The Itinerary For 4 days in Netherlands By Automotive (excl. Amsterdam)

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On this article, I’ll share our itinerary for 4 days within the Netherlands by automobile, visiting lots of thrilling locations throughout the nation however skipping Amsterdam (it’s higher to not go to Amsterdam by automobile, and it undoubtedly deserves 3 days alone). I’ll give attention to one of the best and most stunning locations to go to within the Netherlands apart from Amsterdam, from Giethoorn to Delft! 

On day one, we visited Breda, Heusden, and S-Hertogenbosch, three charming locations that boast a wealthy cultural heritage. Day two was all about exploring the well-known Dutch countryside – Giethoorn, Edam, Hoorn and the well-known Keukenhof flower backyard close to Lisse. Keukenhof and the flower fields can solely be visited from March to Might, so in the event you’re planning to go to the Netherlands exterior this timeframe, I like to recommend skipping it and visiting Haarlem as an alternative. On day three, we explored Leiden, De Haar Fortress and Utrecht.

Lastly, on day 4, we visited Gouda, Delft, and The Hague and skilled a number of the nation’s most iconic landmarks.

Right here’s a brief overview of the itinerary for Netherlands by automobile in 4 days:

Day 0: driving to the Netherlands within the night, staying at Novotel Breda

Day 1: Breda, Heusden, S-Hertogenbosch, driving to Giethoorn, staying at Lodge de Pergola Giethoorn

Day 2: Giethoorn, Edam, Hoorn, Zaanse Schans, Haarlem & Leiden, staying at Fields 1216

Day 3: Keukenhof, Lisse, De Haar Fortress, staying at Van Der Valk Vianen Utrecht

Day 4: Utrecht, Gouda, Delft, The Hague and driving again 

Helpful hyperlinks for this itinerary:

Should you don’t have your personal automobile, I like to recommend hiring one on Rentalcars.com

You can too go to most of those locations with out a automobile, nevertheless, you would possibly have to trim this itinerary down and go to fewer locations.

Tickets for Keukenhof – ebook right here

Tickets for De Haar Fortress – ebook right here

With out additional ado, let’s get began with the detailed itinerary for 4 days within the Netherlands by automobile (skipping Amsterdam)!

The itinerary for 4-days within the Netherlands by automobile: Utrecht, Delft, Giethoorn and extra

Day 0:

I don’t rely the day of attending to the Netherlands as a separate day of this journey. In our case, we left work a bit earlier and drove to the Eurotunnel terminal for the 18:45 crossing. We had a fast dinner in Dunkirk in France after which drove all the best way to Breda in a single go (it took round 1 hour 45 minutes). By midnight, we had been already in Novotel Breda, the place we stayed for the evening! 

Day 1: Breda, Heusden, S-Hertogenbosch, driving to Dwingeloo

Breda

We began our day by exploring the charming metropolis of Breda. I have to admit that I had by no means heard of Breda earlier than planning the journey, however it didn’t disappoint. Breda is a really small metropolis; it’s solely the 4th greatest metropolis in its province, North Brabant, and its inhabitants is lower than 200,000 folks. 

I like to recommend spending a few hours in Breda, exploring the Previous City stuffed with historic buildings, picturesque squares, and nice cafes and eating places. You’ll be able to wander by the streets, go to the Grote Kerk (Nice Church), and take a look at the fortress as effectively. 

We had breakfast in Breda in a spot referred to as Sip First. It was beautiful, and the espresso was nice. 

Heusden

Our subsequent vacation spot, Heusden, was only a quick drive away from Breda. Heusden is a small fortified city surrounded by historical partitions and dotted with windmills and small canals. Once more, Heusden is a really quick cease, particularly in the event you’re visiting on a chilly day. Nevertheless, the centre of the city appears charming and really picturesque. The 2 windmills of Heusden are essentially the most picturesque spot within the metropolis. In whole, we spent about an hour in Heusden and left for s-Hertogenbosch, which was lower than half-hour away.

