The Netherlands in One Week: 3 Recommended 7-day Itineraries to Netherlands
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The Netherlands 7-day itinerary options
One week in the Netherlands can be packed with cruises at River Zaan or cycling trips from Amsterdam. Check out our recommended 7-day Netherlands itinerary ideas.
Itinerary #1: Round trip from Amsterdam
| Day 1 | Cruise from Amsterdam through Friesland Province, docking in Harlingen |
| Day 2 | Explore Harlingen town and its beaches |
| Day 3 | Arrive in historic Nijmegen on the River Waal |
| Day 4 | In Willemstad, tour the city’s ancient fortified walls |
| Day 5 | Head to Rotterdam and check out the sights, then sail toward Schoonhoven |
| Day 6 | Stop over in Zaandam and see its windmills, then head to Amsterdam |
| Day 7 | Disembark in the capital city and say your farewells |
Experience the Netherlands in style, on a cruise. Sail from one attraction to another, with enough time to explore the destinations on foot. From Hollands Diep to the River Zaan, this river cruise crosses Windmill Country’s famous canals and waterways, sailing you into the heart of traditional villages, modern cities and travelers’ hot spots. Join the river cruise in Amsterdam and head into the lake-rich Friesland Province, where charming towns and sleepy fishing boats line the waterfronts. Step back in time in one of the country’s oldest cities, Nijmegen, and be in awe at Willemstad’s 17th-century city walls. Crossing Rotterdam, Schoonhoven and Zaandam, return to Amsterdam to conclude your trip. See more cruise tours in the Netherlands.
Itinerary #2: Nature and History in The Netherlands
| Day 1 | Arrive in Amsterdam and enjoy an evening canal cruise |
| Day 2 | Go on a tour of the capital city and don’t miss a tour of the Rijksmuseum |
| Day 3 | Travel to Aalsmeer flower village, then head through Den Hague to Delft and visit the Royal Delft Pottery workshop, spend the night in Rotterdam |
| Day 4 | Take a trip to Kinderdijk, learn WWII history in Arnhem and stop at the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek |
| Day 5 | Leave Oosterbeek for Zwolle before heading to Groningen |
| Day 6 | Journey to Volendam and visit a traditional windmill close to Amsterdam |
| Day 7 | Bid “tot ziens” to the tour in the Netherlands’ capital |
Hold on tight! It’s time for a jam-packed sightseeing adventure on this 7-day Netherlands itinerary plan. Days are loaded with canal cruises, traditional workshops, museum visits and classic cultural endeavors, stopping in multiple destinations in one go. This round-trip country circuit kicks off in Amsterdam, heading south through iconic towns including Den Hague, Delft and Rotterdam. Travel east into the countryside, close to the German border, visiting historic Arnhem and Oosterbeek. Further up eastern terrains, explore medieval Zwolle and architecturally splendid Groningen before crossing back into the Dam. See more tours in the Netherlands.
Itinerary #3: Cycling Expedition in The Netherlands
| Day 1 | Get to know the capital city’s canal systems and famous museums |
| Day 2 | Sightsee the last bit of Amsterdam, then cycle through Kennemerland en route to Haarlem, filled with hofjes |
| Day 3 | Explore Haarlem, then cycle via the Dune and Bulb region to the birthplace of Rembrandt |
| Day 4 | From Leiden, travel through to Delft and stay overnight |
| Day 5 | Bike through the Green Heart to Gouda and check out the traditional cheese market |
| Day 6 | From Gouda, continue through the Green Heart headed back to Amsterdam |
| Day 7 | Wake up in the capital, where the adventure ends |
It doesn’t get more authentic than a one week cycling trip in the Netherlands. Clocking in at just over 200 kilometers, your only mode of transport is your bicycle, so there’s no rushing from A to B. Take your time to lap up the scenery and sights, simultaneously giving your legs a well-deserved rest in between. Tick off bucket-listers such as Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. Discover the Dutch Golden Age in Haarlem, once an art and culture epicenter. Uncover Delft’s famed blue and white pottery, and pay the cheese tax in Gouda. Following rivers, canals, villages and countryside as natural guides, see the best of the Netherlands in a week. Build a personalized tour for the Netherlands.
Planning an itinerary to the Netherlands for a week?
Whether you have your hearts set on traveling through Windmill Country via car, cruiser, train or a bicycle (highly recommended in a destination made for cyclists), 1 week in the Netherlands lets you explore and experience plenty of authenticity, traditions, art, history and Dutch culture. Plan your next vacay yourselves, or join one of our pre-packaged 7-day trips to the Netherlands. There’s also the option to connect with travel experts in the Netherlands for a customized trip.
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