Just above Amsterdam you’ll find “Waterland” the wetlands with picturesque villages like Marken, Volendam, Monnickendam, Broek in Waterland en Edam. These fisherman villages lie along the former Zuiderzee, the current Markermeer. If you travel a bit further north you’ll get to Hoorn and Enkhuizen. Historical harbortowns. And more inland the beautiful city of Alkmaar, known for its famous cheesemarket. Closer to Amsterdam is the Zaanstreek where you’ll find the Zaanse Schans.
An open air museum filled with beautiful restored wooden Zaanse houses and working windmills. A 30 minutes trainride will take you to Zandvoort for a refreshing beachwalk. Halfway you can get off in Haarlem. With its Frans Hals and Teylers museum. There is a bus that takes you during the season to the Keukenhof. It takes you along beautiful flowerfields to the magical park full of flowers of all sorts and sizes. All of the above places are easily reached by public transport and give a you a insight of the countryside just outside of bustling Amsterdam.