Countless windmills, historic churches and fisherman’s cottages. The good ol’ fashioned Dutch villages near Amsterdam seem to have stood still in time. Some parts of them still look the same as they did 100 years ago. In some places you can even see men and women dressed in traditional costume, mostly on public holidays. If you’re keen to visit some typically Dutch villeges near Amsterdam, please read on as I will tell you where to go, how to get there and what to see.
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.
Must-visit villages near Amsterdam
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.
Do you like Dutch cheese? Visit the Dutch town of Gouda!
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).
Beautiful Dutch villages a little further afield
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.
Beautiful villages near Amsterdam
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18 Comments
Karen
May 25, 2018 at 12:55 pmReally love this! I’ve not been to Marken, but really want to visit. A lot of people don’t realize how close Amsterdam is to so many cute villages!
Anda
May 26, 2018 at 10:42 pmAh, these villages are a photographer’s dream come true! Absolutely adorable! Your blog is such an inexhaustible source of information for great places to visit in the Netherlands. I’ll definitely add these to my list of places to visit.
Rhonda Albom
May 27, 2018 at 12:53 amI love the way the Inntel Hotel Amsterdam Zaandam looks like individual houses stacked on one another. Zaanse Schans is a town I’d like to visit. The effect of bringing in historic buildings and the working windmills showing how industry used to be is fascinating. Monnickendam looks like a village I would like to stay in overnight.
sarah
May 27, 2018 at 5:03 amI love this! Those towns all look like postcards! Would love to visit there someday!
Rob+Ann
May 27, 2018 at 2:54 pmThis is fantastic! We hear and read so much about Amsterdam; it’s nice to read about these close-by areas. The fact that they are so easily accessible is great, and makes it even more of a mystery that you don’t often read about them. Zaanse Schans is right at the top of our Must See list, but every one of these villages seem idyllic!
Jill
May 27, 2018 at 6:10 pmI loved my one and only visit to Amsterdam but it was entirely too short. I’d love to go back and also visit these villages. I find that I enjoy visiting cities but I really love to get outside of cities and catch glimpses of life in small towns or the countryside.
Esther
May 28, 2018 at 9:46 amAh, in that case a trip to The Netherlands, in general, is a good idea, Jill. As you can basically see so much within 30 minutes from Amsterdam. You could even consider skipping the city altogether (yes, shock horror).
Goblinette
May 27, 2018 at 10:19 pmWe visited Zaanse Schans and loved it. It is a very romantic place, isn’t it?
Esther
May 28, 2018 at 9:47 amHaha, Zaanse Schans is not really my idea of romantic (I know better romantic spots in The Netherlands I guess), but yes, it is special.
Elaine Masters
May 28, 2018 at 7:15 amWhat wonders! Love the colors and architecture. Amazing too that some of the locals still wear traditional garb, even if only for holidays. The seaside pictures make me think of famous painters. Beautiful.
Lolo
May 28, 2018 at 8:28 pmI’ve been to Zaanse Schans twice now and loved it! But the rest of these are just stupidpretty!!!! I love them so much and I have wanted to see that awesome mixed building! Don’t know the name!
Nancie
May 28, 2018 at 8:54 pmAll of these villages look worthy of a visit. The one I like the best is Zaanse Schans. That green coloured windmill is calling my name. Thanks for linking up this week.
Lars and Michelle
May 28, 2018 at 9:33 pmSuch gorgeous little spots in the Netherlands! We visited Monnickendam- such a lovely little fishing village. Beautiful photos.
Julie Lim
May 29, 2018 at 2:16 pmThese villages look so quaint and adorable. Will put at least one of ’em in my must-see places when I visit The Netherlands. Your photos are lovely too.
David
June 1, 2018 at 11:29 amAmsterdam definitely seems like a good place to base yourself when in the Netherlands. I’ve known for a while I want to visit Zaanse Schans but the others are new to me. Marken especially catches my eye. Great ideas for my next Dutch trip!
David
June 18, 2018 at 11:24 amWow! Amazing villages! Love the windmills, such amazing scene. Also love the architecture and the colors of the buildings. Great work, thanks.
Cheryl Tuharsky
March 30, 2023 at 9:54 pmHi Esther Any suggestions as to which one we should stay at?
Esther
April 19, 2023 at 10:45 amHey Cheryl, Zaandam definitely. As you can just catch a train there to Amsterdam (and basically everywhere).