Amsterdam can be a pretty intense place, especially in the summer months when it becomes overrun by tourists. If you find yourself getting stressed out, you can escape to a number of places where you can “chill out” and find your center again.
Bloemendaal Beach
If the weather is nice, you could head to the beach. But you want to avoid the packed beaches of Zandvoort and Scheveningen. So go to Bloemendaal a few kilometers north of Zaandvoort where you’ll find lots of space to be mellow. Just south of Zaandvoort is the nude beach, but this has gotten more crowded lately. You can venture further south, too. But really if it’s a hot day, you can be sure that just the ride to the beach will be stressful if you take the train.
Den Helder Lighthouse
If you have a car available you can venture further to the north and really get away from the crowds. Bergen aan Zee, Den Helder and the islands on the North Sea are really fine for getting back to nature. The Dutch countryside is very relaxed and can really slow down your pace.
Kroller Mueller Museum
A visit to the Kroller Mueller Museum, near Arnhem, is a wonderful way to escape the city, visit some nice pastoral scenes and take in one of the best art exhibits in Europe! Free bicycles at the entrance allow you to explore the Hoge Veluwe National Park which surrounds the museum. Highly recommended!
The Amsterdamse Bos, a beautiful wooded park just south of the city can provide a more quiet scene with lots of bike paths, open meadows and even entertainment in the summer.
Vondelpark
Outside the tourist season, it’s easy to chill at the Vondelpark. If you venture further to the south end you’ll find lots of open space to graze and soak in the ambiance.
If you like boating and watersports, Lake Vinkeveen, near Abcoude, south of Amsterdam has boat rentals, water skiing, wake boarding, windsurfing, swimming, scuba diving and more. This huge man-made lake even has campsites on tiny islands that you must take a boat to visit.