What is the Must-Do Thing if You Only Have 5 Days in the Netherlands? A 5D4N Itinerary for First-Time Travelers
The Netherlands is a small but diverse country packed with history, culture, and natural beauty. If you only have 5 days and 4 nights (5D4N) to explore, you’ll want to make the most of your trip. I have out together this itinerary, specifically designed for my friends and family who will be a first-time visitors who want to experience the best of the Netherlands, from iconic windmills and tulip fields to vibrant cities and historic canals.
5 days in the Netherlands itinerary
Day
Highlights
City
Day 1
Explore the Heart of The Netherlands
Amsterdam
Day 2
The Traditional Dutch Culture
Zaanse Schans, Volendam
Day 3
The Modern Dutch Design
Rotterdam,
Delft, The Hague
Day 4
The Venice of the Netherlands
Overijse, Amsterdam
Day 5
Local Markets & Final Shopping
Utrecht, Amsterdam
Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam – Exploring the Heart of the Netherlands
Morning: Arrival & Canal Cruise
- Arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
- Check in to your hotel in Amsterdam city center
- Start your trip with a relaxing canal cruise (a UNESCO-listed experience)
- Visit Dam Square and see the Royal Palace of Amsterdam
Afternoon: Museums & Culture
- Explore Anne Frank Museum (optional)
- Explore Rijksmuseum (Rembrandt’s The Night Watch)
- Visit the Van Gogh Museum (iconic Sunflowers & Starry Night)
- Walk through the Museumplein and enjoy the park
Evening: Food & Nightlife
- Have dinner at a Dutch restaurant (try Bitterballen & Stroopwafels)
- Enjoy Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein, the city’s nightlife hubs
Day 2: Day Trip to Zaanse Schans & Giethoorn – Windmills, Wooden Clog and Cheese
Morning: Zaanse Schans (Dutch Windmills)
- Take 30 minute train or tour bus from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans
- Explore windmills, wooden clog workshops, and cheese farms
- Try fresh Dutch cheese and stroopwafels
Afternoon: Volendam & Marken
- Visit old town and port of Volendam
- Lunch and walk around the town
- Walking tour from idyllic port through its narrow streets at the islet of Marken
Evening: Back to Amsterdam
- Visit shopping district at Kalverstraat, De Bijenkorf or Magna Plaza (Dutch shop generally closed at 6pm some shopping mall at 7pm)
Day 3: Day Trip to Rotterdam & The Hague
Morning: Rotterdam – The Modern Face of the Netherlands
- Take a 1-hour train or tour bus from Amsterdam to Rotterdam
- Visit Cube Houses & Markthal
- Walk along the Erasmus Bridge & Rotterdam Harbor
Afternoon: The Hague – Dutch Royalty & Politics
- Travel to The Hague (30 minutes from Rotterdam)
- Visit Binnenhof (Dutch Parliament) & Peace Palace
- Explore Scheveningen Beach (optional)
Evening: Delft – Dutch Blue Pottery
- Explore and lunch at Delft town (Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring)
- Visit Royal Delft Factory to see traditional blue porcelain
- return to Amsterdam for the night
Day 4: Relaxing Day Trip at The Venice of The Netherlands
Morning: Relax and chill day in The Venice of The Netherlands
- Take a train from Amsterdam-Zuid to Zwolle, then take a bus 70 or 270 to Giethoorn, travel time more than 2 hours
- Enjoy traditional boat cruise around Giethoorn village
Afternoon: Enjoy chilled life in a fairy tale village
- Enjoy lunch at restaurant by the river
- Explore the shop and museum around the village
- If you took a Viator Giethoorn day trip tour, will depart to visit Afsluitdijk, one of the most incrediable dike in the world. Unfortunately there’s no easy access public transport unless you drive a car.
