Zaanse Schans Tour: Windmills, Cheese, and Fishing Villages

Immerse yourself in Dutch culture on this Amsterdam day tour. Explore the picturesque villages of Volendam, Edam, and Zaanse Schans, visit windmills, taste delicious cheese, and learn about clog making.

Duration: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Zaanse Schans - First stop is the windmill village of Zaanse Schans, where you can admire still functioning windmills and typical wooden houses. You can also watch a clog maker at work, crafting the famous wooden shoes of the Netherlands.

  • Edam - Next stop is Edam, where your guide will walk through this wonderful small city, famous for its cheese.

  • Volendam Haven - Next stop is in the typical fishing village Volendam. Also you can enjoy a walk on top of the Dike with a beautiful view of the IJssel-lake.

cdot Enjoy an orientation guided walk with our live goude for 20 minutes.
cdot During some free time you’ll have the time to explore the city on your own.

  • Alidahoeve - You will have the opportunity to see how world-famous cheese is made. And, of course, to taste some cheese in a nearby cheese farm.
  • Kooijman Souvenirs & Clogs Wooden Shoe Workshop - Watch live demonstrations of craftsmen at work, including a clog maker crafting the famous wooden shoes of the Netherlands.
  • Prins Hendrikkade 25 - If option selected, the tour includes an open departure ticket to the popular Amsterdam Canal Cruise. Ticket is given during check-in of the tour

The Amsterdam canal cruise passes by all of Amsterdam’s famous attractions.

is canal tour starts at the very heart of the city, right near Central Station. From here each cruise takes a different path through the city, depending on the amount of traffic on the canals and the size of the boat. Sights you will definitely see include the World Heritage-listed 17th-century canals and the cities iconic architecture. Enjoy the sights along the most famous of the waterways, the Herengracht, Keizersgracht & Prinsengracht.

As you travel through Amsterdam’s neighbourhoods, such as the Jordaan, the Nine Streets or the Pijp, you might see sights like the Amstel river which gave the city its name, the Anne Frank House and the iconic Skinny bridge. The tour is significantly enriched by an audio tour in 19 languages and observations from the captain.

What's Included
  • Amsterdam Canal Cruise Voucher
  • Multi-lingual guided tour of Zaanse Schans, Edam, and Volendam
  • Visit a traditional clog maker
  • Live commentary during bus tour
  • Cheese tasting at a local cheese farm
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Entry fee to the windmills at the Zaanse Schans
Additional Information

From the spinning windmills at Zaanse Schans to the cheese scales of Edam, this tour captures the essence of all things Dutch. Experience the stunning landscapes of the North Holland region and discover the conventional fishing town of Volendam. Observe clog production at a wooden shoe shop and sample a variety of cheese at a Dutch dairy farm. Zaanse Schans, an outdoor conservation area, sits on the fringes of the River Zaan and boasts authentic 18th and 19th-century constructions, with several operational windmills and timber houses. From there, the journey takes you to the charming Edam village, also known as the ‘pearl of the Zuiderzee.’ Edam is adorned with tranquil canals and ancient streets, bordered by stately 17th-century structures like the Carillon tower, the majestic Church, and the old town hall. Lastly, explore Volendam — a typical fishing village with a vibrant harbor — which has been attracting tourists since as far back as 1875.

  • Tour Company will strictly follow all RIVM COVID-19 guidelines.
Location
De Ruijterkade 105
De Ruijterkade
From the front of the Amsterdam Central Station, turn to your left and walk in the eastern direction. Keep on walking and cross the bridge. Walk until you reach the Hilton hotel. Turn left and follow the walkway underneath the railway crossing. Check-in inside Grand Cafe 1884
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(560 Ratings)
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Dian_a
Oct 1, 2024
Great introduction to Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside. - The guide continuouisly gave us great narration about the countryside on the transportation coach as well as during the walking tours. She was informative and engaging and an invaluable asset to the experience.
Review provided by Viator
Joann_p
Sep 29, 2024
Great tour - Edam by far is one of the most beautiful villages we’ve been to. This tour was a great way to see all the country side. The whole tour was a A+!
Review provided by Viator
Dale_e
Sep 18, 2024
Great trip and views. - Very nice trip with great views and narration. We learned a lot and had a great time. Our guide was friendly and offered great suggestions during stops.
Review provided by Viator
Marty_h
Sep 15, 2024
Fun, informative and delicious - Tosca and Tim were great. Tosca was the guide and was extremely attentive and although this was the English language tour. She did speak Spanish to a small group that only knew Spanish so she showed concern that everyone was well informed. Tim was the driver and he deserves all the "cheese" 🙂 . Speaking of cheese. The shop was amazing and the employee that gave the demonstrations was funny , entertaining and knowledgeable. I loved the visit to Edam, the restaurant at the seaside town and the windmills. Must do
Review provided by Viator
Esther
Sep 12, 2024
Pleasure - Beautiful countryside trip, the staffs were nice and informative. The only thing I would subject is to be more specific when the bus stop to let tourist know that went the schedule time is up the bus will leave.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cindybt5093qr
Sep 12, 2024
Life in the Noord country side - This was a great adventure. Watching the cheese being made, the wooden shoes being created and the views of windmills, fishing towns and the green, green fields was a fabulous way to experience the country side.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ebbielee
Aug 31, 2024
Exceptional tour of beautiful places outside Amsterdam! - Jolanta, the tour guide and Grout (Ruddie) the bus driver, were ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!!! They gave us the most beautiful tour of the wind mills, cheese farm , the most beautiful fishing town with the enormous beautiful dike and the wooden shoe making place. The areas we went to were absolutely beautiful and we absolutely loved every single minute of this tour!!! A special thank you to both Jolanta and Grute for having gone above and beyond in making this such a memorable and special experience!!!! We absolutely loved this tour!!!
Review provided by Viator
Renealfonso
Aug 22, 2024
Great tour - We enjoyed the tour to the country side. The cheese tasting was delicious. I wish we had more time with the windmills but overall a good value.
Review provided by Viator
170heikel
Sep 12, 2024
What we expected - Typical Holland excursion with what we expected. Clomping, cheese, windmills, beautiful houses etc. The distances were not long, bus clean and tour guide competent. The stays could have been a bit longer and it would be nice if there were different starting points for the tours. Is certainly due to the parking difficulties.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
148tusharg
Sep 3, 2024
Great tour of the dutch countryside. - Great trip to the countryside around Amsterdam. It included a walking tour of a pretty village, traditional windmills, a cheese and wooden shoe factory. Wish it included a boat ride (we had one in our previous visit to Amsterdam) or a visit to the famous dike.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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