Where to Take a Day Trip From Amsterdam

Tens of millions of visitors throng the canal-ringed neighborhoods of Amsterdam every year, savoring meals at its Michelin-starred restaurants and soaking up the culture at its world-class museums. But the Netherlands is more than just its biggest and most well-known city. Adding a quick day-trip to nearby destinations such as Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Zandvoort can make for a more dynamic overall visit. In Rotterdam, learn about the port that helped create one of the most diverse cities on the continent. In Utrecht, a surprising take on Dutch canal culture awaits. And Zandvoort’s nine-kilometer beach makes a case for an unexpected Eurosummer. Bonus: thanks to the country’s dependable train system, all three are less than 45 minutes away from Amsterdam’s central station.

(How to Spend the Perfect Day Finding Amsterdam's Alternative Side)

Rotterdam

The Netherland’s second largest city with a population just shy of 675,000, Rotterdam has lived many lives: First as a fishing village in the 13th century and then as one of the most important maritime hubs in Europe. As the continent’s largest, the port of Rotterdam was the starting point of many journeys to the New World, both in terms of trade and immigration. The city’s more modern history was shaped by World War II after bombings largely destroyed its downtown. Rebuilding efforts left Rotterdam with one of the world’s most striking skylines, which continues to be transformed by global starchitects like Rem Koolhaas today.

Much of what one could see and learn about Rotterdam will not fit into a short day-trip so Unwana van der Werk, the guest relations and concierge manager at Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, Amsterdam, says it’s best to focus a visit on the city center, a walkable enclave full of great museums, restaurants, and shops.

“The city is best experienced on foot to appreciate its architectural density,” van der Werk adds. “The Cube Houses, Markthal, and Old Harbour form a compact core that captures Rotterdam’s identity.”

(The Essential Guide to Visiting Amsterdam)

Architect Piet Blom’s yellow Cube Houses has become one of Rotterdam’s most emblematic structures, and some of them remain working residences. It’s possible to tour the interiors that are part of the museum, but even just seeing them from the outside showcase the innovative building projects the city is known for. Three minutes west is The Markthal, a horseshoe-shaped structure designed by homegrown architecture firm MVRDV. The building itself is stuffed with apartments and offices, but the central expanse is a food hall, where you can taste the diversity of the city. (The port wasn’t all about people leaving; it opened the doors for incoming communities for all over the world, too.)  Sample creamy Dutch cheeses at Cromwijk Kaasdok, a made-to-order Gözleme at Ekmekci, and deep-fried tuna pasties from the Caribbean by Pastry d'Oro.

Rotterdam is home to fantastic art institutions. Fifteen minutes from Markthal is the ​​Sonneveld House, a stunningly preserved example of the Nieuwe Bouwen style from the 1930s that somehow survived the bombings. At the port is the year-old FENIX Museum of Migration, which explores the complexity of modern migration. One of its permanent exhibition spaces is dedicated to the Suitcase Labyrinth, which comes with an audio component and tells the stories of people who have undertaken the sometimes difficult journey of relocation. Otherwise, van der Werk recommends strolling through the Art Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

(Why Amsterdam Locals Are Reviving the Art of 'Dusking')

“It is the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility, offering direct access to the museum’s collection and conservation process,” she says of pieces such as Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s The Tower of Babel and Salvador Dali’s Shirley Temple, The Youngest, Most Sacred Monster of the Cinema in Her Time. “A visit at sunset highlights the reflective façade and city skyline.”

How to get there: From Amsterdam Centraal, there are many direct trains to Rotterdam Centraal that typically take 30 to 40 minutes. The beauty of taking the train is that you will be greeted with another one of the city’s architectural marvels: the station itself.

Utrecht

Thanks to its picturesque canals and the gabled Dutch buildings that line them, Utrecht is often compared to Amsterdam. It’s described as the capital’s more easy-going little sister, largely because Utrecht doesn’t receive the same influx of tourism.

“A day trip to Utrecht gives travelers a chance to experience a different rhythm of the country,” says Remco van den Born, a Utrecht based trip leader for active-adventure tour operator Backroads.  “Amsterdam is big, iconic, and full of energy, but Utrecht feels more intimate and local. It has the canals, historic buildings, bikes, cafés, and lively streets, but in a way that feels slower-paced.”

A university city (20% of the 360,000 residents are students), Utrecht is all about the vibes. On a day trip, walking alongside or getting on the canal can reveal more of the city than checking off a bunch of attractions. But van den Born does recommend visiting the Dom Tower, the tallest church tower in the country that was separated from the rest of the church during an intense 17th century storm.  At nearly 370 feet tall, it is possible to walk up to the top for fantastic views of the area.

Then, it’s time to get on the water. To truly get a feel for Utrecht's unique canal culture, Van den Born recommends hopping on a kayak and paddle the Oudegracht, which runs through the center of the city. Not only is this a relaxing activity, but from the kayak, you can clearly see the canal’s unusual two-tier system. There’s the street level, and underneath it, the water-level wharf. This was built in the Middle Ages to allow merchants to efficiently unload their cargo into storage cellars. Now, many of these wharf cellars are trendy bars, cafes, and restaurants. There are many to choose from, but van den Born recommends Oudaen, a historic brewery where you can do a tasting, or order a pint of beer, some fries, and people watch on a table outside.

How to get there: A train ride between Amsterdam Centraal and Utrecht Centraal shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. And while there are frequent direct connections, van den Born suggests waiting until after the morning commute to avoid crowds.

Zandvoort

If your trip to Amsterdam happens to line up with a heatwave, a cooling escape at a lovely little beach town is but a short train ride away. For most of its history, Zandvoort was a modest fishing village before becoming a tony spa town in the 19th century, right around the time affluent Europeans discovered the healing benefits of sea-bathing.Empress Sissi was one among Zandvoort’s most famous guests. Following World War II, out of the rubble came the construction of the legendary race track cutting through the dunes in 1948. Its relaunch in 2021 as part of F1 placed the spotlight back on this coastal destination.

For those visiting in late August, there’s the opportunity to attend the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. But if your day trip happens at any other time of the season, you’ll have to settle for Zandvoort’s nine-kilometer beach. And with that much space, there’s something for everyone. There are nearly three dozen beach clubs, for instance, that dot the coast. You can get really fancy at Bernie’s, which has two separate pools and live DJs. Those who prefer a more active day at the beach, can head to the south end of Zandvoort and book kitesurfing and standup paddleboarding lessons at The Spot. There’s a dedicated nude beach, too, between posts 68 and 71.

Hungry? Put your clothes back on for slow-roasted beets and creamy sundaes at family-friendly Tijn Akersloot, which usually has live music, too. A more bohemian vibe (clock the Bali-esque woven furniture throughout) awaits half-a-mile up the beach at Hippie Fish, which serves a globally inspired menu of Turkish eggs, eggplant parmesan, and fish curry.

How to get there: There’s a 30-minute train multiple times an hour from Amsterdam Centraal to Zandvoort. Upon arrival, the sand is about 600 feet away.