🇬🇧 3 days in The Netherlands during spring 🇬🇧

In April 2023 we decided to treat ourselves to a little road trip by van to Belgium and then to the Netherlands. In this article specially dedicated to the Netherlands, I explain the route we took, what we visited and where we slept.

Van Rental

Before starting the presentations of the country, I will explain to you how we got there.

We decided to rent a van with the “Roadsurfer” agency.

Renting a van allowed us to be completely free with our travels and schedules. We really like this mode of travel and loved our experience with road surfer.

Roadsurfer is a rental agency for converted vans and motorhomes.

Personally, we rented the “surfer suite” and it was perfect for us. It consisted of a fold-out bed on the roof, a second bed on a bench once the seats are laid down, a table and a small fully fitted kitchen (gas stove, sink, fridge and cupboard). We also had water on board which was a real luxury ! Of course we didn't have a shower or toilet, but that didn't bother us. For toilets you can stop at any highway rest area or in any restaurant/store, or go into nature!

And for the shower it's up to you, but we decided to stop at campsites to be able to enjoy it.

Indeed, the advantage of the van is that you can sleep anywhere (or almost). But it’s always good to spend a few nights in a camping. Outside of campsites, we used the park4night application to find authorized and safe locations for the night. Because yes there are many places where it is forbidden to park and sleep at night. But don’t worry, there are also plenty of places where you can stay a night easily and for free ! These are very often public car parks or in the nature. It's up to you to find your favorite places. In the rest of this article I present to you the locations we slept at and whether I recommend it to you.

We paid 79€ per night + 100€ administration fees. You have unlimited mileage, which is not to be neglected because many rentals do not do this. Check the website as they regularly offer discounts !

Remember to bring something to warm you up. Indeed, sometimes nights are cold and in a vehicle the temperature drops very quickly. You can turn on the heat yes, but it costs gas, so we only did it a few times.

In short, we loved our experience and I recommend it to everyone ! Even if you have to prepare for it, life on the road is not for everyone !

The Netherlands is a country in Western Europe bordering Belgium and Germany. Part of the Netherlands is also located on the islands of Saint-Martin, Aruba and Curaçao. It is a small country of about 41 500km2, and is quite fast to cross. The official language is dutch. Dutch don’t speak French at all. We communicated in English, even though many people didn’t speak English either.

After our 3 days road-trip in Belgium, we decided to discover the Netherlands. Spring is the best season to visit this country, because you will be able to enjoy the amazing tulips fields. I explain everything to you in this article !

Expenses :

• Van : 495€

• Gas : 187€

• Tolls (In France) : 28€

• Food : 110€

• Activities, Visits : 56€

• Camping : 20€

In total around 896€ (I think I didn't write down certain expenses), or around 448€ per person. This budget was calculated on the total of our trip, so 6 days. 3 in Belgium and 3 in the Netherlands.

Itinerary :

• Day 1 : Brussels > De Hoef Oostzijde

• Day 2 : De Hoef Oostzijde > Amsterdam

• Day 3 : Amsterdam > Zaanse Schans > Lisse > Goere-Overflakkee > Lille

• Day 4 : Lille > Paris

Day 1 :

We started our day in Brussels, Belgium and drove to the Netherlands. After 2 hours of driving, we finally crossed the Dutch border.

Groene Hart Campsite

Since it was already quite late, we decided to stop directly at a campsite to finally enjoy a real hot shower. We found this campsite thanks to the Park4Night app. Located in De Hoef Oostzidje. It was a great place. The location was beautiful. We were by the water, with a mini farm and animals and the owners were adorable. In addition, when we arrived there was an incredible sunset. We were able to take beautiful photos. We had a great night, despite a strong wind, which brought us the rain… (We were also woken up by little ducks!)

We paid €20 the night for 2 and for full access to the premises, very reasonable!

Here is the link to the campsite : https://park4night.com/fr/place/146395#review-2686580

Day 2 :

After a good night's sleep, we woke up to rain. Our first rain since the beginning of the trip. But it didn't stop us and we hit the road to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam

We arrived around 12pm. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. It is famous for its many canals, which have earned it the nickname of Venice of the North. It is also the city where people travel the most by bike. They are everywhere, on every street corner, and cyclists have priority over everyone else. So watch out ! It is a very lively city with very different neighborhoods and their own atmosphere. It also has a rich history and an impressive heritage.

