Traveling in the Netherlands

Amsterdam has been my home city since April 2011 and having traveled quite a bit in the Netherlands (my Dutch colleagues complain that i have seen more of the country than they have!) i think i can safely give some advice to those planning a trip to this tiny kingdom of Northern Europe.

Rijksmuseum

First of all you need to know why you are coming to the Netherlands. Let's face it, you are not visiting here for the wonderful weather, the fantastic food and the breathtaking landscape. If you looking for such things i would recommend Greece, Norway, Sweden or any other country for that matter! You chose Netherlands because of its rich culture, the fantastic museums, the ease of going around, the lovely towns and villages and perhaps exploring the culture built around those sea-fearing nation that ones (along with the Britons) conquered the whole world.

Important tips that will make your trip easier and cheaper:

• Public transportation card: Public transportation in Amsterdam and all the other cities is highly sophisticated but expensive for non-regular commuters. All public transportation in the Netherlands (buses, tram, metro but not the NS trains) can be accessed by one single card, ov-chipkaart which you simply scan once when you enter the vehicle and the when you exit. The cost is calculated depending on the distance. You can buy this card in the Metro stations and the main train stations. The cost is 7.5 euros and you add credit on the dedicated machines found in all metro stations and other places of interest. For comparison taking the tram in Amsterdam will cost 2.7 for any distance within 1hr while using the ov-chipkaart for a number of stops can cost as little as 0.5 euro!
• Museumcard: If you are planning to visit more than 3-4 museums from a list of 400 all over the country (which almost certainly you will!) then go gotta get a museumkaart which grants you access to the most important ones plus you get to skip queues (really important in museums like Van Gogh and Anna Frank). It is valid for a year with unlimited access to all the museums in the list. Its indeed a great deal! 
• Weather: There is no such thing as summer in the Netherlands. No matter which season of the year you arrive there is always a high chance that there will be rain and cold. Actually if you visit for a week and you dont get rain you are beyond lucky! Go home and visit a casino. So always bring water jacket and warm clothes. Umbrella is useless if it is windy as it will be quickly broken.

Get out of Amsterdam!
Almost certainly you are visiting the Netherlands for it's historical capital, Amsterdam. Although it is a fascinating and beautiful city you should not stick only there. There are plenty of nice towns, villages and museums to visit, all easily accessible by train or bus from Amsterdam. Most interesting are:

Edam

• Edam: Worldwide famous for its cheese, this village is located north of Amsterdam and it is easily accessible by bus which you can take from the Central Station (behind the train platforms at the back side of the station) . It offers nice architecture a museum and quite a few fine restaurants. My personal favorite is "L'Auberge" and "De Fortuna" both of which are located in hotels

Volendam

• Volendam: This once fishing village is close to Edam and it is also accessible with bus from Amsterdam Central station, leaving from the same location as the Edam one. You can enjoy a nice walk on what it used to be the fishing harbor, have a nice walk in the old town which is magnificent, tidy and well taken care of by its citizens and enjoy a coffee or food at one of the numerous places by the port. Also nice to do it take the small boat to another Dutch village located across the lake, Marken. Also a very nice colorful village.

Utrech canal

• Utrecht: This major Dutch town is some 30min by train from Amsterdam. Known for its history, the visitor can enjoy a walk on the beautiful canals, visit the Cathedral and a few special museums which i found interesting. If you are into trains or want to want learn all about them, then the Spoorwegmuseum is just for you! Located in the old Utrecht train station you can spend a good 3-4 hours exploring the history, facts and other interesting artifacts! This is accessed for free using the Museumcard described earlier. I recommend food on one of the nice restaurant located next to the canals in the city center

Enkhuizen

• Enkhuizen: Also an old fishing village, it is located north of Amsterdam, around 1hr by train. It is a very nice place and a must go for its open air museum, Zuiderzeemuseum. This is a fascinating place displaying the traditional Dutch lifestyle. Many houses have been moved here from all over the country and you have a chance to see how old professions worked (there is a smith, a fisherman, rope maker etc). This is also accessed for free with the Museumcard. Since i always enjoy open air museums this is one of my favorite in the Netherlands

Airborne museum

• Arnhem: Easily accessible by train this town is known mostly for its bombardment at WWII. You can visit two nice museums, the Openluchtmuseum another amazing open-air museum, freely accessible with Museumcard. To get there you need to take bus No.3 from the train station and i recommend walking back into town since the walk through the hills is lovely. At the Airborne museum you can learn all about the town bombardment through a fascinating exhibition. Located also outside the town bus 1 will take you there from the central station. Finally, next to the Openluchmuseum, one of the biggest zoo's in the Netherlands is located, the Burger's Zoo which is a must see if you are into zoo's. So as you can tell Arnhem is a place where one can easily spend a couple of days

Scheveningen

• The Hague: Seat of the Dutch government, the Hague is a mix of modern and traditional architecture. Known for the International Court of Justice it has to offer a number of important museums, excellent walks and even a beach. The visitor must not miss the Mauritshuis (free with the Museumcard) where one of the most famous Dutch paintings is on display, the Girl with pearl earring from Vermeer along with other masterpieces. Madurodam (also free with Museumcard) with a number of Dutch cities and building miniatures on display is also a MUST when visiting the Hague. Finally, a hidden gem which i enjoyed a lot is the Panorama Mesdag one of the few panoramas left in the world! After the museums a walk on Scheveningen (weather permitting) is the best way to relax and enjoy the ocean. A big number of cafes and restaurants is available to choose from.

Texel

• Texel: This is more for the nature lovers who want to experience something different to a typical trip in the Netherlands. Texel is the biggest and easier accessible of the Frisian islands. You can visit it for a day by train from Amsterdam to Den Helder and then a 30min ferry. At the port there is a huge bicycle rental shop and renting a bike is recommended as the island has an extensive network of bicycle roads. You can drive past the beautiful fields, go to the dunes and end up on one of the lovely villages. The bike store closes at 17:00 but asking them if i could keep the bike longer the guy said i could just leave it there when leaving! And since there are ferries till late you can take your time and enjoy the place. Recommended to go there only when the weather is warm and sunny

Naarden

•  Naarden: Located east of Amsterdam, Naarden is a fine example of a Star fort one of the many the Dutch have built in their country and all over their world over colonization. The fortification and the town itself has been preserved in an excellent condition and walking in the city one can really enjoy this beautiful architecture feat. Apart from its numerous cafes and restaurants a museum dedicated to the Dutch fortress must not be missed (Vestingsmuseum free with Museumcard) .

Dune
 

• Castricum: Although the city itself is nothing of importance it is a good start for hiking lovers! Arriving at the train station from Amsterdam you can head on the left and walking past the forest you end up in the dunes and on the sandy beach. Its an excellent chance to enjoy the Dutch landscape and walk in the nature. Plan 4-5 hours. Be sure to stick on the designated path or else you will be fined!