Golf Courses Near Amsterdam: 12 Clubs and How Visitors Play

There are more than 250 golf courses in the Netherlands, and a surprising number of the good ones sit within an hour of Dam Square. The golf courses near Amsterdam range from public city courses 15 minutes from the centre to historic dune links on the North Sea coast. Visitors with a recognised handicap can play most of them, but the best clubs limit days, handicaps and rounds per year.

This guide covers twelve real clubs, what each one actually allows a visitor to do, how long the drive is, and how a chauffeured golf day works in practice. Green fees change by season and day of the week, so we have not listed them: each club publishes its own, and the links below go straight to the source.

Golf Courses Near Amsterdam at a Glance

The short answer: for an easy round, play a public course in or next to the city; for the course people fly in for, book one of the coastal or heathland clubs and plan around its visitor rules. The table compares all twelve.

Club	Location	Holes	Drive from Amsterdam centre	Visitors
Golf Waterland	Amsterdam Noord	18 plus 9-hole par 3	15 to 20 minutes	Green-fee players every day of the year
Amsterdam Old Course	South-east Amsterdam	9	15 to 20 minutes	Visitors welcome
De Hoge Dijk	Amsterdam Zuidoost, near Abcoude	27	20 to 25 minutes	Public; GVB or handicap 54 for the 18-hole course
Amsterdamse Golf Club	Western edge of Amsterdam	18 plus par 3	20 to 25 minutes	Green-fee players on weekdays only
Golfclub Houtrak	Halfweg	18	20 to 25 minutes	Daily; handicap 35.0 or better
Golfbaan Spaarnwoude	Velsen-Zuid	27 A-status holes plus shorter loops	25 to 30 minutes	Public; some loops need no GVB
The International	Badhoevedorp	18	About 20 minutes	Members and their guests only
Kennemer Golf & Country Club	Zandvoort	27	35 to 45 minutes	Not on Sundays; handicap 24
Noordwijkse Golfclub	Noordwijk	18 (renovation until 2027)	40 to 50 minutes	Limited weekday windows; handicap 24
Koninklijke Haagsche (Royal Hague)	Wassenaar	18	45 to 55 minutes	Monday to Thursday, Friday before 11 a.m.; handicap 24
Hilversumsche Golf Club	Hilversum	18	35 to 45 minutes	Weekdays, not public holidays; handicap 24
Utrechtse Golfclub De Pan	Bosch en Duin, near Utrecht	18	40 to 50 minutes	Handicap 24; tee times on request

Drive times are our working estimates for a weekday outside the peaks. The morning rush towards the city and the evening rush out of it can add a good deal, which our Amsterdam rush hour guide explains in more detail.

Golf in Amsterdam: The City Courses

Four clubs sit inside or on the edge of the city, and for a visitor with an afternoon free they are the realistic choice. None of them requires a long drive, and three of them are genuinely open to the public.

Golf Waterland, Amsterdam Noord

Golf Waterland is the most accessible serious course in the city: an 18-hole championship course with A status and a 9-hole par 3, laid out between the waterways of Amsterdam Noord, about 6 km from Rembrandtplein. It is open to green-fee players every day of the year, and the club only asks for local course permission rather than a GVB on both courses. It is the right answer for a mixed group where not everyone holds a handicap.

Amsterdam Old Course

The Amsterdam Old Course is, in its own words, the oldest golf course in Amsterdam, about 4 miles from the centre and one of eight Colt, Alison and Morrison designs in the Netherlands. It is a 9-hole course with a thatched clubhouse from the 1930s, and it welcomes visitors. Nine holes and a short drive make it a good fit for a morning before a flight or an evening after meetings.

De Hoge Dijk, Amsterdam Zuidoost

De Hoge Dijk is a public 27-hole facility just north of Abcoude, run as three loops of nine. The Bullewijk and Holendrecht loops form the 18-hole course, which needs a GVB or handicap 54; the Abcoude loop of par 3s and par 4s is open to golfers with course permission from a professional. Open Golfclub Olympus plays its competitions here.

Amsterdamse Golf Club

The Amsterdamse Golf Club on the western edge of the city is a members’ association with an 18-hole course and a par-3 course. Green-fee players are welcome on weekdays but not at weekends or on public holidays, so plan a visit for a working day.

Golf Clubs Just Outside the City

The next ring out, 20 to 30 minutes from the centre, includes one of the largest public golf facilities in Europe, a respected members’ club and the most exclusive course in the Amsterdam area.

