Fun Daytrips from Amsterdam in February?

Hi- I will be in Amsterdam for 4 days in Feb. 2009 and I am looking for 1-2 fun daytrips that would include something to photograph (i.e. windmills, flowers etc. ). I was interested in Kinderdjik but how is it in the winter? Are there places to have lunch there?

Kinderdijk is scenic, but it isn't a particularly good option in the winter; it's harder to get to and there isn't much there. You can easily get to Zaanse Schans to see windmills. Take the train from Amsterdam Centraal station to Koog-Zaandijk station (about 20 minutes). You can walk from the station follow the street to the end and go left toward the big windmill on the corner. Zaanse Schans is just across the bridge. It's pretty touristy, but in February it isn't crowded and you can get some nice pictures. I often go to pick up some of the mill-ground mustard when I'm in Amsterdam and was most recently there just after New Year's. http://www.zaanseschans.nl/

Delft, Gouda, Alkmaar, Hoorn, Leiden and Haarlem are all interesting smaller cities to walk around in and take pictures.

Bruges http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/index.h... or Brussels are good possibilities for longer day trips using the train. I particularly like Bruges.

Muiden is a nice, very small town accessible by bus 136 from Amstel Train Station in Amsterdam. Muiden Castle is open in late February and has an interesting tour. When I was there, they were explaining the use of all the weapons in the armory in great detail to the children. http://www.muiderslot.nl/ http://www.castles.nl/muid/muid.html. This isn't a full day activity and would be better if the weather is decent.

The Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery in The Hague is worth a visit.

Why don't you browse through the tourist information website: www.vvv.nl

Kinderdijk is beautifull!!! Lots of windmills!

Go to Koog Zandaag (aprox. 30 min) with windmills and a chocolate factory (that gives an amazing smell to the city). Further, cross the drawbrigde and walk to a little villa called Zaanse Schans, with beautifull landscap, with windmill, tulips fiels, clogs, and a cheese factory that you can visit as well.