First Time in the Netherlands? Complete 6-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide (2026)
Planning your first trip to the Netherlands and wondering where to go, how to get around, where to stay and how many days you actually need?
We spent 6 days travelling through the Netherlands, starting in Amsterdam, heading to the beautiful village of Giethoorn and then continuing to Rotterdam before crossing the border into Belgium.
And no! we didn't stay in expensive hotels in the middle of Amsterdam! We deliberately stayed in Airbnbs on the outskirts or close to train stations, used trams, buses, ferries and the excellent Dutch railway network, and tried to experience the Netherlands in a way that worked for us — without spending a fortune.
Our route looked like this:
Amsterdam → Giethoorn → Rotterdam → Antwerp, Belgium
So if you're visiting the Netherlands for the first time, here is exactly how we did it, what we loved, what we skipped and what you can add to your itinerary.
How many days do you need in the Netherlands?
For a first trip, we would recommend at least 5–7 days.
Our 6 days Netherlands Travel Guide, which gave us enough time to experience Amsterdam, visit Keukenhof, spend a night in Giethoorn and explore Rotterdam.
Of course, you could easily spend much longer in the country.
If you only have 3 days, we would stick to Amsterdam and perhaps one day trip.
With 5–7 days, you can comfortably add another city or countryside experience.
And if you have 10 days or more, you can slow everything down and explore places like Utrecht, Delft, The Hague and other smaller Dutch towns.
How we travelled around the Netherlands?
One of the biggest reasons we enjoyed travelling through the Netherlands was how easy it was to get around.
We used:
NS trains between cities
Trams within Amsterdam and Rotterdam
Buses for smaller destinations
Ferries
Bicycles
Boats
And plenty of walking!
The Dutch public transport system is extremely convenient for travelers.
For our intercity journeys, we used NS trains, while trams and buses helped us get around the cities.
If you're travelling around the Netherlands, download the NS app before your trip. It makes checking train timings and planning journeys much easier.
And don't worry if you don't understand the Dutch transport system at first.
After a couple of journeys, you'll be checking platforms and train connections like a local!
Where did we stay?
This was one of our biggest money-saving decisions. Instead of staying in expensive hotels in the centre of Amsterdam, we booked an Airbnb in Poortwachter, on the outskirts of Amsterdam.
It wasn't right in the tourist centre, but that wasn't a problem for us because we were happy to use public transport.
The same strategy worked in Rotterdam. We booked another Airbnb close to Rotterdam's railway station, which made it extremely convenient for exploring the city and for our onward journey to Belgium.
If you're travelling on a budget, we highly recommend looking slightly outside the city centre. You may save considerably on accommodation while still being connected to the main attractions.
Day 1 – Amsterdam: Museums and the Rijksmuseum Area
We landed in Amsterdam and headed straight to our Airbnb in Poortwachter. After settling in, we took the tram towards the city.
Our first proper Amsterdam stop was around the Museum Quarter, where you'll find some of the city's biggest attractions. If you're visiting this area, you can choose between:
Rijksmuseum - The Rijksmuseum is one of Amsterdam's most famous museums and houses an enormous collection of Dutch art and history.
Van Gogh Museum - Just nearby is the Van Gogh Museum, dedicated to the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. If you're a fan of his art, you could easily spend several hours here.
Heineken Experience - And then there's something completely different — the Heineken Experience. This is a fun option if you're interested in the history of the famous Dutch beer brand and want something more interactive than a traditional museum.
Choose according to your interests — or, if you're like us, simply pick the experiences that sound the most fun!
After exploring the area, we took public transport back to our Airbnb and called it a day.
Day 2 – Amsterdam Canals, Dancing Houses, Dam Square & the Red Light District
Day 2 was all about exploring the heart of Amsterdam. We took the tram/train towards the city centre and spent much of the day simply walking around. You'll find canals, bridges, tiny shops, cafés, bicycles and those iconic narrow Dutch houses everywhere.
Amsterdam's famous canals - The canals are obviously one of the biggest attractions in the city. But seeing them in person is very different from seeing them in photographs. You can also take a canal cruise if you want to see the city from the water.
The Dancing Houses - One of the most photographed sights in Amsterdam is the row of narrow, slightly leaning houses along the canals. They're often referred to as the Dancing Houses.
Dam Square - We also explored Dam Square, one of the most central and recognisable areas of Amsterdam. It's a great place to use as a starting point while exploring the surrounding streets.
Don't leave without trying a Stroopwafel - This is one Dutch food you absolutely need to try. A stroopwafel is made from two thin waffle layers with a sweet syrup filling in between. You can find them all over the Netherlands, but getting one fresh and warm is a completely different experience from eating a packaged supermarket version.
