Things to do in Volendam

Leave Amsterdam for half a day on this guided tour of the rolling Dutch countryside. Sit back and travel comfortably in a coach to the rural village of Edam. Take a walk through the quaint streets of Edam. En-route to Volendam, stop to visit an old cheese farm to see how authentic Dutch cheese is made. Indulge in trying some of these huge spheres of delicious cheese. Upon arrival in Volendam, follow your guide on a journey through the fishing village’s winding streets. Hear about how this bustling place was once the harbor for neighboring village Edam. Enjoy some free time to eat lunch. Next, move on to visit the windmill village of Zaanse Schans. Once used to ground spices, dyes, lumber, oil, cocoa powder, and many other items, the mills are still in use today. Some are now living museums where you can learn about the ins and outs of milling. Visit a wooden shoe factory and behold how traditional clogs are created using antique machines. Afterward, go inside a windmill and take a look at all the mechanisms and go out onto the platform for a remarkable view over the surrounding area.  Filled with newfound knowledge and a taste of the traditional Dutch ways of life, relax and reminisce about your trip while on the journey back to Amsterdam.

Enjoy the picturesque Dutch countryside on a day trip by comfortable bus. Encounter the famous windmills, and learn about Dutch traditional crafts.Take advantage of free WiFi on board the bus as you travel. Discover the unique village of Zaanse Schans. Stroll around at your leisure and admire the well-preserved historic windmills and houses. Explore the fishing village of Volendam, visit a cheese shop still making cheese using a traditional Dutch method, and join a demonstration about Volendam cheese. Enjoy lunch at a traditional fish restaurant at your own expense, before exploring more of Volendam. Select the all-inclusive tour option for more activities including a boat ride to Marken, a visit to an operating windmill, and a clog-making demonstration.

Visit Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam, and Marken on a guided bus tour from Amsterdam. Admire the famous windmills of Zaanse Schans, attend a clog-making demonstration, and sample Edam and Gouda cheese. Depart Amsterdam by luxury bus on this exciting tour and head north of the city to see the historic windmills of Zaanse Schans on the banks of the river Zaan. Explore the traditional 17th-century houses and a collection of beautifully preserved windmills from the nation’s industrial heritage. Continue on to visit Edam, a beautiful town known worldwide for its cheese. Enjoy a cheese tasting and an exciting clog demonstration. Before the end of the day, go to Volendam and Marken, passing many authentic polders, the name given to land reclaimed from the sea. Wander down narrow streets, past colorful houses and visit the harbors full of fishing boats. You will have some free time to shop for souvenirs and sample the local fish specialties. Back in Amsterdam, you will be dropped off at the meeting point.

Immerse yourself in the culture of the Netherlands on a tour through the jewels of the Dutch countryside. Visit a cheese producer, a clog factory, a fishing village, and see the iconic windmills. Start your tour at Amsterdam’s Central Station and head in the company of your guide to the first destination of the day, Zaanse Schans. Admire the typical Dutch windmills of the town, and learn about how they are still used today. Next, drive to the Waterland area to arrive at the second stop of the tour, Edam. Walk around some of the town’s most historical sites, including the town square where the famous cheese market used to take place. Then, head to Volendam to visit a local cheese producer, learn about the production of Edam and Gouda cheeses, and try a cheese tasting. Head towards a clog factory next to discover the secrets of this typical Dutch shoe. Finally, travel back in time to the 17th century as you wander through the fishermen’s houses in the Marken, and explore this quintessential fishing village.

Enjoy a scenic full-day coach tour of North Holland, and discover a charming landscape of windmills, canals, picturesque villages, and locals in traditional costume. Choose the all-in option to add a few extras to your tour, including a clog-making demonstration and a boat trip. Depart from Amsterdam station for the small fishing town of Marken, renowned for its preservation of traditional Dutch culture. Take a walking tour through streets full of colorful houses. If you've chosen the all-in option, stop at a shoemaker’s studio to watch how wooden clogs are made. Next, head to Volendam by coach if you've chosen the standard option or board the Marken Express if you've chosen the all-in option for a boat trip across the beautiful IJssel Lake. On arrival in Volendam, enjoy free time to explore the shops or try on a traditional costume for a souvenir photo.  Then, enjoy a tasting at a traditional Holland cheese factory and learn how cheese is made before continuing into the heart of North Holland to Edam. Discover the history of the former shipyard and see Grote Kerk, the largest church in the Netherlands, as you stroll the cobbled streets. Next, take in the last stop on your tour, the open-air museum of Zaanse Schans. Admire its magnificent collection of historic windmills. If you opt for the all-in ticket, you can go inside one of the operating windmills to learn more about this Dutch icon of industrial architecture. Finally, marvel at the picturesque homes, wooden barns, and scenic meadows of North Holland as you travel back to Amsterdam by coach.

