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General information
| Destination |
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| Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Program details
All Dutch icons in one tour! As per the select option visit the windmills at Zaanse Schans, tickle your tastebuds with cheese making and tasting demonstration in Volendam, go on a walking tour through Edam, take a scenic boat trip to the picturesque fishing village of Marken and see how clogs are made.
Iconic Dutch sights
If you ask anybody what pops into their mind when they think of the Netherlands, most people will say windmills, tulip fields, and the lively center of Amsterdam. Its picturesque canals, historic buildings, exotic nightlife, and open-minded culture stand out. And while Amsterdam is undeniably one of the country’s most fascinating tourist destinations, the scenic Dutch countryside and windmills in the surrounding area are often overlooked.
Fortunately, you can easily combine your visit to the country’s bustling capital with a phenomenal countryside and windmills tour from Amsterdam. The peaceful villages of Zaanse Schans, Marken, Edam, and Volendam are only a short drive from the city center. There you’ll be able to enjoy the tranquillity of the area and immerse yourself in the old way of life as you admire the colourful Dutch windmills.
An open-air museum
When you get outside the Dutch capital you enter a different world, with most of the small towns surrounding the city appearing like open-air museums. The Dutch Countryside and Windmills Tour will take you from Amsterdam to the villages of Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam, and to the former island of Marken; the order of the tour can change.
A visit to Zaanse Schans means you can get your fill of historical windmills. Over ten windmills line the banks of the Zaan river and the area around them is free for you to wander around in as it is an open-air museum. You can enter some of the windmills at a small extra charge (one visit is included in the All-in tour). Zaanse Schans is one of the best places to see windmills in Holland.
Volendam is a typical Dutch fishing village and taking a walk along De Dijk and through the harbour area will not disappoint. Here you will visit the Cheese Factory to taste delicious cheese and if there is time learn how it is made, too. If you are staying in town for lunch, we recommend the freshly caught fish.
Edam is the home of Edam cheese, the small, often red cheese ball that has been transported to every corner of the world for centuries. But there is so much more to this authentic village, which dates back to the 12th century. Select the option tour with Edam if you want to discover the village, where you will go on a 30-minute walk through the village.
The other location visited on the tour is the village of Marken, a former island in the Markermeer, now a peninsula. You'll travel between Marken and Volendam by boat, with a scenic, 30-minute trip across the IJsselmeer. Enjoy the view as you sail past the towns of Monnickendam and Katwoude. When you walk among the houses on Marken, be careful to stay on the road because before you know it you're in someone's garden. A visit to a traditional clog, or wooden shoe, maker completes our tour. Here clogs are still made according to a 100-year-old tradition with steam-powered tools. They are surprisingly comfortable as you will be able to try for yourself.
An unforgettable experience
During this tour, you will discover a world unlike any other, an experience that is sure to be cherished by adults and kids alike. Take a break from the commotion of the city and unwind as you visit one of the Netherlands’ best-kept secrets.
The Amsterdam countryside is waiting to welcome and introduce you to a completely other side of the Netherlands compared to its bustling capital city.
Essentials
• Wander among the windmills at Zaanse Schans
• Taste Dutch cheese at the Cheese Factory Volendam
• Go on a walking tour through Edam (only for the selected option)
• See how wooden shoes are made with an antique steam engine
• Unique to the option All-in tour: Canal cruise, sail across the IJsselmeer!
Classic Tours include
• The traditional Dutch experience in Volendam & Marken
• An up-close look at the windmills of Zaanse Schans
• Taste Dutch cheese
• Walk through medieval Edam (only for the selected option)
• English and Spanish-speaking bilingual guide
• Audio guide on the bus with 16 languages and free earphones
All-in Tours include
• Everything from the Classic tour
• Walk through medieval Edam (only for the selected option)
• A 30-minute boat tour between Volendam & Marken unique to this tour
• See how clogs are made with an antique steam engine
• Visit an authentic Marker home from the 1940s
• Visit a windmill still in operation
Duration
5.5 hours or 7.5 hours (tour with Edam option)