Don’t just plan on visiting Amsterdam
Make no mistake, Amsterdam rains a lot, so bringing an umbrella is a good idea. Summer, from June through August, is the driest period of year, but it is also when the city is most packed with tourists. Spring – May is great – and fall, around mid-September, are the finest times to come since the tourist crowds are reduced, the days can have crystal-clear light, and accommodation prices are generally decreased. Winter in Amsterdam has its own attractions, with the murky light that hangs over the canals providing a sense of mystery, although it can get rather cold when the north wind blows.
Travelers arrange only enough time in their Netherlands itinerary to visit Amsterdam. But, beyond this well-deservedly famous metropolis, there are a number of other cities, many of which are less than an hour's drive from the capital, that are brimming with classic Dutch charm.
Take a break from the tourist trap that is the 'Dam and visit Haarlem, Utrecht, Maastricht, or Den Bosch, to mention a few. You'll discover The Netherlands beyond its preconceptions in these lesser-known locations.
