The most beautiful villages near Amsterdam you must visit (2024)

Plan your trip to Amsterdam

• Find the cheapest flights to Amsterdam from your location.
• Travelling from the UK, France, Belgium or Germany it’s a better idea to take the train to Amsterdam.
• There are some amazing hotels in Amsterdam. I particularly like Mr. Jordaan and Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht. Read all about stunning boutique hotels in Amsterdam.
• Buy an I Amsterdam City Card as this will give you access to moxt top sights in Amsterdam and includes some tours to villages near Amsterdam.
• Have a look at all top things to do in Amsterdam.

Visit the villages near Amsterdam

• Take the bus. You can reach most villages near Amsterdam simply by using the regional busses that leave from Amsterdam Central Station. This website helps you to plan your trip.
• Plan a day trip. From Amsterdam lots of tours leave daily for full day and half day trips to the villages near Amsterdam. Most day trips will take you to Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam.

Zaanse Schans

The impressive amount of windmills clustered together at Zaanse Schans were pretty much the first industrial site in the world? Hundreds of windmills along the Zaan river once produced linseed oil, paint, tobacco, mustard and paper. The dozen of windmills you can see and visit today are actually still working the traditional way. Other buildings in Zaanse Schans have been brought in from all over The Netherlands to create a Golden Age village.

• From Amsterdam take the train to Zaandam Zaanse Schans. Trains leave regularly and the journey only takes 18 minutes.
• Alternatively, take a half-day trip to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam.
• Buy a Zaanse Schans Card which grants you access to all windmills, museums and traditional houses.
• Read about the top things to do in Zaanse Schans.

Bonus tip! Stay at Inntel Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam

In Zaandam, just a stone’s throw away from Zaanse Schans is Inntel Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam. This unique building is a sight in itsself: consisting of seventy different typical ‘Zaanse huisjes’ (houses traditional in this area) in four shades of green, stacked togethet to make this amazing hotel. Every room of the Inntel Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam has a traditional Dutch photo wall. The hotel has a spa, indoor swimming pool and a restaurant to relax in. The train station is next door and a train will take you to Amsterdam is just over 10 minutes.

Monnickendam

A couple of years ago I had a work appointment in Monnickendam. When I got off the bus in the small town centre of Monnickendam my jaw hit the floor. Basically, I ended up in what I imagined Holland fisherman’s towns would have looked like 200 years ago. With colourful, wooden cottages and small boats along the harbour, lace curtains in windows and a very relaxed pace of life. I highly recommend going to Monnickendam on a weekday morning, when it’s quiet. You won’t be sorry.

• Take the bus from Amsterdam Noord to Monnickendam. The journey will take about 15 minutes.
• Visit Waterlandsmuseum de Speeltoren, a museum in the historical tower of Monnickendam.

Broek in Waterland

Broek in Waterland is only 9 kilometres north of Amsterdam, yet it feels like a completely different world from the Dutch capital. Broek in Waterland is the perfect getaway if you would like to have an hour or two of quiet away from the city. In the 17th-century rich merchants came to build their summer houses here and a lot of these rich houses still make up most of the village today. Broek in Waterland is surrounded by water and the best way to explore is by boat.

• The bus trip from Amsterdam to Broek in Waterland takes about 15 minutes.
• This e-bike tour takes you from Amsterdam to Broek in Waterland and finished with a cheese tasting at an authentic Dutch cheese producer.

Edam

Edam is one of Holland’s best kept secrets. It’s a fabulous treat to wander the historical centre and take in all the monuments, canals and squares. The town is as charming due to it’s rich history in trade. It had the perfect location for ships to dock, makin Edam the ideal place for trade to take place. If you take a look at the façades of the houses that line the canals, you can still see how prosperous Edam used to be. And yes, Edam is of course the city of cheese. The traditional ball of cheese has been a popular export product since the 17th century. If you visit Edam in Juli or August you can visit the traditional cheese market.

• It takes about 30 minutes by bus to travel from Amsterdam to Edam.
• Join a tour to Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam.
• Visit the Edam Cheese Museum.