After driving around for a long time to find a parking space, we started our walk. Be careful, you need to pay the parking throughout the entire city and it is very expensive. Don't be surprised, we paid 36€ for parking for a whole day in Amsterdam.

We started our city tour at Vondelpark. This is the largest and most famous park in Amsterdam. It is 470,000 square meters and is filled with hundreds of different plant species and small animals. There are also sculptures, an open-air theater, and playgrounds. It is the perfect place to walk and relax. If you have children, this is a place you should not miss !

We then walked through the Jordaan district. A must-see in the city, it is a very colorful district with a lot of charm. Originally a popular area where workers lived, it has been renovated into a charming district with many shops. Today it is one of the trendiest districts in the capital.

Since we arrived at noon, we were starting to get very hungry. So we stopped at "The sandwich bar" to eat a delicious sandwich. I recommend it ! (Sorry for the picture, it was so good that I already ate half of it !)

Then we passed in front of the house of Anne Frank. This little Jewish girl deported during the Second World War. It is in this house that she lived part of her life and wrote her diary so well known today. Today this house is a museum entirely dedicated to the little girl. Entrance is 16€ for adults. We did not visit it because there were a lot of people standing in line. Given that it is a small house, the reception capacity is very small, about 80 people at the same time inside. So we decided to move on.

So we walked to the Nieuwe Kerk or New Church. It is a Gothic style church from the 15th century. This is where the weddings and coronations of many Dutch kings took place. The entrance fee is 12.50€ for adults. Apparently the interior is not grandiose so we did not visit it.

The church is located right next to the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Also called Paleis op de Dam, because it is located on Dam Square, it was built between 1648 and 1665 as a city hall. It has been used as a royal palace since 1808. When not in use by members of the royal family, the palace is a museum filled with works of art, magnificent decorations and grandiose furniture. Entrance is 12.50€ for adults and you can find the opening days on the palace’s official website. We decided not to visit it.

The Royal Palace is therefore located on Dam Square. It is the main square of the city and it is around it that Amsterdam was built. It is surrounded by monuments and historical buildings such as the Royal Palace and the National Monument (a 22 meter-high obelisk, built in tribute to the Dutch soldiers who died during the Second World War). It is a very lively square, regularly, there are concerts and festive events, day and night. You can also see lots and lots of ……. pigeons!

Continuing our walk towards Amsterdam Centraal Station, we continued on Damrak Avenue and found ourselves in front of very colorful houses. This is the most famous photo of Amsterdam that you can find everywhere. So I had to take mine!

After going all the way down Damrak Avenue, we arrived in front of Amsterdam Centraal Station. It was built at the end of the 19th century in neo-renaissance style, on three former islands, supported by wooden stilts. Today it is a mandatory stop for anyone coming to Amsterdam by train.

We then walked to Oude Kerk, the oldest church in the city. It was built in 1302, first as a wooden chapel, then improved into a gothic basilica. It is possible to visit it for about 12€ per adults. The interior is said to be quite impressive. It was the main church of the city, before being replaced by the Nieuwe Kerk because there was no more space for the faithful.

As surprising as it may seem, the Oude Kerk is located in the Red Light District. It is the oldest district of the city but also the hottest. Indeed, it is famous for its many sex shops and living windows of women. Prostitution in the Netherlands is legalized only in this district. There are hundreds of small alleys very often lit with red lights. It is a surprising place and I do not recommend it to everyone…

After walking around the streets of Amsterdam for a while, we arrived at the Bloemenmarkt. A floating flower market set up on platforms along the Singel Canal. I loved this place. There are thousands of flowers, colors and smells. You can buy souvenirs and especially tulip bulbs, the flower symbol of the Netherlands. It is a permanent market, so you can find it any day of the year.

After this long walk, we stopped for a little snack ! And after tasting the Belgian waffles the days before, we decided to try the Stroopwafel at Van Wonderen. The Dutch waffle which literally means "syrup waffle". It is actually two pieces of waffles filled with caramel syrup. We decided to add chocolate with caramel and smarties on top. It was very good, but to me it looked more like a dry biscuit than a waffle. But it is worth trying!

