Escape Amsterdam: E-Bike to Zaanse Schans Windmills & Zaandam
Description
Personally crafted tour, and the only small group tour in Amsterdam. Real conversations, with flexibility to stop for those perfect photo moments. We'll visit working windmills and meet the people who run them, cycling through the peaceful 't Twiske nature reserve on paths that tour buses can't reach, and our guides know the local stories, and hidden spots that make this journey special. With comfortable e-bikes you'll spend your energy enjoying the scenery, not fighting traffic. Most of our route runs through countryside and dedicated bike paths—you'll barely notice you're cycling 40km. Some notes: Must be comfortable riding a bike and able to cycle. Minimum height: 1.50m (4'9") for adults, 1.55m (5'1") for children Limited kids' bikes available for riders 1.40m-1.55m (4'7"-5'1") - message us for availability Tours operate rain or shine (high-quality ponchos provided) Helmets available at our shop No refunds for no-shows, late arrivals, or cancellations
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start in the city of Amsterdam as we pedal away to the ferry boat
Behind the train station we find the free ferry boats which will take us to Noord on our path out of town
Get up close to a live working windmill!
We'll take the narrow paths cars cannot reach, through farmers fields with cows and sheep as our landscape.
The Recreational area Het Twiske is a great place for locals and tourists alike to enjoy swimming and relaxing.
The highlight of the tour will be our extended stop at the Dutch Heritage site the Zaanse Schans. Here you'll have time to explore and perhaps grab a quick bite.
We'll take a peek at some very unique homes turned hotel in this cute city near Amsterdam. Enjoy being brought back to the time of Monet!
We'll re-enter the main city via NDSM werf. Once a shipping powerhouse, the NDSM is now the future of Amsterdam decorated in ever changing street art.
We'll wrap up the tour at the central station before heading back to the shop to say goodbye.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 40 km/25 mile ride - made super easy with Electric Bikes
- Minimum height: Adult 1,50. Child: 1,55m. Email for other limited options
- You need to be able to ride a bike for this 40 KM tour. The bikes are not scooters.
Reviews(490)
Amazing way to explore the countryside and the windmills. Much better than motor vehicle. Corbin was a fantastic guide from a biking and knowledge sharing perspective. The bikes were very well maintained and the trail was safe and easy to navigate
This is a great tour to get out of the city and explore the more traditional areas of dutch culture near Amsterdam. The E-bikes are great quality and easy to ride. Our guide Corbin was knowledgeable and informative. My only complaint is that we had signed up for this tour because it included the windmills of Zaanse Schans and the cute little village of Zaandam. After visiting the windmills though, our guide gave our group the choice of going to Zaandam or take a different route which he recommended that had more to see. We wound up doing the alternative route which mainly included riding through the small cities (with lots of walkers, bikers and cars - not great for people who aren't great riding bikes in traffic situations!) and much more industrial settings instead of the cute little villages. Even when we did ride past interesting sites, we didn't often get to stop and take pictures so it was kind of a let down. The last time we were in Amsterdam we took a bike ride through another company that spent more time in the countryside. It was much prettier scenery, less traffic and opportunities for lots of pictures and historical info which is more my style. If you are looking to just take a really long ride and get to see a few things along the way, this one is a good option. Make sure you are good riding in high traffic situations though - this one was a little out of my comfort zone!
We appreciate you taking the time to share an honest opinion of the countryside e-bike tour. We value constructive feedback, as it helps us continually improve and manage guest expectations. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the quality of our e-bikes and found Corbin to be a knowledgeable and informative guide. We'd like to offer a bit more clarification regarding the route, as we believe there might have been a misunderstanding. Corbin did in fact take the group to Zaandam, simply via a different route than usual, after consulting with the group. The one sight you did miss that day was the Inntel Hotel—a striking piece of modern architecture inspired by the stacked traditional houses of the region. The route Corbin ended up taking was actually the more scenic of the two; the original path to the Inntel Hotel runs next to a highway, albeit having somewhat less road and foot traffic. It's also worth mentioning that Zaandam itself is a modern, developed city rather than a quaint village, so we completely understand how expectations and reality may not have aligned here. That said, we hear you clearly on the traffic and the limited photo stops, and we're genuinely sorry the busier stretches pushed you outside your comfort zone. We'd be happy to welcome you back one day for one of our more countryside-focused routes, which may better match the relaxed, scenic, photo-friendly pace you love. Thank you again for riding with us and for sharing your honest thoughts!
