Private Tour to Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken
Description
When visiting Holland, this tour offers the perfect introduction of everything Holland has to offer. In one day, you'll explore iconic windmills, see clogs being made, indulge in a Gouda cheese tasting and learn about the South Sea reclamation. Visit the charming fishing village of Volendam, stroll through it's harbor, and enjoy a scenic ferry ride to the peninsula of Marken, a place where time seems to stand still. Known for its traditional wooden houses, Marken offers a glimpse into old Dutch life, with its picturesque streets.
Tour Options
Itinerary
9:00 Pick up from your hotel in Amsterdam. A short drive from the city to the Zaanse Schans
9.30: We arrive at The Zaanse Schans. This is a preservation village with a variety of historical houses, warehouses, and working industrial windmills. It feels like you’re traveling back in time! You will experience how life was between the 18th and 19th centuries, and join a wooden shoe workshop to see how clogs are made, concluding with a visit to a working windmill.
At the cheese farm of Henry Willig we will have a Gouda Cheese tasting. They are in the top 10 of the world cheesemakers. If you are a cheese lover… you are in cheese heaven! They have 30 flavors of cheese to taste. 29 are pasteurized so you can travel with the cheese all over the world. They also have options to ship the cheese. So you don’t have to worry about picking only one favorite.
12:30 We’ll head to The famous fishermen’s village of Volendam.
13.00: Lunchtime In Volendam. You can choose where you want to have lunch. As locals, we know a lot of nice places. Whether it’s at a local fish restaurant or just a snack.14.00 : A walk through Volendam, which is known as the most popular fishing village in Holland. The charm of Volendam rests in its harbour and the authentic fishermen’s houses. The maze is the oldest part of Volendam. This is where we’ll see small fishermen’s houses and narrow streets. What’s unique about the maze is that the houses were built without any street pattern. We’ll take a small stroll in the maze and on the famous dike of Volendam. 14.15: A ferry ride on the IJselmeer (former south sea) to the peninsula of Marken, once an island in the South sea.
14.45: Arrival on Marken. Marken is a tiny village with colorful wooden houses, drawbridges, a small harbor located on a former island. We will make a small stroll through the village.
15.00: Back at your hotel in Amsterdam
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(5)
Our day with Esther was the highlight of our trip. She did an amazing job of guiding us through culture, history, food, and so much more. Her personal connection to windmills, farming, and the people at each stop added such depth to the tour. She was such a pleasure to spend the day with. This is a must do if you’re coming to Amsterdam or the surrounding area. Worth every penny!
Thank you so much Leslie! I’m so happy to hear that the day was the highlight of your trip. It was such a pleasure spending time together and sharing the culture, history, and local stories with you. I’m especially glad that my personal connection to the windmills and countryside added something special to your experience. Thank you again for your trust and enthusiasm. I would love to welcome you and your family back anytime! Warm regards, Esther
Perfect day out with Esther. We saw so many wonderful things and the information Esther shared along the was amazing. We walked along paths through villages that had we been in our own we would have never thought we could go down. Esther was not only our tour guide she warm, charming and also a great photographer. She captured images of our tour and shared them with us at the end of the tour. Could not recommend this tour enough. If you are in Amsterdam, do yourself a favour and book one of the tours.
Thank you so much Kelly for this lovely review ♥️. I am so glad your family enjoyed our day together! Always welcome! Warm regards, Esther
We spent a lovely day with our tour guide, Esther. She is warm, friendly and knowledgeable. We had many questions and she had answers and stories that turned the areas into living history with charm and filled with lived experiences. Because it was a private tour we could go at our own pace and had the flexibility to modify our schedule when we found something that really fascinated us. Esther really is the BEST!! We couldn’t be happier about our day of learning and experiencing this wonderful area of Holland.
Thank you so much for this lovely review! Hope to see you again in tulip season! Happy New Year! Warm regards, Esther
From the moment Ester greeted us in our hotel lobby we knew we were going to have a great day. She is warm, friendly and knowledgeable about Holland. We had the best time visiting the windmills, villages and cheese shops. We had many questions and Esther had answers for all of the. She shared stories that made the history come to life. This was a private tour and therefore we were able to be flexible with the schedule. Everything worked out perfectly for us. I highly recommend taking a private tour with Esther, she is wonderful and you will have the best experience!
Thank you so much for your kind words Margareth! You are such a sweet couple, and it was truly a pleasure to show you the beauty of Holland! Warm regards, Esther
Did some searching for a private tour to the windmills, wooden shoes and cheese countryside, not wanting the typical larger group type tour. So happy to have found the Windmill Girls! From the start communication was easy and responsive. We spent a wonderful day with Maaike today and met Esther as well while we were out exploring. They are both friendly, knowledgeable and fun to spend a day with. I highly recommend the Windmill Girls!
Thank you so much for your beautiful review Susan. It was such a nice day. Hope to see you another time to show you our beautiful country.
