Day trips around the Netherlands
Exploring the Netherlands’ attractions offers an authentic experience of Dutch history and society. Stromma has a selection of excursions that begin and end in Amsterdam, so that you can soak up famous cities, cultural landmarks and places of interest with ease.
Vincent van Gogh Tour
Take a rare glimpse into the life of one of the best-known Dutch artists. The Vincent van Gogh Tour takes you to the village of Nuenen in Brabant where Van Gogh completed some 500 works. Your guide will inform you about the painter’s life and legacy, and you’ll visit the Vincentre open-air museum (and receive a free audio guide) to follow in the artist’s footsteps. A highlight of the tour is the opportunity to see the actual church featured in ‘Congregation leaving the reformed church at Nuenen', a highly personal artwork that Van Gogh painted for his mother. On returning to Amsterdam, you’ll receive free admission and fast-track entry to the Van Gogh Museum, where you can see this painting along with many others, plus artefacts from the artist’s life. You’ll also receive a voucher for a free 60-minute canal cruise in Amsterdam.
Duration: 9 hours
Cost: €149
Cities in the Netherlands
Here’s your chance to immerse yourself in three of the Netherlands’ vibrant cities in one day: Rotterdam, The Hague and Delft. The bus will depart from Amsterdam and head towards Rotterdam’s distinctive architecture, with ongoing commentary from a knowledgeable guide. After a short tour of the city, you’ll board a 75-minute cruise to admire one of the world’s largest ports. Once back on land, you’ll visit the Markthal, a lively indoor food market and the iconic cube houses. The next stop is Delft, where the tour stops for lunch and a visit to 17th-century pottery factory, De Delftse Pauw. The tour continues through The Hague, where you’ll see the monumental government buildings of the Binnenhof. Finally, a visit to Madurodam, which features miniature replicas of famous Dutch sights. This tour is for a maximum of eight people.
Duration: 10 hours
Cost: €85
Kinderdijk and The Hague
Admire the spectacular landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kinderdijk. This village is home to beautifully preserved windmills, historic pumping stations and farmhouses. Accompanied by a professional guide, you’ll visit a working windmill and historic shipyards, and have time to explore the striking surrounds at your own pace. The tour continues to The Hague for a short city tour and a museum of your choice (the Mauritshuis, Gemeentemuseum or Madurodam).
Duration: 9 hours
Cost: €159
Volendam, Edam and windmills
Spend a day getting acquainted with traditionally Dutch icons. Just 20 minutes outside of Amsterdam, the Zaanse Schans is a picturesque heritage site dotted with windmills and historic houses. After you’ve strolled through the area, the tour continues through the polder landscapes. The next stop is the cheese capital of Edam, where centuries-old cheesemaking techniques live on. The group will visit a farm and cheese-weighing house, and there will plenty of opportunities to sample the famous products. The final stop is Volendam, which conjures up images of the Netherlands’ seafaring past. The fishing village showcases the area’s history with clog-making demonstrations, historic fisherman’s homes, auction rooms and the chance to dress up in traditional Dutch clothing.
Duration: 5,5 hours
Cost: €54
Cheese-tasting tour
This half-day excursion takes you to one of the cities popular with cheese lovers: Alkmaar or Gouda. Book your tour on a Thursday to experience the cheese market at Gouda, or on Friday for Alkmaar. Expect to see giant wheels of cheese carried through the streets by cheesemakers in traditional clothing in a recreation of the traditional weighing process. Whichever city you choose, the tour includes an insightful description of cheese-making techniques, a guided stroll through the city centre and plenty of samples.
Duration: 4,5 hours
Cost: €57.50
Batavia Stad shopping tour from Amsterdam
Indulge in some retail therapy at Amsterdam’s outlet shopping village, Batavia Stad. This popular tour transports you from Amsterdam Central Station to the shopping centre for a day of bargain hunting. With more than 100 stores carrying 250 fashion and lifestyle brands – high-end designers, children’s clothing, homeware and much more – it’s the perfect opportunity to stock up on quality goods with up to 70% off. The shuttle transports you (and your haul) back to Amsterdam in the afternoon.
Duration: 6 hours
Cost: €5
Holland windmills tour
Perfect if time won’t allow for a full day trip, this tour of the historic Zaanse Schans gives you a glimpse into authentic Dutch culture in a matter of hours. Your friendly tour guide will explain the history of the region before arriving at Zaanse Schans. You can take a peek into a working windmill, watch craftspeople at work making clogs and fishing nets, find out about the cheesemaking process and, of course, take photographs of the unrivalled landscapes.
Duration: 3,5 hours
Cost: €42.50
