Take a day trip to Haarlem

The train to Haarlem is super cheap and quick, so it’s a great spot for a day trip. Or you can do what James and I did and stay here - it’s so cute and you’re in central Amsterdam in no time.

If you love the history and architecture of Amsterdam, but you struggle with the crowds, then you’ll love Haarlem. It has all the charm of the Dutch capital - cobbled streets and attractive squares - with way less tourists. They have a lovely main square, Grote Market, which is a super-picturesque spot to enjoy a drink in the sunshine if the weather is good.

There are a couple of museums to check out too. Teylers Museum is the oldest museum in the country and a fascinating mix of artefacts from the worlds of art and science - a kind of mini Natural History Museum with fossils, scientific instruments, books, drawings and more on display. You can also visit De Adriaan - an iconic windmill which is a famous landmark in Haarlem. The original sadly burnt down but you can do tours of the restored version.

We didn’t have enough time to see it, but loads of people recommended doing a tour of Corrie Ten Boom house. This family home was a hiding place for hundreds of Jewish people during WWII, and is a good alternative to Anne Frank’s house if you’re struggling to get a ticket.

For a bite to eat or a few cold ones, head to Jopenkerk, which is a restaurant and bar in an old church - we loved the vibe in here!

There are loads of other places you can visit for a day trip - try Maastrict for more history and delicious food, Leiden, a lovely university city, and Utrecht - very quaint and quintessentially Dutch. For the beach, try coastal spots Zandvoot aan Zee or Scheveningen beach in The Hague.

You can get the train to Haarlem from €5.20 one way