A short stay in the Netherlands
during King's Day!
Summary
A dog-friendly destination?
Amsterdam
Our itinerary
Keukenhof, Zaandvoort and Haarlem
Our accommodations
Zaanse Schans and Volendam
The Netherlands: a "Dog-friendly" destination?
Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general have earned a solid reputation as a dog-friendly destination. A laid-back city par excellence, the locals are very welcoming to animals. Furthermore, all the places I visited allowed dogs, and the reactions from both Dutch and tourists were consistently positive.
The vast majority of places are accessible to dogs on leashes. We encountered a few dogs in the city, but the dog density is much lower than in Paris (which still has the highest dog density in the world).
Our itinerary
Amsterdam is very accessible and can be reached in several ways: by plane, bus, train or even by car.
Living in Paris, we always prefer the train and so we took the Eurostar which connects Paris to Amsterdam in only 3h30. There are trains every hour and there is a fare that allows you to change the train at any time, which is practical. It is worth noting that dogs are allowed on the Eurostar on the section between Paris and Amsterdam (including Brussels and Antwerp), unlike the Paris - London section which only allows assistance dogs. In addition, there is more legroom in 1st class on the Eurostar than on a classic TGV: a good point when traveling with a large dog!
When we came to Amsterdam, it was King's Day and the trains were all full: it's important to remember to book in advance during this special period!
The journey was very pleasant and went by very quickly. A special mention goes to the Dutch crew on board, who were charming.
Eric's family, coming from the Grand Est region, opted for the car: it would take a day to travel there and back. Motorways are free in Holland.
Since we planned to visit sites outside of Amsterdam, we rented a car from Enterprise , whose branch is located a 5-minute walk from Central Station. Check-in and check-out were simple, but check-in was limited to 6 p.m.
Here is the program we followed:
DAY 1: Train Paris - Amsterdam (8:22 p.m. - 11:50 p.m.). Night in Amsterdam
DAY 2: Visit Amsterdam, pick up the car
DAY 3: Keukenhof, Zaandvoort and Haarlem
DAY 4: Zaanse Schans and Volendam. Return Amsterdam-Paris (7:10 p.m. - 10:40 p.m.)
Our accommodations
1
Arriving in Amsterdam on Friday at midnight, we stayed in a hotel very close to the Central Station. Sir Adam is a very nice design hotel from the Mariott chain with an unusual decoration: karaoke with a microphone in the elevator, the possibility of listening to vinyl records in your room, electric guitars on the wall, a designer bathroom. Very fun! Super well located, opposite the Central Station, you just have to take the river shuttle at the exit of the station to reach it (5-minute crossing). This one is very frequent (no waiting) and the service seems to extend late into the night since we were able to take it after midnight.
The A'Dam Lookout hotel building also includes other attractions such as the highest swing in Europe: enough to get a thrill and enjoy the view at the same time! The breakfast buffet was very varied and of good quality.
The hotel's surroundings are fantastic: we actually went back there on our last day to wait for our train. There's an outdoor refreshment bar and large lawns.
2
Traveling as a family, we shared accommodations booked by other travelers to be close to each other and enjoy meals together. We spent the remaining two nights at the Europarcs campsite, located just a few kilometers from Amsterdam.
Its strong point is its location which allows easy movement to different points of interest.
Accommodation: Mobile homes of various sizes, bookable on Airbnb. It's worth noting that sheets and towels are extra, and some mobile homes don't have a shower. We had originally booked a mobile home for 4 people, but upon arrival we discovered that it didn't have a shower: so we changed to a hotel room for two people, which was smaller, but still more comfortable!
It was possible to cook inside and prepare Vaika's meals.
Amsterdam
We spent the whole day wandering around Amsterdam, through the narrow streets lined with canals that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our tour started at the central station and we wandered through the streets, passing through the Jordaan district, Dam Square and the flower market.
For my part, I've been to Amsterdam several times in the past, but this was a first for Eric and Vaika! This day allowed them to get a first glimpse of the sweet Dutch way of life. We'll definitely be back soon to explore the city in more depth, including the famous Red Light District, Vondelpark, and the superb museums. There's so much to discover in this city!
Lunch was taken at the Brandstof bar. We don't particularly recommend this establishment, but the sunny terrace was pleasant. The food was pub-style.
A stroll on the canals
No museum visits on this day: we will return at another opportunity to explore the cultural wonders of the city: Anne Frank, Van Gogh Museum or even Rijksmuseum.
Instead, we boarded a local riverboat for an hour-long cruise. It was a superb ride and the captain provided very interesting commentary on the architectural, social, and historical details of Amsterdam.
Tip: To avoid disturbing the other passengers, we decided to sit at the back of the boat. Unfortunately, it was very noisy because of the engines, which are used to maneuver through the maze of small canals: hats off to the captain for the skillful maneuvering and management of the heavy traffic! It was also quite warm because of the glass roof.
Keukenhof, Zaandvoort and Haarlem
Keukenhof
Keukenhof Flower Park (located 40 km from Amsterdam) is the largest garden in the world. Specializing in bulb flowers, more than 7 million tulips, grape hyacinths, daffodils, and hyacinths bloom here each year. It's best to visit in spring, between mid-March and mid-May, to enjoy the colorful displays of flowers. The gardeners do an extraordinary job.
The crowds are there and come from all over: Asia, Europe, America... Vaika had her little moment of glory among the flowers and was photographed and complimented by many tourists.
All dogs are allowed on leashes, and you must be careful to respect the barriers. It's not always easy for a dog to not want to sniff, smell, and walk on the lawns!
There are food trucks and pavilions for lunch. The park's shops offer many souvenirs, including flower bulbs, of course.
This is definitely a wonderful place to visit during your stay in the Netherlands. A word of advice: book your tickets in advance.
Haarlem
About twenty kilometers west of Amsterdam, Haarlem is an ancient city with an absolutely charming historic center.
Crossed by a river and canals, rich in streets and alleys harmoniously lined with beautiful houses, we walked through it during the King's Day celebrations. There was a very festive atmosphere with impromptu concerts and food stalls. The color orange was the order of the day!
Zaandvoort
Zaandvoort is a pleasant seaside resort in the Netherlands. It boasts a long, fine sandy beach measuring 9 km long and 100 m wide.
This beach was dog friendly at the time we visited and there were plenty of other pooches present.
Vaika loves the beach and one of her greatest joys on earth is running on the sand. I will never tire of watching her run at full speed and have the time of her life. As her breeder, Rosae Fidelis , says, "If you can admire a greyhound's run, listen to its gallop, feel its heartbeat...then you will have appreciated the best the world has to offer."
We had lunch at the Beach Club Far out . Nice terrace right on the beach, average but decent food.
Zaanse Schans and Volendam
Zaanse Schans
Located just minutes from Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans houses several working windmills and house museums. Admission is free; you only have to pay for parking. There is a fee to enter the windmills.
Crossing the bridge, you can visit the village which is on the banks of the Zaan River and is typically Dutch with its traditional green wooden houses and charming alleys.
We recommend arriving early to enjoy the village in peace: we noticed that by the end of our visit the number of tourists had increased considerably.
Volendam
Volendam is a fishing village located 20 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam. It was founded in the 14th century around the port of Edam.
We strolled along the harbor. There are many souvenir shops where you can shop. We bought the famous Gouda cheese! Another fun attraction: you can have your picture taken in Dutch costume.
There are also a large number of restaurant and bar terraces where you can enjoy a drink, an ice cream or a coffee in the sun.