Golfclub Houtrak, Halfweg

Houtrak sits between Amsterdam and Haarlem and accepts visitors every day. The club asks for a handicap of WHS 35.0 or better and a valid NGF pass or home club details when you book. Green-fee players can reserve a tee time three days in advance by phone with the caddiemaster.

Golfbaan Spaarnwoude, Velsen-Zuid

Golfbaan Spaarnwoude is a public course in the recreation area between Amsterdam and Haarlem, with 27 holes of NGF A status plus shorter par 3 and par 4 loops. Some of those shorter holes are open to players without a GVB, which makes Spaarnwoude useful for groups of mixed ability.

The International, Badhoevedorp

The International is a hilly, heavily shaped course next to Schiphol, designed by Ian Woosnam with Mastergolf. It is worth knowing about because people ask, and worth being honest about: the club states that access to the course is by invitation only, for members and their guests. If a host has invited you, it is about 20 minutes from the centre and very convenient for Schiphol.

The Great Courses Within an Hour

The courses golfers travel to the Netherlands for are a little further out: a run of dune courses along the North Sea, and two heathland clubs to the east. All four limit visitors to a handicap of 24 or lower, so bring proof.

Kennemer Golf & Country Club, Zandvoort

The Kennemer moved to its dune site at Zandvoort in 1928, on a course laid out by Harry Colt, and now has 27 holes. The club calls it the oldest seaside course in the country, and the prevailing south-westerly wind is part of every round. Visitors with a maximum handicap of 24 may play three times a year, on any day except Sunday, and the club asks you to contact the caddiemaster beforehand.

Noordwijkse Golfclub

The Noordwijkse sits inside a Natura 2000 dune reserve and describes its course as having a true links character. One important detail for 2026: the club is renovating between 2024 and 2027, and since May 2026 only the back nine has been open. Visitor times are limited to set weekday windows, the handicap limit is 24, and tee times can be booked from 1 p.m. the day before.

Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club, Wassenaar

The Royal Hague, founded in 1893 and the oldest golf club in the country, plays an 18-hole course in the dunes near Wassenaar. Its visitor terms are precise: Monday to Thursday, and Friday before 11 a.m., handicap 24 or lower, 3-balls only, four rounds a year, and reservations by phone from 4 p.m. for the following day. Wassenaar is close to The Hague, so it pairs well with a business day there; see our Hague chauffeur guide.

Hilversumsche Golf Club

The Hilversumsche is a heathland and woodland course in the Gooi, east of Amsterdam. Visitors are welcome on weekdays except public holidays, with a maximum handicap of 24 and advance booking through the caddiemaster. Weekends are for members.

Utrechtse Golfclub De Pan

De Pan at Bosch en Duin is a Harry Colt heathland course from the late 1920s, and it appears in most lists of the best courses in continental Europe. It asks for a handicap of 24 or lower and takes tee time requests through its website. Combine it with a day in Utrecht, covered in our Utrecht chauffeur guide.

For the coastal clubs in more depth, including how wind and season change them, read our guide to links golf in the Netherlands.

How Visitors Get Tee Times

Most visitors book directly with the club, usually through the caddiemaster by phone or email, and the closer you get to the top clubs, the less you can do online. Three rules cover nearly every booking.

First, check the visitor days before anything else. The Amsterdamse takes green-fee players on weekdays only, the Kennemer not on Sundays, the Hilversumsche not at weekends, and the Royal Haagsche only Monday to Thursday plus Friday morning. A great course on the wrong day is simply closed to you.

Second, respect the booking window. The Royal Haagsche releases visitor times from 4 p.m. the day before, the Noordwijkse from 1 p.m. the day before, Houtrak three days ahead. That shapes the whole trip: you book the flexible elements of the day once the tee time is confirmed, not before.

Third, check the frequency limits. Several clubs restrict visitors to a fixed number of rounds per year. For a one-off trip that rarely matters, but it explains why some clubs ask for your details in advance.

GVB and Handicap Rules Explained for Visitors

The GVB (golfvaardigheidsbewijs) is the Dutch golf proficiency certificate, and it now equals a playing handicap of 54. It matters to new Dutch golfers. A visitor with a recognised handicap from home does not need one.

The Netherlands runs on the World Handicap System like the rest of Europe, and the Amsterdam Old Course notes that EGA handicaps are valid in the Netherlands. What clubs ask for in practice is simple: proof of your handicap, and proof that you belong to a recognised golf club. A club app or membership card usually does both. Some clubs, including the Royal Haagsche, also list a separate, higher fee for golfers from foreign clubs than for members of Dutch clubs.