Then we continued our visit by passing through the Begijnhof of Amsterdam. This is a group of houses founded in 1346 to accommodate a lay Catholic female community. It is one of the oldest inner courtyards in the city and is a real break from the hustle and bustle of the streets outside. It is a very pretty and very quiet place. Entrance to the courtyard is free.

We continue our day by walking through the streets of Amsterdam. I put several photos of the different streets, all as beautiful as each other, that we took during the day. I really loved the architecture and style of this city. But also its atmosphere and its history. It is a great city to visit.

We passed the Rijksmuseum. Or the State Museum of Amsterdam. It is a national museum dedicated to fine arts, crafts and the history of the country. It is the most important museum in the Netherlands. It houses among others "The Night Watch", "The Milkmaid" and "The Merry Drinker" but also thousands of works of art. Entrance is 20€ for adults. We decided not to visit it because we are not very fans of arts, but I am sure it is worth a look.

And to end this big day, we stopped in a small Dutch café for a good hot chocolate ! That day the weather was not great, we had a lot of rain and we needed to warm up a little…

Then we went back to our van and found a place to sleep. Thanks to the Park4night app we found a parking lot next to a park. The place was pretty quiet, but it was located right next to a big road with a lot of traffic. I don’t particularly recommend it. Unfortunately I can’t find the link to the place anymore…

Day 3 :

After a good night in our van, we hit the road towards Zaanse Schans.

Zaanse Schans

Our first stop of the day was in Zaanse Schans, a small typical Dutch village with its small houses and windmills. It is actually an uninhabited village, and much more of a tourist attraction. But I found the place super cute ! Located north of Amsterdam, it is not far at all. It has several small shops (cheese factory, clog making, sawmill, cafes…). Between 1961 and 1974, many buildings and windmills from neighboring towns and villages were dismantled to be rebuilt and restored in Zaanse Schans with the objective of welcoming tourists. I really liked this place. The village has a crazy charm and it feels like you're in a historical film. Of course, there are a lot of people, but I still recommend the visit.

The visit of the village is free. But if, like us, you come by car, parking is 15€. And if you want, you have the possibility to visit windmills for a few euros more.

Keukenhof garden

After a drive of about 1 hour, we arrived in Lisse and more precisely at the Keukenhof garden. It is the largest flower garden in the world. It measures 32 hectares and is impressive. You can see a lot of tulips there but also many other types of flowers. There are more than 7 million bulbs planted and watered every year. It is also decorated with small lakes, fountains and a windmill. There are also infrastructures reserved for certain species of flowers.

But be careful, the park is only open from the end of March to mid-May. It is a spring park that is unfortunately closed the rest of the year. So I advise you to plan your vacation accordingly.

Entrance is about 20€ per person.

I recommend this visit 100%. I really liked it and it’s true that it’s really great. But I was a little disappointed to not have seen real gigantic tulip fields… so after the visit, we hit the road again…

Goeree-Overflakkee Island

So we drove to an island in the Netherlands : Goeree-Overflakkee. Located in the southwest of the country, it is connected to the rest of the continent by four dams. And it is a total change of scenery. We really find ourselves in the deep countryside of the Netherlands. And we were delighted because that is where we found the enormous tulip fields. It was incredible. They were so big that we couldn't see the end of them. There were all colors. You should know that you are allowed to enter a field but you have to be respectful. Indeed, there were signs indicating that we had the right to take photos, but that it was forbidden to trample or pick the tulips. Logical of course.

In short, we took the opportunity to take hundreds of photos, with a magnificent sunset, we were in heaven!

And that was the end of our trip. We hit the road again, still under a magnificent sunset, heading towards France.

That night we slept not far from Lille, on the edge of a small lake, it was very calm and pleasant.

https://park4night.com/fr/place/121352#review-2688256

We returned our van the next day in Paris and went home.

It was a great trip. I loved the Netherlands. I even regret to not have stayed longer. I advise you to leave for at least 1 week to be able to visit as much as possible. It is a country very different from ours, with magnificent countryside and an architectural style that I loved. I hope to be able to return very soon to visit this beautiful country even more.

You can also find a video of our road-trip on my YouTube channel (It is in French though...)

I hope you enjoyed this article and that it made you want to travel.

Do not hesitate to contact me via my social medias for any questions.

See you soon in a future article,

Laura :)