Suggested route

Do you want to discover North Holland away from the crowds? With the Local Gems route, you travel past villages and towns with peaceful and local alternatives. The hidden gems that are truly worth visiting.

The route starts at Amsterdam Central Station, where you can easily board bus line 314 towards Waterland. Soon, you leave the bustle of the city behind and the view changes to open landscapes, dikes, and small villages. On 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 guides 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 reflected in the monumental buildings and the harbor.

Stroll along the water, discover the historic center and enjoy the terraces and restaurants in the city.