You’ve already been to Amsterdam and are wondering what else you can do in the Netherlands apart from Zaanse Schans and Volendam? I suggest to get out of the crowd and check the connections to these three Dutch cities – Amersfoort, Gorinchem and s’Hertogenbosch outside of Amsterdam that are worth visiting for one day.
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Amersfoort – a fairy tale Dutch city
Amersfoort is easily reachable by train from Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague. You can do a day trip and discover more about Dutch history and culture. Amersfoort looks like a fairy tale place with its Fort Walls surrounding the heart of the city.
Amersfoort city walk itinerary
The first stop is the Medieval gate Koppelpoort and the Kei (or the Port). Furthermore, we continue to the Culture House Eemhuis and Kunsthal KAdE – a modern art exhibition hall located near the gate to the city centre. From the gate, you enter the city, which follows a little street in the shape of a spiral. Likewise, you can just walk around and reach the main shopping streets – Langegracht or Kortechracht. Both streets are close to each other and end up in the Hof and Sint-Joriskerk – Amersfoort’s cathedral. Needless to say that this is the main city square and the perfect spot for a coffee or a lunch break on a sunny day.
Piet Mondrian’s House
Another key point is that Amersfoort is the birthplace of the painter Piet Mondrian and you can visit Piet Mondriaan’s House located at Kortegracht 11. A reconstruction of his Paris workshop is held there as well as drafts of his work. For more information, please check Mondriaanhuis in Amersfoort.
Not to mention that every Dutch city has a lot of canals, and if you are up for a boat trip in Amersfoort, you can embark on one, but first check the schedule at the Tourist Information Office.
The Bull Statue
Otherwise, if you prefer to continue your discovery of Amersfoort by walk, you can also exit the city centre at Monnikendam (one of the Fort gates) and continue in the direction of the Bull statue. There is a beautiful path with a park and this is the perfect place to see all the Fort Walls. Amersfoort Central Station is in 10-15 minutes walk from the Bull Statue and if you are tired, there is a bus stop nearby and you can take bus 5 to go back to the station.
To sum up, Amersfoort is one of my favourite Dutch cities worth visiting that has a direct connection to Amsterdam.
Gorinchem – the town with all the Dutch symbols
Next on the list comes Gorinchem. Gorinchem is a Dutch city in the middle of the country, 70 km south of Amsterdam. It is not “around the corner”, but you can take a train to Utrecht and then make a connection to a bus to Gorinchem.
Gorinchem – the best Dutch city for the perfect travel photos
Especially, Gorinchem is a must-see for everyone who is obsessed with the perfect travel photos. All the Dutch symbols are there – windmills, little streets, canals, even a castle on the other side of the river. I highly recommend visiting this place as it’s really out of the beaten path and you will enjoy the Dutch atmosphere. Besides, everything you need is in the city centre – the Central Station, the windmills, the central square, the park and the river.
Slot Loevestein Castle
With this in mind, I am sure you’ll have also time to take a water taxi while in Gorinchem and visit Slot Loevestein – one of the biggest medieval castles in the Netherlands. It’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in Dutch culture and history.
s’Hertogenbosch – a Dutch city as famous as Amsterdam worth visiting
Lastly, I would suggest visiting s’Hertogenbosch, which is quite a famous Dutch city worth visiting other than Amsterdam. The city is located in the heart of the country and surely has a lot to offer in terms of sights to visit. Apart from the festive atmosphere in the city centre with all the bars, there are two great highlights that you should not miss out.
Den Bosch historical boat trip on the canals
The first one is the historical boat trip on the canals. The canals are everywhere in the Netherlands, but the canals in Den Bosch (as locals are calling s’Hertogenbosch) are very narrow and are wide enough for only one boat to pass. In fact, all the canals are well-preserved and it’s a real adventure to do the boat trip there.
St. John’s Cathedral in Den Bosch – the biggest cathedral in the Netherlands
The second spot is St. John’s Cathedral. This is the biggest cathedral in the Netherlands and the most famous one. It has a very rich interior and a huge organ. Given that the cathedral is considered as a National monument, it receives financial support from the government.
To conclude, I hope that you are convinced enough to explore these three Dutch cities – Amersfoort, Gorinchem and s’Hertogenbosch that are really worth visiting outside of Amsterdam. I will continue to update you with tips to do and to absolutely not miss out in the Netherlands!
Stay curious and thanks for reading!