Travel Story: Holland's towns from Amsterdam

From Salzburg to Amsterdam

Early in the morning, we set off from Salzburg to Vienna Airport, where we boarded a direct flight to Amsterdam. After 1½ hours, we arrived in the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and took a taxi to the hotel.

We dropped off our luggage and headed out into the canal-lined city to take in our first impressions. I had already learned from some of our guest feedback that the Netherlands is perfectly suited for cycling. This is not only because there are virtually no hills to climb, but also because of the extensive network of bike paths. These have already given us quite a bit of anticipation for the first upcoming stage from Amsterdam to Zandvoort.

Amsterdam canal with tour boats moored along historic buildings. Traditional Dutch architecture lines both sides under a blue sky.

Belgian waffle topped with white and dark chocolate drizzle and fresh strawberries, held at Rokin square in Amsterdam with bicycles in background.

Pink bicycle decorated with flowers outside a coffeeshop on Binnen Oranjestraat in Amsterdam, with traditional Dutch canal houses in background.

Waterfront restaurants with white umbrellas along Prins Hendrikkade in Amsterdam, featuring traditional Dutch buildings with orange roofs.

Lets go: From Amsterdam to Zandvoort

On the first day, on our way from Amsterdam to Zandvoort, we come across our first windmill, which awaits us in Haarlem. Away from the tourist crowds, we take our first break in this small town, where we can admire the windmill “De Adriaan.” If you’d like, you can even book a guided tour of the mill and enjoy the view of Haarlem from above. Right next to it is a nice restaurant with a terrace right by a canal - the perfect spot for a bite to eat and your first glass of wine while soaking up the bright sunshine!

This stage of our easy cycling tour is already a combination of city, countryside, and river. The final kilometers of the day offer a preview of the upcoming stage, which will take us along the North Sea the next day.

Female cyclist on bridge over Brouwersgracht canal in Amsterdam with historic gabled houses, houseboats, and trees lining the waterway.

Historic windmill De Adriaan beside a canal in Haarlem with boats moored along the waterway and traditional Dutch houses under blue sky.

Cyclist riding on paved bike path lined with white wildflowers and tall grass near Amsterdam Slotermeer under clear blue sky.

Cyclist with bike in front of St. Nicholas Church in Amsterdam. The baroque church features twin towers and a clock on Prins Hendrikkade square.

Yellow wildflowers frame a tranquil lake view with houses and trees on the opposite shore near Halfweg, Groote Braak, under a clear blue sky.

Salmon salad with greens, beetroot, goat cheese and pistachios on a turquoise plate in Haarlem. Bread and carrot fries visible on the table.

Tulips, Beach, and Sea from Zandvoort to den Hague

In beautiful weather, we leave Zandvoort and cycle through dry but very scenic areas. Along the route, there are frequent stops offering sunscreen or cold water, which we always enjoy taking advantage of. It’s a paradise for us on our own bike path - far away from any cars. For the real highlight of the day, however, we have to briefly leave the route and head to the world-famous Keukenhof. We’re in luck, because the tulip garden is open for the last day of the season. A little tip: It’s best to pack a change of clothes in your saddle bag so you don’t have to stroll through the sea of flowers in your cycling gear. After bidding farewell to the sight of the beautiful tulip gardens, we hop back on our bikes.

We’ve made it a goal for this holiday to dip our feet in the cold North Sea at least once. The perfect spot for us is at Strandafrit 8 in Katwijk, before we head toward the city center of The Hague.

Two cyclists with helmets pause on a road beside colorful tulip fields. White, red, and orange tulips stretch across the landscape under blue sky.

Curved flower beds at Keukenhof with colorful tulips and blue grape hyacinths on green lawns, surrounded by tall trees and visitors.

Tranquil pond at Keukenhof surrounded by large trees with green foliage. White tulips bloom in the foreground along the water's edge.

Colorful tulips and spring flowers along a pond in Keukenhof park, with tall trees casting shadows on green lawns and flower beds in the background.

Cyclist in black clothing with touring bike on coastal path near Noordwijk. Dune landscape with grass and shrubs under clear blue sky.

Cyclist riding on paved coastal bike path near Noordwijk with dunes, green vegetation, and blue sea visible on the right under clear sky.

Woman in cycling clothes walking barefoot on sandy path between dunes toward beach. Wooden fence posts line the path with beach grass on both sides.

My Highlights from The Hague to Utrecht

The tour surprises us every day with new local highlights. As we leave the port city of Rotterdam and marvel at its modern architecture, we arrive directly in Kinderdijk. This small village, with its 19 windmills, is a World Heritage Site in the Netherlands. The bike path here leads directly through the man-made structures along the rivers and meadows. When crossing to the other side of the river, you’ll occasionally have to hop onto a small raft that you propel yourself by cranking a handle. Sometimes there’s also a small ferry available for this.

Upon arrival in Gouda, a visit to the small cheese shops is a MUST. Here you can sample all the different varieties of Gouda for free and take your personal favorite home as a souvenir.

In Delft, too, you should allow plenty of time for sights like the Nieuwe Kerk, the Stadhuis, and Royal Delft. In some of the souvenir shops, we can watch the artists as they paint the porcelain.

On the leg from Gouda to Utrecht, we pass the largest castle in the Netherlands. This is the stunning Kasteel de Haar, which practically invited us to visit it from the outside.

