Looking for an unusual day trip from Amsterdam? Why not Naarden! Naarden is a 17th century fortified town about 30 miles east of Amsterdam.
It’s known for a well preserved 17th century star-shaped fortification system that entirely surrounds the city center. If you ask me, it looks more like a snowflake than a star, but you get the idea. The fortresses were used between the 15th and 18th century to protect the Dutch from the Spanish and other foreign invaders.
Biking to Naarden
The bike ride from Amsterdam to Naarden lasts about an hour and a half. The route leads you east through Diemen and along the river IJ until you enter Muiden. Muiden is a cozy town about half way to Naarden. Their claim to fame is Muiderslot – one of the Netherland’s most famous medieval castles. Be sure to stop by on your way to Naarden as opposed to on your way home. We neglected to check the opening hours and totally missed the chance to fulfill our Rapunzel fantasies.
After passing through Muiden the route is relatively quiet. We made friends with a few cows but otherwise the road was ours.
What to do in Naarden
Our trip to Naarden was more about the journey than the destination. That being said, there are a few things to do there. First off, have lunch. After our bike ride we were starving! We had lunch at EVEN. I found the waiter super friendly and the apple pie incredibly delicious. Don’t go with the bruschetta though, for the price it’s not worth it. Stick with the sandwiches and grab a seat by the window.
Afterwards you can always get an ice cream cone a few doors down at IJshuys or your caffeine fix across the street at Coffee Culture. We also came across a few cute shops, boutiques and galleries including my favorite, HomeLike. They’ve got postcards, jewelry, candles, home goods, knick knacks and plenty more at super affordable prices. Plus the store is uber cute.
Next up, exploring the star fortress. It all starts at the ‘Utrechtse Poort’ (Utrecht Gate) that dates back to 1877. Here you can also find the tourist information center. The grounds are extremely well preserved and fun to climb around, but it is really difficult to know that Naarden is a star. The aerial views you see on GoogleEarth are crazy cool (be sure to check it out), but from the ground the canals look similar to those in Amsterdam. Next time I’m coming by helicopter.
Let me know what your favorite day trip is in the comments!
