Netherlands Road Trip From Amsterdam: Route & Places to See
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From a first glance, the Netherlands (also known as Nederland) does not seem like the most exciting country to take a road trip through. It’s really flat, there are no major lakes, no thrilling alpine roads, or panoramic valleys. So, is exploring the Netherlands by car even worth it? Without a doubt!
To uncover the many hidden gems and underrated destinations beyond Amsterdam is exactly the reason why you should go on a Netherlands road trip. By only visiting the popular Netherlands’ capital, you’re missing out on a ton. From UNESCO sites, cheese headquarters, coastal boardwalks, and countless towns thriving among canals, the Netherlands leaves a lot on the table for a solid road trip.
In this guide, you’ll find tips, where to go in the Netherlands, and a one-week itinerary for a road trip from Amsterdam.
⏱ Short on time? Skip ahead to the full list of places to visit in The Netherlands by car.
Full List of Places to Visit in the Netherlands by Car
Still not sure of your exact Netherlands road trip route? Reference the full list of places to visit and put together the most suitable itinerary based on your interests and timeline.
- Maastricht
- Someren
- Thorn
- De Groote Peel National Park
- Hilvarenbeek
- Tilburg (Beekse Bergen Park)
- Heeze
- Nationaal Park De Biesbosch
- Kinderdijk
- Rotterdam
- Delft
- Maasland
- The Hague
- Scheveningen Strand
- Noordwijk
- Utrecht
- Amsterdam
- Haarlem
- Alkmaar
- Edam
- Netherlands Open Air Museum
- Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe
- Friesland
- Giethoorn
One Week Road Trip From Amsterdam
Map of Netherlands Road Trip Route
Road Trip From Amsterdam Itinerary
Day 1: Amsterdam
Spend the perfect one day in the picturesque, unique and capital city of the Netherlands. Amsterdam may be touristy, but in our opinion, still one of the most charming cities in Europe and worth witnessing, despite the crowds. Read our guide on the top highlights and must-see places to visit in Amsterdam.
Day 2: Amsterdam to Thorn
After exploring the big city, pickup your rental car in Amsterdam, either from the town centre or at the airport. If you’re not experienced with driving abroad, it’s best to rent a car from the airport so you can avoid driving in the centre of Amsterdam.
Set off from Amsterdam and to the picture perfect city of Utrecht, just 45 minutes away. Utrecht is an underrated alternative to Amsterdam with a medieval town center, colorful store shops, outdoor markets and a major canal system. It is not a small town, but not overwhelmingly big and can be enjoyably explored within a couple of hours.
Next, drive from Utrecht through South Holland until you reach De Groote Peel National Park (1hr and 45 minutes from Utrecht), one of many Dutch nature reserves dedicated to preserving the landscape and its wetlands. It is a free attraction where you’ll have a lovely hike, come across Highland cattle and an assortment of wood carved creatures.
Depart De Groote Peel National Park and drive to the flawless town of Thorn (40 minutes away) where you won’t find one leaf out of place. The town of Thorn is a place that reminds us of a scene from the The Truman Show. It is among the most manicured and proper neighbourhoods we’ve ever walked through.
Day 3: Thorn to Kinderdijk
Departing from Thorn, head towards the direction of Tilburg (1 hour drive), a city that’s prominently known for Dutch textiles. If you’re itching to make a stop at a museum, Tilburg is the perfect place and has multiple museums dedicated to its textile industry.
If you’re traveling as a family (or simply enjoy animals), stop at the marvelous Beekse Bergen Zoo Park in Tilburg. It is the ideal road trip destination because it is a drive through wildlife park where camels, giraffes, and other horned animals come straight to your car windows. We’ve experienced a handful of these with our daughter, but this one still tops our list.
Up next is Kinderdijk (1 hour from Tilburg), the best place in the Netherlands to see windmills. It’s recommended to take your time to experience the historic site of Kinderdijk, assuming the weather agrees.
Known for its celebrated 18th-century windmills, Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage site and among the country’s most popular attraction. You can enjoy the impressive man-made landscape along the perfectly paved pedestrian and bike paths. There is no shortage of photo opportunities, and you can even tour inside a windmill during certain hours.
