdam

1. Volendam

Volendam is one of the fun weekend trips from Amsterdam that I highly recommend.

Distance from Amsterdam: 21 km

Getting There: Take Bus 316 from Amsterdam Centraal station to Katwoude, Volendam.

Volendam is one of the most intriguing weekend trips from Amsterdam that I embarked on. I hadn’t heard of it before but Shawn’s aunt told us that it was an experience that was well worth the trip. She joined us and acted as our local guide and boy did we have a lot of fun!

Mind you back then we didn’t spend the weekend here. It was more of a day trip from Amsterdam. Intriguingly enough there is a lot to do in Volendam and it can keep you occupied for awhile.

This town is known for its picturesque wooden houses. It is absolutely brilliant walking through it and the area is really peaceful so it is the perfect getaway. Since it is also a harbor this is one of the best places to catch a bite of fresh herrings during the herring season.

We were lucky because we visited just at the start of the season and I love herring so we sat with the wind in our hair munching on some of the ocean’s best.

2. Edam

Edam is a great cheese centric location and makes one of the best weekend trips from Amsterdam.

Distance from Amsterdam: 22 km

Getting There: Take the Sprinter from Amsterdam Sloterdijk to Purmurend. Take Bus 110 from Purmurend bus station to Edam bus station.

If you have been to the Netherlands, you definitely know that cheese is something that you need to try while in the city. I have eaten some of the best cheese here and every time we visit, we take back blocks to indulge in at home.

If you are a cheese fanatic like me then you have to add Edam to the list. The quaint city is famous for the cheese that it produces and you can actually get into one of the factories and see the process. It was a mind blowing experience. At the time, I hadn’t really tried many of the Dutch cheese options. Edam was my introduction into the mouth watering world.
Pro tip: Combine Edam with Volendam. They are situated very close to each other and both locations are well worth the visit.

3. Den Haag

Den Haag is another one of the interesting weekend trips from Amsterdam.

Distance from Amsterdam: 65 km

Getting There: Take the Intercity from Amsterdam South to Den Haag Central. You will reach Den Haag in little over half an hour.

Den haag was the first city that I visited in Amsterdam and I must say that it stole my heart. Unlike the capital city, Den Haag is more laid back and definitely less crowded. Just a fraction of tourists make it to this city. It is, however, well worth the visit.

Situated on the coast of the country, Den Haag is the seat of the Dutch parliament. It is also home to the Noordeinde palace which was built in the 16th century and also happens to be the work place of the Dutch king.

Many people know Den Haag as ‘The Hague’ which will promptly bring you to scratch your head and wonder where you have heard of it before. This city is home to the judicial arm of the United Nations. Many other important international bodies are also located here.

If you are a person who loves art then you should visit the Esher arts display at Het Palace. The Miniature museum is another must visit if you are in the area. On the other hand if the great outdoors is your thing, there are a couple of trails outside the city worth exploring. Plus Scheveningen beach is a stone’s throw away.

4. Rotterdam

Rotterdam is one of the interesting weekend trips from Amsterdam.

Distance from Amsterdam: 78 km

Getting There: Take the Intercity from Amsterdam Sloterdijk and get off at Rotterdam. There is a train every 30 mins and it takes a little over an hour to reach Rotterdam.

If you love architecture then Rotterdam is the place that you just can’t miss in the Netherlands. When I first heard about the city it was in reference to the famous cube houses. There are loads of other architecturally interesting sites to visit. Both old and new mind you.

In fact, trace back Rotterdam to World War II. Here the entire city was destroyed due to bombings. Many refer to it as the Rotterdam Blitz. I honestly feel that the city is a testament to the resilience of the Dutch. They rebuilt Rotterdam again and as they did so, they addressed all the issues that the city had before. The new and improved city is a popular place to visit even today.

Shawn on the other hand had heard about Rotterdam because it is a port city. If you are interested in all things maritime like him, I highly recommend checking out the Old Harbor and Marine museums!

5. Kinderdijk

Kinderdijk is one of my favorite weekend trips from Amsterdam.

Distance from Amsterdam: 96 km

Getting There: Take the Intercity from Amsterdam Sloterdijk and get off at Rotterdam. There is a train every 30 mins and it takes a little over an hour to reach Rotterdam. Head to Rotterdam Blaak. Take the 489 bus to Kinderdijk

My all time favorite place and the one that I suggest when any one asks me about weekend trips from Amsterdam (or anywhere else for that matter!) is Kinderdijk. We were so lucky the day we visited because we had glorious weather.

Kinderdijk has it all. The iconic windmills, the world famous canals and a water drainage system that converted marshy land into what you see today. I’m not kidding! Kinderdijk is actually below sea level.