S-Hertogenbosch (or just den Bosch)

The following vacation spot of this Netherlands highway journey, S-Hertogenbosch or the way it’s typically referred to – den Bosch, is the capital of the North Brabant area of the Netherlands. Regardless of being the capital, it’s hardly bigger than Breda. Nonetheless, for my part, there have been extra issues to do in s-Hertogenbosch than in Breda. It’s additionally a really quirky metropolis – and we completely cherished it for that! 

Why quirky? Effectively, den Bosch is the hometown of one of many Netherlands’ most well-known painters, Jheronimus Bosch. There may be lots of artwork throughout the town devoted to Jheronimus Bosch – you could find road artwork in small alleyways or statues within the park – trying to find them throughout Den Bosch was like a quest! 

Apart from in search of artwork devoted to Jheronimus Bosch and simply strolling across the metropolis and having fun with the Previous City, listed here are another issues you are able to do in Den Bosch:

Issues to do in Den Bosch:

– Go to the beautiful St. John’s Cathedral (free). It is likely one of the nation’s most spectacular church buildings, with beautiful stained-glass home windows, intricate carvings, and a wide ranging inside.

– Go to the Noordbrabants Museum to study extra in regards to the historical past of the province of North Brabant. It homes a captivating assortment of work, sculptures, and artefacts, together with works by well-known Dutch painters resembling Van Gogh, Jan Sluijters, and Piet Mondrian. You’ll be able to pre-book tickets upfront right here.

– Lastly, go to the Jheronimus Bosch Artwork Heart. The museum homes a set of reproductions of his work and likewise affords an immersive multimedia expertise that brings Bosch’s surreal and fantastical world to life. 

Dwingeloo

We left den Bosch round 6 pm and began driving in direction of Dwingeloo, the place we booked a resort to remain in a single day, Fletcher Landhotel de Borken. Dwingeloo is positioned within the North of the nation, fairly distant from Brabant. We drove for round 2 hours to get there.

The rationale we picked Dwingeloo was as a result of it was the closest place to Giethoorn that was nonetheless out there. We had been reserving on the final minute, only a few days upfront; therefore, lots of locations had been already totally booked. Should you’re reserving upfront, it’s simpler to remain nearer to Giethoorn in locations like Lodge de Pergola or Lodge Giethoorn.

Dwingeloo is definitely a stunning place. It’s a small village positioned within the coronary heart of the Dwingelderveld Nationwide Park. If in case you have time or arrive early sufficient, you possibly can go for a stroll within the Nationwide Park; it’s very stunning. 

Day 2: Giethoorn, Edam, Hoorn, Haarlem, Leiden

Since we had been staying in Dwingeloo, we needed to drive to Giethoorn. We reached it in half-hour and arrived there by 10:15 am. Nevertheless, in the event you’re staying in Giethoorn or in a better village, it is possible for you to to keep away from additional driving within the morning!

Exploring Giethoorn

Giethoorn is likely one of the Netherlands’ most stunning villages and probably the most common vacationer areas. Most individuals come there on a day journey from Amsterdam – it’s lower than 1.5 hours away!

Nevertheless, on the weekends or throughout the excessive season, Giethoorn will get extremely busy – it’s attainable that you just received’t discover a parking spot in the event you arrive after 11 am. Additionally, the queue for the boat journey will get extremely lengthy! After we arrived, there was no queue, however after we had been leaving, there have been already greater than 50 folks within the queue! 

Why is Giethoorn so common?

Effectively, Giethoorn is a captivating village with virtually no roads! Within the coronary heart of the village, there are solely canals and picket bridges. Locals, who stay there, have to depart their automobile at a car parking zone after which change to both a motorbike or stroll all the best way till they attain their residence!

Probably the greatest methods to discover Giethoorn is by taking a ship experience! You’ll be able to see one of the best views from the water and admire the thatched-roof homes and tranquil waterways.

You’ll be able to both arrive there and queue to ebook a non-public boat or pre-book area in a big boat upfront right here.