Evening: Amsterdam Red Light District
- Experience the Red Light District, Sex Museum (optional)
- Or, relax in the Jordaan district (trendy cafés and boutique shops)
Day 5: Amsterdam – Local Markets & Departure
Morning: Local Markets & Final Shopping
- Visit Albert Cuyp Market or Bloemenmarkt (Floating Flower Market)
- Enjoy a traditional Dutch pancake (pannenkoek) breakfast
- Buy souvenirs (Delftware, stroopwafels, tulip bulbs, wooden clogs)
Afternoon: Departure
- Transfer to Schiphol Airport for your flight
Optional: If You Have Whole Day and Your Flight Is Late Night
- Take 1-hour train from Amsterdam Central to Utrecht Central
- Explore Utrecht City Canals Area and restaurant
- Domplein square, Dom Tour, De Haar Castle
Final Travel Tips for Your Netherlands 5-Day Itinerary
- Best Time to Visit: Spring (March-May) for tulips or Summer (June-August)
- Travel Passes: Get an OV-chipkaart for trains, trams & buses
- Budget-Friendly: Book museum tickets online for discounts
- Day Trips: Trains are fast & efficient—perfect for exploring nearby cities
Conclusion
This 5D4N Netherlands itinerary offers a mix of history, culture, nature, and adventure. Whether it’s Amsterdam’s canals, Dutch windmills, tulip market, or modern Rotterdam, this plan ensures you experience the best of the Netherlands in just five days!
Price comparison between a guided tour vs. booking everything on your own
When I first visited the Netherlands, I didn’t have any friends or relatives in the country to show me around. I really wanted to make the most of my time and see as much as possible. So, I usually opted for a good local tour, and I’ve been using Viator to book my tours ever since I started traveling globally at 18 in 2002. Even today, I still book through them, and I finally decided to sign up for their affiliate program to partner with them.
Now that I’ve been living in the Netherlands and have gotten to know the country better, let me show you a budget comparison between booking a guided tour and planning the trip on your own.
Note: The prices suggested in this post may vary over time.
Day-by-Day Cost Comparison
| Day | Activity | Guided Tour via Viator | Self-Guided (Public Transport) |
| Day 1 | Amsterdam Canal Cruise | €18.00 | €7.50 (OV-Chip Card), €5.88 (Schiphol-Amsterdam Centraal), €20.00 (Canal Cruise) |
| Day 2 | Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken | €43.00 (include Windmill, Clogs & Cheese Factory) | €3.90 (train to Zaanse Schans) + €29.50 (Windmill Entry), €8.00 (Bus 800 to Volendam) + €19.50 Volendam Museum), €7.00 (Bus 316 to Marken) + €10.00 (boat rental), €5.00 (Bus 111 back to Amsterdam Centraal) |
| Day 3 | Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague | €96.22 | €19.00 (Amsterdam-Rotterdam) + €2.80 (Bus to Cube House), €8.80 (Rotterdam-The Hague) + €16.50 (Binnenhof & Peace Palace entry), €4.10 (Rotterdam-Delft) + €17.00 (Royal Delft Museum & Factory), €38.30 (Delft-Amsterdam) |
| Day 4 | Giethoorn | €95 (canal ride) | €30.50 (Amsterdam to Giethoorn) + €14.00 (canal ride), €30.50 (Giethoorn back to Amsterdam) |
| Day 5 | Local Markets & Departure | Free exploration | €9.40 (Amsterdam to Utrecht), €5.20 (Amsterdam to Schiphol) |
Total Estimated Costs
| Option | Estimated Total Cost |
| Guided Tours via Viator | €252.33 |
| Self-Guided (Public Transport) | €297.78 |
Note: Self-guided costs exclude meals, optional activities, and personal expenses.
Conclusion
As the above comparison, we can see that the price difference is not big. I would suggest the second scenario to book a local tour as consideration of :
- Time saving and less hassle, you get to point A to point B easily without needing to wait for train and bus, and the risk of miss taking the wrong train or bus
- The entire trip you have a tour guide explain to you and have a good understanding of what you are visiting
If you have any questions, feel free to drop me an email!
Vanessa Low
In the past twenty years, I traveled around the globe, sold everything, and moved to a sailboat. And now, I’m back to the land, ready to share my story, live a simple, grateful life and enjoy the beauty of the world!
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