Make the most of your time in Amsterdam with an I Amsterdam City Card, and enjoy free entrance to many of the city's top museums and attractions, including the Rijksmuseum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Moco Museum, and Rembrandt House Museum. The card also comes with discounted entry to other attractions, such as Heineken Experience, Madame Tussauds, and Amsterdam Dungeon. Valid for 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours from first use, unlimited access to the city's public transportation system for the duration of your card allows you to get around quickly. You can also enjoy one free canal cruise from several canal cruise companies at many locations in Amsterdam. Complete listing offers included in the I Amsterdam City Card Free admission to the following museums/attractions: •Allard Pierson Museum Amsterdam •A'DAM Lookout •Amsterdam Museum •Amsterdam Pipe Museum •Amsterdam Tulip Museum •Architectuur Centrum Amsterdam •ARTIS Royal Zoo •ARTIS Micropia •ARTIS Groote Museum •Cobra Museum Amstelveen •Diamond Factories and the Diamond Museum •Do-It-Yourself Foodie Tour •Embassy of the Free Mind •EYE Filmmuseum •Foam - Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam •Fun Forest •Gassan Diamonds •Geelvinck Pianola Museum •Het Grachtenhuis - Museum of the Canals •Hermitage Amsterdam •Hermitage - Museum of the Mind •Hortus Botanicus - Botanical Garden •Huis Marseille - Museum for Photography •Jewish Cutural Quarter - Portugese Synagogue •Jewish Museum - Jewish Cultural Quarter •Luther Museum •Moco Museum •Molen van Sloten & Kuiperijmuseum •Multatuli Museum •Museum de Dageraad •Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder - Our Lord in the Attic •Museum Het Rembrandthuis - Rembrandt House Museum •Museum Het Schip - Amsterdam School Arts and Architecture •Museum Tot Zover - Funeral Museum •Museum Van Loon •Museum Willet-Holthuysen •De Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam •Outsider Art Museum – Hermitage •Oude Kerk •Rijksmuseum •Het Scheepvaartmuseum - The National Maritime Museum •Science Center NEMO •The Studio NEMO •Stadsarchief Amsterdam - City Archives •Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam •THIS IS HOLLAND •Tropenmuseum •Verzetsmuseum - Dutch Resistance Museum •Woonbootmuseum - Houseboat Museum Amsterdam Metropolitan Area In Haarlem: •Frans Hals Museum •Teylers Museum •Free Canal Cruise In Volendam/Marken: •Rederij Volendam Marken (ferry) •Volendams Museum In Enkhuizen: •Zuiderzee Museum In Zaanse Schans: •Zaans Museum & Verkade Experience •Kuiperij Tiemstra (Coopery) •Wevershuis- The Weaver’s House •Tsar Peter House, Zaandam •Mill Museum •Zaan Time Museum •De Bonte Hen (Oil Mill) •De Kat (Chalk Mill) •De Schoolmeester (Paper Mill) •Het Jonge Schaap (Sawmill) In Muiden: •Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot •Amsterdam Fortress Island Pampus In Naarden: •Amsterdam Fortress Museum Naarden-Vesting In Laren: •Singer Laren In Zaanse Schans: •Free Ferry from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans Freebies: •De Drie Fleschjes - Free shot of genever (18+) •Holland Casino Amsterdam - Free entrance (18+) •Haarlem Tourist Office Free canal cruise in Amsterdam: •Blue Boat Company •Canal Company Canal Cruise •Gray Line The #1 Canal Cruise •Lovers Canal Cruises •Amsterdam Circle Line B.V. Free 24h Bike Rental 25% discount – Music & Stage •Bimhuis – Jazz •Boom Chicago - English improvisation comedy theatre •Het Concertgebouw - Classical music •Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ - Contemporary music & classical music •Nationale Opera & Ballet - Dutch National Opera & Ballet 25% discount - Attractions •The Amsterdam Dungeon •Amsterdam Harbour Cruise •Amsterdam Icebar XtraCold (18+) •Johan Cruijff ArenA Stadium Tours •Body Worlds •Dutch Cheese & Wine Cruise or Cocktail Cruise •Fabrique des Lumieres •Fashion for Good Museum Amsterdam •Heineken experience •House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience (18+) •Het Kattenkabinet - The Cat Cabinet •Madame Tussauds Amsterdam •Museum of Prostitution – Red Light Secrets •NXT Museum •Once Upon a Time •Our House •Rembrandts Amsterdam •STRAAT museum •Upside Down Amsterdam •25% discount - Transport & Rentals •Pedal boat •Bicycle rental & Bike Tours •Mokumboat.com – Rental boats to drive yourself 25% discount - Food & Drink •Bar Bitterbal •Blue Amsterdam •Dijkers Eten & Drinken •Pancakes Amsterdam •The Pancake Bakery •Restaurant de Hoop op d'Swarte Walvis •Restaurant-Café In de Waag •Restaurant Pasta e Basta •Restaurant Wagamama - Asian restaurant •Taverne de Visscer •Zuiderzee Museum

