Thanks for stopping by! My name is Dario Endara, an American photographer living in the Netherlands, which I now call home. I’ve been shooting here in this beautiful country since 2011 and I can confidently say that I know all the best locations for your prewedding photos. I’m more than happy to help you plan a fun photoshoot and provide you with tips on what to expect during a prewedding photoshoot in the Netherlands. For example, how many locations can you do in one day, what times should we start to avoid the crowds, and how long does a shoot take? Well not to worry! I’m here to answer all those questions…and MORE!
It’s important that you both enjoy this experience, after all, these are memories you will cherish forever. So we try not to rush through the day but calmly walk around to appreciate Dutch culture. I will create a nice itinerary based on the places you would like to visit and provide the transportation needed to get around. In general, the most popular prewedding photoshoot is Amsterdam, combined with either the windmill village of Zaanse Schans and/or the flower gardens of Keukenhof. All three can be done in one day. Below you will find more information with photos of each location to help you decide.
So let me be your prewedding photographer and tour guide for the day and you will leave here with great memories and beautiful photos to reflect that! 🙂
A prewedding photoshoot in the Netherlands is not complete without a shoot in Amsterdam! This medieval city has it all: canals, bridges and of course, beautiful old architecture. During your prewedding photoshoot in Amsterdam, we usually start off around the Amsterdam central station in the early afternoon, from where we continue into the charming neighborhood of Jordaan (away from the crowds), with lots of canals and bridges and locals whizzing by on their bicycles. Afterwards, we stop by the famous Dam square to take in the majestic Royal Palace in the background. If we have time, we visit another iconic landmark in Amsterdam; the world-renowned Rijksmuseum. With its stunning architecture and big square just in front of it, this place is the perfect way to end a prewedding photoshoot in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam can be visited anytime of the year and each season has its own charm. A photoshoot in the city generally takes about 2 hours.
For more information about my photography in Amsterdam, please visit this page.
Perhaps one of the most popular places in the Netherlands for prewedding photography is the windmill village of Zaanse Schans. Being located about 20 minutes from Amsterdam, the Zaanse Schans can easily be combined with a prewedding photoshoot in Amsterdam. Tucked away in the countryside of North Holland, this charming village has the iconic views many people have come to love of the Netherlands. Aside from the windmills, an array of beautifully green-colored wooden houses and barns are scattered around. Walking through the narrow streets of the village takes you back to the 18th century, giving you a good sense of what life used to be like in the Netherlands. Walls adorned with wooden shoes, curious sheep and goats and several shops make this town a fun day trip from Amsterdam.
The best time to visit is late in the afternoon (closer to sunset) for beautiful light during the golden hour. The added bonus is that most of the tourists have already left back to Amsterdam, leaving us with the whole place all to ourselves. Walking along the water at sunset with the windmills in the background is nothing short of magical. Zaanse Schans is open all year long. A photoshoot here takes about 1.5 hours.
For more information about my photography in Zaanse Schans, please visit this page.
When people think of the Netherlands or Holland, the first thing that often comes to mind is tulips and windmills. Every year at the beginning of April, flower fields all over the country start to bloom, unraveling a spectacular explosion of color until the first week of May. Perhaps the best place to see the millions of tulips is the flower gardens of Keukenhof. The combination of the many colorful flowers and cherry blossom trees in full bloom, makes for a wonderful backdrop for a prewedding photoshoot. With many different types of gardens, it’s no wonder that this park is one of the most visited sites in the Netherlands. The Keukenhof flower gardens are located about 45 min from Amsterdam and are easily accessible by car and public transportation, making it the perfect spot to combine with your prewedding photoshoot in Amsterdam and/or Zaanse Schans.
Not too far from the park are the endless flower fields that are known worldwide. Here, rows and rows of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths can be found in almost any color you can imagine. A prewedding photoshoot in Keukenhof always starts at 5pm when most of the visitors are leaving, allowing for space and calmness in the park and for some great photo opportunities. We then head out to the nearby fields to capture the last photos of the day during the golden hour (assuming there’s a sunset!).
Keukenhof is open from end of March to early May. However the tulip fields are blooming at their full potential around mid-April, the best time to visit. A photoshoot here takes a total of 3 hours (2 hours in the park and 1 hour in the fields).
For more information about my photography in Keukenhof, please visit this page.
If you would like to see some of my most recent wedding photography and prewedding photography in the Netherlands please visit my full portfolio. It contains recent examples of prewedding photoshoots in Amsterdam and the other locations described above. I also frequently photograph preweddings in other European cities and countries, so if you are looking for an overseas destination prewedding photoshoot in Europe, you can also contact me!
I look forward to hearing from you and photographing you! Feel free to contact me via this page.