Hoorn

After visiting Giethoorn, we drove for about 1.5 hours to reach on the city referred to as Hoorn. Hoorn is a historic city positioned not too distant from Amsterdam. A lot of folks stay in Hoorn and commute to Amsterdam for work. Hoorn was an important and well-known port, and it was additionally the place of residence of the Dutch East India Firm. The signature constructing in Hoorn is Hoofdtoren – you possibly can see it in all of the pictures of the town. Hoofdtoren is a fortified half-tower that used to guard the town, however now there’s a beautiful restaurant positioned within the tower.

Hoorn has loads of buildings constructed within the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and most of them are concentrated within the metropolis centre space. There are additionally loads of beautiful espresso retailers, cafes and eating places.

Discover Edam

The following cease was Edam – one of many well-known cheese cities. It took us round 25 minutes to get there from Hoorn! Edam is a tiny city – its inhabitants is lower than 10,000 folks, and you may discover the city centre in lower than an hour. Edam can also be residence to probably the most well-known Cheese markets within the Netherlands. It takes place on Wednesday morning each week in July and August. Nevertheless, which may change sooner or later, so it’s greatest to substantiate the opening occasions earlier than your journey! 

You’ll be able to, nevertheless, go to Edam on any day of the week – you possibly can nonetheless purchase cheese in one in all its two cheese retailers! Edam can also be very fairly – it’s one of many prettiest little cities within the Netherlands.

Zaanse Schans

From Edam, it took us lower than 20 minutes to succeed in our subsequent vacation spot, Zaanse Schans. Zaanse Schans is a faux 18th-century village with stunning windmills, fairytale homes and wonderful cafes. Zaanse Schans is completely free to go to. Nevertheless, it’s fairly arduous to seek out parking on a busy day. The parking space is comparatively small and will get full tremendous quick. We had been fortunate to seek out on-street parking 400 metres away. Nevertheless, it is perhaps the case that you must park even additional (that’s a draw back of visiting Zaanse Schans by automobile). 

Total, it’s a stunning space to stroll round, take some pictures and study extra about life in Dutch villages within the 18th and Nineteenth centuries. There are additionally good cafes and retailers, the place you should purchase some meals and souvenirs and some small museums as effectively. 

Haarlem

We determined to go to Haarlem because it was on the best way to our closing vacation spot for the day, Leiden. Haarlem, identical to Hoorn, is a commuter city. Nevertheless, it’s larger than Hoorn and has extra issues to do. By way of structure, for my part, Hoorn is extra fascinating, however Haarlem is a lot better for residing. The primary landmark of Haarlem is the Grote Markt Sq..

Haarlem can also be residence to the Netherlands’ first and oldest museum, Teyler’s Museum. One other museum, Frans Hals Museum, can also be price visiting. Lastly, Haarlem was voted one of the best procuring vacation spot within the Netherlands on a number of events. 

Finish the night in Leiden

Our closing vacation spot for the day was the harming college city with a wealthy cultural heritage, Leiden. We arrived at Leiden at twilight and went to have dinner in Waag, one in all Leiden’s most iconic eating places (not due to the meals, however due to the constructing the place the restaurant is positioned).

Leiden is residence to the oldest College within the Netherlands. It additionally has a number of the most stunning canals within the nation – having visited a lot of the prettiest cities within the nation, I have to say that the canals in Leiden had been amongst my absolute favourites!

In a single day, we stayed barely exterior Leiden simply because it’s fairly arduous and costly to park within the metropolis. Some nice choices embody B&B Pergamo and Fields 1216.

Day 3: Keukenhof and the flower fields, De Haar Fortress, Utrecht

Keukenhof

Since we had been within the Netherlands in April, we determined to go to its most well-known flower backyard, Keukenhof, which is simply open for lower than 2 months yearly! 

Keukenhof could be very well-known. Nevertheless, it will get extremely crowded. It’s important to ebook tickets upfront; I like to recommend reserving at the least 3 days upfront if you wish to go to on a weekend (or perhaps even sooner than 3 days). You’ll be able to ebook the tickets on-line right here.

Keukenhof has beautiful shows of tulips, daffodils, and different spring flowers. I wasn’t overly impressed by the exhibit, however perhaps as a result of only a few flowers had been blooming originally of April (particularly as a result of this 12 months was a really chilly one). A few of my mates who managed to go to Keukenhof on the finish of April – the start of Might, stated that it was improbable, so perhaps it’s simply our poor luck!

