Do you want to explore North Holland away from the crowds? With the Local Gems route, you travel through villages and towns with peaceful and local alternatives. The hidden gems that are truly worth a visit.
The route follows line 314 and connects Amsterdam, Broek in Waterland, Edam, and Hoorn. Along the way, you travel through the open landscape of Waterland and discover places where history, water, and village atmosphere come together.
This is a route for those who want to look beyond the standard highlights. Get off wherever you like, stroll through the village, and then easily continue to the next destination at your own pace.
The route starts at Amsterdam Central Station, where you can easily board bus line 314 towards Waterland. Soon, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and the view changes to open landscape, dikes, and small villages. Off to Amsterdam’s backyard!
Just 20 minutes by bus from Amsterdam, you’ll find Broek in Waterland. A small village with a remarkably peaceful and almost timeless atmosphere. Stroll past the pastel-colored wooden houses, small bridges, and narrow streets that give the village its character. Book a room at the 17th-century private guesthouse Inn on the Lake and enjoy the wellness facilities or a relaxing massage.
The next stop is Edam, a historic town with canals, small bridges, and monumental houses. Visit the Edam Museum and purchase the booklet for ‘the Nieuwenkamp Route’. This booklet takes you through picturesque Edam as it is today, in the atmosphere of the year 1900, seen through the eyes of the internationally renowned artist W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp.
The route ends in Hoorn, a historic port city on the IJsselmeer. In the seventeenth century, Hoorn was an important trading city, and you can still see this in the monumental buildings and the harbor.
Stroll along the water, discover the historic city center and enjoy the terraces and restaurants in the city.
