I don’t think there could be a particularly bad time of year to visit Amsterdam and the Netherlands, however I can’t imagine being there at a better time of year than we visited. We were there the third week in April. The tulips were in full bloom, the crowds weren’t crazy, the weather was cool but lovely and we got to experience King’s Day. In addition to the four of us (Cash included) we met Lisa’s sister and nephew there. We wanted to all stay together so we found a large house on Airbnb just 10 minutes from the city in Broek in Waterland. The town was adorable and surrounded by canals, farm animals and green meadows. We were out of city so it required a bike ride, car drive or public transport to get to town but we loved the peace and quiet of the house and the opportunity to see the countryside and what life is like there.
We hit all the major spots but still left time to wander and shop. Our big take away tips are buy tickets in advance! The big museums, like Anne Frank’s house and Van Gogh, sell out so plan ahead and buy tickets online. Also, eat the street food. It’s fresh, local and delicious.
Here is our itinerary:
Day 1 – we booked an Airbnb semi-private canal tour experience. We had a great, informative guide in a comfortable boat with local snacks and drinks. He took us all around and pointed out the sites and gave us some great history and explanation of the city. I won’t share the secrets so you can learn yourself but we all highly recommend a canal tour to get an introduction to the city. Included in the snack portion was delicious gouda cheese and mustard…amazing, and we had our intro to bitterballen. If you have never had bitterballen you are missing out on what of life’s greatest snacks. Its made with meat, potatoes and who knows what else but then its fried to perfection. Amazing.
From the tour we headed to the Van Gogh museum. It was everything you would expect and totally worth the visit.
Day 2: I feel like without knowing it, the theme of this day was hiding in Amsterdam.
Anne Frank House. We read the book on the way there so it was fresh in our minds and more heartbreaking then we were prepared for then maybe anyone can be prepared for.
Ons’Lieve Heer op Solder – This is a 17th Century canal house where a Catholic Church was built in secret on the top three floors. It’s stunning and fascinating and so well hidden. No online tickets available…just pay when you arrive. For kids, do the family tour…Dylan loved it.
Keukenhof Gardens – TULIPS! Every color, every style and every shade you can imagine of tulip is here and they are stunning. You could wander around the gardens for days. I will say, that the instagram pics you have seen of people lying in the tulip fields is not permitted. But, you can bike around, walk or take a canal cruise around the fields. It was a true bucket list check off for us.
Day 3:
Rijksmuseum – we made it to the Rembrandt exhibit and then did the family scavenger hunt. It was really well done and fun.
This afternoon was spent walking around, shopping and exploring.
Day 4:
Alkmaar Cheese Market! It is about 45 minutes by car and it is definitely worth checking out. I will say that the actual market was VERY crowded. So, crowded you could barely walk but the stores right around the market were super cool to explore and stock up on cheese.
At lunch, we looked at the map and decided to make a quick pit stop at Bergen Aan Zee or Bergen by the sea so we could stick our toes in the North Sea. The drive to the beach was beautiful and the beach was even better. It was just a quick stop before we headed back to the city. We passed field after field of tulips. It was stunning and a great way and time to see the countryside.
Day 5:
KINGS DAY King’s Day (formerly Queen’s Day) festivities invite locals and visitors alike to soak up Amsterdam’s open-air fun. In the streets, canals, parks and everywhere in between, the city is bursting with orange as Amsterdammers enjoy the biggest street party of the year.
We started the day in Vondelpark with kids selling toys, playing games and performing to get pocket money. Dylan had a great time choosing treasures and playing all kinds of games.
Then later in the day, the grownups walked around the city. There were live bands, food stands, boat parties…the whole city was celebrating. It was a sea of orange fun.
Foods to try:
Herring
Poffertjes (tiny pancakes)
Local beer
Stroopwafel – little waffles with syrup
Bitterballen
Food Hallen – for lunch, something for everyone
Fun Facts:
Did you know the Netherlands is the 6th happiest place in the world? The Dutch are the most physically active people in Europe. Gin was invented in the Netherlands. The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same sex marriage. And last but not least fun fact, The Dutch turned carrots orange and that is the national color.
To Stay:
We love the NH hotels in Amsterdam. They are all pet friendly, well located and nice. Solid recommend. Also check out the where to stay in Amsterdam post. You will see all the places we researched, there are lot’s of great hotels.
