I would definitely go to The Hague for a few days. The Mauritshuis museum alone is enough reason for the trip, but there are other museums as well as lovely restaurants and the Peace Palace.

You are braver than me. I have never traveled by myself. Please keep us posted regarding your trip, I have always wanted to go to Amsterdam. I will get there one day, but not alone 😂

From Amsterdam you might consider a day trip to Den Hague.--the Mauritshuis Museum to see The Girl With The Pear Earring, and The MC Escher museum is amazing and would be fun for kids also. If you are ianterested in WWII history, there is the WWII Liberation Museum in Groesbeek, a train/bus day trip from Amsterdam.

Ghent is a wonderful city--architectually beautiful and very interesting. Be sure to have a bowl of waterzooi--a delicious creamy chicken soup, would be warming on a chilly March day.

Love Amsterdam. Highly recc the self-guided tour at the Rijksmuseum, just across the way from the VG.

The last time I was there, with the whole family as part of a Christmas European trip, we stayed at the Estherea - lovely and great location. Memorable breakfast buffet.

Funny you should mention Amsterdam, as the same group that went on the Danube tour is booking one from Amsterdam (in 2027!) and I got the info. yesterday. I usually do not return to places, and I have been to Amsterdam on business a few times in addition to family vaca 2 years ago, but I am considering the trip because it is such a lovely city just to stroll through.

My niece is actually in her 30's and has been there twice before, so she is mostly in charge of Amsterdam part, I don't want her to have to repeat too much. She has not been there during tulip season though so she is hoping something works out for that. Once she decides on any day trips I can firm up the rest of my plans.

I do like the idea of a musuem tour all by myself though. We usually don't do an actual tour guide in most museums so that is something I can do if I decide to! freedom :)

I prefer self-guided museum tours, and the Rijksmuseum has an excellent one. I am too ignorant to get much out of a museum on my own (hmm, that's pretty, that's nice, ohh... that is awful...). But guided tours are often too long and too crowded. My whole family truly enjoyed the Rijksmuseum.

We were in Amsterdam in 2024. We made the trip for the Dutch GP, spending an extra 3 days to take in the city. We enjoyed a couple of things you do not have on your list. A small boat canal cruise with Voyage Amsterdam, we were very happy with this tour. We had 10 of us on our cruise. We did the cruise late in the day, I recommend at sunset if possible. We also went to the Rijksmuseum, which I enjoyed, but the Van Gogh Museum was my favorite.

Hoping that you will give us a trip report. We are planning on visiting Ghent and Bruges in June. Would be interested in hearing any thoughts or recommendations that you have after your visit.

We loved Amsterdam, enjoy your trip.

My niece does have Rijksmuseum and a canal cruise on her to do list, so I will look into the self guided tours and the particular boat cruise recommendation. I'm usually the trip planner so it's nice to have her in charge of this part. I am just supposed to be looking into the tulips :) and my week after. It's just exciting and hard to know how long things wil take. I am looking forward to maybe just strolling and being there, I don't want to overplan. At the same time, there is just so much to see!

I don't know how long they keep it up, but in the offseason they have shows on the canal. During our canal tour there was an exhibit of light sculptures in the water.

Canal boats give you a good look at the city’s old architecture. My high school ‘s graduation dinner and celebration was held at the Amsterdam Hilton (70’s) and the school chartered a canal boat to go around and pick up all the parents abd guests staying st other hotels. Mine enjoyed that far more than the endless speeches.

I love museums and usually would rather explore them alone. But the best experience I’ve ever had in a museum is when DH and I hired an American artist living in Paris to take us through the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay. It was not just educational, it was illuminating. DH has little interest in art but he still talks about that weekend and how meaningful it was to him.

I love traveling solo, and encourage you to try it. I’ve been to Amsterdam several times- such a beautiful city! I second everyone’s recommendations on this thread. On my most recent visit to the Netherlands, I stayed with a Dutch friend in Utrecht, quite a wonderful town- it seemed an ideal place to live, to me. From there, I took day trips to Delft and The Hague, as well as Amsterdam. On the same trip, I stayed with my nephew and family who live in Brussels, and from there took day trips to Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent- all wonderful and memorable. If you go to Antwerp, be sure to visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum, and see the first printing presses, and learn how printing changed the world! I cannot recommend it more highly. I often travel solo in Europe and feel very safe and comfortable. From Amsterdam and Brussels it’s quick and easy to get to Paris by train, which is IMO a perfect destination for solo women travelers.

I think someone on here has a son living in Utrecht, if memory serves? Hope she pipes up.

We lived in the Netherlands for a year with out 3 children fron 88-89. DH and I went back with our bicycles after we road from Vienna to Nante . We took the train to Amsterdam and rode all around the country taking our bikes and staying i their version of Airbnb.

