Beyond Amsterdam: discover unfamiliar corners of the Netherlands
Millions of tourists visit Amsterdam in the Netherlands every year, and very few continue their journey beyond the city streets. Nevertheless, there are several interesting settlements around the city that attract the attention of tourists.
Once there, tourists will feel like they are in a fairyland with the famous giant windmills of Amsterdam. Spending at least two days of your trip to Amsterdam in these towns and villages will give you an unforgettable experience, writes Daily Sabah.
The village of Zaanse Schans is home to one of the most magnificent open-air museums in the world, and it's only 40 minutes from the center of Amsterdam. Tourists enter the town with fantastic smells coming from the cocoa factory in town.
As you continue on your way accompanied by this scent, you will come across giant windmills that are a real open-air museum. Of the 600 windmills that existed in the early 18th century, only 10 remain today. The most famous of them is the De Cat windmill, where you can climb to the windmill terrace for a fee. De Kat is still in operation today and is used for the production of paints.
During a tour of the windmill, you can see how it works, its structure and what is produced there. The De Bleeke Dood windmill is the oldest surviving wooden windmill in the Netherlands. In addition to the windmills, tourists can stroll through the town and its flowering gardens, and mini-bridges across the canals offer beautiful views.
Edam is a half-hour drive from Amsterdam and is widely known for its cheese of the same name. Here you can get enough of the taste of cheeses in the cheese dairies. And, of course, you can enjoy the beautiful natural scenery. While immersing yourself in nature in Edam, you can visit the Edam Museum, the Edam Cheese Weigh House, the Grote Kerk Church and drawbridges such as the Kwakelburg.
The city of Volendam is located about half an hour away from Amsterdam and 10 minutes from Edam. The first place that tourists can see in Volendam is the harbor area. Here you can visit the Cheese Factory Museum. In Volendam, which was once very important for seafood production, you can also taste seafood in the harbor area. You can also try the famous waffles here. The local architecture fascinates with its seaside houses.
The village of Marken was once one of the most famous fishing villages. Also in the past, the village suffered losses due to flood problems. Marken, which is accessible by boat, will welcome you with fewer people than other towns. You can wander between the colorful and charming houses with their opening and closing bridges and find many locations for great photos.
In Marken, you can also visit a shoe workshop called "Sabo", which is said to be still in use in some villages. It is a wooden shoe that allows you to walk easily on soft ground, especially on mud saturated with rain. It can also make a great gift for your loved ones.
Giethoorn is often referred to as a "fairy-tale" village, reminiscent of the Hobbit Village or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, located about three hours from the center of Amsterdam. This village is also called the Venice of the North, where you can stroll along the canal area and take a boat tour. Its charming houses are connected by 180 bridges. Of course, you should set aside a lot of time for photography in the village, where you can take many great photos.
As TravelWise previously reported, Amsterdam and Barcelona have lost the top spot and no longer attract British tourists.
