April 2025
A short stay in the Netherlands
during King's Day!
Summary
A dog-friendly destination?
Our itinerary
Our accommodations
Amsterdam
Keukenhof, Zaandvoort and Haarlem
Keukenhof, Zaandvoort and Haarlem
Keukenhof, Zaandvoort and Haarlem
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.
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.
Keukenhof, Zaandvoort and Haarlem
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.
Zaanse Schans and Volendam
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.
Zaanse Schans and Volendam
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.
Zaanse Schans and Volendam
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.
