The Dutch Love for Day Trips: Exploring the Culture of “Dagje Weg”

If there’s one thing Dutch people know how to do well, it’s making the most of a day off. In the Netherlands, where distances are short and public transport is reliable (most of the time), the “dagje weg” (or ”dagje uit”) – a day trip – is almost a national pastime. When I explore new cities or villages for Discover the Netherlands project, I always meet other local tourists even in the smallest of places. I wanted to say isolated, but there’s not much isolation in this densely populated country.

These tourists are Dutch people exploring the same places I do, not for the purpose of writing a piece on a blog but just to spend some quality time: they are either retirees walking around with an actual paper map, loud families hopping from museums to cafes or couples letting themselves getting lost on narrow streets, hand in hand. The dagje weg is one aspect of the Dutch culture I embraced quickly and very happily. Just a train (or car) ride away, new discoveries await to break you out from everyday routines. And with so much beauty packed into this little country, why wouldn’t you explore it bit by bit, one day at a time?

Day trips provide a quick escape that doesn’t eat into your vacation days. It’s the perfect answer to that “I need a break, but I don’t want to travel far” feeling we all get from time to time. Every place I’ve visited in this country proved to be prepared for tourists – local or international.

Even the small villages have some sort of tourist attraction that is promoted: a museum, a famous shop, famous food or drink, a windmill or a park, or guided tours. And I can tell you that they know how to do museums in this country, because I am yet to visit a museum in the Netherlands that is not well organised and maintained! All the natural areas are organised as well – paths that are marked, bike routes, places for rest. Every place is prepared to attract visitors and to offer a good experience. I sometimes wish for this to not be the case, especially in natural areas. If you want to discover wild, untouched places, that’s not something you can do in the Netherlands. But that’s a different discussion for another time. Many of the museums or guided tours are maintained by volunteers, people who are proud of their home and want to preserve traditions and tell stories.

The day trips are encouraged also by the national railway company. NS has a page with advice for day trips and there are always discounts to various city trips or overnight hotel stays (we love discounts in this country!).

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Recommendations for ”dagjes weg” (day trips) in the Netherlands

Charming towns and cities

Although it’s difficult for me to choose, I will only recommend a couple of them here.

Amsterdam – for those coming from a different place in the Netherlands, Amsterdam feels almost like a different country. While most non-Amsterdammers complain the city is too noisy and crowded, the city is a jewel that needs to be discovered. And, as those living in Amsterdam know, there are many places outside the tourist area that are worth visiting.

Haarlem – sometimes referred to as a smaller Amsterdam, Haarlem has its own beauty and the historic city centre is very charming. Make sure to book a boat ride on the canals, to explore the city from a different angle.

Rotterdam – if you want to see something else than the typical Dutch architecture, heard to Rotterdam. After being destroyed in the WWII, Rotterdam was rebuilt in a modern style. The city might not be your typical cosy Dutch place, but it has a special beauty. Don’t miss the harbour (the largest one in Europe), the New York Hotel (the former headquarters of the Holland-America Line, next to the place from where the ships used to depart for New York, carrying the European immigrants in a search for a better life, in the 19th and 20th century) or the Nederlands Fotomuseum.

Den Haag (The Hague) – close to the North Sea, this city is the seat of the Dutch parliament and government, and also the king’s residence. There are many places to visit in the city, but it would be great to make time for a visit to Scheveningen seaside resort.

Hoorn – also called “the beating heart of West Friesland”, Hoorn is a beautiful city, with a rich past. In the Golden Age, Hoorn was as one of the six bases of the Dutch East India Company. Today, it’s a lovely residential city, with many buildings in the historical center dating from the 16th and 17th century and listed as monuments. The harbour area is the spot that draws me every time I get there, and it should not be missed.

Dordrecht – a charming, relaxed city. Also known as Dordt, this is the oldest official city in the Netherlands (granted city rights in 1220). In the past, Dordrecht used to be an important trading power, given the perfect location at the confluence of a few rivers. It also held an important position in the country’s defence, up to the WW2 (you can learn about this at the Museum 1940-1945).

‘s-Hertogenbosch – or Den Bosch for easier pronunciation, is one of the most beautiful cities in Brabant, with meandering canals and old architecture. It’s also the birthplace of Jheronimus Bosch and the yummy Bossche bol.

Deventer – a charming, laid-back city, on the river IJssel, in the East of the Netherlands, a former Hanseatic city. If you love books, visit the Book Market held here every August.

Zutphen – one of the best preserved medieval town in northwestern Europe, Zutphen is also called the city of towers because of its many well-preserved towers. One of my favourite towns to recommend to those wanting to go off the beaten path.

Zwolle – a cosy city with cobbled streets and old architecture, where you can visit a bookstore in a 15th Century Cathedral: Waanders In de Broeren.

Middelburg – a beautiful town in Zeeland, Middelburg is one of the first three fortified cities built in the Walcheren area to protect against vikings attacks. Today is a peaceful place, perfect for a walk and to learn about the history of the province.