We additionally had difficulties exiting the parking of Keukenhof – we even needed to depart our automobile and go for a stroll as after we initially tried to exit, it took us half-hour to maneuver 2 automobile lengths due to the chaos within the car parking zone. After we got here again, we exited comparatively quick! 

Lisse flower fields

After visiting Keukenhof, we determined to comply with the “flower route” and see a number of the flower fields in Lisse. A few of the flower fields are proper subsequent to Keukenhof, so there isn’t any have to drive quite a bit. Completely different flowers bloom at totally different occasions – in early April, you could find lots of daffodils and hyacinths, whereas tulips you possibly can solely discover between mid-to-end April and the start of Might. 

Please take into account that all of the fields are personal, and it’s not allowed to trespass. Some daffodil fields aren’t fenced, so it’s attainable to take a photograph in entrance of the fields, however please be conscious and don’t go deep into the fields as it could harm the flowers.

The best solution to take pictures within the tulip fields is by reserving a go to to a non-public farm. There are a couple of of them close to Lisse and Haarlem! One of the well-known ones is the Tulip Barn.

De Haar Fortress 

Our subsequent cease was one of many Netherland’s most iconic castles – De Haar Fortress. We drove to the fortress from Lisse, and it took us round 45 minutes. There’s a giant parking in entrance of the fortress. Nevertheless, it’s paid individually and prices 6 EUR.

De Haar Fortress is a surprising medieval fortress with stunning gardens and a wealthy historical past. It’s the most important fortress within the Netherlands. Initially constructed within the 14th century, it underwent intensive renovations within the late Nineteenth century below the supervision of famend architect Pierre Cuypers. The fortress showcases a novel mix of medieval structure and splendid Nineteenth-century design. The fortress has a formidable assortment of artwork, furnishings, and historic artefacts, offering insights into the lives of its former inhabitants, the noble Van Zuylen household.

You’ll be able to pre-book tickets for De Haar Fortress on-line right here.

An evening exterior Utrecht 

De Haar Fortress is positioned simply exterior Utrecht, so it was pure to go to Utrecht subsequent. That’s the place I made a decision to remain in a single day, as effectively. Once more, we stayed simply exterior the town, as inns with parking heaps inside the town cost from 30 euros to 60 euros per evening for parking. We picked Lodge Van Der Valk Vianen Utrecht, which was positioned lower than quarter-hour drive from the town centre of Utrecht. 

Day 4: Utrecht, Gouda, The Hague, Delft and driving again

Utrecht

As our resort was simply exterior Utrecht, we determined to go to the town and see it within the daylight. 

Utrecht was based by the Romans round 47 AD and have become an vital buying and selling and spiritual centre. One in all its well-known landmarks is the Dom Tower, a tall church tower that gives beautiful views of the town. Utrecht is usually referred to as the “Domstad” due to this tower.

We actually loved the environment in Utrecht – it was very laid-back and stress-free. Possibly it’s as a result of Utrecht can also be a college city, identical to Leiden, and its college can also be one of many oldest. Additionally, for my part, Utrecht has a number of the most stunning canals and likewise numerous streets within the metropolis centre space are equally fairly! 

Some fascinating issues to do in Utrecht embody: 

1. Go to the Dom Tower – The Dom Tower is the tallest church tower within the Netherlands, and climbing to the highest affords beautiful views of the town. 
2. Take a canal cruise and see Utrecht from the water! You’ll be able to pre-book a ship tour on-line right here.
3. Stroll alongside the Oudegracht – The Oudegracht is a picturesque canal that runs by the center of Utrecht. It’s lined with charming cafes, eating places, and retailers, and taking a stroll alongside its banks is a good way to take in the town’s environment.
4. Discover the Museum Quarter – Utrecht has a wealthy cultural heritage, and its Museum Quarter is residence to a number of fascinating museums. You’ll be able to go to the Centraal Museum, which homes a various assortment of artwork and artefacts, the Museum Catharijneconvent, which showcases the historical past of Dutch non secular artwork, or the Railway Museum, which affords a enjoyable and interactive expertise for all ages.