It is a great place to explore the Dutch countryside. The museum talks about all the ways that were employed to prevent floods. In a nutshell, the area has gone from using wind energy to gas since it is more efficient. You can visit the old windmills, see how the people lived and much more. My recommendation. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the surroundings!

Pro tip: If you are headed to Kinderdijk, you can combine it with a visit to Rotterdam too. The combination makes one of the best weekend trips from Amsterdam and I can attest to that because that was exactly what we did!

You can even book your ticket to Kinderdijk online!

6. Groningen

Distance from Amsterdam: 180 km

Getting there: I have written a whole detailed article about getting from Amsterdam to Groningen. Suffice to say that both the cities are well connected by trains.

Groningen is much further than most of the other Dutch cities and towns that I have already mentioned. I should know because this is where I live. Now luckily for me and you, this city is well connected via the rail system. This makes it a great place to head to if you are looking for weekend trips from Amsterdam.

Groningen is a university town and it is super lively especially during summer. There are loads of things to see and do in the city. My favorite part about the city is the Nooderplantosen park and the Vismarkt square. Both spots are places where people congregate during the day.

Don’t forget to head to the Oude Kerk and the Martini tower when you are here. These are pretty iconic spots in the city. Oh and if you are a fan of pepernoten, make sure that you head to Van Delft in the city!

Since it is located up north, Groningen tends to be much colder than Amsterdam during winter so make sure that you bundle up if you visit at that time of the year.

Seasonal Weekend Trips From Amsterdam

As I mentioned before, some of the weekend trips from Amsterdam are seasonal. They are better done during the warm weather because that’s when the beach is more welcoming and the flowers are in bloom.

7. Lisse

Love flowers? Lisse is one of the best weekend trips from Amsterdam for you!

Distance from Amsterdam: 40 km

Getting There: Amsterdam to Keukenhoff is easy because there are trains and buses that ply between the two.

Not everyone has heard of Lisse but most people have heard of Keukenhof! This has been on my bucket list forever but since it is seasonal, I always seem to be in the country at the wrong time!

Nevertheless, I have it on good record from loads of my friends and fellow travel bloggers that Keukenhoff gardens are a must visit during the tulip season. Rows and rows of colorful flowers are simply a sight to behold.

Edit: I finally managed to be in the Netherlands at the right time of the year. Largely because I moved here. Lol. That’s one way to do it I guess. One thing that I can say is that Keukenhoff is an experience.

The queues to Keukenhoff can get long. If you are in a hurry I suggest picking up your ticket online. You can also set out on one of the many Amsterdam tulip tours that depart during the season.

My recommendation is to rent a bike and enjoy the countryside. It is a peaceful day away from the busy city especially if you are not hard pressed to get back. If you are headed that way with young children then check out Linnaeushof which just happens to be the largest playground for kids in Europe!

8. Leiden

Another one of the iconic weekend trips from Amsterdam is Leiden.

Distance from Amsterdam: 47km

Getting There: Take the Intercity from Amsterdam South to Leiden Centraal. It should take you around 25-30 min to reach.

Leiden is one of those destinations in the Netherlands that is popular in the warmer months. Not because it gets really chilly here but because it is one of the leading flower destinations in the country. The flowers are in bloom in the warmer months and the place literally transforms.

Flowers however aren’t just what makes Leiden one of the perfect weekend trips from Amsterdam. It is also one of the cultural cities of the country. From the Burcht van Leiden castle to the National Museum of Antiquities, there is much to explore.

The street markets are also popular here. But note that these are held only on Wednesdays and Saturdays so if you want to visit them, plan your trip accordingly!

One favorite place that everyone talks about (and Shawn loved!) is the Molen de Valk Windmill museum. If you are headed to Leiden make sure to add it to your list! You can enter the museum, take a guided tour and see how the windmill works. Plus you get a glimpse into how people lived in them back in the day.

Don’t forget to check out the Kaag Lakes Windmill cruises if you are in the area.

9. Zierikzee

Zierikzee is one of the popular weekend trips from Amsterdam in Summer.

Distance from Amsterdam: 150 km

Getting There: Take the Intercity from Amsterdam Sloterdijk to Goes. Then take bus 132 to Zierikzee Sas.

Zierikzee was never really on my bucket list but my best friend lives in the area. After so many afternoons spent talking about the place that she lives in, I just had to visit. Mind you, visiting this place is also a seasonal thing. Come summer troves of people head down to enjoy the beaches in the area.

If you aren’t interested in the beaches then, you can visit at any time of the year. Zierikzee has loads of historical monuments that can be explored. The city itself is extremely quaint. It was once a port city, so you can check out all the small vessels docked there.

I would highly recommend stopping for a bite to eat and watching the world go by. The city is pretty laid back. I really loved the vibe here!