The Netherlands is one of the easiest countries in Europe to explore without renting a car. The train system is excellent, the cities are close together, and just about everywhere you go has beautiful canals, historic buildings, great museums, and plenty of restaurants and bars. It's also one of the best countries in Europe for riding bikes, with miles of paved trails that are separated from traffic.
For this trip, I'd recommend using Amsterdam as your main base and taking day trips to Haarlem, Hoorn, and Utrecht before finishing with two nights in Delft. You can see four or five very different cities without spending half your vacation traveling between hotels.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the obvious place to start because there's so much to see. I'd spend several days exploring the historic center, walking along the canals, and visiting some of the major museums. The Rijksmuseum is one of the best art museums in Europe, with famous paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer. The Van Gogh Museum is a must-see. I would recommend skipping the tour of the Anne Frank house and just view it from the outside.
There are also some beautiful historic churches, including the Oude Kerk, Nieuwe Kerk, and Westerkerk. Vondelpark is a great place to rent bikes and enjoy some green space in the middle of the city. I'd also recommend taking a canal cruise, preferably on one of the smaller boats. You get a completely different view of Amsterdam from the water.
Amsterdam has some excellent bars, particularly if you enjoy beer. Proeflokaal Arendsnest is one of my favorites because it specializes in Dutch beers and you can hang out with the locals. De Drie Fleschjes is another great little historic bar where you can try traditional Dutch jenever. Both are absolutely worth checking out.
If you want to get away from the crowded center, rent bikes and ride north toward Waterland. There are some beautiful little villages, farmland, canals, and windmills just outside Amsterdam. The Netherlands has an incredible network of paved bike paths, so you can ride for miles without having to deal with much vehicle traffic.
Haarlem
Haarlem is only about 15–20 minutes from Amsterdam by train, making it an easy day trip. It's a smaller city with a beautiful historic center, canals, old churches, and plenty of restaurants. The Grote Markt is the main square, surrounded by historic buildings and outdoor cafés. You can order fresh seafood from the stalls in the square.
One of the biggest attractions is St. Bavo's Church, which has an enormous historic pipe organ that Mozart once played. The Frans Hals Museum is worth visiting if you enjoy Dutch art, and the Teylers Museum is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. It has a really interesting collection of paintings, fossils, and old scientific instruments.
I'd also recommend renting bikes in Haarlem and riding west toward Zuid-Kennemerland National Park. There are paved bike trails running through forests and sand dunes all the way to the North Sea. You can ride out to Bloemendaal aan Zee, grab a drink at one of the beach cafés, and then head back to Haarlem. It's a great way to combine sightseeing with a scenic bike ride.
Hoorn
Hoorn is another easy day trip from Amsterdam, about 30–40 minutes away by train. It's a historic harbor town on the Markermeer, with beautiful old buildings, narrow streets, and a waterfront that looks much different from Amsterdam.
The town was once an important port for the Dutch East India Company, and you can still see much of that maritime history in the architecture around the harbor. The Westfries Museum is one of the major historic attractions, although you should check its renovation status before visiting. St. Janskerk and the old harbor area are also worth exploring.
One of the best things to do in Hoorn is simply walk along the waterfront and through the historic center. There are plenty of outdoor cafés and restaurants where you can stop for lunch or a beer. You can also rent bikes and ride along the waterfront toward Enkhuizen. If you enjoy trains and boating, check out the historic steam train and museum ship experience between Hoorn, Medemblik, and Enkhuizen. It's a fun way to see some of the smaller towns and countryside.
Utrecht
Utrecht is about 25–30 minutes from Amsterdam by train and is one of my favorite stops on this route. The city has a beautiful medieval center with canals, massive churches, and some of the most interesting waterfront restaurants in the Netherlands.
What makes Utrecht different is that many of the restaurants and cafés are located directly along the water, below street level. You can walk along the Oudegracht canal and stop for food or drinks right beside the boats. It's a great atmosphere, particularly in the afternoon and evening.
The Dom Tower is the city's most famous landmark, and you can climb it for some incredible views. The nearby Domkerk is a beautiful Gothic cathedral with a peaceful cloister garden. Museum Speelklok is another interesting attraction, with a collection of historic mechanical musical instruments.
If the weather is good, I'd recommend renting a kayak or small electric boat and exploring the canals. Utrecht also has some nice parks, including Wilhelminapark, and plenty of paved bike paths if you want to explore beyond the historic center.
Delft
I'd finish the trip with two nights in Delft. It's one of the prettiest smaller cities in the Netherlands, and I think it's worth staying overnight rather than visiting for just a few hours. The historic center is compact, with beautiful canals, old churches, small bridges, and plenty of restaurants within walking distance.
The main square, called the Markt, is one of the most impressive in the country. The enormous Nieuwe Kerk dominates one end, while the historic City Hall sits at the other. You can visit the church and climb the tower for some fantastic views. The nearby Oude Kerk is another must-see, with its noticeably leaning bell tower and the tomb of Johannes Vermeer.
Delft is famous for its blue-and-white pottery, and you can visit Royal Delft to see how it's made. The Vermeer Centrum is also worth visiting if you're interested in the painter's life and work. Another great stop is the Oostpoort, a beautiful surviving medieval gate surrounded by canals.
For food and drinks, I'd definitely recommend Delfts Brouwhuis. It's a historic brewery and restaurant in an old building, with locally brewed beers and a great atmosphere. Delft is also a nice place to slow down a little, spend an afternoon wandering along the canals, and enjoy a couple of relaxed evenings before heading home.
Why This Route Works
One of the best things about this trip is that you can see so much without renting a car. Amsterdam makes an excellent base for exploring the surrounding towns, and the trains are fast, inexpensive compared with renting a car, and easy to use. You can usually get from one city to another in less than an hour. Round-trip flights from LAX to Amsterdam pop up for around $500 pretty frequently.
I'd especially recommend this route for anyone who enjoys historic cities, large churches, art museums, boating, and biking. Each city has its own character, and there are plenty of opportunities to get outside on paved bike trails or spend an afternoon relaxing beside the canals.
The best time to visit is probably May, June, or September, when the weather is generally comfortable for walking and cycling. You get a great combination of history, architecture, food, nightlife, and outdoor activities without having to travel very far between destinations. If you enjoy exploring European cities on foot, this is an excellent way to spend eight days in the Netherlands.
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