The 6 best cities for a day out in your own country
If I don't have a vacation in sight, I can always really recharge from a day out (with or without an overnight stay). Anyway, I always find train travel quite relaxing, as long as NS cooperates a bit; otherwise, it obviously works counterproductively. But just discovering another city for a day, having breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks outside – it gives a bit of a vacation feeling. And you have to do something to survive that dreary autumn and dark winter (I'm really a summer person). So here are the nicest cities for a day out. Just nice in the Netherlands. Travel by NS is at your own risk, because at the first rain shower or snowflake, the tracks are of course completely disrupted again.
1. Breda
Last year I was here for the first time during a very nice weekend away, and this city really stole my heart. Not a big city, but during that weekend I didn't even manage to visit a quarter of all the nice spots. A good excuse to go again. So many nice lunch spots, but also for an extensive dinner (with lots of wine), this is a top city. Walking through it is also highly recommended; I found that there was such a nice atmosphere. Places to go: Petit Bardot and Bobbi’s Bar.
View this post on Instagram
2. Maastricht
Every time I'm in Maastricht, I feel like I'm really away for a bit. It probably comes from the fact that I come from Amsterdam, and the difference between those cities is really huge. But how the city looks, the atmosphere that hangs there; it feels a bit like being abroad for me. Whether you're with friends or on a romantic getaway, Maastricht is always fun. And of course, don't forget to visit the most beautiful bookstore in the Netherlands.Places to go: Café Sjiek.
View this post on Instagram
3. Bergen
Our May was there recently, she has fallen a bit in love with it, and who can blame her? Of course, also visit Bergen aan Zee for a beach walk: both are easy to do in a day because it's not that big. And wandering through this little town and inhaling the sea air always does a person good. Places to go: Fabels.
View this post on Instagram
4. Roermond
My best friend was here for a night recently, and my reaction was: ‘Huh? Roermond, really?’ Well, yes. Here you have a designer outlet, a shopping paradise, as evidenced by the beautiful designer bags she came home with. But besides that, you can also enjoy a nice dinner here. Especially recommended for a shopping-wine-dinner combo trip.Places to go: Het Gerecht.
View this post on Instagram
5. Zwolle
Shopping in Zwolle is also very nice, but especially in the small boutiques. Zwolle really surprised me; I didn't have high expectations (sorry). The terraces, canals, and cozy alleys quickly changed my mind.Places to go: Well, where else? De Librije.
View this post on Instagram
6. Volendam
Yeah, secretly Volendam is just really nice. All the eelsound and coke-sniffing jokes aside, I found it a really good destination for a day out. A little walk along the harbor, still take that photo in traditional clothing, hanging out at the bars on the Dijk (and hoping to run into Nick, Simon, or Jan) and enjoying fresh fish. Okay, maybe not for a romantic day out, but with friends: do it.
Places to go: the pub. Yeah sorry, I didn't go to Volendam for culinary enjoyment.
