A Weekend in the Netherlands

September 13, 2024- September 15, 2024

From the very moment I knew I was moving to Italy I started making plans for all of the travels I would take, and the Netherlands was always at the top of my list of dream destinations. I specifically wanted to visit Amsterdam, Netherlands, but I was brainstorming alternative ways to get there rather than taking a direct flight becuase it can be quite expensive. This is how I stumbled across a little town about an hour south east of Amsterdam called Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Living overseas during college has opened up a door of possibilities for me to travel the world at such a young age. In the same breathe, however, I am a student, so budget traveling and finding cheaper ways to travel to dream destinations is always on my radar. I found that flying into Eindhoven, Netherlands was the best satellite point to call home base for the weekend as I traveled to surrounding areas. From Rome my fight was about €60 to Eindhoven, whereas flying directly to Amsterdam would have costed anywhere from €150-€250. From Eindhoven I caught the FlixBus for a round trip ticket to Amsterdam for €26. All in all, if you’re a budget traveler like myself, staying outside of Amsterdam is definitely the best course of action, not even to mention how much cheaper the accommodation was in Eindhoven compared to Amsterdam.

Although Eindhoven acts as a great place to stay while day tripping to Amsterdam, there are plenty of things to see in Eindhoven that will keep you entertained during your stay. The streets are quiet during the mornings for a peaceful walk, but lively and bustling during the evenings when all of the lights come on lighting up all of the beautiful buildings and cathedrals.

Saint Catherine's Church is one of the many architectural wonders of Eindhoven that left me awe-struck when I visited during the day and night. It is nearly impossible to miss this cathedral because of it’s convenient placement directly in the center of the town. I probably walked by it every time I left the hostel!

Another aspect of Eindhoven I loved was the variety of food for an affordable price. When traveling to bigger cities, such as Amsterdam, it’s easy for food to become one of the bigger expenses, so residing in Eindhoven was another great way to save some money on the food front.

As I mentioned before, Amsterdam was a must-see while I was in the Netherlands, so I took a day trip via FlixBus. As big of a city Amsterdam is, it felt like one day was all I needed to see biggest sights and get a great feel of the capital of the Netherlands. Of course, there are nearly infinite things to see anywhere you go. In this case, it felt like there were infinite museums I wanted to see. Amsterdam is more than a one-day-trip endeavor if you are wanting to see any of Amsterdam’s 75 museums. The only museum I found myself exploring was the MOCO Museum right across the street from the Van Gogh museum. Since this day-trip was a last minute decision, I hadn’t bought tickets for the Van Gogh museum in advanced which you defiantly need to do during high tourist seasons if that is a museum you are interested in seeing.

The Netherlands was nothing short of one fo the most scenic and quanit countries I have ever visited. There was such an inviting atmosphere that made me fall in love with the city. As someone who wouldn’t consider themselves a city person, the cities of the Netherlands have been some of the best I have visited.

There are still so many parts of the Netherlands I have yet to see including the classic tulip fields. If you are thinking of visiting the Netherlands, I would try to make plans to go during the spring time so you can catch the yearly tulip festival that the Netherlands is most known for.

If you’re interested in seeing more about my time in the Netherlands, you can check out my YouTube video for more insights to my experience!