Museums and culture

From the famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to The Hague’s Mauritshuis and Utrecht’s DOMunder and from the famous Zaanse Schans windmills to less known Witch Museum in Oudewater or Flessenscheepjes Museum (Bottle ship museum) in Enkhuizen, there are so many museums to discover in the Netherlands! Don’t forget to add on your list the amazing outdoor museums where you can learn a lot about Dutch history: Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen and Openlucht Museum Arnhem.

Nature and Outdoors

There are 21 national parks in the Netherlands, and many other small reserves and parks. To mention only a few: Hoge Veluwe National Park, De Biesbosch National Park, De Alde Feanen Park, Schoorl Dunes, Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug, Drentsche Aa National Park, the Windmills at Kinderdijk or the Marker Wadden bird sanctuary.

Castles

Yes, there are castles in the Netherlands. They don’t compare to the castles you can find in Germany or France, for example, but they have their charm and many of them have been transformed into luxurious hotels where you can spend the night dreaming of medieval times. You might have already heard about the Muiden Castle near Amsterdam, Paleis het Loo or De Haar Castle, but there are many others like: Doorwerth Castle in Gelderland, Hoensbroek Castle in Limburg, Radboud Castle Medemblik, Amerongen Castle and more.

Local traditions and unique experiences

A day trip in the Netherlands can have as a goal to experience some of the local traditions.

Ring riding in Zeeland – a centuries old tradition where riders, atop unsaddled horses, wield lances to aim for a small ring hanging along the course. This traditional game takes place in the Walcheren region, and it’s believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, during tournaments for nobility, when the lance had to be stuck through the rings provided by beautiful ladies.

A boat ride on a Kamper Kogge – sail on the IJssel river in Kampen, on a traditional boat called cog. This is a boat type from the Middle Ages, designed for cargo transport. Its flat bottom made it suitable for navigating shallow waters and carrying heavy loads, which made them essential for developing the trade in the area.

Mud walking (wadlopen in Dutch) – go to the north of the country, in places like Harlingen, Groningen, to experience this special activity which consists in traversing the area that connects the Dutch mainland to the Frisian islands, during the changing of the tides. Best done with a guide!

 Westfriese Folklore parade in Schagen – an event organised on Thursdays, together with the local market. Here you can have a taste of the West-Frisian folklore, the traditional clothes and traditional occupations.

Attend the Carnival – in the southern regions, particularly in cities like Maastricht and Den Bosch, a Carnival is held annually in the days leading up to Lent, typically in February or March, filled with colourful parades and lively music.

Kaeskoppenstad Festival Alkmaar – travel back in time to the medieval period at this weekend festival in Alkmaar. For two days, in June, the streets of the old city (d’Oude Stad) are a portal to the 16th century Alkmaar – year 1573 more exactly – which marks the end of the Spanish siege on the city of Alkmaar, during the Eighty Years’ War.

Train ride through the tulip fields – in spring, take the old fashioned train from Hoorn to Medemblik, that goes through the beautiful tulip fields.

To find more inspiration for day trips, check out my articles for the Discover the Netherlands, Province by Province project. Also check out this article: Best Day Trips from Amsterdam: 16 Dutch Cities You Need to Visit.

Practical tips for planning a day trip

If you are new to the Netherlands and want to adopt the dagje weg culture, there are a few things that might help make the best out of your day trips.

• Travel by public transport. For many destinations in the Netherlands, public transport is the best option. Take the train or a bus and reach your destination without worrying about traffic or parking fees. There are places that are easier to reach by car, but most of the time public transport is enough.
• To reduce costs when traveling by train, you can get some of the NS deals. Dal Voordel gives you a 40% discount outside the peak hours (these are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and 6.30 pm to 6.30 am.) and in the weekends, as well as co-travel discount at just 5,95 Euro monthly subscription. Or get Weekend Voordeel at 2,30Euro /month that gives you the same 40% discount, but only on the weekends and public holidays.

• To avoid crowds, travel during the week days. Although, if you go to the more off-the-beaten-track destinations, you don’t have to worry about that.
• Get a Museum Pass (Museumkaart). This pass gives you free access to most museums in the Netherlands. Sometimes you will need to pay extra for special exhibitions, but it’s still a great deal at 75 Euro per year (you’ll get your money back in only a couple of museum visits).
• For Amsterdam you can get the IAmsterdam City Card for free public transport, free entrance to museums and more.
• Get your bike with you. Some day trips can be done only using your bike, if you don’t mind cycling over 15 km. For other trips, you can take the bike with you in the train and use it at the destination. You can also rent bikes at the train stations.

So, whether you’re a local looking to rediscover the beauty of your own backyard, or a visitor wanting to get the true Dutch experience, a dagje weg is the perfect way to make the most of a free day. It’s all about enjoying the little things, like a walk through a historic town, a quiet moment in a museum, a coffee in the town’s square.

For me, these spontaneous getaways are the perfect reminder of how much there is to see in the Netherlands, no matter how many times I’ve visited a place. It’s that sense of discovery that makes the dagje weg tradition so special – and why I’m always up for another day trip. I hope I inspired you to grab your OV-chipkaart, open the map and choose your next destination!

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