National Windmill Day 2024 is on Friday, May 10, 2024: How to plan for my 17-18 day EuroTrip?
Friday, May 10, 2024 is National Windmill Day 2024. National Windmill Day National Windmill Day falls on
Sponsored Deals
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The early parts of this trip are not realistic. While it's easy to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam, you won't be able to see Zaanse Schans and the Rhine Valley on the same day and then get to Nuremberg. Basically, you'll be using the whole time in transit. I'd plan on the first two three days based in Amsterdam. There's enough to see and do to keep you occupied for more than that time. You can get to Zaanse Schans on the Sprinter train from Amsterdam Centraal station. You want to go to the Koog Zaandijk station; from there, you can walk to Zaanse Schans. Just follow the street to the station to it's end and go left. At the next intersection go right and cross the bridge; there are good views of the windmills from the bridge.
There is a night train from Amsterdam to Prague that leaves at 7:01 pm and arrives at 9:26 the next morning. There is also a night train from Vienna to Rome, but no direct train or night train from Venice to Zurich. You can find options for connections for your trip on the German train site: You might also find the seat61 site useful for train travel throughout Europe. There is a huge amount of information including detailed information on Railpasses and links to the various national train sites.
Good places to take a day trip from Amsterdam?
All of the Dutch railway system is available, as the longest travel will be about 3 hours, most of the country is available in an hour, two at most.
It depends on what you like which are the best towns for you.
Arnhem has an open air museum, a big zoo and good student nightlife.
Maastricht and Groningen are both on the far end of travel, but both have a good reputation.
If you want 'real Dutch' countryside life, just outside Amsterdam is a lot of choice already.
Maybe you can add a little information on what you are looking for?
But train travel information can be had here:
And this site has information on all public transport within the Netherlands:
Added:
After reading your additional information I think you may like the 'Duinen'.
This is the strip of sand dunes that stretches along a big part of the Dutch west coast.
There are at least two areas that are easy to access from Amsterdam and have plenty of space to walk.
Zandvoort, (also see the answer by Conley) has access to a big area with lots of walking paths, as easy is to go to Santpoort Noord, and from there it is only a short distance to the entrance to a big area of dunes for walking.
If you prefer to rent a bike, Castricum has bike rentals, as have many more towns along the coast.
You can also combine the Duinen with the Polder, the reclaimed lands, which is typical Dutch countyside. You will find that in many places.
There are more areas nice to walk/sightsee in the Netherlands, and in Belgium which are just 3 hours from Amsterdam.
Near Arnhem is a national park, with a museum in its grounds:
They advice to use the train to Apeldoorn or Ede-Wageningen. (Added 2: I only now see Conley has also mentioned this park.)
Windmills in the Netherlands, Zaanse schans, and Kinderdijk each have a concentration, but you will find many mills all over the country.
Ardennes in Belgium, ask for more information if you decide to try that.
Going to Britain is not really an option, as it takes most of a day just to reach the areas you would like to go to. Even Somerset takes flying to London, and next getting to a rail station and taking a train for the additional distance.
I am going to Amsterdam for 5 days on Wednesday, any suggestion for one day tours? ?
If you are visiting now, then visiting Aalsmeer or Lisse (De Keukenhof gardens where all the flowers are) is not really practical as there is nothing to see (and not open)
So, given the weather (yes it's bordering on average around 2 degrees the last week), then I would suggest:
2/3 days in and around Amsterdam.
- Anne Frank house
- Museums (depending on what you like, see here ) and/or galleries are also nice to see
- Sightseeing such as the Oude Kerk, Artis Zoo (town centre), Flea market, different squares, restaurants etc
- Canal cruise - nice (warm) way to see the city
- Seeing a bit more around Amsterdam such as De Bloemenmarkt, Albert Cuyp markt
1/2 days - Belgium
Gent & Brugge are really lovely towns to visit for the day
Other places in NL (for a 1/2 day trip from A'dam) as an idea:
- Madurodam - (good for at the end of the trip when you have seen more of NL) - is a Miniature creation of attractions and places in NL. This can be combined with a trip to Den Haag (the Hague)
- Arnhem with Burgers Zoo, Open Air museum, and can combine with Veluwe National park and Kröller-Müller Museum (art)
- Zaanse Schans - a taste of olden days and also windmills
- Rotterdam (personally not my taste, but a different city architecturally and feeling than Amsterdam)
- Delft is very beautiful and picturesque and you can see Delftware and potteries there
Y!A won't allow me to link everything (max 10 links), so a good site to read up on all the attractions is
P.S. - I forgot the clothing part (very important!). It's cold and a little wet, and in some places mentioned, can also be windy. Therefore, pack layers of clothing which are warm, sweaters, jeans, warm coat which is rainproof. Umbrella's are not really practical due to the wind..... and good walking shoes - essential if you want to see a lot of places!
Have fun!
