Because the Netherlands is so small and Amsterdam is centrally located within the country, there are many day-trip possibilities. Although you can tour The Hague on a long day trip from Amsterdam, we think it's better to spend the night there if you have time. The following are a few suggestions for places that are best seen on a short tour from Amsterdam.
To Aalsmeer. Practically next door to Schiphol Airport, Aalsmeer is where the country's flower growers hold their auctions. This corporate floriculture can be seen on tours conducted on weekday mornings. You can also observe the bidding from a special gallery. Afterward, stroll along elevated walkways above hundreds of thousands of flowers bundled on large carts. Tons of flowers are auctioned, packed and whisked off to the airport and highways by early afternoon for delivery worldwide. Take Bus 172 from Centraal Station. Open Monday-Friday 7 am. 5 euros adults. Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, Legmeerdijk 313, Aalsmeer. Phone 0297-393-939. http://www.aalsmeer.com.
To Keukenhof Gardens. Approximately 20 mi/30 km southwest of Amsterdam, these gardens come alive with hundreds of thousands of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths (among other flowering bulbs) during a short, exuberant spring. Pick out a plant, and when it has finished blooming, the bulb will be mailed to you. The gardens are open late March-late May daily 8 am-7:30 pm (box office closes at 6 pm). 13.50 euros adults. Take the train from Amsterdam's Centraal Station to Leiden, where you can get a bus to Keukenhof. Phone 0252-465-555. http://www.keukenhof.nl.
To Alkmaar. A visit to a cheese market is a must. Our favorite is in Alkmaar, an hour north of Amsterdam by train, where the specialty is Gouda. The market is held on Friday mornings in the summer, beginning around 10 am and ending by 12:30 pm. It's fun to watch: Hand clapping is an instrumental part of the selling process, and large purchases are sometimes carried off by porters on ornamental carriers.
To Naarden. This beautiful village, 12 mi/20 km southeast of Amsterdam, is laid out in the shape of a star, but aesthetics has nothing to do with its distinctive outline. Naarden is surrounded by a large moat, which shows its origin as a fortress. (The points of the star were redoubts for cannons.) Now restored, Naarden shows travelers what a 17th-century Dutch city looked like. Take a train from Centraal Station.
Local Tours
The VVV tourist-information office has several brochures outlining independent walking tours through downtown Amsterdam, the Jordaan district and the Jewish Quarter.
You can also take the Opstapper, a small bus that loops around the city center Monday-Saturday 7:30 am-6:30 pm for 1.60 euros. It follows the Prinsengracht and passes within walking distance of many major attractions. You can get on and off at will. Boat tours operate daily along the canals, and you can sign on at any time. Operators are at numerous locations, including some near Centraal Station and Leidseplein. Numerous private companies offer guided tours, from walking tours of the Red-Light District to hop-on/hop-off buses and bicycle trips through the city or surrounding countryside.
