NETHERLANDS COUNTRYSIDE – 4 BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT

Spending my summer holidays in the Netherlands countryside is not really what I had in mind for 2020, but as this crazy year unfolded, we decided that spending time with our families, in our home countries was the most sensible thing to do. And in truth, I didn’t expect much. Like many, I thought about the Netherlands in terms of tulips, windmills, wooden shoes, and well … drugs! I had already visited Amsterdam a few times, but I didn’t know any other beautiful places in the Netherlands. But thanks to my better half (who is a Dutchy!) I discovered how much the Netherlands countryside has to offer, especially for nature lovers! Did you know that this tiny country has no less than 21 National Parks for example, while we only have 11 in France? There are so many beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands, and unfortunately, we only had time to visit a few of them.

We visited 4 beautiful places that I particularly liked: Zaanse Schans, Giethoorn, Kinderdijk, and Biesbosh National Park. If you are planning a trip to the Netherlands countryside and looking for places to visit, make sure to check them out!

ZAANSE SCHANS 

If you are in Amsterdam and want to see some windmills, the easiest is to go to Zaanse Schans. A 20-minute drive north of Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood known for its historic windmills, traditional houses, and numerous workshops. Out of the 100 windmills that once dotted this industrial area, 8 are still standing, perfectly preserved on the banks of the Zaan River. Most of them can be visited offering a glimpse into the country’s industrial past.  There are also a few souvenir shops, including one demonstrating how the wood clogs are hand-made in a matter of minutes! On the other side of the river, the traditional green Dutch houses are gorgeous, making the whole area one of the most beautiful places in the Netherlands.

The area is easily explored on foot. Other options include renting a bike or taking a boat trip on one of the many routes along the river Zaan.

How to get to Zaanse Schans:

• By car: Zaanse Schans is located 20km north of Amsterdam, and it should take around 30 min to reach from the city center.
• By train: From Amsterdam Central to Zaandijk station – 15 min (8 USD both ways)
• By bus: Rnet-bus 391 runs from Amsterdam Central Station every 15 minutes to the Zaanse Schans station every 15 minutes. The trip is also included in the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket.

KINDERDIJK 

GIETHOORN 

One of the most famous destinations in the Netherlands countryside Giethoorn is a small, car-free village with canals winding around century-old thatch-roof cottages. Because of these unique features, Giethoorn is nicknamed the Venice of the Netherlands. It is known to be one of the most beautiful places in the Netherlands and as such is a top tourist attraction for foreigners (while a lot of Dutch have never been themselves!).

Naturally, the best way to discover Giethoorn is on a boat. Hop on your own small boat and wander through the village, admire some of the 170 historic wooden bridges, and navigate all the way to the lush and peaceful Weerribben-Wieden National Park. There are no licenses required to rent a boat and it can easily be done on the spot.

Unfortunately, Giethoorn has become a victim of its own success, and there are not enough waterways to accommodate the thousands of tourists the town welcomes every day. The navigation throughout the village is mostly a “traffic jam” situation, that can take up to 45 min! But once you have crossed the village and reached the lake Bovenwijde, you can finally enjoy some space! Cross over the lake to enter the De Wieden Natural Reserve and discover the richness of fauna and flora of this beautiful area.  

Based on my experience, I recommend renting a boat for 4 hours if you just want to navigate around the village and the reserve, and a couple more if you want to swim, picnic and really take the time to enjoy the lake and the reserve.  And despite all the tourists, Giethoorn absolutely remains one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands.

There is a Herring House close to the boat rental area, so while you are there, why not try one of the Netherlands’ delicacies: a raw herring sandwich! 

How to get to Giethoorn:

• By car:  Giethoorn is a 90-minute drive northeast of Amsterdam.
• By public transport: Take the train from Amsterdam Centraal to Steenwijk (90 min), then hop on bus 70 or 270 to Giethoorn (12 min, every hour).  

BIESBOSCH NATIONAL PARK 

Not necessarily on the tourist maps, Biesbosch is one the largest national parks in the Netherlands. Imagine 8,000 hectares of freshwater rivers, creeks, and streams, that can be explored by walking, biking, or by boat! We chose the boating option once again to explore the park at our own pace and it was such a peaceful afternoon. The park is very special for bird enthusiasts as hundreds of different species breed there, or for beaver lovers, the icons of the park. But it is our encounter with wild water buffalos that struck me the most! Spending time in Biesbosch National Park made me want to discover more of the Dutch national parks, and other beautiful places in the countryside of the Netherlands.

There are endless routes to discover Biesbosch National Park, so I would recommend dedicating it a full day. It is also possible to moor on the bank of some of the canals to take a walk, lay down a picnic, etc. Pack some food, drinks, water, your bikini, and go. If you haven’t prepared anything (like us!) there is a very convenient SPAR supermarket nearby, perfect for picking up some food and drinks last minute. 

How to get to Biesbosch National Park:

• By car: Biesbosh is located 27km south east of Rotterdam (around 30 min drive) and 90 km from Amsterdam (around 1h drive)

As you can see, there are so many beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands! These are only 4 of these beautiful places, but I full-heartedly recommend you add them to your itinerary, should you decide to explore the Netherlands countryside. If you speak/read French, I recommend you to check out WorldElse, one of my favorite travel bloggers. She recently visited some gorgeous places in the Netherlands countryside and I am sure her pictures will make you dream of it.

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Are you a nature lover? Then you might enjoy these posts:

• Tanzania itinerary: 10 days following the Great Migration
• Oman itinerary: Desert, canyons, and mountain: 1 week in the Sultanate of Oman
• Hortons Plains hike: All you need to know before hiking this National Park in Sri Lanka

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LOOKING FOR USEFUL RESOURCES TO PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE NETHERLAND COUNTRYSIDE?

From booking a flight to finding some beautiful cultural tours, or getting an e-sim ahead of your trip to stay connected, I have gathered here all the super useful websites I always use to organize my travels.

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Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or comments, please drop me a line in the comments section below!

Much love, Emma

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