Skip Amsterdam! These 5 alternative Dutch cities have more beautiful canals and less crowds

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Picturesque canals running along narrow, filled-in buildings, winding cycle paths and syrup waffles straight from the market: for the casual traveler, that’s Amsterdam in a nutshell, but what if I told you that the same applies to (almost) every other Dutch city?

Unlike countries like France, Italy or Spain, where you get more variation, contrast and architectural diversity from region to region, The Netherlands is beautiful… monocultural.

That’s not to say there are small regional variations here and there, but generally the common thread is low-rise buildings evenly arranged along navigable waterways. Add to that a few picturesque windmills, and the occasional cannabis-infested no-go zone, and you get an average Dutch hub.

The point is that people keep going to Amsterdam for that quintessential Dutch experience, when they can get it much cheaper, literally somewhere else. Let’s also be realistic: as much as I love the Netherlands, can you even tell these cities apart? without checking the signposts?

Being here 5 Amsterdam lookalikes with smaller crowds, and if I may add, perhaps more beautiful canals:

Ameesfort

A small town that still feels remarkably real and not overrun with tourists, Ameesfort is home to well-preserved medieval monuments, charming coffee shops and overlooked museums in a walkable, medieval center crossed by canals.

It is also home to perhaps the coolest city gate in the Netherlands, the Koppelpoort, which served as both a land and land gate. And water barrier, and as you stroll along the Muurhuizen, a cobbled street that runs parallel to the old walls, it is almost as if you have traveled back in time to the Middle Ages.

Don’t miss the Tower of Our Lady, in the heart of the old town, is one of the tallest medieval churches in the country, and if you like art, the Mondrian House is both the birthplace of and a museum dedicated to Piet Mondrian. a key figure in the De Stijl movement.

You know, the abstract colorful blocks, interrupted by vertical and horizontal lines. You’ve probably seen a few replicas hanging in your psychologist’s dimly lit office.

Groningen

Middle finger up to Amsterdam, Groningen is the correct exciting student citywith a strong sense of northern independence, a surprisingly great nightlife for its size and a creative atmosphere that is truly hard to beat.

This is still the overly liberal Netherlands, so keep expectations in check, but in a way it’s a bit like the ‘dam’ before it catered to people who think drinking matcha and caring about every global cause except their own national affairs is personality.

You can still go crazy in a riotous, bustling Oude Kijk in ‘t Jatstraat, the center of the action, and while Simplon, OOST and Paradigm are the big names, The End Karaoke is where the real unfiltered fun happens.

Drink a few pints of Grolsch, what I like to call liquid courage, grab the microphone and cry your heart out.

Oh, sure, maybe you’re here for the sights. What if I told you that the Oosterhaven (the main canal lined with Dutch mansions) is simply Insta-perfect during golden hour, or that from almost any point along the waterfront you can admire the Martini Tower, a striking 15th-century church tower?

Kampen

A true hidden gem on the banks of the scenic River IJssel, Kampen is relaxed, criss-crossed with canals and dotted with those unmistakably Dutch warehouses and stepped gables, except you won’t be passing the hordes of Chinese tourists here.

The medieval center is storybook stuff, with the usual cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and monumental city gates, and most attractions are a short 5 to 10 minute walk away from each other. You don’t have to rent a bike and avoid trams like crazy.

Directly on the riverbank is the Koornmarktspoort, a huge city gate and your ‘I’ve been to Kampen’ selfie spot. Not far away, you’re likely to see the towering Bovenkerk, a Gothic church with an impressive display of stained glass windows.

But if you ask me, there is nowhere better to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in Kampen than people watching The Stadsherberg Kampen‘s canalside terrace while you enjoy your tomato soup, perhaps followed by some sludge tongue (a fried thin fish), and down an entire can of beer while you’re at it.

Peak Dutch behavior.

Volendam

That’s right, I was probably not completely honest about the Netherlands before by stating that every Dutch city is in fact the same. While there some The truth is that when it comes to city building, there are a few exceptions that stand out. One of them is Volendam:

The typical fishing village, frozen in time, simply exudes Dutch character, not to mention the wooden jetties, waterfront cafes overlooking the canals and the typical Northern Mannerist houses.

Don’t be surprised if you find locals still wearing these signature ‘Volendam hats’ on festival days – such as King’s Day – or if you are 70 years old grandma behind the bakery counter does not speak perfect English like the average Dutch person.

Volendam is the Netherlands before the international crowd showed up. It’s certainly still touristy, but the visitors are mainly fellow countrymen, and the small-town feel keeps it cool and cozy. And whatever you do, don’t forget to taste the smoked eel from one of the many fish stalls around the harbour!

To lead

Leiden is a kind of mini-Amsterdam, with canals, picturesque bridges and skinny houses on the water, but none of the tourist hordes and hectic atmosphere of the capital. Basically, this is where I go when I want an AMS-like atmosphere, without the added chaos.

It is home to the oldest university in the Netherlands: Leiden University was founded as early as 1575and similar to Oxford in England, or Coimbra in Portugal, the historic district of Rapenburg has the energy of a student town, on top of centuries of scientific aura.

Leiden Castle is the impressive medieval fortress of Leiden, built even earlier in the 11th centuryand the special thing about it is that it is one of the few castles in the Netherlands that actually stands on a hilltop.

Mind you, this is still the Netherlands, so it looks more like a hill, but the view of the city atop the fortress, with the winding canals and the Pieterskerk, the Gothic church tower that dominates the skyline, is still downright beautiful.

At the end of the day, the best The way to explore Leiden is simply to wander around! You will find the hidden courtyards and cobbled alleys, and the back streets off the main path full of medieval charm.

This is the easiest way to explore the Netherlands this spring

If you plan to travel around the Netherlands and use public transport, consider getting one Holland travel ticket for a day or two.

This allows you to travel across the entire national territory from just €54, $64 off-peak for the day. With a Holland Travel Ticket you can board an unlimited number of trains, buses, ferries and even trams, metros and other municipal lines throughout the Netherlands during its validity period.

Exceptions Doing apply, but these usually cover international high-speed lines, such as the Eurostar from Amsterdam to Brussels (Belgium) or Amsterdam to Cologne (Germany), so make sure you check your ticket’s coverage before boarding the next train.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.