Dutch Countryside Tour: Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken
Description
Escape Amsterdam for a day and discover the beauty of the Dutch countryside. Visit Zaanse Schans to see iconic windmills and traditional workshops, then explore Edam, famous for its historic cheese market and charming canals. Stop near Volendam for a cheese-making demonstration, a clog workshop, and free time at the lively harbor to enjoy local treats. End the day in the picturesque village of Marken, with its cozy houses and peaceful harbor. Optionally, return to Amsterdam with a relaxing canal cruise through the city’s scenic waterways.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Zaanse Schans is a picturesque Dutch village near Amsterdam, famous for its historic windmills, traditional wooden houses, and artisan workshops. Visitors can explore working windmills, watch cheese and clog making, and step back in time to experience life in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Edam is a charming Dutch town famous for its cheese heritage. Stroll through its historic streets, admire 17th-century architecture, and visit the square where the traditional Edam Cheese Market once took place. Its picturesque canals and quaint buildings make it a delightful stop in the Dutch countryside.
Simonehoeve is a family-run farm near Volendam, known for its cheese-making demonstrations and traditional Dutch experiences. Visitors can see how Gouda and Edam cheeses are crafted, taste fresh products, and explore a clog workshop to learn about the making of iconic wooden shoes. It’s a hands-on stop to experience authentic Dutch culture.
Volendam is a charming Dutch fishing village on the IJsselmeer, known for its colorful harbor, traditional wooden houses, and lively maritime atmosphere. Visitors can stroll along the waterfront, sample local specialties like fresh herring, shop for souvenirs, and soak in the picturesque scenery that captures the essence of the Netherlands.
Marken is a quaint Dutch village on a small peninsula, famous for its traditional wooden houses, peaceful harbor, and preserved cultural heritage. With its scenic streets and historic Protestant church, Marken offers a glimpse into authentic Dutch village life and a serene contrast to the busier tourist spots.
A’DAM Lookout is a modern observation deck in Amsterdam offering panoramic views of the city and its waterways. Thrill-seekers can try the “Over the Edge” swing, which dangles visitors over the edge of the building for a unique perspective, while everyone can enjoy the rooftop bar, interactive exhibits, and stunning photo opportunities.
Amsterdam Centraal Station is the city’s main railway hub, designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1889. Located on the waterfront, it serves as a gateway to the city with connections to trains, trams, buses, and ferries, and is an architectural landmark admired for its Neo-Renaissance style.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children under 8 years old travel for free (babies must have their own maxi-cosi)
- Please meet your tour guide 10 minutes before the scheduled departure. The bus leaves on time, no exceptions.
- For safety reasons, Marken may be substituted in bad weather
- The bus is not adapted for wheelchair access
Reviews(5)
A well planned trip to get a glimpse of a different way of life apart from Amsterdam. Very pretty countryside. Working windmills. The cheese tasting tour was wonderful and our tour guide cared about his job which showed. The bus driver was also excellent. The only thing I would do diiferently is not squeeze in 4 places and have more time in each and would not book again if there was a cruise to get back to. It seemed that the tour was focussed on getting back for that and not everyone was doing the cruise. I recommend this company though.
This is a lovely tour if you want to experience Dutch country side and enjoy a few time away from big cities, I would definitely recommend if you are in Amsterdam for a few days. Lovely guide and fantastic environment.
Having booked this tour 4 weeks in advance, I was shocked when I showed up at the correct time and location and there was NO small private TOUR as YourConciergeEurope advertised on TripAdvisor and sold me (Max 16 people). The day was saved, however, by the real "blue umbrella" tour company, who helped by telephoning a woman at YourConcierge (my US phone didn't work there), who did not have a clue and promised (lied) that she would call back with everything sorted. Instead, I went on the same tour with the kind blue umbrella people - just on a big bus. Karl (with a K) on the double-decker with 60+ tourists more than made up for it with great interactive stories, games, tidbits, current-event shorts, and more. (His book is fun, too.) I respected his attempt to raise awareness of the plight of overtourism. The 4 towns in 6 hours (including a lunch break) were a light and easy touch to get out of the city.
I had the worst experience with a Viator partner in Amsterdam for our Dutch countywide tour . The tour was a complete no-show. The tour was scheduled to depart at 8:15 AM from the designated meeting point. We arrived early at 8:00 AM and waited as instructed for a guide holding a blue umbrella, as mentioned in the tour details. Unfortunately, no guide ever arrived. We confirmed with other tour operators at the location that we were in the correct spot, but none of them had any information about this tour or the guide. We waited until 9:00 AM in cold weather, and still no one showed up. I also called the contact number provided in the booking. Someone answered but only said they would check and get back to me. I never received a callback. This experience felt extremely unprofessional and misleading. We essentially paid for a tour that never existed, and we are requesting a full refund immediately. It’s very disappointing that Viator would partner with such an unreliable operator. To be fair, we did take other Viator tours in Amsterdam that went smoothly, but this particular experience was unacceptable.
This was a very good tour and Eduardo was an excellent tour guide. The first stop was at the De Zaanse Schans windmills. The only downside to this place was the lack of toilets - only one was open for hundreds of people. Very interesting observing the inside of a working windmill grinding rocks for pigments. The cheese factory was a very yummy experience and a must to buy cheese. Definitely worth taking this bus tour.
