Simonehoeve Cheese Making Kaserei Fromage

Immerse yourself in the culture of the Netherlands on a tour through the jewels of the Dutch countryside. Visit a cheese producer, a clog factory, a fishing village, and see the iconic windmills. Start your tour at Amsterdam’s Central Station and head in the company of your guide to the first destination of the day, Zaanse Schans. Admire the typical Dutch windmills of the town, and learn about how they are still used today. Next, drive to the Waterland area to arrive at the second stop of the tour, Edam. Walk around some of the town’s most historical sites, including the town square where the famous cheese market used to take place. Then, head to Volendam to visit a local cheese producer, learn about the production of Edam and Gouda cheeses, and try a cheese tasting. Head towards a clog factory next to discover the secrets of this typical Dutch shoe. Finally, travel back in time to the 17th century as you wander through the fishermen’s houses in the Marken, and explore this quintessential fishing village. IMPORTANT The visit to Marken may be substituted for safety reasons in case of bad weather conditions.

Time to try on something that wouldn't normally be in your wardrobe: traditional Volendam wear, including warm baggy trousers for the men and a high, pointed bonnet for the ladies. And of course, no outfit would be complete without Holland's most famous footwear - clogs! Say 'cheeeessseee' and your professional photographer will snap a photo of you and your friends, a souvenir which you can show to everyone at home. After the photo shoot, you can enjoy a guided tour in which you learn how to make a typical Dutch Gouda or Edam cheese. In the clog factory, you will get the chance to see a piece of wood turn into footwear and learn about the different varieties of clogs. In the shop you can have a look at all kinds of souvenirs and taste Dutch biscuits such as stroopwafel, a delicious local fruit wine and of course all kinds of cheeses. Try a rock hard, two-year old cheese or a cheese with cumin seeds, a famous delicacy in Holland. When you are finished perusing the souvenir section your photos will be waiting for you at the checkout. 

Starting out with a block of wood from the Dutch poplar tree, and learn the steps involved in making clogs. Shape the outside of the shoe the old fashioned way, with a big knife, and carve out the inside of the shoe with a sharp spoon. During the workshop, make a wooden shoe per person. You will also receive a beer opener which can be decorated with the help of engraving tools and colorful paint. Next, enjoy a guided tour through the cheese factory and learn how to transform milk into a delicious Dutch Gouda cheese. Discover various types of cheeses and slicers used traditionally. In the shop, marvel at all kinds of souvenirs and taste Dutch biscuits such as stroopwafel, a delicious local fruit wine, and of course all kinds of cheeses.

Starting out with milk from the local cows, learn about the steps involved in making cheese. Mixing, heating, pressing and eventually eating, of course! Make your own little farmer's cheese. This is a very young cheese which can be vacuumed and eaten directly or ripened at home using liquid plastic as a cover around the cheese. While the homemade cheeses are being pressed, enjoy a guided tour through the wooden shoe factory for a chance to learn how to turn a piece of wood into footwear. The varieties of clogs are shown, from historical to modern day clogs. In the shop, marvel at all kinds of souvenirs and taste Dutch biscuits such as stroopwafel, a delicious local fruit wine, and of course all kinds of cheeses.

A unique intimate all inclusive experience with insider access to the places we visit. We escape the big crowds! Escape the busy city! A few miles outside Amsterdam lays the beautiful countryside of Holland. Visit the windmills, explore old towns, taste Gouda cheese and Dutch apple pie. This is an all inclusive small group tour. We travel with a luxurious Mini Bus to our destinations. We come at places where no tourbusses can come. When the group is complete we drive north to the small historic fishermen village of Marken. Over there we have a short walk in the village where I explain some of the history. In the harbor of Marken we will stop at a local Dutch cafe for coffee, tea and Dutch apple pie. A great time to get to know each other a bit more. From Marken we drive to the wooden shoe and cheese farm. At the farm we will get a private tour how cheese and wooden shoes are made. You can try to walk on wooden shoes and taste all the different kinds of cheeses. After the experience we drive to the traditional sawmill where they still saw wood as in the old days. The windmill shows the big industrial revolution in the 16th century. Most of the time we will driving through countryside roads to our destinations. All admision, drinks and apple pie is included.

What you can expect from us: *You will be picked up at your hotel or agreed place (in the Amsterdam area) and dropped off after the tour. *A guided tour of the beautiful Keukenhof with an experienced guide who knows all the ins and outs of the grounds and the shortcuts to get to the most beautiful spots so that you have to queue for less time. *You will get a delicious cheese board with different types of cheese fresh from the cheese factory to add to the feeling of Holland. *After the Keukenhof visit, the guide will take you to * The Zaanse schans with several windmills on the dike. * Cheese and clog farm De Simonehoeve, where you will get a nice demonstration about cheese and clogs, you can walk on the clogs yourself and taste the Dutch biscuits, fruit wine and farm cheese. * At Simonehoeve, there is an opportunity to have lunch at your own expense. * Afterwards, the guide will take you to beautiful Volendam. *During this day, you will be accompanied by an experienced guide who can tell you a lot about the splendour of Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans and Volendam. *A bottle of water is included. Included: *Experienced guide and experienced driver. *Luxury passenger bus *Entrance Keukenhof *Cheese platter with various types of cheese *Bottle of water *Entrance to the Zaanse Schans *Entrance and guided tour to cheese farm Simonehoeve *Tasting of Dutch fruit wine, Dutch biscuits and various types of cheese *A day full of Dutch culture. Additional information: *You will receive confirmation at the time of booking. *Accessible for prams *Pick-up and drop-off possible at various locations