Amsterdam — Day 2 of a 2-Day Trip in the Netherlands With Suggestions for an Evening in Hengelo!
‘Day 2’ is a blend of my last day in the Netherlands (after my week long business trip) and my visit to Hengelo during the week. I was in Amsterdam the first and last day of the week, then Italy for the first half of the week, and Hengelo for the second half of the week. Prior to my final day, I arrived in Amsterdam the night before from Hengelo and stayed at the same hotel, Leonardo Royal Hotel Amsterdam. Hengelo is a small town about an hour and half drive from Amsterdam Airport.
Day 2
Amsterdam
After enjoying the buffet breakfast at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Amsterdam, I headed to Amstelpark. It was a nice morning for a walk through the park.
Amstelpark
I stopped by De Riekermolen, a polder drainage windmill built in 1636. The windmill is now a private home.
If you are looking to visiting the Netherlands thoroughly (not just Amsterdam), consider making a stop at Hengelo, a city in Eastern Netherlands. Hengelo is an hour and a half drive from the Leonardo Royal Hotel Amsterdam. You can also reach Hengelo by train from Amsterdam.
I stayed at the City Hotel Hengelo and spent the evening wandering the central area. The city centre has a good selection of restaurants and small shops. It was late so most of the shops were closed. I stopped for dinner at Stravinsky, a pub-type restaurant located at the heart of the city, and ordered a glass of white wine and the duck breast. My experience at Stravinsky was not the greatest. The white wine was refreshing, but I found the duck breast lacking flavour and needing salt. The worst part is they forgot about my dinner and I waited about an hour and half to get my meal! At least they gave me a free glass of mint tea after dinner? Note: I stayed two nights at Hengelo City Hotel. The hotel has some dinner options as well. I ordered a salad with smoked salmon (Dutch smoked salmon is more like lox). Portion was too large for me and I only finished about 3/4 of the salad.
After dinner, I bought some snacks from Albert Heijn (the supermarket), and headed back to the hotel for the evening.
Side Note: Here are some photos of Italy!
Left: Colosseum in Rome; Middle: Mount Vesuvius and Naples; Right: Altare della Patria in Rome
Complete Day 2 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.
8:00am: Enjoy the breakfast buffet at the hotel.
9:00am: Head to Amstelpark. Visit De Riekermolen and the gardens.
12:00pm: Have lunch nearby or head to the City Centre for lunch. After lunch, visit the museums in Amsterdam (i.e. Madam Tussauds in Amsterdam, Amsterdam Maritime Museum, Amsterdam Historical Museum, etc.). Alternatively, head to Hengelo and enjoy the Hengelo attractions (i.e. Kasteel Twickel, Salt Museum, Oyfo Techniekmuseum, etc.).
2-Day Netherlands Itinerary
Click “Download” below for an excel version of my 2-Day Netherlands Itinerary. Feel free to use the excel file as a planning template for your own trip in the Netherlands!
Travels with Carolyne 