Volendam

Volendam has to be the most popular of villages near Amsterdam. French historian Henry Havard wrote about Volendam in the 19th century ‘as one of the most picturesque villages with wooden houses and traditional costume’ causing artists from allover Europe to flock to Volendam. Which is how the village became a real ‘artists village’. But most of all, Volendam is a fisherman’s village, where tons of eel and herring where caught and sold or smoked. Even today, eating a herring whilst overlooking the water is a great thing to do in Volendam.

• A bustrip from Amsterdam to Volendam takes about 25 minutes.
• Join a day trip to Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken.
• Discover Volendam with a bike tour.
• Visit the Volendam Museum (included in your I Amsterdam City Card) to learn all about the remarkable fishing village and it’s traditional costume.

Marken

Marken is one of the most remarkable villages near Amserdam and a visit to Marken is very special, even to Dutch people. The fisherman’s village used to be a rather isolated island until it was linked up to the mainland in 1957. The car-free town centre, with wooden houses and clogs standing outside, seems like a picture from a history book. Visit the clog-making workshop and the museum with traditional clothing.

• A bustrip from Amsterdam to Marken takes about 30 minutes.
• Join a day trip on a Marken, Volendam and Edam tour.

Muiden

Muiden is located just south of Amsterdam, where the Vecht river meets IJmeer lake. It’s a small town full of beautiful traditional houses and a bustling harbour. Definitely take a boat trip to Papmus island, the island where ships heading to Amsterdam used to be quaranteend before they were allowed acces to the city’s main harbour. But the real attraction is the stunning castle of Muiderslot, dating back to 1280. It’s absolutely worth admiring the exhibit on medieval life in the castle as well as roam the beautiful gardens.

• Travel from Amsterdam to Pampus island by boat, a wonderful experience.
• Purchase your ticket to Muiderslot castle in advance.
• Read my article about Muiden and Muiderlsot to learn more about this village.

Naarden

Naarden is one of the villages near Amsterdam that was built as a ‘fortress town’. The Netherlands has many ‘fortress towns’ built in a unique star shape with watch towers in every star point and citi walls built between them. Naarden is one of the star shaped fortress towns close to Amsterdam that is really worth visiting. Walking the streets of Naarden feels a little like throwback into time.

• Take a train from Amsterdam to Naarden-Bussum station and walk to Naarden Vesting from the station.
• Climb the tower of the church (Grote Kerk) for a magnifcent view over Naarden.
• Learn more about Dutch fortress towns and cities in Het Nederlands Vestingmuseum (Dutch Fortress Museum).

Giethoorn

Giethoorn is one of the most beautiful villages in The Netherlands and well-worth a day trip from Amsterdam. Giethoorn is also named as ‘Venice of the North’ as the town mostly consists of islands that are connected by canals and bridges. There are hardly any roads in Giethoorn and the best way to explore the village is by boat. From the water you’ll be able to see the beautifil 18th and 19th century farms and town houses, as well as some lovely gardens.

• Join a full day Giethoorn daytrip from Amsterdam.
• Explore Giethoorn by boat.

Kinderdijk

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed village of Kinderdijk. This village is located in South-Holland, not too far from the cities of Rotterdam and Dordrecht. Kinderdijk is, of course, known for the 19 historical windmills that have kept this area safe from floods for centuries. You can explore the stunning surroundings by foot, bike or boat. Some windmills are open for visitors.

• Take a train to Rotterdam, then take Waterbus #41 to Kinderdijk.
• Buy your entrance tickets to Kinderdijk in advance (it’s a very popular place to visit).
• Read more about all the things to do in Kinderdijk.

Lisse

Are you visiting The Netherlands in April or earky May? The you have the opportunity to visit the tulip fields in The Netherlands. From Amsterdam it’s easy to visit the village of Lisse. The village is, of course, home to famous Keukenhof, but is also surrounded by beautiful flower fields. A day trip or half-day trip is absolutely in order in the right season.

• Take a day trip from Amsterdam to Lisse and Keukenhof Gardens.
• Join a Keukenhof bike tour to get close to the Dutch tulip fields.
• Read more about Tulip fields in The Netherlands.

More interesting reads about The Netherlands

• 3 day itinerary in The Netherlands
• Texel island: top things to see and do
• Ameland island: top things to see and do
• Zeeland: top things to see and do
• Center Parcs Holland
• Beautiful beach houses in The Netherlands