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Day Trip outside The Dam: Any suggestions?

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 03:07 pm
by drayman86
Thinking perhaps that I'd like to take a day trip outside the Dam. Lucky enough to be spending a week the first week of October, so a day trip by train may be in order. Loose idea of my desires are:

1. Rural/semi rural location, somewhere in the countryside.
2. Short train ride, maybe 60 minutes or so.
3. A destination with a decent coffee shop and some authentic Nederlander cuisine & beer.

Thanks!

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 03:39 pm
by Kingdoc
Haarlem is an awsome little town,Just ask milehigh denver as he will help you out on everything you need 8),Ps hoorn looks a nice little place also! & its only about 1 hour by rail from amsterdam 8),Enjoy.

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 03:54 pm
by Epsilon
If you haven't been ,then Haarlem tops the list (for us at least) ...Alkmaar would be a nice 2nd choice -better CS wise than Hoorn,with a gorgeous centrum ,-about a ten minute walk from the station...Utrecht fits your criteria as well ...all offer WOW moments to us USA folk used to ,well ,the USA...link below offers pics from our trips thru the NL over the years ...

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 04:12 pm
by Kingdoc
Yea the coffeeshops may not be very good just like "venlo" but it (hoorn) does look a historic little town 8),Ps or just simply take you own weed there & make a day of it? the best of both worlds kinda thing.

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 04:16 pm
by Kingdoc
But on the other hand here is some info on haarlem


www.ganjatour.net/


http://www.hempcity.net/cannabisshops/s ... index.html


www.hempcity.net/intro.html


www.koffieshopbirdy.nl/site/



Ps if you have never been to haarlem i would just go there! like epsilion said earlier,Its a great little place & it looks just like amsterdam did 40 years ago! ie no crowds or heavy traffic.

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 06:49 pm
by sh@dy
Sittard has one of the top5 shops outside of Amsterdam, called Relax...try it if you really want countryside ;)

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 06:50 pm
by drayman86
Wow, quick replies....thanks for all the suggestions!

After a bit of looking, I'm thinking Alkmaar would be a fine choice. Quite a bit of cultural stuff (I'm a nut for history, museums, etc.), cheese market (one of me favorite foods), and a few coffeeshops to visit.

But please, don't stop with the recommendations! :D

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 07:01 pm
by drayman86
Epsilon wrote:...link below offers pics from our trips thru the NL over the years ...
Thanks for sharing your personal photos; very generous.

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 08:08 pm
by geoffk
Antwerpen.

Posted: Sat 31st Jan 2009 11:06 pm
by codejd
the Wittem Castle in the southern Dutch province of Limburg

Probably Alkmaar

Posted: Sun 1st Feb 2009 02:08 am
by drayman86
Seems about what I'm looking for, and I'm thinking about timing my trip there for October 8, when they have the Bij Alkmaar begint de victorie ("Victory begins in Alkmaar") bash. I like parties, especially when they celebrate the overthrow of an imperial conqueror. :wink:

Posted: Sun 1st Feb 2009 02:22 am
by the happy hacker
Hoek van holland, coffeeshop De storm

Posted: Sun 1st Feb 2009 02:24 am
by the happy hacker
geoffk wrote:Antwerpen.
wrong country dude :shock:

Posted: Sun 1st Feb 2009 05:48 am
by Denomolous
You might want to try the Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn.(About 60 miles East of Amsterdam) I haven't made it there yet, but I am making a point of it on my next trip.

Posted: Sun 1st Feb 2009 04:07 pm
by Pala
the happy hacker wrote:
geoffk wrote:Antwerpen.
wrong country dude :shock:
Nor is it a day trip.