Private Old-Holland Tour from Amsterdam

The Zaanse Schans is a residential area in which the 18th and 19th centuries are brought to life. Despite the fact that visitors from all over the world visit this neighborhood every day, it is good to know that people still live here. Keep this in mind during your visit. Stroll past the bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh cookies, or take a look at the warehouse where clogs are made. You should be sure not to miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry and the various windmills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, barns and workshops. Make a cycling or sailing trip, browse the shops or treat yourself at the pancake restaurant. A day out at the Zaanse Schans in North Holland is fun and educational.

Edam is famous throughout the world for its cheese. The well-known cheese markets are still held in the summer months. Here, you can also visit the 18th-century cheese warehouses - and naturally you’ll be offered a taste of the famous cheese. In addition, Edam is an attractive historic city with a protected city view full of national monuments and attractions. Less well-known but equally special is the Fort van Edam just outside the city center, which is the best-preserved fortress in the Stelling van Amsterdam defense line that can be visited.

There is plenty to do all year round in Volendam, Holland’s best-known fishing village. Take a look in the handsome old harbour full of old Dutch ships and take a boat trip to Marken. Or have your photo taken wearing traditional Volendam clothes and learn more about Volendam in one of its museums. There really is so much to do in Volendam that one day is simply not enough.

If you're visiting Marken, you can't miss the little wooden houses. Until the 17th century, residents built their homes on 'werven', artificially built hills. In this way, they prevented damage from floods. They then built their homes on stakes. Since the building of the Afsluitdijk, the island has no longer been flooded, but the typical houses remain. Other recommendations are the old Wooden Shoe Factory and the Marker Museum with its costume exhibition. In the Wooden Shoe Factory, located in a parkland you can see how 'clogs' were made from a block of wood. The Marken Museum (Kerkbuurt 44-47) is also dedicated to the traditions of the former island of Marken. As Marken is a really small island, you can travel around it on foot without any problems. Don't forget to pay the 'Paard van Marken' (Horse of Marken) a visit. This lighthouse from 1839 still carries out its duties. And it's a real beauty; the white tower with the red hood is a popular photo scene.