Start your tour in the famous old-harbor of Volendam, soak up the fishing village atmosphere and pick up souvenirs. See the famous maze Doolhof with small streets and cute houses, dress up in the Volendam costume and get photographed.  Move on to Katwoude, known for its cheese farms. Visit the traditional cheese farm and taste the different types of cheese. Head to Monnickendam, known for its smokehouses, 3 churches, and shipyards. See the beautiful houses made of light bronze bricks, the old harbor, and charming terraces. Explore the city center and head to the harbor to check out the boats. Stop at a canalside cafe for a drink and a snack. Visit a nice restaurant in Monnickendam and enjoy a lunch. Continue to the former island Marken, formerly an isolated island. See its characteristic houses, pleasant ambiance and the beautiful view over the Gouwzee and the Markermeer. Stop at the viskraam (fish stall) and try some haring (raw herring served with chopped onions) or kibbeling (fried fish nuggets). From Marken, take the boat back to Volendam. Cruise along the former Zuiderzee coastline and learn all about this area's fascinating history and culture.

Time to try on something that wouldn't normally be in your wardrobe: traditional Volendam wear, including warm baggy trousers for the men and a high, pointed bonnet for the ladies. And of course, no outfit would be complete without Holland's most famous footwear - clogs! Say 'cheeeessseee' and your professional photographer will snap a photo of you and your friends, a souvenir which you can show to everyone at home. After the photo shoot, you can enjoy a guided tour in which you learn how to make a typical Dutch Gouda or Edam cheese. In the clog factory, you will get the chance to see a piece of wood turn into footwear and learn about the different varieties of clogs. In the shop you can have a look at all kinds of souvenirs and taste Dutch biscuits such as stroopwafel, a delicious local fruit wine and of course all kinds of cheeses. Try a rock hard, two-year old cheese or a cheese with cumin seeds, a famous delicacy in Holland. When you are finished perusing the souvenir section your photos will be waiting for you at the checkout. 

Located in Volendam, on the world-famous dike, find the newly renovated home of the Stroopwafel. Visit a traditional bakery which has been transformed in recent years and completely renovated to its old-fashioned function and style. As you enter the bakery, the gorgeous smell of the Stroopwafels will envelop you in deliciousness. Walk around the store to see all the incredibly flavorful variations on this national treat and purchase a few to take home for your friends and family. After your visit to the store, head downstairs with a traditional baker and watch him at work as he crafts the tasty treats. The demonstration is given on fixed times every day. Please select the time-slot when you make your booking. Assist the baker in making the Stroopwafels and learn all about the cooking process of the cookie. Immerse yourself in this baking experience full of sweet smells and enticing tastes and then enjoy the fruits of your labor and taste the cookies you produce. Finally wander around the bakery to see how life was like for Dutch bakers in the old days.

Starting out with milk from the local cows, learn about the steps involved in making cheese. Mixing, heating, pressing and eventually eating, of course! Make your own little farmer's cheese. This is a very young cheese which can be vacuumed and eaten directly or ripened at home using liquid plastic as a cover around the cheese. While the homemade cheeses are being pressed, enjoy a guided tour through the wooden shoe factory for a chance to learn how to turn a piece of wood into footwear. The varieties of clogs are shown, from historical to modern day clogs. In the shop, marvel at all kinds of souvenirs and taste Dutch biscuits such as stroopwafel, a delicious local fruit wine, and of course all kinds of cheeses. During the workshop coffee and tea are complimentary.