02 May Epic weekend trip to Monnickendam
I am at a loss for words. I mean, uggg, this area I’m about to write about is it’s own kind of Utopia. And yes, I’ll find the words because that’s what I do! Don’t worry 😉
Join me as I lay out a crazy epic weekend trip from Amsterdam filled with beauty, culture, light adventure, and epic views. This is the land of Laag Holland and we’ll be visiting Monnickendam, Volendam, and Marken.
Let me back up a sec. I need to tell you how awful I feel for not having properly discovered the area just north of my house…literally within cycling distance. While we did cycle up that way once, we didn’t really take the time to take it all in, learn anything about it, or do any cool adventures. We just peddled our little butts off.
The itinerary I have for you here comes from my experience through Laag Holland on a press trip. These trips are awesome, especially when it’s in my own backyard because I already have knowledge about the area (limited knowledge, but still a bit!), so it’s like building blocks. They showcase some of the cool activities you can do, places to stay, towns to visit, and so much more.
I am so freaking excited to share this with you! I am pretty sure I was smiling every single day on that trip because the area is so surprising in the best way possible.
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Taking a weekend trip from Amsterdam
Have your contactless payment ready
First thing’s first. To use public transportation, you can use contactless payment (like your phone, watch, or a card you can tap). Each person traveling needs one, so if you have a child 4-years-old or over, they will also need a card to use. Or you can get the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket which includes your transportation within a certain region (Monnickendam is included!) for 1-3 days.
No matter how you pay for your fare, you’ll tap on at the machine in the front of the bus, and tap again on your way out of the middle or back doors.
Local transit app
Use the 9292.nl app to plan your routes. Google maps is okay if you don’t want to download another app (Totally get that!) but 9292.nl is the official app and will alert you of any issues.
Money
Have some cash on you. Many places will take pin and debit cards, but just in case, it’s best to have some cash on hand.
Day 1 on your weekend trip to Monnickendam, Marken, and Volendam
Time to start this weekend into Laag Holland. Oh guys…this is going to be incredible. Are you ready?!
Head to Amsterdam Centraal Station
This is easy-peasy. Take the tram, metro, bus, bike, or your own two feet to Amsterdam Centraal Station. Head to the back of the station via the outdoor pedestrian tunnel on the west side, or walk through the station itself via the passages that do not have the ticket barriers. Go up the stairs once you reach the back side (IJ-Zijde).
If you are staying in the Amsterdam Noord neighborhood, instead of going to Amsterdam Centraal Station, you’ll take a bus to Station Noord and then switch to either the 110 or 112 regional bus there. But use one of the apps I mention above to confirm what’s easiest for you. The right stop for you to get off will be “Volendam, Zeddeweg” or “Volendam, Centrum”. This means you’ll disregard the bus directions below.
Take bus 316 to Volendam
Once up the stairs, check the monitor for which stop bus 316 will be parked. It’s likely a big red bus, not the blue and white ones you’ll also see. The right stop for you is “Volendam, Centrum”.
Note: You’ll tap your contactless payment or Travel Ticket on the reader when you get on the bus and when you get off. Be sure to hit the stop button when your stop is next.
Pick up your e-bike
Ready for an awesome ride? Put your hair up and get ready for a cool and easy ride. Be sure to book your e-bike ahead of time because they’ll be popular during nice weather.
They’ll have some suggested routes already planned for you, but I hope you at least go from Volendam, to Monnickendam to wander around a bit before cycling on the dykes all the way to Marken. It’s an adorable and picturesque town that is pretty popular with tourists. But that’s okay, it’s still super lovely with plenty of spots to get picture-perfect pictures!
Check out this sunset from Marken…
Did I hear a wow?! Thank you, thank you 🙂
While you may not be there for sunset, I thought it was worth showing you one of my favorite pictures from my visit there. When in Marken, you should keep going for a bit and head all the way to Het Paard, the lighthouse. It’s ready for its photo to be on a postcard!
Just look at this spot. It’s pretty magical, if you ask me. I love lighthouses. I think it rubbed off on my from my grandmother. We used to climb them (with permission!) when going to a beach.
Have lunch in Marken
Enjoy lunch with a view at De Taanketel. You might think that because this little town is popular with tourists, that it would be hard to find a good place to eat. That’s just not the case!
De Taanketel has a menu that changes with the seasons and is a proper restaurant. They know what flavors and textures go together and what makes an excellent dish. I had the soft shell crab and it was delicious. But the nice piece of beef I got afterward just made the whole meal incredible. My mouth salivates just thinking about it!
There is a cool ferry back to Volendam from Marken if you want to see these photogenic places from a different perspective. It’s the Volendam-Marken Express ferry and only takes 30 minutes.
Or use your e-bike to get to Broek in Waterland for a canal cruise
If you have time, cycle (or scooter) your way to Broek in Waterland to rent your own boat. It’s a spectacular journey that is both relaxing and exciting because you’ll see some of the most adorable creatures along the way.
Stay the night in Monnickendam
I think dinner is in order after that ride! There are so many good restaurants in Monnickendam that all you need to do is to pull up Google maps and find one. This is something you can definitely figure out on your own. I trust you 🙂
Then to stay the night, I highly suggest staying at Apartments Waterland. When I stayed the night, I was in awe at the hospitality, style, amenities, and the view! There’s a bottle of water and stroopwafels for you when you arrive. And depending on the season, you might just find some freshly picked tulips in your room.
I stayed in the larger room, but also got a sneak peak in the smaller rooms. Let’s just say there’s plenty of room to spread out a bit no matter which room you choose. And you can’t beat the prices! It’s just another reason to stay outside of Amsterdam.
They are all little apartments, so you have a small kitchen (still bigger than some I’ve seen in actual homes!), and a good sized bathroom. I would have been happy to stay there for days. Check prices here.
Day 2 – Memorable experiences in Laag Holland
Today is all about the “wow” factor. When planning your trip to the Netherlands, be sure to book this jaw-dropping, breathtaking, memory-of-a-lifetime experience.
Take a helicopter ride
What else could it be than a helicopter? This is no ordinary helicopter ride. (is there such a thing?) In the spring, we saw tulip fields from above that were bursting with color. We saw the famous Zaanse Schans from above.
Throughout the landscape were animals that looked so tiny and islands that made up the farmland. I’ve literally never seen anything like it. Even though I had knots in my stomach due to nerves, I couldn’t wife the huge smile off my face for anything. I really want you to have that same experience.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like you can be picked up in this area anymore (and the company we used changed), but if you really want a helicopter ride, you can head to Lelystad airport and they can fly you over this area! It will take just over an hour by train, then bus to get to that airport. You can book a flight here.
Other activities you can do
Explore on your own
You can rent a scooter for the whole day and use their helpful guides, this is where I will leave you. Have a ton of fun. Find the nooks and crannies that you can only find by taking a scooter or bike and enjoy what the real Dutch countryside is like. I highly recommend you visit the Visit Beemster (the region) tourism website to see what will be happening during your visit.
I am so passionate about you having experiences you will always remember…that you will tell your friends and family, “you won’t believe…”. I want you to have the best time ever! So, please let us know if you do take our advice and how it turned out. We just love to hear your travel stories!
Back to Amsterdam
Once you are done visit the area, use 9292.nl or Google Maps to make your way to the Amsterdam Noord metro station or Amsterdam Centraal Station.
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this epic itinerary. I know that my experience in Laag Holland was memorable and I can’t wait for you to make similarly amazing memories.
Wishing you joy and travels!