The real dividing line is the handicap limit. The public courses accept handicap 54 or even local course permission. Houtrak sets 35.0. The Kennemer, Noordwijkse, Royal Haagsche, Hilversumsche and De Pan all set 24. A group with one high-handicapper therefore needs a plan: either a public course for everyone, or a split day.

How a Chauffeur Golf Day Works

A chauffeured golf day is simple: the car collects you with your clubs, drives you to the club, waits or returns at an agreed time, and takes you home after the 19th hole. Nobody in the group drives, and nobody has to leave the bar early.

In practice we plan it backwards from the tee time. The chauffeur arrives at your hotel or office with enough margin to load bags, reach the club 45 minutes or so before you start, and drop you at the bag drop. Clubs, shoes and a change of clothes go in the boot. On an hourly chauffeur booking the car can stay at the club for the whole round, which suits a short course or a busy schedule. For a long day with lunch, it often makes more sense for the chauffeur to return at an agreed time.

Vehicle choice follows the bag count rather than the passenger count. Two players with clubs travel well in an E-Class or S-Class. A four-ball with bags belongs in a V-Class, so the clubs travel with the people. For a company golf day with a larger group, a Sprinter keeps everyone together; our golf trip planning guide covers group sizing in detail.

The other thing a chauffeur solves is the airport. Several of these courses are closer to Schiphol than to the city, so arriving golfers can go from arrivals to the first tee with the clubs already in the boot. Flight tracking is included on every airport transfer, and arrivals include 60 minutes of waiting after touchdown.

When a Chauffeur Is Not the Right Answer

For one golfer playing a quick nine at Golf Waterland, a taxi or public transport will do the job for less. A chauffeur earns its place when the day involves the coast or the heathland clubs, clubs and luggage, more than two people, an airport, or a long lunch afterwards.

Plan Your Golf Day Near Amsterdam

Choose the club first, confirm the visitor day and handicap rules, then let the tee time set the schedule. Tell us the course, the number of players and bags, and the time you tee off, and we will fix the price at booking, with no meter and no surcharges. The best golf courses near Amsterdam are an easy day trip when the driving is handled. Book your golf day or contact us to plan a longer trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can tourists play golf in Amsterdam without a Dutch handicap?

Yes. A recognised handicap from your home country is accepted, because the Netherlands uses the World Handicap System like most of Europe. Bring proof of the handicap and your home club card. Public courses such as Golf Waterland, De Hoge Dijk and Spaarnwoude are the easiest starting point; the historic private clubs add limits and fixed visitor windows.

What is the closest golf course to Amsterdam city centre?

Golf Waterland in Amsterdam Noord and the Amsterdam Old Course on the south-east edge of the city are the closest, each roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car from the centre outside the rush hour. Waterland is open to green-fee players all year; the Old Course is a 9-hole layout that welcomes visitors.

Which golf courses near Amsterdam are the best?

For course quality, most rankings put the coastal and heathland clubs first: the Kennemer at Zandvoort, the Royal Haagsche at Wassenaar, the Noordwijkse and Utrechtse Golfclub De Pan. All four sit within about an hour of Amsterdam. They are also the hardest to get onto, with handicap limits of 24 and restricted visitor days.

How far in advance should I book a tee time near Amsterdam?

It depends on the club. Public courses take bookings well ahead, but several private clubs only release visitor times shortly before play: the Royal Haagsche from 4 p.m. the previous day and the Noordwijkse from 1 p.m. the day before. Plan the day around the hardest booking first, then fit everything else around it.

Can a chauffeur take my golf clubs to the course?

Yes. A saloon carries clubs in the boot, and a V-Class handles a four-ball with bags. On an hourly or full-day booking the car waits at the club or returns at an agreed time, so clubs, shoes and a change of clothes stay with the car, and nobody has to drive after the round.

Are golf courses near Amsterdam open in winter?

Most are open all year, weather permitting. Golf Waterland states it is open 365 days a year. In the colder months some clubs switch individual holes to temporary winter greens and adjust green fees, so check the course status page on the club website on the morning you play.

Do I need a GVB to play golf in the Netherlands as a visitor?

Not if you already hold a recognised handicap. The GVB is the Dutch beginner's certificate, now equivalent to handicap 54, and it matters mainly to new Dutch golfers. A foreign handicap does the same job. Complete beginners can still play the shorter loops at public courses that only ask for local course permission.