The Netherlands Travel Guide: How We Spent 5 Perfect Spring Days Based in Amsterdam

Spring is when the Netherlands quietly becomes one of Europe’s best trips. Tulip fields are in full bloom, café terraces reopen, and the cities feel lively without tipping into chaos. We spent five nights based in Amsterdam and used it as a launchpad for some of the country’s best day trips—by train, bike, and private driver.

This guide outlines exactly how we structured the Netherlands portion of our Europe trip, what worked, and how to replicate it without hotel hopping or rushed travel days.

Fast Facts

• Best time to visit: Mid-April (tulips + shoulder season)

• Base city: Amsterdam

• Where we stayed: The Dylan Amsterdam

• Day trips: Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague

• Getting around: Walking + trains (easy, fast, intuitive)

Why Amsterdam Makes the Perfect Base

Amsterdam’s central rail hub and compact historic core make it ideal for slow mornings and ambitious day trips. By staying put for five nights, we avoided repacking, kept evenings relaxed, and still saw wildly different sides of the Netherlands—from tulip fields to modern architecture.

Read next:

• Amsterdam Travel Guide (where to stay, eat, shop)

• Keukenhof: Tulips in Bloom

• The Hague in One Day