I’ve been exploring the Dutch countryside ever since I first visited the country. Why? Simply because places like Amsterdam tend to be crowded. I mean the Netherlands countryside is picturesque, quiet and pretty iconic and there are plenty of things to do. So why wouldn’t I?
Mind you, this was back when I visited for a vacation. Now that we actually live in the Netherlands, the Dutch countryside has become even more alluring.
Think of sprawling fields dotted with cows and horses, you probably will spot some sheep every now and then. If you look really closely you can even see rabbits! I know because this is one of the favorite pastimes that our toddlers have when we are on the Intercity trains.
Windmills, flowers, cycling paths, farms and so much more for up the Netherlands countryside. In fact, you will find that each little town is unique in its own way!
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Best Time To Visit The Dutch Countryside
Wondering when is the best time to visit the Dutch countryside? The Netherlands, like most of Europe, has four seasons. We are talking about spring, summer, autumn and winter. Generally speaking the country is very wet. I mean we have loads of summer storms so we generally keep an eye on the weather forecast to know whether we need a jacket or not.
Winter is generally wet and cold and isn’t the best time to be outdoors. The country sometimes even gets some snow. Spring is a bit warmer but it swings either way. You could get lucky and get a warm-ish spring or you could have freak hail storms.
Ideally speaking, the best time to visit the Netherlands countryside is late spring to early Autumn. Though with global warming we have been witnessing a couple of really hot days in summer. Nothing like the likes of Italy and Spain. Still, hot nonetheless! So make sure to carry plenty of water to hydrate during that time.
How To Visit The Dutch Countryside
Luckily for everyone, transportation across the Netherlands is pretty great. I’ll give it to you though. Some places are harder to reach than others. For those, you will have to rent a car. But for many of these locations, you can use a combination of train, bus and tram. Don’t worry too much though, I’ll tell you how to get to each location.
Best Places To See The Netherlands Countryside
Okay, so I’ve been raving about the Netherlands countryside a lot. It is now time to tell which are the best places you can head to so you can experience it for yourself. Some of these may be a bit more offbeat than you expect. So keep on reading and we will take you away from the crowds in Amsterdam.
1. Volendam
If you want a glimpse of the sea and want to wander the Netherlands countryside, head to Volendam!
Distance from Amsterdam: 21 kms
How To Get To Volendam: Take a bus from Amsterdam Station Noord to Volendam.
Volendam is one of the first magical towns that we visited. If I have to be honest, it was the combination of our trips to Volendam and Kinderdijk that gave us a true taste for the Dutch countryside.
When we first visited the Netherlands, we visited Shawn’s aunt in Amsterdam. Instead of taking us around the city, she took us away from it. Her choice of a day trip from Amsterdam was Volendam and Edam. We took the bus to Edam and then walked along the dyke to Volendam which gave us a chance to see how the Dutch lived in the area.
This is a pretty leisurely walk. You can watch people sailing their boats and enjoying the water as you walk along the dyke. Once you reach Volendam, you will see the iconic fishing village. It has colorful wooden houses and lots of old fishing boats.
Recommended Tour: Take a guided tour to Volendam and combine it with Zaanse Schans and Marken.
One of the best times to visit is during summer when herring season is in full swing. This is because Hollandse Nieuwe or the Dutch herring is one of the traditions of the Dutch. To do it in Dutch style, catch the fish by the tail and eat it.
Anyway, no matter when you visit, you will find that this town is charming and is a place that should really be on your bucket list!
2. Lisse
Want to go cycling in the Netherlands countryside? Lisse is a very good place to head to!
Distance from Amsterdam: 39 kms
How To Get There: Take a bus from Schiphol airport to Lisse. If you want to head to the tulip fields then I would recommend checking out my detailed guide to getting from Amsterdam to Keukenhof.
Lisse is very popular among people who want to discover the Netherlands countryside. It is located on the south west of Amsterdam and is super easy to get to. The town is small and it has a totally different vibe when compared to Amsterdam. That isn’t the only reason why people visit though.
Lisse is known for its famous tulip fields in Keukenhof. Every year, when the gardens are opened, thousands of people embark on the journey from Amsterdam to Keukenhof. One of the best ways to discover the Dutch countryside in Lisse is by renting a cycle. If you are lucky enough to rent during tulip season, you may even be able to escape the crowds which is pretty cool.
Recommended Tours: Make sure to book your Keukenhof Entry and Shuttle in advance because they sell out quickly.
If you want to do something different, head to the Keukenhof castle too. I would recommend cycling to the town and indulging in lunch there. You can then head to the bike paths once more after you are done.
3. Zeist
Distance From Amsterdam: 63 kms
How To Get There: Take an intercity train to Utrecht and then take the bus from there.
Zeist is one of the newest places that we have explored when it comes to the Netherlands countryside. This little city is well known for its forests and trails.
For us, it was the midpoint between Goes and Groningen, which meant that we could meet our friends without driving 4 hours one way!
We thoroughly enjoyed Zeist. The woods have so many stroller friendly paths. The shade kept us cool despite the heatwave and the Jagershuis restaurant was the perfect place for us to chill out after walking around.
Plus there is even a community center in the middle. The downside however is that it is closed on Saturdays but the restaurant had an amazing kids play area which was perfect for all of us!