Day 4: Kinderdijk to Delft
From Kinderdijk, drive a short distance to the city of Rotterdam. This metropolis is a modern, dynamic and vibrant city which also happens to be an insanely vital seaport. Rotterdam is not just an important transportation hub for Europe but the entire world in regards to trade.
Being a port city, we had biased thoughts about Rotterdam but after we actually wandered through it, our minds were completely changed. Rotterdam is definitely a must-do stop on any Netherlands road trip itinerary.
Delft sits just 15 minutes north of the bustling centre of Rotterdam, but it’s an entirely different world. The quaint village of Delft is beautifully defined by its traditional style, flowing with canals, cafes, and boutique shops. In fact, Delft resembles a miniature golf version of Amsterdam. The canals that run through every street make them feel that much more monumental, since the city is petite. The town is romantic and reminiscent of an illustration from a fairy tale.
Day 5: Delft to The Hague
As the third largest city in the Netherlands, The Hague is famously known as the international city of Peace and Justice. The Hague is a city that’s most appreciated through small details and should not be judged by its cover. Every restaurant, shop, and bar is beaming with design, mindfulness, and intent to make everything as appealing as possible. Storefronts and even common streets were meticulously curated and decorated.
It is home to amazing museums and art galleries such as the Mauritshuis and the Louwman Museum which holds the world’s oldest private car collection. The Hague is also an excellent destination for foodies, where you’ll find no shortage of different cuisines to refresh your gouda-drenched palate.
Located just outside of The Hague city centre, is the coastal destination of Scheveningen Strand. This gem is a classic beach destination on the North Sea with a pedestrian promenade, kitschy food vendors and a ferris wheel. We wouldn’t hesitate to say that the Scheveningen Strand atmosphere is similar to that of Coney Island but 10 times cleaner.
Day 6: The Hague to Haarlem
The route from The Hague to the North Province of the Netherlands takes just under 40 minutes. Among the shoreline, you’ll come across the sand dunes of Noordwijk, an important site for any history fans. Noordwijk hosts part of The Atlantic Wall, Germany’s coastal fortification in WWII. Visitors can actually walk through parts of the landmarks and enter the museum for intriguing artefacts and to learn a thing or two.
Next, venture off to the city of Haarlem, located just 30 minutes west of Amsterdam. Haarlem is a scenic wonder and defined by its magical cobblestone streets, quintessential Dutch energy, medieval architecture, and historic gable-style homes. It is also a center for flower-bulb production, which feeds one of the most popular attractions in the entire country – tulip fields!
Day 7: Harleem to Edam
On the last day of a week-long Netherlands road trip, make a stop in the northern town of Alkmaar. While Alkmaar looks like it’s out of the way, the trek is unquestionably worth it, especially if you love cheese. Often known as the cheese capital of the Netherlands, Alkmaar has earned its nickname with a long history of cheesemaking that has shaped its heritage and culture. Who wouldn’t be proud of that?!
From Alkmaar, take the route east towards Markermeer Lake where you can enjoy a meal at De Lunch in the small village of Volendam. This enchanting hamlet is a historic fishing hub, which has more recently been transformed into a colorful marina serving some of the best seafood in The Netherlands.
If you still feel like you haven’t had enough cheese before leaving The Netherlands, stop in Edam for a visit to Kaasmarkt Edam. This market is entirely dedicated to cheese and the town’s renowned dairy contribution to the world. It’s also a fantastic place to buy a (vacuum-sealed and airline-approved) souvenir.
Map of Netherlands Road Trip Highlights
The Best Time to Visit the Netherlands
There’s no point in sugarcoating the fact that the Netherlands is not a paradise when it comes to weather. The winters tend to be cold and dark with nonstop chances of rain. Summers hold mildly warm temperatures, are mostly sunny but there is still (you guessed it), chances of rain.
The Netherlands is unique in terms of its geographical positioning which contributes to the possibility of experiencing all four seasons in just one day. It is no surprise that small talk in the Netherlands is heavily centred around the weather and its lovable unpredictability. Now knowing this, how can one possibly rely on the best time to visit the Netherlands? The answer can be tricky but will most likely just depend on how lucky you are.
