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Day 2: Volendam, Edam, Marken, Alkmaar & Giethoorn

Day 2 is where it gets interesting because we’ve created 4 options for you to choose from depending on the kind of scenery and vibe you prefer. First we’ll tell you about each place and then we’ll give you the options, so you can make an informed decision.

Volendam

Volendam is a Dutch fishing village just north of Amsterdam. Visit Volendam if you want to experience a charming waterfront village with a classic Dutch vibe. Imagine colorful houses, a lively harbor, and some of the best fresh seafood in the Netherlands.

We went to a restaurant with beautiful views of the marina called Smit-Bokkum and ordered the catch of the day a la Smit-Bokkum and that day it was haddock, stewed in classic Volendam style, served with red cabbage stamp (a mix of potatoes and red cabbage) topped with butter & eek sauce (made with mustard, vinegar and butter). For starters, we had the most delicious sourdough bread served with tomato tapenade and salmon mousse. It was so good!

Volendam is a great place to hop on a boat cruise to Marken, another village on an island nearby. Volendam and Marken are the two most famous Dutch fishing villages. The boat tour includes an audio guide that teaches you about the area.

Dutch Fisherman village
Volendam, Netherlands

Marken

Marken is a small fishing village just northeast of Amsterdam, and it’s perfect for a chill half-day trip. You can walk or bike around the village to see the traditional wooden houses, visit the Marker Museum to learn about local history and life in the old days, and check out the Paard van Marken lighthouse—it’s super photogenic. There’s also a clog-making workshop where you can watch a demo and pick up a pair.

Edam

If you can, try to visit Edam on a Wednesday—that’s when the cheese market happens. And there’s another market you might not want to miss on Thursday in another town, but we’ll talk more about that on Day 3. Edam is full of cute streets and canals, so stopping by is definitely worth it. It’s just an 8 min drive from Volendam or a 10 min bus ride on the 110 or the 316.

Alkmaar

The food scene here is seriously good—lots of great spots at really fair prices. What we loved most is that there are plenty of places serving proper Dutch dishes, the vibe is good, and the service is amazing—everyone’s super friendly.

You’ve got to try Alkmaar’s cheese soup. We had it at De Waag, which we loved so much we went back three times. Another favorite was 1480 Food Bar—amazing food and they’ve got these cozy little glass cabins right on the canal. At night, it’s all lit up with fairy lights. Super cute.

Glass hut by the canal at 1480 Foodbar, decorated with fairy lights and heated for winter dining.

Giethoorn

Giethoorn is a peaceful village in the northeast of the Netherlands, often called the “Dutch Venice” because it has no roads—just canals, footbridges, and bike paths. Renting a small, easy-to-operate boat to explore the canals on your own is a popular activity. Or, you can go on a guided boat tour. Walking or biking around the village is also a great way to explore, with plenty of cute cafés to stop at along the way.

There are a couple of small museums worth visiting, too:

Museum Giethoorn ’t Olde Maat Uus: Located in a historic farmhouse, this museum shows what life was like in Giethoorn over a century ago, focusing on peat cutting and boat building.

Museum De Oude Aarde: This museum displays a collection of minerals, gemstones, and fossils from around the world.

Just because Giethoorn doesn’t have roads in the village doesn’t mean you can’t drive there—there are plenty of places to park nearby. Here are some options:

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Here are the 4 options for Day 2:

A: Explore Volendam, Lunch at Smit-Bokkum, Boat ride to Marken, Explore Edam, Dinner on the way back or Amsterdam. Check out our quick guide to finding the best restaurants in your area.

B: Explore Volendam, Boat ride to Marken, Lunch in Marken, Explore Edam, Dinner on the way back or Amsterdam.

C: Explore Volendam, Lunch in Volendam, Explore Edam, Dinner in Alkmaar.

D: Spend the Day in Giethoorn

Canal on a sunny day in the Netherlands

Day 3: Keukenhof, Delft & Gouda

Total driving time: 1h 50 min

Day 3 is all about tulips, delftware and dutch cheese! First stop: Keukenhof to see the tulips. Then we’re off to Delft for the classic blue-and-white pottery. And we’ll end the day in Gouda with dinner and some cheese shopping. It’s perfect way to end a Netherlands road trip.

Keukenhof Gardens

Keukenhof Gardens, about a 40 min drive from Amsterdam. It’s a massive garden bursting with tulips—like, millions of them—in every color you can imagine.

It’s only open for a few weeks in spring, so it’s one of those seasonal gems you really don’t want to miss if you’re in the Netherlands at the right time. The sweet spot to visit is mid to late April when the tulips usually hit peak bloom, but honestly, the whole season is stunning—from March to early May you’ll see all kinds of flowers like hyacinths and daffodils too.

In 2025, the gardens are open from March 20th to May 11th. Definitely check out the official website for live flower updates and to grab your tickets in advance. You’re looking at spending 20€ per person for standard entry plus a 9€ parking ticket, valid for the whole day.

A bed of colourful tulips with a Dutch Windmill in the background
Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse

Delft

Next, drive approximately 40 mins to Delft. Delft is a small, historic city in the Netherlands, known for its beautiful canals, old churches, and famous blue-and-white pottery (Delftware). It was the home of William of Orange, the founder of the Netherlands and the birthplace of the famous painter Johannes Vermeer.

The two main thing we suggest doing in Delft are:

Dutch buildings
Delft, Netherlands

Gouda

After lunch, drive 30 mins to Gouda, the birthplace of the world-renowned Gouda cheese. Here are a few things we recommend doing here:

Gouda cheese experience. Gouda’s Cheese Experience is the perfect activity to learn all about the famous Gouda cheese. You can see how it’s made, try different kinds, and even buy some as a souvenir. It’s fun, interactive, and great for cheese lovers (or anyone who just likes free samples).

Have a drink in the main square. The main square, where you’ll find the beautiful and iconic town hall, is surrounded by great bars and restaurants. It’s the perfect spot for a drink or a meal, especially as the evening sets in and the vibe gets even better. We went to Barbier and really loved the vibe and from where you sit you can see the Stadhuis.

Gouda Cheese Market

Visit the Gouda Cheese Market starting from Apr 3, 2025, until Aug 28, 2025 (closed on May 29th). It runs from 10:00 to 12:30, so even though we’ve saved Gouda for last to make driving easier, you can flip the day—start in Gouda, grab lunch, head to Keukenhof, then finish up in Delft. Just a heads up: the Royal Delft factory closes at 17:00, and Keukenhof is usually way quieter before 10:30 AM or after 4:00 PM. So feel free to tweak the plan to whatever works best for you.

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Netherlands Road Trip Itinerary  A 3-Day Dutch Adventure

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