Our guide Corbin was fantastic. The ride was great with lots of local and historical information. This was a great way to spend an extra day, get out of the city!!! Great value
Thanks for the lovely feedback. We’re so glad your extra day out paid off beautifully for you! Corbin will be delighted to know his passion for local history added real depth to your the countryside e-bike tour. Your kind words mean a great deal. Happy travels and hope to host you again soon!
So much fun! Kevin was a superb guide, knowledgeable, funny and kept all safe. Would highly recommend taking this tour!
Good to hear you had a fun time with Kevin as your tour guide. Thank you for your recommendation and 5 star review.
Kevin was a wonderful tour guide! This bike tour was so much fun! The E-bikes were easy to use and made biking through the countryside for 6 hrs truly enjoyable. The tour was nicely balanced: education, biking, views, breaks. We even met Marcel, a windmiller! I’m so so glad we did this tour. Kevin was kind, knowledgable, and kept our group safe/together. Highly recommend!
Thank you Patrice, for the enthusiastic recommendation — we hope to see you back on the bikes again soon. Kevin will be thrilled to hear that his kindness, knowledge, and careful attention to keeping the group safe and together made the day so memorable. He is truly one of the best. Do come stop by again when you're next in Amsterdam
Wow, wow, wow! Cannot say enough good things about this tour. First off our guide Kevin was incredible. Very kind, informative, and attentive. This is such a good way to get out of the city, see the windmills, and take in the beauty of the Netherlands.
Your review has us absolutely beaming! We are so happy to hear that Kevin took such wonderful care of you during our countryside e-bike tour. We hope your memories of the ride stay with you for a long time, and we would welcome you back on two wheels anytime here at Those Amsterdames.
What a fantastic day out! This experience was an absolute highlight of our time in Amsterdam. It was great to see and experience some working windmills, and the city of Zandaam. Doing it by e-bike made it even more memorable. Those Amsterdames are super organised, and the bikes are in top condition too. Our guide Petra was great fun, super enthusiastic, and had such great knowledge and insights to share. I can’t recommend this highly enough.
What a joy to read your review! Petra will be absolutely delighted to know that her enthusiasm, knowledge, and fun spirit made your day so special on the countryside e-bike tour. Thank you for the incredibly kind recommendation — we could not ask for more. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we hope to see you back on our bikes again soon!
Gabe was a perfect guide! With his historical information and a great sense of humor, he led us along such a great riding tour through beautiful areas! You don’t want to miss this if you enjoy outdoor adventures. E-bike experience is helpful as well as being able to maneuver through a few minor traffic areas.
Thank you for this fantastic review of our countryside e-bike tour! We are so happy to hear that Gabe was the perfect guide for your adventure. We also love that you embraced the outdoor spirit of the tour — Thank you for the warm recommendation; we would love to welcome you back to Those Amsterdames for another ride soon!
Gab was a fantastic tour guide. Knowledgeable and personable. We learned a ton and had a lot of fun! Highly recommend.
Thank you for the wonderful feedback of our countryside e-bike tour! We are so glad you had a fantastic time and came away with so much new knowledge! Thank you for the glowing recommendation — it means the world to us. We hope to see you on another ride soon!
We had a great day! Gabe was an awesome guide. He was great at providing lots of history and interesting facts. We especially enjoyed our stop with Marcel at the windmill. The e-bikes were comfortable. It was a full day so be prepared for a 5 hour tour. The scenery is beautiful. Highly recommend spending some time on a bike!
Thank you so much for sharing your day with us as Those Amsterdames! It means a lot to hear that Gabe delivered an awesome experience. Thanks for spreading the word of our countryside E-bike tours— we could not agree more that spending a day on the bike is the best way to take it all in. We hope to welcome you back for another ride soon!
