Small-Group Tour to Windmills & Giethoorn with boat tour
Description
The famous Dutch windmills at the Zaanse Schans and the picturesque village of Giethoorn form the perfect combination for an unforgettable day trip. As a symbol of Dutch cultural heritage, the windmills play an important part in the country’s history. They were not only used for grinding wheat into flour, but also to pump out water from the diked marches to form one-third of today's national territory, which otherwise would have been under water. Not only, will you be able to wander amongst these architectural beauties, we will also take you to Giethoorn village, one of the most worthwhile scenic spots of the Netherlands. Join us and experience both of these breath-taking locations in true OuYi Travel style. With a comfortable 9-seats Mercedes Van and our professional tour guide, and small groups we can offer you comfort, flexibility, and a great time.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our guide will pick you up at the Amsterdam NH Barbizon Hotel and bring you directly to the symbolic Dutch Windmills of the Zaanse Schans. Almost every windmill has its own function and story. Explore the different windmill museums at your own pace, visit the traditional wooden shoes factory, and have a free-taste of some of The Netherlands most famous cheeses.
Giethoorn, also known as the Venice of the North, is one of the most beautiful and authentic villages in The Netherlands. Enjoy a private canal cruise (1 hour) and the breath-taking scenery as we take you off the beaten track to explore the village. There will also be enough time for you to wander the picturesque streets at your own leisure. Around 17:00, we will head back and arrive in Amsterdam around 18:45.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(4)
I travel a lot, and this was one of the more miserable tours I’ve taken. The small group was 8 passengers in a van, very cramped. The windmill place was extremely overcrowded. We had to elbow our way through crowds to make the loop & get back to the van. No time to wait in the long line to pay €7 to go into one of the windmills, no time to wait in the long line to taste cheese. A highlight of the day was that our guide brought us on a walk through the reclaimed marshland to the windmills, rather than through the crowd to get to them. It was neat to walk through the nature path, and it was a nice view with no people. After windmills there was an hour + drive to get to Guithoorn where we had lunch, taking our time to let the congestion calm down. Then we got into a small boat and joined the line of tourist rental boats in the canal. It was so packed that boats were bumping into each other, getting stopped in traffic jams, etc. Once we got out onto the open lake the boats were more spread out and less congestion, and the other highlight of the day was that we saw about 50 swans on the lake. The guide did a great job driving the boat. The village is beautiful, and it would have been lovely to see it before it became so overrun with people. I feel guilty for having contributed to the problem. Then we had another hour & a half ride back to Amsterdam in the cramped van. The tour guide was friendly, and he did his best. It was NOT his fault that the trip was bad. He had to run back and forth trying to keep track of our group in the crowd of people. These two activities should not be offered on the same itinerary as they are in opposite directions from Amsterdam & you spend too much time in the car. If you want to see the windmills, just know it’s a complete tourist trap, manufactured just for tourists. And, especially during the summer, it will be very crowded. If you want to see Guithoorn book one of the tours that only goes there, and not also to the windmills. Or, maybe rent a car & drive early in the day as soon as the boat rental places open and drive the boat around the loop & get out before the crowds arrive. We went on a Thursday, thinking mid-week would be less crazy, but no. There are better options for tours- I do not recommend this one.
Aku the guide was amazing !! Very friendly and full of detail. He texted me via WhatsApp the night before making sure we knew where to meet. Our trip started on time and he gave us a chance to stop by the fields of tulips as a bonus stop ! He gave us a choice of a quick lunch by or restaurant as well . Very gracious and understanding. Do the trip you won’t regret it !!!
The tour guide is professional. He introduced us the place we went very clearly. He is also sweet to provide everything we need, such as blanket during the river cruise.
This was the best tour that we had during our vacation. Aku was the owner/driver who took us on this tour. The van was super clean. Aku had so much to talk about the history of Geithoorn while he was driving us. He had a microphone headset so that everyone in the backseat could also hear him very clearly. This is a 8 seater van. Aku is extremely organized and makes sure you get the highlights of the tour and also gives you enough time to explore on your own. It was very cold during our boat ride at Geithoorn and sure enough Aku had a bag of fresh blankets washed and sealed for use by us. it amazed me how much he thinks through everything. At the end of the tour, our kids asked when they would see Aku again and we asked ourselves the same question. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to explore at their own pace with a private guide.
