Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, "Lego-houses" and Volendam Tour
Description
Discover Dutch culture from Amsterdam! Visit Zaanse Schans, Zaandam "Lego-houses" taste cheese, and stroll through Volendam—with a bilingual English & Spanish guide. Leave bustling Amsterdam and within half an hour step into a world where time seems to stand still. Turning windmills, green wooden houses—you’re experiencing the Netherlands. Our small-group tour (max 29 guests) takes you in a comfortable midi-bus. Tour Highlights Zaanse Schans: Step back in time. Admire historic windmills, stroll past green houses, and visit traditional workshops. The Zaandam “LEGO” Houses Photo stop at the iconic Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam — a modern Dutch landmark famous for its unique design that looks like a stack of LEGO blocks. Authentic Cheese Farm: Discover cheese-making traditions and taste a variety of cheeses. Volendam: Wander through a picturesque fishing village, explore colorful streets, and sample local treats. Enjoy a comfortable ride in a small-group midibus
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your first stop is the world-famous Zaanse Schans, a living museum that brings 18th- and 19th-century Holland to life. Stroll past charming green wooden houses, cross quaint bridges, and take in the peaceful canalside scenery. You’ll see operating windmills, some of which still produce oil, paint, or spices. You’ll also have free time to explore local workshops and boutiques selling Dutch specialties like stroopwafels, souvenirs, and handmade crafts. Don’t forget your camera — this is one of the most photogenic places in the Netherlands, with panoramic views of windmills set against the water and fields.
Zaandam “Lego” Houses: Photo stop at the iconic Inntel Hotels in Zaandam – a modern Dutch landmark that looks like a stack of LEGO bricks.
Get a taste of the real Dutch countryside with a stop at a cheese farm and clog workshop, where age-old traditions meet local hospitality. During the visit, you’ll first enjoy a live clog-making explanation, where skilled artisans explain how traditional Dutch wooden shoes are carved, shaped, and painted. Learn about the history of clogs, their practical use in Dutch farming life, and how they became a symbol of the Netherlands. Next, discover the fascinating process of making Gouda cheese. Learn how fresh milk is transformed into flavorful cheese through curdling, pressing, and aging, and how ingredients like herbs, spices, and aging time create different textures and flavors. This is not just a tasting — it’s an introduction to Dutch culture and culinary heritage. After the explanations, enjoy a generous cheese tasting session. You’ll also have free time to browse local products, souvenirs, cheeses, and handmade clogs in the farm shop.
End your countryside journey in the colorful and historic fishing village of Volendam, nestled along the shores of the former Zuiderzee (now the IJsselmeer). Known for its charming harbor, traditional wooden houses, and vibrant local culture, Volendam offers a perfect blend of history and atmosphere. Enjoy free time to stroll along the lively waterfront boulevard, where you’ll find fish stalls, cafés, and souvenir shops. Sample freshly fried Dutch kibbeling (battered white fish), or opt for a sweet stroopwafel from a local bakery. If you’re feeling playful, you can even dress up in traditional Dutch costumes for a fun and memorable photo experience (optional, extra cost). Walk through the quaint backstreets, discover hidden courtyards, and soak in the authentic charm of this beloved Dutch village. Volendam offers a relaxing and photogenic end to your day — with postcard-perfect views and a taste of everyday Dutch life by the water.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Slecht ter been
Reviews(127)
It’s nice for people who don’t want to plan their Dutch insta-experience by themselves. The driver was nice and helpful, the guide (Anna-Maria) was lovely and provided us with a lot of information. Definitely worth the money.
Beautiful experience. The landscape of the windmills is memorable.
An excellent excursion, We had a good time as a family. The organization is excellent, and the welcome is too. I recommend
It has been a wonderful experience to take this very well-organized tour; the guide Anna Maria and the driver Dino are very knowledgeable and kind.
We arrived at Volendam at around 5 pm and the shops were closing up. Very cute town but wish we could have experienced more. The rest of the trip was great. Loved the windmills. The cheese tour was nice - sampled all the flavors. It was a hot day and the air conditioning on the bus was not working well but the guide and driver compensated us with a free ice cream to help cool us off. It was a great tour for those who want to spend half a day seeing sights outside Amsterdam. But take the morning tour so you can enjoy Volendam.
Our guide Lara was excellent, knowledgeable, informative and entertaining. She explained everything that we were going to see and do, gave us a lot of historical and cultural information and advised us what not to miss at each stop. For example she recommended where to eat in Volendam (it was excellent) and suggested where to go behind the main tourist area to see more authentic original parts of the town. The Cheese & Clogs stop was very entertaining and informative, really enjoyable. In Zaanse Schans she told us where to go and what we could see, explained that although they were all authentic original windmills they had been relocated, also advised where to find free drinking water, her favourite ice cream & the loos, which she warned us we’d have to pay for! Our driver (Gino?) was excellent too and also very friendly. We had a thoroughly enjoyable trip, would highly recommend it.
We enjoyed very much and Lara was very nice and funny.
The guides were friendly and welcoming making for a wonderful trip. The destinations offer a different perspective away from the hustle of the city centre and definitely worth booking
Excellent tour, would recommend to anyone visiting amsterdam. The guide, Lara, and driver, Dino, were both very entertaining and taught us many things throughout the experience. Shoutout to the cheese farmers as well, very much an unforgettable part of the tour.
Our trip was fabulous! Lara, the tourist guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about the places we went. And Dino was an excellent driver too! I highly recommend the tour!
