The Netherlands is renowned for its superior road systems connecting its cities and communities. There are numerous towns nearby Amsterdam that you can explore in addition to the canals and gabled houses that are famous for the city. Don’t forget to read this list we’ve compiled for you if you intend to visit any towns close to Amsterdam.
1. Naarden
The intriguing town of Naarden is located in the north of the Netherlands and is known for its star fort, which is one of the best preserved in all of Europe and features fortified walls and a moat. The Netherlands Vestingmuseum is well worth a visit because it provides a thorough history of the fortifications.
For a fresh perspective, you may also take boat tours around the walls. The Grote of Sint-Vituskerk church is a must-see among the town’s many structures from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. It has particularly magnificent timber-painted ceilings, and you can climb the tower for the best perspective of the town’s panorama.
2. Broek in Waterland
Since the 1600s, this town has attracted visitors thanks to its distinctively old-Dutch feel. The village is built around numerous rivers and features lovely pastel-colored wooden buildings. See the 17th-century Protestant church without a doubt, and if you have time, paddle a canoe on the water.
The lake becomes one of Europe’s most beautiful ice skating rinks in the winter when the water freezes over. Broek in Waterland may be reached from Amsterdam in under 15 minutes by following the Nieuwe Leeuwarderweg and the N247 northeast.
3. Zaandam
This ancient village is a wonderful way to travel back in time to Dutch culture in the 18th and 19th centuries, complete with clogs, windmills, and wooden buildings. The amazing Stacked House Hotel, a Tetris-like arrangement of historic dwellings, is one interesting architectural sight.
Moreover, there is the famed Czar Peter House, a modest wooden home where Czar Peter I of Russia lived while learning about the Dutch shipping business. The Zaans Museum today keeps the house intact.
4. Oudewater
The A2 and A12, via Utrecht, connect Amsterdam to Oudewater in the south. The town’s central center is surrounded by numerous historically significant structures, and you can easily explore the canal-lined streets on foot or with a guided boat tour.
The Museum de Heksenwaag, where alleged witches from all over Europe were weighed to establish their innocence, is one of the most intriguing structures in the city. It was believed that witches did not have souls, which is why they were light enough to ride on broomsticks. Today, you can be weighed on the medieval scales to see if you, too, do, in fact, have a soul.
5. Monnickendam
Monnickendam, which is only 10 miles northeast of Amsterdam on the N247, may be the least active tiny town on our list. On the Markemeer Sea, it is a tranquil fishing community that takes you back in time.
The houses are still painted in the typical Dutch style, and the windows are still ornamented with lace curtains. If you’re heading to Marken, a town that was formerly an island but is now reachable by road and has a similarly charming, old-Dutch vibe, Monnickendam is also on the route.