Leiden has the Hortus Botanicus. It dates from 1590. It is the most beautiful and amazing display of plants. The entire area of Holland is small gorgeous canals . https://www.google.com/search?q=hortus+botanicus+leiden%C2%A0&sca_esv=38bf29ee6820990e&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS1149US1149&hl=en-US&sxsrf=ANbL-n5-ffqXQLAp3P6SBEVlGzf8oPPzBA%3A1770249542717&ei=Rt2Dacm0K5Pe5NoPy8TqkAM&oq=hortus+botanicus+leiden%C2%A0&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhlob3J0dXMgYm90YW5pY3VzIGxlaWRlbsKgMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgARIsjlQpQpYwy9wAngBkAEAmAFtoAGtCqoBBDEzLjO4AQPIAQD4AQGYAhKgAt0KwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICDRAAGIAEGLADGEMYigXCAhkQLhiABBiwAxhDGMcBGMgDGIoFGK8B2AEBwgIQEC4YgAQYxwEYJxiKBRivAcICChAAGIAEGBQYhwLCAgsQLhiABBjHARivAcICChAAGIAEGEMYigWYAwCIBgGQBhG6BgQIARgIkgcEMTUuM6AH45YBsgcEMTMuM7gHzgrCBwgwLjEzLjQuMcgHKYAIAA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#ebo=0

Also the clock museum in Utrecht . incredible we stayed outside of town and cycled to it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=clock+museum+utrecht&sca_esv=38bf29ee6820990e&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS1149US1149&hl=en-US&sxsrf=ANbL-n4XHq4vg_hSpHKziKDhqXRfnIrQHA%3A1770249731064&ei=A96Dae_PA4iq5NoPiIOauAM&oq=clock+museum+utrech&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhNjbG9jayBtdXNldW0gdXRyZWNoKgIIADIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigVI-k9QpxpY7D9wAngBkAEAmAFvoAHrC6oBBDExLja4AQHIAQD4AQGYAhOgApwMwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICBBAjGCfCAgUQIRigAcICDhAAGIAEGJECGMkDGIoFwgILEC4YgAQYxwEYrwHCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFwgIREC4YgAQYkQIYxwEYigUYrwGYAwCIBgGQBgiSBwQxMy42oAf1kgGyBwQxMS42uAeRDMIHBjEuMTEuN8gHLIAIAA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#ebo=0

( trailrunner)

Amsterdam is lovely. My son and his GF have lived there for a few years. I think the Rejksmuseum is a must see, but I also highly recommend the small Moco museum. It is well curated collection of modern art and I find it highly enjoyable. Time in the museum platz area is also pleasant strolling.

I highly recommend visiting Zaanse Schans. You can bike there from Amsterdam.

I also think the North Sea dunes are unique and worth visiting. There are many seaside towns close to Amsterdam, Den Hague or Leiden to visit.

Utrecht is a charming city and I wouldnt forgo it.

Eat pancakes, skip Stoopwaffels(just my personal opinion).

DH and I will be heading there in late April for a 10 day bike tour, with baggage being transferred thank goodness.

Hope you have a great trip.

Thank you all - so many great ideas that weren't on my radar. I need to start prioritizing. The clock museum looks incredible. Your trip sounds amazing @localeater. I hope to do some biking.

Utrecht was not on my radar at all, but now I need to go. I need to start planning and see how to fit all of this in. I don't have a return date set yet, so maybe I'll just have to stay another day. I'm just not sure how long I'll be comfortable being away on my own.

@chinacatpeekin - thanks for the vote of confidence on solo travel. It's a little out of my comfort zone, but that's what makes it fun! Hopefully :) I feel certain I'll be fine, and it will be nice to just do whatever I want. I had considered going to Paris and flying home from there, but I was there a few summers ago, so I decided I would rather to stay closer to Amsterdam and fly back home from there.

We had heard conflicting things on Zaanse Schans - just so crowded - but it seems like the only place to really see the windmills, so I appreciate your recommendation.

I hope to have pancakes and Stoopwaffels!

Also have a piece of Dutch apple pie - the portion I had in a restaurant near the Rejksmuseum was delicious and served with an ample portion of whipped cream. I love Amsterdam since it's such a walkable city and lots to see. During our trip, I forgot our tour guide's warning to not stray onto the bike paths and had a cyclist whip by me at great speed!

I watched some travel videos of the Netherlands and I would love to see this gorgeous vintage theme park Efteling. It apparently was the inspiration for Disneyland. I'm not a Disney person at all but this looks super fun. All his videos from the Netherlands are awesome. RIP Adam the Woo. He passed away in his sleep about a month ago (had underlying heart disease, sadly).

Efteling theme park link

Legomom, my DDIL used to travel frequently to Denmark for work. About 2 years ago, she invited me to come — meet up with her there, and go exploring on my own while she was at work. I had only flown to Europe once by myself and it had been like 20 years, so I was a little unsure. But it was great! I got myself there, and DDIL left work to pick me up at the airport and drop me off at her hotel (she had a two bedroom suite). I spent 3 days just wandering all over the town on foot, and loved it. She usually was done with work by 4 pm, so we’d wander some more and have dinner together. Then we flew to Bergen, Norway together for a few more days.

These days I travel solo mostly for art workshops, but not outside the US. Yet!

It’s been forever since I’ve been to Amsterdam, but in the past three years I’ve been on five solo international trips. Hit me up if you have questions. I love solo travel for all kinds of reasons.

Thanks Spanish - I'm excited and slightly nervous, but I think this is a pretty easy first try area. I don't mind being by myself, in fact I like it a lot :) I do feel a little guilty - I probably could have found a friend to go, but it was just something I wanted to try by myself and not worry about other logistics. My agenda is set - as far as flights and hotels, and I feel really good about it!

My daughter was there a year ago last October. Favorite restaurant ever (like ever in her life) is Restaurant de Kas. She says, go for lunch, may be hard to get dinner reservations. She says hands down best meal ever. They also loved the Food Hallen, a food hall that had great food, open late, music.

https://restaurantdekas.com/

https://www.foodhallen.nl/en/venues/amsterdam