Day trips • Where to go on your day off?

The academic year has just begun and after these busy three weeks of studying, the holiday might seem like years ago. Unfortunately, as a student, there is not much time to go abroad in the first semester. Here you can find trips for a day if you’re an exchange student or if you want to see something other than Amsterdam.

Zandvoort

If you’ve never been to the Netherlands before, you might think it’s always raining here. However, there are certainly some sunny days and then the beach is the place to be! You can get to the beach of Zandvoort by metro and train from station Zuid. Tip: download the app ‘9292’ to find out how to travel by public transport. Zandvoort is located near the city of Haarlem, where several theatres, cinemas, sights, cafes, and restaurants can be found.

Utrecht

In about 20 minutes you can reach the center of Utrecht from Station Zuid. Next to the station in Utrecht is a large shopping mall called the Hoog Catharijne. You can spend quite some time in the mall where 150 different shops are located.  The Oudegracht is the most famous canal in Utrecht and is located in the center of the city. On the Oudegracht, there are many different kinds of amazing restaurants for lunch as well as dinner. You can visit the Central Museum, the University Museum, and much more at a discount with your student card.

Volendam and Zaanse Schans

The old fishing village of Volendam lies at the IJsselmeer, not far from Amsterdam. The village is known for its beautiful harbor, the fishmongers, the authentic Dutch character, and the traditional costumes. Combine a day in Volendam with the Zaanse Schans where you can see countless typical Dutch windmills. It’s definitely worth a visit and is only 45 minutes from station Amsterdam Centraal.

Amsterdam

Last but not least, there are too many fun things to do in Amsterdam itself as well! Buy a bike to travel in Dutch style and see as much of Amsterdam as possible. An easy way to get a bike is to rent one at www.swapfiets.nl.

For the best views in Amsterdam, visit the A’DAM Tower in the north and swing over the edge of the 100-meter high building. If you are afraid of heights, you can also visit the restaurant ‘Blue’ in the Kalvertoren for a cup of coffee or lunch with a beautiful view. The Kalverstraat is the city’s shopping street and there are many more boutiques to discover in the 9 Straatjes. There are many students that go to neighborhood De Pijp to the terraces for a drink, where you can also visit the Albert Cuyp market. After the drinks, the place to party is Leidseplein, where you can find many clubs and bars. 

Do you now have a clear idea of what you want to do on your next day or weekend off? And are you interested in discovering Amsterdam? Check this blog to get to know everything about the blue-tired bikes you can ride here!