For Nice(ish) Weather
For visiting the Netherlands at the peak of excitement, plan a trip for spring which extends from April to June. The country emerges from a dreary period of weather and everyone rushes outdoors to embrace the sunshine and flowers in bloom. Naturally, the summer months of July and August will bring the most daylight, high temperatures and agreeability to being outdoors. Still, keep in mind that average July temperatures don’t tend to exceed 24°C / 75°F.
For Cheaper Accommodation & Less Crowds
Since Dutch weather is so uncertain, visiting the Netherlands can equally be experienced in the winter and fall as it is in the spring and summer. We took our road trip in the Netherlands during November, knowing hotels and guesthouse prices would be much cheaper. We ended up enjoying the same amount of sunny days as rainy days! Grab a good raincoat, umbrella and don’t be afraid to get out there.
How Many Are Days Needed for a Netherlands Road Trip?
Compared to its neighbours and larger powerhouses like Germany and France, the Dutch nation is small and comprised of only 41,543 km². A quarter of the country is either at or below sea level which means you’re not left with much! However, for a road trip, the small size of the Netherlands is absolutely ideal.
Driving from the north end to the south end can even be accomplished in three hours. It is the only country we’ve ever been to where you can visit three major cities, all within one hour of each other.
A road trip in the Netherlands doesn’t have to be long since you can reach many of the highlights by staying in just a few areas. With less long haul drives, you can spend more time actually enjoying the best places to see in the Netherlands. A tour of the country can be accomplished in one week.
Of course, you can always spend more time if you don’t want to stick to a tight schedule and have the luxury of a longer visit. But realistically, the top places to visit in the Netherlands by car can fit into a one week itinerary.
Is Driving in the Netherlands as a Tourist Difficult?
The logistics of the Nederland transportation and shipping industry is a wonder on its own. Its reputation for transport is not a well known fact but it is truly an astounding aspect of the country. In one year, lorries transport over 550 million tons of goods throughout the Dutch nation. All of this, simply cannot be executed on substandard roads with poor infrastructure. What does this mean for travellers? The roads are terrific.
Without a doubt, the Nederland has the most superior motorway system we’ve ever experienced in all of Europe. It may even be better than many areas of the United States. Getting from one major point to another using the highway is unbelievably easy. Driving in the Netherlands as a tourist is not difficult whatsoever, regardless of where you are from.
There are two aspects of driving in the Netherlands that can be less straightforward, but still not challenging for an average driver. Exploring the Netherlands countryside and visiting big cities will require more attentive driving as you navigate narrower and older roads. For navigation, relying on Google Maps is an accurate way to get around the Netherlands during your Dutch road trip.
Renting a Car in the Netherlands
A Netherlands road trip itinerary for one week can be accomplished by anyone, regardless if you’re visiting with your own car or renting a car. For travellers flying into Amsterdam, this is the best place to pickup a rental car. By starting in Amsterdam, you can complete an efficient road trip loop and end your trip where you started.
A road trip from Amsterdam can begin either before or after you’ve had the chance to spend one or two days in Amsterdam city. The best reason for renting a car from Amsterdam is that you’ll find the most options and availability. There is also the convenience factor of picking up and dropping off a car rental directly at the airport.
Packing for a Nederland Road Trip
Umbrella – A compact and water repellent umbrella which you can easily carry around for unexpected showers.
Versatile Raincoat – Functionality is important but so is staying somewhat fashionable while walking through towns and taking many photos.
Rain Boots – Black rain boots that go with anything and allow you to walk anywhere.
Hat – A waterproof bucket hat that eliminates the need to carry around an umbrella and is easy to keep in your purse.
Socks – Wool socks are water resistant and keep your toes toasty.
Waterproof Backpack – A spacious travel bag that’s still compact enough to easily haul around in potential rainfall.
Stroller Cover – If you’re travelling with a young child, a rain and wind cover for a stroller will undoubtedly come in use!
Travel Resources
☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage
✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com
🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com
🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio
🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries
🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago
☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo
📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator