Netherlands in 7 Days
Netherlands
Overview
The Netherlands' dense, fast train network makes this an easy loop with no rental car needed: Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canal ring and museums, a slower day in the smaller university city of Utrecht, and Rotterdam's strikingly modern architecture (rebuilt almost entirely after WWII), with a day trip to The Hague and its Scheveningen beach.
- Duration
- 7 days
- Pace
- Relaxed
- Transport
- Public transport
- Estimated budget (comfortable)
- €1,200–€1,550
Route
1. Amsterdam2. Utrecht3. Rotterdam
Highlights
- Amsterdam's canal ring and the Rijksmuseum
- Utrecht's Dom Tower and Oudegracht canal at wharf level
- Rotterdam's Cube Houses and Markthal
- A day trip to The Hague's Binnenhof and Scheveningen beach
Worth knowing
- Amsterdam's centre gets very crowded, especially weekends and summer
- Weather is unpredictable — rain gear is genuinely useful most of the year
- Amsterdam is markedly more expensive than the other three cities on this route
Day by day
Day 1
AmsterdamMain activities
- Arrive, settle in
- Canal Ring evening walk
Overnight: Amsterdam
Day 2
AmsterdamMain activities
- Rijksmuseum
- Anne Frank House
Overnight: Amsterdam
Day 3
AmsterdamMain activities
- Jordaan neighbourhood by bike
Optional additions
- Day trip to Zaanse Schans windmills
Overnight: Amsterdam
Day 4
Amsterdam → UtrechtMain activities
- Train (~30min)
- Dom Tower and Oudegracht canal
~30 minutesOvernight: Utrecht
Day 5
Utrecht → RotterdamMain activities
- Train (~40min)
- Cube Houses and Markthal
~40 minutesOvernight: Rotterdam
Day 6
Rotterdam → The HagueMain activities
- Day trip by train (~25min)
- Binnenhof and Scheveningen beach
Optional additions
- Mauritshuis museum
~25 minutesOvernight: Rotterdam
Day 7
Rotterdam → AmsterdamMain activities
- Train back for departure (~40min)
~40 minutesOvernight: Rotterdam
Alternatives
Shorter version · 4 days
Drop The Hague and Rotterdam, keeping to Amsterdam and Utrecht only.
Longer extension · 10 days
Add the Keukenhof tulip gardens (spring only) and Delft between Rotterdam and The Hague.