Stay : Three weeks in the Netherlands, from south to north
A three-week stay helps to identify the country's key. Distances are short and the most interesting cities are often not very far away from each other.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
19 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Where to stay - Maastricht ?
The map of your stay - Pays-Bas
Detail of the stay : Three weeks in the Netherlands, from south to north - 19 days
Day 1: Maastricht
Steps: Maastricht
Known for the European treaty of the same name signed in 1992, Maastricht is also a romantic destination and a lively city. Take a stroll around town, and don't hesitate to leave the center to visit its vineyards.
Day 2: Fauquemont-sur-Gueule (Valkenburg)
Steps: Valkenburg
A day trip to the charming, touristy town of Valkenburg will transport you to another world.
Day 3: Duke's Wood (Hertogenbosch)
Steps: Bois-Le-Duc
Capital of Haut-Brabant, Bois-le-Duc is famous for its remarkable Gothic cathedral. It is also the home of painter Jerome Bosch.
Day 4: Breda
Steps: Breda
On your way to the North Sea, stop off in Breda. A 12th-century fortified town and original stronghold of the Orange family, Breda boasts a castle flanked by four towers. The old center of Breda is one of the most charming in the Netherlands.
Day 5: Zierikzee
Steps: Zierikzee
Head for the sea. One day is all it takes to see the town's main sights: the old port of Zierikzee and the Sint-Lievensmonster tower. Enjoying the delights of the sea on a terrace is a real pleasure.
Day 6: Walcheren Island/Rotterdam
Steps: Rotterdam, Middelburg, Veere, Walcheren
Cross the sea with the N57 to reach Walcheren Island. Pretty little towns await you there: Veere, Middelburg, Westkapelle or Dombourg. After your visit, you will have an hour and a half by car to reach Rotterdam.
Day 7: Rotterdam
Steps: Rotterdam
Home to one of the world's largest ports (and Europe's largest), Rotterdam is a dynamic city on the move. With its many museums and stunning contemporary architecture, there's no shortage of entertainment and festivities.
Day 8: Rotterdam, architectural city
Steps: Rotterdam
Lovers of modern architecture will be able to stroll for hours in this city. The Rotterdam Cube Houses, the Van Nelle factory, the New Luxor theater and City Hall are all must-sees.
Day 9: Delft
Steps: Delft
The earthenware town exudes an undeniable charm: a morning stroll through its narrow streets and along its enchanting canals is a must! From the top of the Nieuwe Kerk on the market square, the view of the old town is simply breathtaking.
NIEUWE KERK
Day 10: Gouda
Steps: Gouda
Gouda is a beautiful, typically Dutch town, so don't forget to try its famous Gouda cheese.
Day 11: Introductory walk in Amsterdam
After arriving at the hotel, it's a good idea to take a boat trip and/or a stroll through the red light district. Might as well start with the real thing, right? A boat trip gives you a first overall impression of the city. You can take a boat on the Damrak, the street opposite the station, or at many other locations throughout the city. Ask at your hotel reception. Depending on the length of your boat trip, you'll need to plan your dinner (remember that Dutch kitchens close early, at around 10.30pm). You can easily find an Indonesian, Chinese or Thai restaurant on the outskirts of the red zone.
After the boat trip, take a stroll through the red zone, but watch out for pickpockets, of course. A word of advice: leave the area when there are only men left. You can have a drink at Engelbewaarder (Kloveniersburgwal 59), a friendly literary café where you can enjoy a well-earned snack.
If you've still got a little energy left, you can take a trip to the touristy Leidseplein for a nightcap and even go out if you like.
Day 12: Discover Amsterdam
Steps: Amsterdam
Saturday should ideally start early, with a visit to the Anne Frank House (Prinsengracht 263). It's advisable to get there before opening time (9 a.m.) to avoid languishing for hours inAmsterdam 's longest queue (sic). After the Anne Frank House, continue along the Prinsengracht and turn left at the North Church (Noorderkerk). Every Saturday on the church square, the popular organic market displays its wares. Admire the beautiful produce and then sample the famous apple pie at the Winkelcafé on the corner of Westerstraat and Noordermarkt. Continue your stroll through the Jordaan district, once the city's working-class quarter and now one of the capital's most fashionable neighborhoods. Return to Anne Frank's house along another canal, the Keizersgracht for example. Reach the Place du Spui, where you'll find the entrance to the beguinage (take the alley on the left when you're opposite the Caffé Esprit, then turn left again). Take a breath, you're out of time! If you wish, you can also visit theAmsterdam Museum, or at least go through the Civic Guards Gallery (it's free). In the evening, you can head to the Melkweg or Paradiso, two of Amsterdam's musical temples (check the Internet for listings in advance). For jazz fans, a visit to the Muziekgebouw aan 't-IJ is a must. This complex houses several jazz venues (Bimhuis and Ijsbreker). Classical music fans will be delighted by the Concertgebouw, renowned for its remarkable acoustics and exceptional orchestra. Otherwise, there's always the option of visiting one of the city's many brown cafés, renowned for their authenticity.
AMSTERDAM MUSEUM / ANNE FRANK HUIS - MAISON D'ANNE FRANK / NOORDERMARKT / BOERENMARKT
Day 13: Cultural tour
Steps: Amsterdam
Sunday will be a cultural day, and it's advisable to visit only one major museum(Van Gogh or the Rijksmuseum, for example) to avoid indigestion, and to choose it according to the additional temporary exhibitions (consult the programs on the Internet). In any case, all the museums are located in the same district. After your visit, head for Vondelpark, the city's large park named after a famous poet. Treat yourself to tapas at the Eetcafé Vondeltuin, and enjoy a cold beer at the T'Blauwetheehuis. If the weather's really nice, enjoy a moment of idleness in the park. And if the weather's really bad, or if you're looking for something a little more cultural, take the path to the Jewish Quarter and visit the Portuguese synagogue (M. Visserplein 3), open until 4pm. Built in 1675, it is the world's largest synagogue. To round things off in style, why not enjoy a candlelit dinner at d'Vijff Vlieghen, one of Amsterdam's most famous restaurants?
Day 14: Island of Texel/Route Route
A trip on the protected island of Texel will take a day and a half. If time permits, you will even be able to swim. Take the road to Sneek late in the day.
Day 15: Sneek
Steps: Sneek
Admire the Sneek marina and its famous Watergate, a 17th-century gateway over the canal.
Day 16: Leeuwarden
Steps: Leeuwarden
Capital of Frise, Leeuwarden has over 600 monuments including the Oldehove, "the Tower of Pisa of the Netherlands". Shopping is at the heart of the shopping street De Kleine Kerkstraat.
OLDEHOVE
Day 17: Seductive Groningen
Steps: Groningue
The largest and liveliest city in the north of the country, Groningen has a city center reserved exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists. To the south, the Groninger Museum is one of the most breathtaking buildings in the Netherlands.
GRONINGER MUSEUM
Day 18: Zwolle
Steps: Zwolle
Zwolle symbolizes the trading power of the Hanseatic cities. With its medieval town center and St. Michael's Catholic Church, Zwolle attracts many tourists. You can admire the city and its surroundings from the top of the Peperbus Tower (75 meters).
Day 19: De Hoge Veluwe
Steps: Parc National De Hoge Veluwe
On the way back south, a stopover at the magnificent De Hoge Veluwe nature park in the province of Gelderland will round off your stay in style.
PARK PAVILJOEN
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Book your activity - Maastricht
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