With picturesque canals, cobbled streets and awesome cafes it can be tempting to stay your whole time in Amsterdam exploring the city centre, however we want to tempt you to explore the outskirts of the city including the beautiful tulip fields, windmills and country side.  We were on a mission to chase windmills and wanted to see as many old mills as we could.

The Netherlands have so much to offer and so many awesome options are within a close proximity to the capital city Amsterdam. 

You can get outside of the city easily with a car or by using the local train service to get to most of the place son our list.

Day trips from Amsterdam;

Molen Van Sloten

Located only 30 minutes from the centre of Amsterdam is the isolated Molen Van Sloten. Sitting perfectly in a small residential town the mill is idilic. Tours inside can be purchased and the full history of of the mill explained.

Molen Van Stolen is Amsterdam’s only working windmill that takes visitors both inside and out.  

 Zaanse Shans

Probably the grandest of the windmill chasing is Zaanse Shans. Up to 7 windmills can be seen in the same place and options are available to explore the museum, the complete workings if the mill and the view from inside and the top. Traditional dutch wooden houses can be seen in the residential area surrounding Zaanse Shans. Again only 30 minutes from the centre of Amsterdam.  Brouwerij’t IJ

Unique in it’s only right, Brouwerij’t IJ offers visitors the chance to taste traditional beer whilst underneath the mill. Perfect for the summer, however still achievable in the colder winter months. De Gooyer is the closest to the city centre and only 10 minutes out.  Keukenhoff 

Keukenhoff is the furthest from the city centre at around an hours drive, however is a tourist attraction in it’s own right. Visit at the right time of year to view the tulip fields in full bloom. The Keukenhoff garden centre is open for 6 weeks of the year for lucky visitors to see the world class tulips and garden displays.