If you want to head away from the crowds and enjoy the Dutch countryside, trust me… Mark Zeist on your map!
4. Zierikzee
Another intriguing place in the Netherlands countryside is Zierikzee.
Distance from Amsterdam: 145 kms
How To Get There: Take a train from Amsterdam Centraal to Rotterdam. Switch to a train to Goes. Next, take a bus to Zerikzee.
Not all tourists have heard about Zerikzee. In fact, it is a town that is located in Zeeland. Zeeland is more popular among the locals and their neighbors in Germany and Belgium. This part of the Netherlands countryside has lovely sandy beaches and is a great place to visit during summer when all you want to do is cool off.
Like Volendam, this wasn’t really on our radar. We visited our friends a couple of years ago and they stayed in Goes. Zierikzee lies on an island so it is a little different from many of the cities you visit. If you trace history back a bit (or a lot), you will find that there were actually four islands that were merged together over time.
Today Zierikzee is home to over 500+ historical monuments. So no matter how much time you spend in this place, you will never run out of things to do. Just make sure that you add visiting Zuidhavenpoort to your list of things to see. It was my favorite part of the city!
5. Assen
Assen is one of my favorite places when it comes to the Netherlands countryside!
Distance from Amsterdam: 184 km
How To Get There: Getting to Assen from Amsterdam is super easy. All you have to do is catch a train from either Amsterdam Centraal station or from the Schiphol airport. All the intercity trains stop here.
Assen is one epic location to head to if you want to explore the Dutch countryside. Shawn works here so he travels here every week. The girls and I took a trip to Assen because we had some work at the municipality and I must say he is super lucky. The journey is really scenic. Well we went in summer so it may be a bit dull in winter.
Anyways, I digress. Assen is really popular because of the TT Circuit which is a car racing track. This wasn’t something that caught our attention though. What did was the laid back streets of the city and how there were numerous parks all over. If you walk a bit (or rent a cycle), you can explore Asserbos which is a National forest. It has lots of hiking and cycling paths and most of them are super easy!
I spent the whole day with the kids exploring the forest and it was one of the best days that we had!
6. Winsum
Winsum is considered one of the prettiest places in the Netherlands countryside.
Distance from Amsterdam: 200 km
How To Get There: Take a train from Amsterdam Centraal / Schiphol to Groningen and then switch to a train to Winsum.
Winsum is without doubt one of the best places when it comes to the Netherlands countryside. We chanced about this little town when we headed there to buy some toys from the second hand market. That was when we had just arrived in Groningen and the kids had nothing to play with.
Winsum is a beautiful quiet town. While Groningen is quieter than Amsterdam, Winsum was even more sedate. In fact, Winsum is so small that it has just 59 registered buildings! It has a small well knit community and some really beautiful structures that seem to have remained untouched by time.
Little bridges across canals, small farms, a church and windmills are all things that you will see when strolling through the city. You can experience the city in different ways. Walk just like we did or maybe rent a cycle. Some people even cycle all the way from Groningen to Winsum when the weather is good.
7. Valkenburg
If you want to visit the hilly part of the Netherlands countryside, head to Valkenburg!
Distance from Amsterdam: 214 kms
How To Get There: Take a train from Amsterdam Centraal to Breda. Swap to a train headed to Maastricht. Then take a bus to Valkenburg. We found it much easier to drive from Groningen though.
Valkenburg is a bit far off from Amsterdam. It is much closer to Maastricht which is in the southern, more hilly region of the country. Now I know that many people do head to Maastricht as part of a weekend trip from Amsterdam. So if you are in the city and want to explore the Netherlands countryside, I would suggest adding Valkenburg to your list.
Intriguingly enough, Valkenburg is very different from all the towns and cities that I have talked about. Not only is it hilly, it also has the ruins of Valkenburg castle and the velvet caves that you can explore. In fact, this is the main attraction in the place.
We visited the town on Koningsdag (Kings day!) and the city was full and busy. There are loads of restaurants that you can enjoy and there is even a museum which you can explore. If you are a resident and have a museumkaard, make sure to carry it because it will let you enter the Museum Land Van Valkenburg for free.
8. Bourtange
One of the lesser visited locations in the Dutch countryside is Fort Bourtange!
Distance from Amsterdam: 235 km
How To Get There: Getting to Bourtange from Amsterdam can be a bit complicated. It involves changing multiple trains and buses which means that it takes super long and is pretty impractical. The best way here is by car.
Most people know Bourtange because of Fort Bourtange. It is one of the famous star shaped forts in the Netherlands. It also offers a great opportunity to visit the Dutch countryside because aside from the fort itself, you will find fields in all directions.
Many people cycle in the area. Most of them however load up their cycles on their cars and come here. I haven’t come across a cycle rental shop during our visit which is a big downside if you are visiting as a tourist.
Fort Bourtange is pretty spectacular. It has lots to see and do. Plus there are lots of different activities that are carried out at the fort depending on the season. The downside is that it is pretty far from Amsterdam. It is much closer to Groningen city though. There is barely any public transport and the best way to get here is by car.
There you have it! These are some of the gorgeous places that we have visited in the Netherlands countryside. Many of them are located close to Amsterdam. Others require a longer journey. Which one would you put at the top of your bucket list when you visit the Netherlands countryside? Let us know in the comments below!
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