Volendam

Windmills

Enjoy the picturesque Dutch countryside on a day trip by comfortable coach. Encounter the famous windmills, and learn about Dutch traditional crafts. Take advantage of free wi-fi on board the coach before your first stop at the quaint village of Zaanse Schans. Stroll around at your leisure and admire the well-preserved historic windmills and houses.  Next, head to the fishing village of Volendam. Visit a cheese shop that still makes cheese using the traditional Dutch method and take in a demonstration. Enjoy lunch at a traditional fish restaurant at your own expense, before visiting the Volendam Museum and the Old Dutch Bakery. Select the all-inclusive tour option for more activities including a boat ride, visit to an operating windmill, and clog-making demonstration. In Volendam, try to spot the recognizable Dutch traditional costumes often featured on tourist postcards and posters. Afterwards travel back in time to the quaint island community of Marken.

Depart Amsterdam by luxury bus on this exciting tour and head north of the city to see the historic windmills of Zaanse Schans on the banks of the river Zaan. Explore the traditional 17th-century houses and a collection of beautifully preserved windmills from the nation’s industrial heritage. Continue on to visit Edam, a beautiful town known worldwide for its cheese. Before the end the day, go to Volendam and Marken, passing many authentic polders, the name given to land reclaimed from the sea. Wander down narrow streets, past colorful houses and visit the harbors full of fishing boats. You will have some free time to shop for souvenirs and sample the local fish specialties. Back in Amsterdam, you will be dropped off at the meeting point.

You will begin with to a trip to the enchanting village of Giethoorn in the north of the Netherlands for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Known as the “Venice of North”, the village is notable for its many canals and complete lack of roads. You will explore this fairy tale village, where less than 3,000 people live, throughout a 1-hour guided boat tour. Explore the preserved village on foot, and see how each farmhouse is built on a small man-made island. Wander the narrow footpaths to discover hundreds of bridges, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the village. Your trip will continue to the village of Volendam, where you can admire brightly painted wooden houses and see locals wearing their colorful regional attire. Your guide will take you on a short walk through the Volendam harbor, which has been one of the most popular tourist attractions in the village since 1875. This is a great place to pick up souvenirs and gifts for those at home or for yourself, and to have photos taken in traditional Dutch costume in one of many photo studios of the village. Your last destination is to explore the most picturesque traditional 17th-century Zaanse Schans village which contains houses and a collection of beautifully preserved windmills from the nation’s industrial heritage. In Zaanse Schans village you can stroll past the charming greenhouses and visit a factory where the clogs popular in this part of the country are made. There’s also nothing more Dutch than cheese, and whilst there you can try some at the Catharina Hoeve Farm where you will also learn about its production.

Leave Amsterdam for half a day on this guided tour of the rolling Dutch countryside. Sit back and travel comfortably in a coach to the rural village of Edam. Take a walk through the quaint streets of Edam. En-route to Volendam, stop to visit an old cheese farm to see how authentic Dutch cheese is made. Indulge in trying some of these huge spheres of delicious cheese. Upon arrival in Volendam, follow your guide on a journey through the fishing village’s winding streets. Hear about how this bustling place was once the harbor for neighboring village Edam. Enjoy some free time to eat lunch. Next, move on to visit the windmill village of Zaanse Schans. Once used to ground spices, dyes, lumber, oil, cocoa powder, and many other items, the mills are still in use today. Some are now living museums where you can learn about the ins and outs of milling. Visit a wooden shoe factory and behold how traditional clogs are created using antique machines. Afterward, go inside a windmill and take a look at all the mechanisms and go out onto the platform for a remarkable view over the surrounding area.  Filled with newfound knowledge and a taste of the traditional Dutch ways of life, relax and reminisce about your trip while on the journey back to Amsterdam.

Join a half-day guided tour of the Dutch countryside from Amsterdam and see the windmills of Zaanse Schans. Learn about the region and its history from your guide and tour Volendam and Edam. Embark in an air-conditioned bus to the windmill village of Zaanse Schans. This outdoor conservation area is situated on the banks of the Zaan River and is home to traditional 18th and 19th-century architecture, including several functioning windmills. Watch live demonstrations of craftsmen at work, including a clog maker crafting the famous wooden shoes of the Netherlands. There will be some free time to explore the village on your own, before traveling through the distinctive polders (land reclaimed from the water) of the Beemster area. From there continue on to Edam, also commonly referred to as the pearl of the Zuiderzee. Edam’s ancient streets and tranquil canals are lined by beautiful 17th-century buildings, including the leaning Carillon tower, the Great Church, and town hall. Most famous in Edam is beyond any doubt the public weighing house, where in summer still every Wednesday the famous Edam Cheese is being sold. After a stroll around this history-rich town, you’ll have the opportunity to see how Edam’s world-famous cheese is made and, of course, to taste it in a close by cheese farm. Finally, you will stop in the beautiful seaside village of Volendam. This typical fishing village with its bustling harbor has been a major tourist attraction as early as 1875. People come from all over to see the small buildings and houses and take in the locals in their traditional Dutch clothing. This is a great place to pick up souvenirs for those at home or a memento for yourself, and to have photos taken in traditional Dutch costume. Your guide will take you on a short walk through the oldest parts of the city, exploring a labyrinth of twists and turns to sites such as St. Vincent’s Church, the wooden Stolphoevekerk, and the Visafslag (Fish Auction).

