next time I go to a convention in Amsterdam I want to stay in a nice small town within say an hour's distance by train or bus. Any ideas?
2006-07-23 07:01:50 · 10 answers · asked by fieldmouse 3 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Netherlands
Consider Delft, it is very nice and there are many direct trains from Amsterdam (takes about an hour). Its size is probably like Leiden - so for Dutch standards it is still a city.
http://www.delft.nl/webEN/content.jsp?objectid=33500
If you like small towns, you could consider Hoorn. It is about 30 min away from Amsterdam and there are direct trains every half an hour. The old village has a lovely harbour and a nice atmosphere.
http://www.planetware.com/netherlands/hoorn-nl-nh-hoorn.htm
or http://www.vvvweb.nl/welcome.asp?lang=0
Or go for Alkmaar, trains about every 15 min and also about 30 minutes from Amsterdam. Larger than Hoorn.
http://www.vvvweb.nl/welcome.asp?lang=0
Gouda is another option, but it is slightly further (up to 1.30 hours) and you often have to change train in the Hague, so probably not very convenient for a conference.
Utrecht is a larger city, very convenient for travelling, about half an hour from Amsterdam. It has much more of a city atmosphere but the canals are nice
@previous replies: Maastricht and Valkenburg are very nice indeed, but they are not within an hour of Amsterdam. Rotterdam can be interesting but it is not a "nice small town" but it is the second largest city of the country.
2006-07-23 12:22:54 · answer #1 · answered by lambada 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try Haarlem. Old city with 150.000 people. Famous for:
1) Grote Kerk (with Muller organ - Mozart played on it)
2) Teijler museum - Netherlands oldest museum
3) Frans Hals museum - Famous Dutch painter
4) Corrie ten Boom museum - Not as known as Anne Frank, but comparable.
It's about 20 miles west of Amsterdam and 20 minutes by train. There is a 'golden tulip' hotel next to the central station in Haarlem, so very easy commute.
Much less tourist trap then Edam etc.
2006-07-23 15:22:16 · answer #2 · answered by fschendstok 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Utrecht is a nice place.
Very much a university town. Lots of young Dutchies.
Its kinda like a mini Amsterdam. Has some canals, coffee shops, red light area.
Its not so manic as Amsterdam. Easy to get to by train from Amsterdam.
Don't remember too much else... part of my hell raising youth.
Been to Masstricht more recently but didn't think too much of it. Nice river through the centre and the old town is nice but found it spooky after visiting a museum about the religious saints and martyrs. Swear to God it freaked me. Its seems a little too close to Medieval for my taste.
Buy the Lonely planet for plenty info
2006-07-23 07:19:39 · answer #3 · answered by danie100uk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nijmegen!! the oldest city in the Netherlands! 2000 yrs old.
Really nice shops, museums, a lovely park to sit in the sun, a lot of monuments, food&drink etc.
It's over an hour by train, it's in the east of holland, but worth a visit.
2006-07-25 05:33:48 · answer #4 · answered by karen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Den Bosch ('s Hertogenbosch) is a nice place in the summer. Maastricht and Valkenburg are pleasant. Utrecht, Rotterdam, Giethoorn....there are a lot of nice towns in Holland.
2006-07-26 00:19:53 · answer #5 · answered by loves_travelling 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Valkenburg in the south of the country is nice
2006-07-23 10:44:52 · answer #6 · answered by David R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Haarlem
Delft
(See above descriptions)
Den haag is nice too...
2006-07-25 04:45:25 · answer #7 · answered by silv2078 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rotterdam is better then OKAY
Rotterdam rocks!
we're be there the 6th
2006-07-23 07:59:35 · answer #8 · answered by ticklemecute97 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Edam eh?...I suppose you consider yourself the 'big cheese' now.
2006-07-23 07:04:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There s not many left 2 say , he he he he he ... Try Roterdam , it s ok !
2006-07-23 07:03:37 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