Anne Frank House - Another major Amsterdam attraction is the Anne Frank House. This is one attraction where we strongly recommend planning ahead. Tickets are limited and demand is high, so don't assume you can simply turn up and buy a ticket at the door. It is a significant historical site, so allow enough time rather than trying to squeeze it between ten other attractions.
Amsterdam's Red Light District - In the evening, we explored Amsterdam's famous Red Light District. Rather than simply walking around and looking at the area as tourists, we chose to take a guided brothel tour. A guided experience gave us more context about the area, how the district operates and the history and culture surrounding Amsterdam's sex industry.
Important: Be respectful when visiting this part of Amsterdam. Don't photograph people working in the windows, and remember that this is a real neighbourhood and workplace, not simply a tourist attraction.
Day 3 – Keukenhof Tulip Gardens
Day 3 started early. We made our way towards A'DAM Lookout, travelling by tram/train and then taking the ferry. A'DAM Lookout is located across the water from Amsterdam Centraal and offers some fantastic views over the city.
But we weren't there just for the view. We had our tickets for Keukenhof!
How to visit Keukenhof from Amsterdam?
If you're visiting the Netherlands during tulip season, Keukenhof is one of the places that will probably be high on your list.
We had booked our Keukenhof tickets in advance and took the bus from the Amsterdam area towards the gardens. Keukenhof is famous for its incredible displays of tulips and other spring flowers. There are flowers everywhere. Different colours. Different varieties. Different displays.
Our tip: Check the flowering season before planning your entire Netherlands itinerary around Keukenhof.
After spending several hours exploring Keukenhof, we headed back towards Amsterdam.
What else can you do in Amsterdam?
By this point, we had already covered quite a lot, but Amsterdam has enough attractions to keep you busy for several more days.
Depending on your interests, you could add:
Anne Frank House
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
Stedelijk Museum
Moco Museum
NEMO Science Museum
A canal cruise
Vondelpark
Jordaan
A'DAM Lookout
Heineken Experience
Or you can do what we sometimes prefer:
Don't visit another museum. Just walk! Explore the streets, browse local shops, stop for coffee, try Dutch snacks and buy a few souvenirs. Sometimes that gives you a better feel for a city than rushing between attractions.
Day 4 – Amsterdam to Giethoorn
We woke up early and took an NS train to Steenwijk. From Steenwijk, we took a bus towards Giethoorn.
And suddenly Amsterdam's busy streets were replaced by something completely different. Quiet canals. Little bridges. Green countryside. Beautiful houses. And boats everywhere.
Welcome to Giethoorn!
Giethoorn – The Dutch Village Without Roads
Giethoorn is famous for its canals and peaceful village atmosphere. It is often nicknamed the "Venice of the Netherlands", although honestly, we think Giethoorn has its own personality and doesn't really need to be compared to Venice.
We had booked an Airbnb in Giethoorn that included bed and breakfast, which made the experience even more enjoyable. After arriving, we rented bicycles and cycled around the village before heading out for a boat tour.
And this is where Giethoorn really comes alive. Slowly move through the canals, passing beautiful houses, little bridges and incredibly peaceful scenery.
Staying with a local in Giethoorn
One of our favorite parts of Giethoorn wasn't actually an attraction. It was our Airbnb experience. After exploring the village, we returned to our accommodation and our host made us homemade pizza with beer. We sat there enjoying the food while looking out at the beautiful surroundings.
Day 5 – Canoeing in Giethoorn & Rotterdam
We started the next morning with another activity provided by our host: Canoeing!
If you have never explored Giethoorn from the water, this is something we would definitely recommend considering. The canals are peaceful in the morning, and being out on the water gives you a completely different perspective of the village.
After canoeing, we took the bus back to Steenwijk, caught the NS train and headed towards Rotterdam.
Arriving in Rotterdam
We had booked another Airbnb, this time close to Rotterdam Central Station.
Again, this was a deliberate choice to save money on accommodation while keeping ourselves close to public transport. And Rotterdam immediately felt completely different from Amsterdam.
If Amsterdam is all about historic canals and narrow houses, Rotterdam feels modern, bold and architectural.
The city's skyline is full of striking buildings, unusual shapes and contemporary architecture. And for us, the architecture became one of the highlights of Rotterdam.
What we did in Rotterdam?
We started exploring the city on foot.
One place you can visit is Miniworld Rotterdam, especially if you're interested in miniature models and the city itself. We didn't visit Miniworld, but it is an option you can add to your itinerary.
We walked towards the Boijmans Van Beuningen area and stopped to take photographs.
From there, we continued towards Euromast.
But instead of simply visiting another viewpoint, we decided to experience Rotterdam from the water.
Waterbus Tour – Rotterdam from a Different Perspective
We took a Waterbus and explored Rotterdam from the water. This was such a fun way to see the city. You get to see the architecture, bridges, harbour and skyline from a completely different angle. After exploring the city and some local shops, we headed back to our Airbnb.