Enjoy unlimited access to over 25 of Amsterdam's hottest attractions with a city pass for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days. Go on guided tours of Rotterdam and The Hague, discover world-famous collections of historic art, and admire the city from the canals on a cruise. Easily display your pass on your phone and use the digital guide to help you plan your itinerary and make reservations when necessary. There is something for everyone to see with over 25 attractions including the Heineken Experience and Keukenhof. Attractions: Heineken Experience (reservations required)RijksmuseumThis Is HollandMoco MuseumA'DAM LookoutKeukenhof with boat cruise (reservations required)100 Highlights CruiseRotterdam, Delft, and The Hague guided tourTour de BonTonRoyal Experience - Royal Coster DiamondsKeukenhof tourJohan Cruijff Stadium tourZaanse Schans tour (reservations required)Keukenhof bus tour (reservations required)1-Hour pedal boatMacBike bike rentalHouseboat MuseumMuiderslot CastleDiamond Museum AmsterdamPancakes AmsterdamJewish Cultural QuarterAmsterdam Pipe MuseumHouse of Bols cocktail experienceAmsterdam Tulip MuseumVolendam, Edam, and windmills bus excursion (reservations required)Tony Chocolonely Superstore

The first stop on this 8-hour trip from Amsterdam will be the windmills in Zaanse Schans. Continue to the region of Waterland, and visit the villages of Edam, Volendam and Marken. Your guide will tell you about the history of each place and the churches and traditional houses of the 15th century. Visit a factory where the clogs popular in this part of the country are made. Learn how they produce world-famous Dutch cheeses as well. Spend some of your free time enjoying a meal (not included in the tour price), before returning to Amsterdam at around 5:30 PM.

Choose between a customizable private tour or a small-group tour for a high-quality experience at an affordable price. Either way, you'll discover the scenic Dutch countryside and enjoy driving down winding country roads.   Climb the dikes and admire views of the water below. The local guide will explain the history of the intricate canal system that was constructed to protect the people from the sea. Visit some of the local gems, like Broek in Waterland, or Edam and Volendam and take pictures of ancient windmills and the grazing livestock.  Visit a cheese farm and learn how the famous Dutch cheese is made. Taste some delicious samples before continuing to a clog factory to see what it's like to walk in traditional wooden clogs. Take a break along the way to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a delicious Dutch treat.

A relaxing and complete journey to the typical Dutch countryside, visiting a windmill and fishing village. After being picked up from your hotel in the Amsterdam area by a friendly local guide, you will transfer to your van to enjoy a small-group traveling experience with a personal touch. Your typical Dutch experience begins with the Zaanse Schans windmill village. You can see the clog makers at work in the workshop, and learn about the history of wooden shoes in the museum. Following this you will experience a cheese factory demonstration where staff will be dressed in traditional Dutch costumes. You can buy beautiful souvenirs in a wide variety of outlets from cheese, wooden shoes, delft blue pottery, to local handcrafted items. Do not miss your chance to have your picture taken in the giant wooden shoe! Following this, you will arrive in Volendam at around noon. Here you will begin a guided walking tour to explore the charming seaside village. You can stroll along a walkway adjacent to the old port area, visit local vendors for authentic Dutch treats, experience seafood from the region, and sample cheese, waffles and pancakes. You will also have the opportunity here to dress up in an authentic local costume!

Start your tour with a convenient, pickup service from your accommodation. After being picked up from Amsterdam in a luxury Mercedes sedan or minivan by a professional driver, travel to one of the most beautiful villages in Holland, Giethoorn. Take a lovely canal cruise through the village, known as the Dutch Venice. The elongated village is located in one of the largest areas of continuous fenland in northern Europe. The village is an excellent starting point to make a canoe trip through the area and there are a number of special museums and art galleries to discover.  After exploring Giethoorn, you will visit the Zaanse Schans. Stroll past the bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh bread, or take a look at the warehouse where clogs are made. You should be sure not to miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry, and the various windmills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, barns, and workshops. Enjoy a cycling or sailing trip, browse the shops, or treat yourself at the pancake restaurant. After the windmills, you will visit Volendam, a small fishing village with 22000 citizens. Walk along the beautiful harbor and marvel at the typical Volendam shops before enjoying lunch at one of the best seafood restaurants in Holland (at own expense). Depending on the amount of time remaining, you can take a boat trip with the Volendam-Marken express. For over 80-years the Volendam-Marken Express has operated a ferry service between Volendam and Marken. The boats sail all year round and every year thousands of travelers use the ferry to enjoy a relaxed trip on the water and to visit the historic towns and harbors of Volendam and Marken. After a day full of adventure and excitement, your driver will return you back to your accommodation for an evening of well-deserved rest.