Coming to Amsterdam in winter means experiencing the city in a quieter, more peaceful mood. In Durgerdam, the huge, open skies take on soft winter hues, with pale sunlight filtering through, casting a gentle glow over the still water. Frost clings to the edges of the waters, and the landscape takes on a serene quality.

Our Picks: Things to Do

• See hints around Durgerdam of its past as a fishing village and take your interest further by exploring the Zuiderzee Museum, located 45 minutes’ drive from the hotel. An indoor and outdoor museum, learn about the Zuiderzee’s history as told through historic ship collections, artwork, traditional craft and clothing. Hear the stories of hardship at the hands of the turbulent sea and the construction of the dike that changed everything, meaning an end to storms and floods.
• Enjoy the freedom of the open road on a bike ride in fresh air. In Durgerdam, the ‘road’ is in fact an elevated uitdammerdijk, with both the watery lowlands and the IJmeer on either side, offering an impossibly scenic ride. Cycle through Uitdam and on to Marken where the red-tipped lighthouse will guide you to a traditional fishing village where authentic stilted houses greet you and little cafes offer the chance for coffee and cake.

Our Picks: Restaurant & Bars

• An exclusive cheese tasting in a private room of Fromagerie Kef in De Durgerdam, complete with views of Lake Ijmeer and beautiful hinterlands? You know where to go. The finest Dutch cheeses paired with exquisite wines, guided by an expert cheese monger who will be sharing stories of tradition and craftsmanship. Immerse yourself in this unique setting, surrounded by vintage labels and loved ones.
• Spring marks a great time to visit De Kas, a Michelin-starred restaurant that is housed in a vast, light-streamed greenhouse in Amsterdam-Oost. Growing enough to supply their own restaurant, De Kas brings new meaning to farm-to-fork, with produce harvested in the morning and served up that afternoon. Veg, herbs and fruit headline the menu, with the occasional piece of meat or fish to supplement. Food just tastes better at De Kas.
• Combining two of the Netherlands’ finest emblems, spending time alongside Amsterdam’s biggest windmill while drinking Dutch craft beers is quite the experience. Just across the water from Durgerdam, Brouwerij t’IJ is close by.  As well as a range of home crafted beers, enjoy a selection of Dutch cheeses and sausage.
• On a tiny islet opposite De Durgerdam, ‘lighthouse island’ also known as Vuurtoreneiland welcomes guests by boat for an extraordinarily immersive meal in its greenhouse, encircled by verdant island greens, the thrashing sea and elemental weather. Cooked only on a wood fire, the six-course menu can be described as food with soul, including home grown vegetables, meat on the bone, whole roasted fish and all manner of pickled, fermented and smoked delicacies.
• For Michelin-starred prowess you can’t go wrong with the artistry of chef Richard van Oostenbrugge (who also happens to be our consultant at De Mark). For innovation set against classic French cuisine, try De Juwelier, while Bistro De La Mer’s unpretentious atmosphere belies the exquisite seafood you’ll be served at this Parisian-style bistro.