White duck on wooden dock with traditional windmill and white drawbridge in background at Kinderdijk under clear blue sky.

Female cyclist on wooden bridge viewing traditional Dutch windmills at Kinderdijk. Three windmills stand along a canal under clear blue sky.

Paved cycling path along Duifpolderkade waterway with blue water on left, green reeds on both sides, and clear blue sky above.

Cyclist on paved path with bike route signs and wind turbine. Green vegetation lines the path under blue sky near Rotterdam.

Yellow-trimmed cheese shop in Gouda with large cheese wheels in window display. Dutch flag waves above, chalkboard sign reads 'er is weer graskaas'.

Interior of Gouds Kaashuis cheese shop with shelves of round Gouda cheese wheels in orange wax, refrigerated display case, and decorative flowers.

Display of colorful cheese wheels stacked in rows with sample plates below. Price signs show varieties like onion/garlic at €10.95 in a Gouda shop.

Female cyclist riding along a canal in Schipluiden. Traditional Dutch houses and trees line the waterway under a clear blue sky.

Display of traditional Delft Blue pottery at Heinen Delfts Blauw in Delft, featuring decorative plates, vases, and ornate pieces in blue and white.

Storefront of Heinen Delfts Blauw in Delft with blue and white Delft pottery displayed in windows and decorative planters at entrance.

Two female cyclists riding through a brick gateway with two round towers at Kasteel de Haar castle near Utrecht on a sunny day.

White flowers frame the Oudegracht canal in Utrecht with boats moored along tree-lined banks and historic buildings in the background.

By Bike and Train – How to Travel Through Holland

Along the well-developed bike paths, you’ll frequently come across green signs with white numbers. Our travel documents informed us in advance that this is the system for bike path signage, known as “Knoopunten” or, in English, “junctions.”

In the evening, once we’ve covered enough cycling miles for the day, we prefer to take the train to get from the hotel to downtown. The ticket and payment system in the Netherlands is truly cutting-edge. Here, we don’t have to buy tickets in advance or carry those little slips of paper around with us. When boarding the train, you hold your debit or credit card up to the check-in point, and when getting off, you hold the card up again. The fare is then automatically charged to your card.

Red bicycle path with white bike symbol on Wateringseweg in Delft. Trees line both sides of the road under blue sky.

Enjoy your meal, or rather, Eet Lekker

In addition to the cultural highlights along the way, there’s one thing that stands out in my memory: the culinary experiences.

All over Holland, you’ll find charming little cafés and restaurants that prepare and serve a wide variety of dishes and drinks with great care. Most of these spots also have terraces with beautiful views. Since we’ve been blessed with perfect weather all week, we can even enjoy these delicacies outdoors.

I've summarized my personal favorites here once again.

Haarlem: Zuidam
Zandvoort: Brazee
Delft: Kek
Schoonhoven: Riverio
Woerden: Gare Pompidou

Outdoor café terrace with yellow flowers and wooden benches in Woerden, with historic church tower and traditional Dutch buildings in background.

Sights and Things to do in Amsterdam

Now that we’re finally back in Amsterdam after six days of cycling, we can’t wait to explore the many sights. When we booked the cycling holiday, we knew we wouldn’t be able to see all the sights in just one afternoon. So we booked an extra night in Amsterdam, which I highly recommend for a stress-free city break. After all, this city of museums has a lot to offer.

Here’s a little money-saving tip from me: The cheapest way to get tickets is to book them online in advance.

Here’s a short list of Amsterdam sightseeing spots:

Try the famous Stroopwafels at Stroop Stroopwaffles and Van Wonderen Stroopwafels
A shopping spree on Kalverstraat
Rijksmuseum
Canal cruise
Van Gogh Museum
Madame Tussauds

View from a canal boat on Prinsengracht in Amsterdam with houseboats, green trees, and the Westerkerk church tower under blue sky.

Heiligeweg shopping street in Amsterdam with historic buildings, shops, and pedestrians. Colorful banners hang above the cobblestone street.

Hand holding a stroopwafel in blue wrapper along Amsterdam's Rokin canal with historic buildings, boats, and trees in the background.

Three large blue and white Delft ceramic vases on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, with paintings on blue walls in the background.

Interior of Rijksmuseum library in Amsterdam with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, arched ceiling, skylight, and tall arched windows.

Conclusion

Explore the Netherlands like the Dutch do: by bike. You’ll gain insights and discover places I would never have found on my own or even considered visiting. No two days are alike here, and new highlights await you every day.

I can truly recommend this cycling holiday to anyone looking for an easy bike tour packed with as many experiences as possible. Drivers are especially careful around you, and cyclists usually have the right of way at intersections and when entering roundabouts. This made the bike tour very relaxed and hassle-free for us.

My favorite place

Whether it was Delft porcelain, a tasting of various types of Gouda cheese, or simply a good cup of coffee with a view of the historic buildings: we found exactly what we were looking for at Delft’s town square.

That’s why this is my favorite spot from the active holiday. The small market square offers plenty of opportunities to take a break from cycling.

After marveling at the sights - which are all around us - we shopped for souvenirs in the porcelain shops and capped off our break with a delicious slice of cake.

Female cyclist with bicycle standing in front of the ornate Renaissance-style Delft City Hall with red banners under a clear blue sky.