Best heritage walks around Amsterdam

Go on a cultural wander in Haarlem

If you’re looking for a cultural hotspot beyond Amsterdam’s borders, look no further than the historic city of Haarlem. At just 20 minutes by train, not only is the city conveniently close, but it’s also home to some of the country’s best museums and restaurants. Start your journey at the Teylers’ Museum, one of the Netherlands’ oldest museums. The Teylers brings together a dizzying array of art, natural history and science showcased in a bright neoclassical building dating back to the 18th century, which once belonged to local merchant and banker Pieter Teyler van der Hulst.

Just a short stroll through the city centre and you’ll find yourself at another museum equally worth a visit: the Frans Hals Museum. Together with Rembrandt van Rijn and Ferdinand Bol, Frans Hals was among the defining painters of the period known as the Dutch Golden Age. Get up close and personal with the works of this great Dutch master and discover the lively details that capture a slice of Dutch life. Afterwards, take to Haarlem's streets to explore its host of peaceful ‘hofjes’ – small courtyards with gardens – that are the perfect spot for moments of quiet contemplation. Grown hungry from all that sightseeing? Turn to the famed Grote Markt – once the largest market in the Netherlands, which is presided over by the UNESCO-protected St. Bavo Church, where Haarlem hosts its weekly market, famed throughout the Netherlands. Or tuck into some local cuisine at the city center's celebrated restaurants, such as the atmospheric and lively Fortuyn or the bistro-style Café Collete.

Discover the historic beauty of Muiden & the Muiderslot

Located just outside the picturesque village of Muiden, you’ll find Muiderslot, a medieval castle dramatically positioned by the water. It’s a popular spot for weddings and events, and for good reason: the singular beauty of Muiderslot is unsurpassed, attracting tourists from all over the Netherlands and abroad. Built in 1285 by Count Floris V, the castle has been meticulously restored to its former glory, allowing its medieval history to come alive as you wander through its authentic rooms. As you discover this uniquely preserved piece of history, you’ll learn about the castle’s former residents, such as P.C. Hooft, the celebrated Dutch writer and historian who, when he lived here in the 17th century, truly put Muiderslot on the cultural map.

Afterwards, go for a short ten-minute stroll from the castle into the picturesque town of Muiden. Positioned where the Vecht River meets the IJmeer, this small harbor town has spent centuries at the frontline of Dutch water management, trade and defense. Wander along the charming old marina and its cobbled streets, lined by traditional 17th- and 18th-century merchants' homes.

Escape to the past in Naarden

As one of Europe’s finest surviving star forts, Naarden is a remarkable open-air monument to the past. Less than a half-hour’s drive from Amsterdam, this perfectly preserved fortified town feels like a journey into the annals of Dutch history. Approach the six-pointed fortress and you’ll see the impressive geometry of its design – with its defensive walls and sweeping moats, it’s easy to see how it once played an important role in the region’s strategic defense system. Begin your walk at the Dutch Fortress Museum, located inside the historic bastions of the fortress itself. The museum brings Naarden’s military history to life, detailing the construction of the fortress and how it progressed and evolved over more than four hundred years. Here you’ll discover the role Naarden played in protecting Amsterdam from invaders and its place within the Dutch Waterline. Learn about how an innovative defense system was used to create controlled flooding in order to slow the advance of invading armies.

Continue through the historic centre to the Comenius Museum. Dedicated to the 17th-century Czech philosopher, theologian, and educational thinker Jan Amos Comenius, the museum charts his groundbreaking ideas on pedagogy and philosophy. The museum is also the site of the philosopher’s final resting place. His tomb, located in the former monastery chapel that now sits adjacent to the museum, remains an important place of remembrance and attracts visitors from around the world.