Netherlands - apart from Amsterdam! any suggestions?

Hi,

We want to do some travel around the netherlands before we start our week in amsterdam. Any suggestions on cool towns or interesting places thanks

Of course, you would definately like Utrecht
Other cities that I like in the Netherlands are Maastricht, Deventer and Gouda. Smaller but very worthwile.
The Hague is nice as well and great architecture can be found in Delft and Dordrecht for example.
Although cities might be more interesting for foreign travellers, don't forget to rent a car for a day or two and visit some more rural areas like the provinces of Zeeland (southwest) and Friesland and Drenthe (northeast).

don't forget to rent a car for a day or two

Utrecht made a typo, he meant renting either a Campervan or some bicycles.

Seriously, the Netherlands are probably the most cycle-friendly country in the whole world. It is not uncommon for people to commute 20 kms or more each day on their bikes. (And according to the opinion of Germans they also must be the people with the most mobile homes per person in all of Europe, but that is another story...) So if the weather is nice plan a day or two of cycling in order to see the country side.

As for other activities (depending on when you are going) check out mudflat hiking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadlopen

Thanks, everyone is full of such great knowledge here! i am a bit scared of driving on the opposite side of the road so bikes might be best.. and love the mudflat hiking.

Quoting t_maia

don't forget to rent a car for a day or two

Utrecht made a typo, he meant renting either a Campervan or some bicycles.

Seriously, the Netherlands are probably the most cycle-friendly country in the whole world. It is not uncommon for people to commute 20 kms or more each day on their bikes. (And according to the opinion of Germans they also must be the people with the most mobile homes per person in all of Europe, but that is another story...) So if the weather is nice plan a day or two of cycling in order to see the country side.

As for other activities (depending on when you are going) check out mudflat hiking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadlopen

hehe, you are right about that
Unlike americans it is more like a caravan, and sadly enough dutch people like it and every year they go to France and a few other countries all together in the traffic jam when it's 38 degrees out there....
So if you ever see one, don't be mad for them to drive 80 km an hour on the left lane, feel sad for them, because they don't know better

Volendam!

Quoting Utrecht

Of course, you would definately like Utrecht
Other cities that I like in the Netherlands are Maastricht, Deventer and Gouda. Smaller but very worthwile.
The Hague is nice as well and great architecture can be found in Delft and Dordrecht for example.
Although cities might be more interesting for foreign travellers, don't forget to rent a car for a day or two and visit some more rural areas like the provinces of Zeeland (southwest) and Friesland and Drenthe (northeast).

Utrecht, you missed out Groningen, and of course the easy to make (because it's close to A'dam) daytrip to Haarlem. If you are with a couple of people, than renting a car would be a good way to travel around, on your own it's horribly expensive. But it is a good suggestion. If you are interested in engineering the dams of the Oosterschelde, might be worth a visit (Zeeland.) As the Netherlands is small, you can reach Maastricht in about 2,5 hours (and that's on the other side of the country.)

Quoting t_maia

don't forget to rent a car for a day or two

Utrecht made a typo, he meant renting either a Campervan or some bicycles.

Seriously, the Netherlands are probably the most cycle-friendly country in the whole world. It is not uncommon for people to commute 20 kms or more each day on their bikes. (And according to the opinion of Germans they also must be the people with the most mobile homes per person in all of Europe, but that is another story...)

So you were that German in the rear-viewmirror flashing it's lights all the way from Mönchengladbach till Nürnberg

on a serious note: I still don't know why the German ban the trucks off the Autobahn in the weekends, but allow the caravans to drive. They are ten times as dangerous, as they only drive the damn things once a year.

So you were that German in the rear-viewmirror flashing it's lights all the way from Mönchengladbach till Nürnberg

I am very flattered that you think I can go that fast on my bicycle.

Although if it was this crazy guy, I will openly admit to it. There is talk of making him an honorable Dutch citizen in honor of his achievement.

Quoting t_maia

So you were that German in the rear-viewmirror flashing it's lights all the way from Mönchengladbach till Nürnberg

I am very flattered that you think I can go that fast on my bicycle.

Although if it was this crazy guy, I will openly admit to it. There is talk of making him an honorable Dutch citizen in honor of his achievement.

Fantastic! I hope he has airconditioning though