Gouda 

We reached Gouda in lower than 40 minutes from Utrecht, and it was on the best way to our subsequent vacation spot. Although the climate wasn’t nice and it began raining, we determined to go for a brief stroll in Gouda, and it was price it. Gouda, identical to Edam, is likely one of the most well-known cheese cities. And, identical to Edam, it additionally hosts a cheese market. 

The cheese market in Gouda historically takes place from April to August, with particular dates various annually. It’s held on Thursday mornings, sometimes beginning round 10 am and lasting till midday. Nevertheless, it’s at all times a good suggestion to double-check the precise dates and occasions nearer to your go to.

Should you aren’t visiting Gouda on a market day, you possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from what the town has to supply – there are many cheese retailers the place you possibly can attempt little items of cheese, too. Additionally, Gouda is the place the place the well-known Dutch waffles – Stroopwafel or Stroopwafel. There’s a retailer, proper on the primary sq., the place you possibly can attempt the unique Stroopwafel (disclaimer – they’re superb and also you wouldn’t need to eat the grocery store Stroopwafel anymore) and likewise go on a tour to study extra in regards to the well-known Dutch waffles!

The Hague

Our subsequent cease, The Hague, was positioned simply half an hour away from Gouda. The Hague has a captivating historical past. It started as a small fishing village within the thirteenth century and regularly grew in significance. Right now, it is named the political centre of the Netherlands and homes the nation’s authorities and royal household.

The Hague will not be a really fairly metropolis like Utrecht or Hoorn, however it’s an important metropolis for the Netherlands – it’s a hub for worldwide conferences and negotiations, attracting diplomats and politicians from all over the world. 

Along with its political significance, The Hague can also be recognized for its cultural choices. Town is residence to quite a few artwork museums, together with the well-known Mauritshuis, which homes iconic masterpieces like Vermeer’s “Woman with a Pearl Earring.” You’ll be able to pre-book tickets for the Mauritshuis Museum right here.

Delft

Our closing vacation spot was Delft – one other beautiful metropolis within the Netherlands (the distinction with the Hague was placing). Delft is a comparatively small metropolis, however nonetheless, it was full of landmarks! Town is legendary for its affiliation with the famend painter Johannes Vermeer and the long-lasting blue and white pottery referred to as Delftware. Within the seventeenth century, Delft was a hub for the Dutch East India Firm, and the town’s canals, historic buildings, and charming streets replicate its wealthy heritage.

Delft is especially well-known for its stunning medieval Previous City, the spectacular New Church, and the historic Previous Church, the place members of the Dutch royal household are buried. Should you nonetheless have time left, I like to recommend visiting both the Royal Delft Manufacturing unit (Delft is legendary for its blue and white pottery, and the Royal Delft Manufacturing unit is the one remaining manufacturing facility that also produces Delft Blue pottery) or the Vermeer Centre (ebook on-line right here). Delft was the birthplace of the well-known Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, and the Vermeer Centre affords a captivating perception into his life and work. You’ll be able to see reproductions of his work, find out about his methods and influences, and achieve a deeper understanding of his artwork.

Abstract of 4 days within the Netherlands by automobile: the optimum itinerary for an extended weekend within the Netherlands excluding Amsterdam

To summarise, 4 days within the Netherlands will not be an excessive amount of – you possibly can simply spend 4 days in Amsterdam alone. That’s the reason this itinerary for the Netherlands by automobile in 4 days solely consists of one of the best locations to see in The Netherlands apart from Amsterdam. This itinerary for a highway journey within the Netherlands is fairly exhausting and jam-packed with locations, so in the event you ask me to take away half of the locations from this itinerary, that would go away us with the next locations (which might be my must-visit locations within the Netherlands):

• Giethoorn
• Hoorn
• Zaanse Schans
• Delft
• Utrecht
• Edam
• Lisse flower fields
• Leiden
• s-Hertogenbosch

I hope you loved this text and located this itinerary helpful!

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