"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain
Head out of Amsterdam and explore typical Dutch countryside on this charming half day tour. See locals in colourful dress, visit the famous windmill village of Zaanse Schans and learn about traditional clog and cheese making techniques.
Experience Includes
Guided tour to the windmill village of Zaanse Schans and world famous fishing villages of Volendam and Marken
Chance to view a working windmill and also see a traditional shoemaker and cheese farm
Deluxe air-conditioned coach transportation
Experienced multilingual guide (English, German, Spanish and French)
Boat ride (summer only)
Overview
Your day starts with a scenic drive through the Dutch countryside characterised by polders and little canals as you head to the Zaanse Schans village, famous for its collection of wooden windmills. The windmills are all still in use and offer a glimpse of Dutch life in the 17th and 18th centuries when thousands of windmills were lined along the dykes and powered the Dutch economy. Here you have a chance to explore one of the mills that still perform various functions including a saw mill, a paint mill (grinding pigments), and oil mill (grinding linseed or peanuts to draw off the oil). You will also get the chance to visit a wooden shoemaker to learn how clogs are made. Afterwards, the tour continues to the renowned fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, where you can see traditional Dutch wooden houses and locals still wear traditional colourful dress. A twenty minute boat trip takes you between the two villages and there is around 45 minutes free time in both Volendam and Marken allowing you to explore and shop. Your return journey to Amsterdam takes you to a cheese farm where cheese is still made using traditional techniques.