Private Guided Senior Countryside Windmill Tour
Description
This tour is designed for seniors and those with mobility challenges in mind, ensuring a comfortable and accessible experience throughout. During this private tour of the idyllic countryside in northern Holland, we’ll drive through the UNESCO-listed Beemster Polder, a stunning example of Dutch ingenuity in land reclamation We’ll visit lesser-known gems such as De Rijp, Broek in Waterland, and the famous cheese town of Edam. You’ll discover a 17th-century windmill that played a crucial role in reclaiming land through water management. Indulge in a Gouda and Edam cheese tasting, and watch how traditional clogs are made.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick up from your hotel in Amsterdam and we’ll head to the Schermer.
One of the largest regained land areas in Holland, filled with windmills! In the 17th century, the lake Schermeer was drained by 52 mills, resulting in the Schermerpolder. A unique piece of water management from the Golden Age. We’ll visit the Museum mill which you can see from top to bottom. You’ll see how the mill works and how people used to live in windmills.
A drive on the dikes through regained land of the Schermer passing Esther’s family windmill and idyllic small villages.
A visit to De Rijp which was once a busy fishing village famous for its herring fleet and whalers. However, after the surrounding sea got drained the Rijp found itself encircled by land. Jan Adriaanzoon Leeghwater, the famous hydraulic engineer was born here. Free from mass tourism, De Rijp is a beautiful village to visit.
We’ll drive through the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Beemster with its regained land known as Polders. A system of roads, plots, farms, and canals was carefully planned across the polder after the Beemster Lake was drained. We’ll see the beautiful farmhouses and the green meadows.
We’ll head to The famous cheese town of Edam. In Edam, we’ll take a stroll in the old centre and visit a cute candyshop filled with chocolat and the Dutch liqorise
Lunchtime 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 a traditional Dutch pancake restaurant, just tell us your preferences and we’ll arrange it for you.
Gouda & Edam cheese tasting at Henri Willig’s cheese farm. They rank among the top 10 cheesemakers globally. If you’re a cheese lover… you’ll be in cheese heaven! They have 30 flavors and develop the cheeses specifically for travel.
Broek in Waterland This village is surrounded by water and is one of the most beautiful villages in Holland. It is comparable with the famous Dutch water village Giethoorn. We’ll enjoy a pleasant stroll passing the old wooden houses with their preserved original details, like ceremonial doors and carved lintels, and a beautiful restored sixteenth century church. The floor is paved with the tombstones of the formally rich inhabitants of Broek in Waterland.
We'll head back at your hotel in Amsterdam.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(4)
The Countryside Windmill Tour was a nice experience. Ester was a great guide: very responsive, friendly, professional and knowledgable. Ester picked us up at the hotel lobby in her private Mercedes van so pick up was very easy and efficient. She drove us to the windmills and villages while giving us some background information and Dutch tips and facts. She used to live in the windmill that her father still operates and we have the great opportunity of visiting the inside of the windmill. It was amazing to see the inside gears as well as the first floor living space which included a kitchen and two living areas. Her father showed us how the windmill worked and gave us some history. The science of reclaiming the land is an amazing innovation. The drive through the villages was nice. The renovated farm houses were beautiful. We enjoyed the cheese tour and bought lots of products. The clog demonstration was interesting. We had lunch a local seafood restaurant. I got to try the smoked eel and fresh herring. All delicious. We appreciated everything on the tour, especially Ester and we would recommend the tour.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! I'm glad you enjoyed visiting my parents windmill. It was a pleasure sharing the beauty of Holland with you! Warm regards, Esther
Fantastic tour! Esther was very organized and knowledgeable. Tour included a windmill visit, cheese factory, and fishing village. I highly recommend this tour.
Thank you Shane for your kind words! I am glad you and your mam enjoyed this senior friendly tour! Always welcome! Warm regards, Esther
We had an excellent day with Maaike. It was at our own pace and very educational. We went to several small towns that were off the normal tourist route and saw a lot of the rural areas that had been reclaimed. The 17th century working windmill and the town of Edam were particular highlights. The car was comfortable and the perfect size for navigating the small towns and the countryside roads. We highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! . Your recommendation means a lot, and it was a pleasure having you on the tour!
Esther with Windmill Girls was a wonderful guide. We especially were grateful for the care she took with my husband’s needs with his mobility scooter. Highly recommend for anyone with mobility issues who wants to enjoy the countryside outside of Amsterdam. Her choices of the cheese tasting and the fresh seafood restaurant were perfection!
Thank you so much Susan! It was no problem adjusting the tour so you could both enjoy the sites. Hope to see you again on one of our other tours!