Zaanse Schans

Here we have the opportunity to visit the best windmills in Holland. In the Seventeenth Century the Zaanse Schans was the biggest industrial area in the world. A Dutch windmill basically was a little factory. Each windmill was custom build for producing various products like paint, cooking oil, paper and wood. On the bank of the river Zaan hundreds of windmills were grinding, pounding, sawing and crushing. Products of the Zaanse Schans were exported all over the world. The dozen windmills on the Zaanse Schans are still fully operational. On a good windy day we’ll see them turning at full speed. Entrance to one of the windmills is included in this tour.

1 hour 30 minutes

Simonehoeve

At this family owned cheese farm they tell you everything you always wanted to know about cheese and wooden shoes. Of course there is a large variety of cheeses to taste from as well as fruit whine and typical Dutch cookies and you can buy your favorite cheese, clogs and all kinds of souvenirs.

45 minutes

Volendam

Volendam is build on a dike next to het IJsselmeer and is famous for the picturesque harbor. The old fisherman’s quarter is called the Maze. It’s a labyrinth of alleyways and dwarf sized houses. Volendam is perfect to try some Dutch seafood. Most famous is raw herring with pickles and onions. It’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s actually very tender and tastes a bit like sushi, only fishier. Most of our guests actually finish it! Another dish is kibbeling, battered and deep fried pieces of codfish served with tartar sauce. Volendam has a pretty large variety of bars and restaurants where it’s possible to try local beer and/or have lunch.

1 hour

Marken

Marken used to be an island in the open sea but now it’s a quaint peninsula in the fresh water lake IJsselmeer. Several houses and even small neighborhoods are listed as national cultural monument and here it’s also possible to have lunch, in a cafe on the waterside.

45 minutes

Monnickendam (Pass By)

Monnickendam is one of the oldest towns in Holland and incredibly beautiful. We drive through the old center passing the old church with it’s amazing bell tower and watch typical Dutch vessels in the harbor.

Waterland

Waterland is called the wetlands of Amsterdam, with old villages, fields and hundreds of ditches. It’s a landscape with narrow waterways called ‘sloten’, meadows, reeds, cows, sheep, horses and birds, farms and church towers on the horizon. This area is mostly peatland and also full of lakes. The landscape does not get more Dutch than this anywhere else.

45 minutes

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In the centre of Waterland is the village of Broek. Although it's only a fifteen minutes drive from Amsterdam, Broek in Waterland feels completely different from the cosmopolitan city. Most of the old houses, farms and even the church were made out of wood. Stone buildings were too heavy for the soft soil. There are still many beautiful large wooden houses with gardens full of flowers. It’s very peaceful and quiet and we’re pretty much the only touroperator that goes there because large busses with tourists are not even welcome.

45 minutes