From Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Volendam & Marken Tour
Description
Take a day trip by bus from Amsterdam for a comfortable 5,5-hour break into deep-rooted Dutch tradition, traveling beyond breathtaking countryside with free Wi-Fi and getting carried away by the iconic windmills. The experience focuses squarely on the magnificent Zaanse Schans and the charming fishing village of Volendam. At first, Zaanse Schans welcomes you to a village like no other; walk around at leisure, admire the perfectly preserved windmills and quaint old houses, and then continue to the lively fishing village of Volendam. There, visit a cheese shop where the old ways are still used, and enjoy an instructive Volendam cheese presentation. Choose your adventure: -The Classic Tour includes the captivating art of clog-making and a cheesemaking demonstration. -The All-In Tour offers the full flavour: cheese, clogs, a cruise on the Marken Express, entry to a working windmill, and a sweet stop at Woltje's Bakery: taste a real Dutch stroopwafel!
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Zaanse Schans is a charming historic village near Amsterdam, known for its iconic Dutch windmills and traditional green wooden houses. Visitors can stroll along the scenic riverbanks, explore artisan workshops, and see how clogs and cheese are made. A highlight is the row of functioning windmills, each with a unique purpose like sawing wood or grinding spices. With the all-inclusive tour, you can step inside one of these windmills for a fascinating look at Dutch engineering in action. It’s a perfect day trip for experiencing the Netherlands' rich cultural heritage.
Volendam is a picturesque fishing village on the IJsselmeer, famous for its old harbor, colorful boats, and traditional Dutch costumes. Once home to a thriving fishing community, it still reflects its maritime roots in every corner. Strolling through the village, you’ll find charming streets, fresh seafood, and friendly locals. With the all-inclusive tour, you can also visit a local cheese factory to see how Dutch cheese is made and enjoy a tasting. It’s a delightful blend of culture, history, and local flavor.
Marken is a quaint former island village known for its wooden houses, peaceful atmosphere, and traditional Dutch charm. The village is also home to a wooden shoe factory, where you can see clogs being made by hand. Marken offers a unique glimpse into authentic Dutch heritage by the water.
Your tour concludes in central Amsterdam
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
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children up to and including 3 years old are free of charge (not occupying a seat)
Reviews(4,650)
Exceptional tour! Our guide was amazing! She was knowledgeable, friendly, and kept us running on schedule so that we were able to see the most we could possibly see at each stop! Beautiful scenic places, and the windmills were very beautiful. I highly recommend this adventure!
Our guide was knowledgeable about the history and made the tour fun. He played his piano between location and was filled with stories. This tour was a great way to see the Windmills up close.
We had a very good time with Emiliano, Juan and Mauricio. I booked the experience with two friends, the three of us from Spain, and we enjoyed the attention of the team, the experiences selected and the organisation. They gave very clear indications and took care of us. These moments were some of the best of our trip.
The trip is very much worth it. The landscapes are wonderful and the company even more so. Especially our guides Juan, Emiliano and our great driver Mauricio. They took great care of us and were very approachable.
The bus driver and tour guides were amazing. There were two many people on our tour 81 I believe. Most of the actual activities were to small of a place to hold that many people, so if you didn't rush the line and break in front of people, you cannot see the presentation. Very disappointed in that. It was like herding cattle all day.
It was a magnificent experience. I liked that everything was unhurried; we had time to breathe. It was cold for July, but I was able to buy a warm sweater nearby!
Great experience and saw a lot of history
Dear Andrew, Thank you for the kind review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken. It is wonderful to know that you had a great windmill experience and enjoyed learning more about the history of these beautiful places. We hope to welcome you back again for another memorable tour in the future. Kind regards
Our driver, Stef was the most incredible part of the team. The tour was very informative and gave sufficient free time in each place. I highly recommend this tour.
Great tour and very organized. Carlos was a great guide and the other guys with him were good too. The time at each stop was well organized and the activities were good. My only suggestion is maybe setting up signs in the train station on where the ticket office is. It was hard to find. Highly recommend this tour.
Great day trip to see the highlights. Both our guides & driver were very nice. Since it is a quick tour you are moving along at a quick pace so not too much time to explore on your own. Excellent value for the price. Hardest part for us was trying to find the meeting spot in the train station.
