Region

Travel outside of Amsterdam to see the quintessentially Dutch landscape with windmills, dikes and green pastures. Walk through picturesque fishermen’s villages; take a journey by boat past the beautiful rivers or bike through the dunes.

Volendam & Marken

The historical fisherman’s villages Volendam and Marken are mostly famous for their characteristic, wooden houses, aquatics, traditional garments and fresh fish. These villages are situated on the former South Sea (Now the IJsselmeer), where they have stood the test of time for centuries. The charming houses, winding water ways and drawbridges evoke a sense of nostalgic romance.

Alkmaar

Alkmaar is a beautiful, historical city in the province of North-Holland. The city center is magical a magical place where you’ll discover canals and mansions. The city of Alkmaar was established in 939 and is famous for its cheese products. Every year, from April to September, it hosts a world famous cheese market where you can witness the traditional weighing and bidding on cheese.

Edam

Hundreds of years ago, this city was the first to produce truly round cheeses. During the high season it hosts weekly cheese markets. A number of cheese warehouses have survived and keep the colorful history alive. Edam is a city rich in history, monumental buildings, beautiful squares, shopping streets and delightful terraces.

Haarlem

Haarlem was established in 1245 and is older than Amsterdam. Because of its convenient location, the city soon flourished. Not much has changed to Haarlem’s streetscape since then. It’s also a perfect city for visitors who love to shop; you’ll find brand-name stores, boutiques and antique stores.

The Zaanstreek

The ‘Zaanse Schans’ is a scenic, inhabited township on the river Zaan. There are characteristic, wooden houses and windmills from the 17th and 18th century as well as shops, restaurants, a wooden shoe factory, a cheese factory and a tin workshop. Some of the windmills may be visited. Some places worth visiting include the Czaar Peter House in Zaandam, the Mill Museum in Koog aan de Zaan and the industrial heritage on the banks of the river Zaan.

Muiden

During the Middle Ages Muiden was part of the outer harbor area of the city of Utrecht. Later, it became part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam. Artillery towers and encampments are located throughout this small city. The most famous part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam is the island of Pampus. Pampus is still part of the country of Muiden. You can visit the island with a ferry that navigates the IJsselmeer. Together with the scenic city center, the Muiderslot is one of the most popular attractions. The chambers in the castle were decorated according to 17th century style and will give visitors a great impression of the way the fortress’s most famous resident, the Dutch poet P.C. Hooft, spent his time.

Naarden

This fortified city is the oldest in the Gooi and Vecht area. It is home to a number of Holland’s most picturesque cultural monuments. If you’d like to find out more about this city’s eventful history, visit the Dutch Vestingmuseum. You’ll also find the Sint Vitus church in Naarden, which is famous for its murals and annual performance of the Mattheus Passion. In addition, climbing the steeple will be rewarded with a gorgeous view. Naarden is another great city to go hunting for antiques and home accessories. The Naardenmeer, one of Holland’s oldest natural monuments, is also worth a visit.