Day 6 – Markthal, Cube Houses & Hot Tug
Our final full day in the Netherlands was again spent exploring Rotterdam.
We started at Markthal. The building itself is worth seeing, even if you aren't particularly interested in food.
Inside, you'll find food stalls, restaurants and shops, while the huge colourful artwork covering the interior makes the building one of Rotterdam's most recognisable landmarks.
Right nearby are the famous Cube Houses. These unusual yellow houses are another example of Rotterdam's experimental architecture. And yes, they are exactly as strange as they look in photographs!
Maritime Museum Rotterdam
If you're interested in ships, maritime history and Rotterdam's relationship with the sea, the Maritime Museum is another attraction you can add. We didn't spend our day entirely inside museums, but this is definitely one to consider depending on your interests.
Hot Tug – One of the Most Unique Things We Did
And then came one of the most unusual experiences of our Netherlands trip: Hot Tug!
Imagine sitting in a hot tub...Now put that hot tub on a boat...And let it float through the canals of Rotterdam.
Yep! That's basically Hot Tug.
It was such a unique experience and, for us, absolutely worth every penny. It's one of those activities that you don't necessarily expect to find in a city itinerary. But that's exactly why we loved it. If you're looking for something different to do in Rotterdam, definitely consider adding this to your list.
What about Delft?
We didn't visit Delft during this trip. But if you have an extra day, Delft is a very easy addition to a Netherlands itinerary. The city is known for its historic centre, canals and famous Delft Blue pottery. You could combine Delft with The Hague or simply spend a relaxed day exploring Delft itself.
So yes, this is one place we missed — which means we'll have an excuse to come back!
Is the Netherlands expensive?
It can be. Amsterdam in particular can become expensive when you combine accommodation, restaurants, attractions and transport. But we found that there are plenty of ways to keep the trip manageable.
Our biggest money-saving tips are:
Stay outside the most expensive tourist areas.
Use public transport instead of taxis.
Book important attractions in advance.
Use trains for intercity travel.
Avoid visiting all the museums, rather pick only the ones that you find the best.
Choose Airbnbs or apartments if they work out better for your trip.
And most importantly: Spend money on experiences that you actually want to do. We'd rather spend money on something memorable like a Hot Tug or a boat tour than spend it on an unnecessarily expensive hotel room where we're barely going to be.
Things we wish we knew before visiting the Netherlands
Don't stay only in Amsterdam - Amsterdam is fantastic, but there is so much more to see.
Consider staying outside the city centre - If you don't mind using public transport, this can save a significant amount of money.
Get comfortable with Dutch public transport - Trains, trams, buses and ferries can take you almost everywhere you'll want to go.
Book popular attractions early - Especially places like the Anne Frank House and seasonal attractions such as Keukenhof.
Leave some free time - We deliberately left some gaps in our schedule for walking, shopping and simply exploring.
Don't forget smaller destinations - Giethoorn was one of the highlights of our trip, and it would have been easy to skip it if we'd only followed the typical Amsterdam itinerary.
Final Thoughts
Our Netherlands trip wasn't about trying to see every single attraction. Instead, we wanted a mixture of big cities, small villages, nature, food, architecture and unusual experiences. And that's exactly what we got.
If you're visiting the Netherlands for the first time, don't feel like you have to copy the exact itinerary we followed.
Use it as a starting point. Spend a few days in Amsterdam, get out into the countryside, explore another Dutch city and leave some time to simply wander. Because sometimes the best part of travelling isn't the attraction you planned for.
It's the random canal, the local shop, the homemade pizza from your Airbnb host, or the completely ridiculous idea of putting a hot tub on a boat!
And that's exactly what made our Netherlands trip so memorable.
Planning a Netherlands + Belgium Trip?
Our Netherlands trip didn't end in Rotterdam. From Rotterdam, we continued towards Antwerp, Belgium, and explored more of Belgium afterwards. If you're planning a Netherlands and Belgium trip, you can easily combine the two countries using trains.
And if you want to see exactly what our trip looked like rather than just reading about it, check out our Netherlands and Belgium travel videos on the Twosome Travelers YouTube channel.
We take you along for the actual journeys, attractions, food, transport and experiences — including the things that don't always make it into a perfectly planned itinerary!
Watch our Netherlands & Belgium travel videos on YouTube → Twosome Travelers
Quick Netherlands Trip Summary
Our route: Amsterdam → Giethoorn → Rotterdam → Antwerp
Trip length: 6 days in the Netherlands
Best transport: NS trains + local public transport
Accommodation: Airbnb to keep costs down
Best city for architecture: Rotterdam
Best countryside experience: Giethoorn
Best seasonal experience: Keukenhof
Most unique experience: Hot Tug in Rotterdam
Best tip for first-timers: Don't limit your trip to Amsterdam! And follow us on our Instagram handle for more travel tips, scams and experiences.
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