Home > Amsterdam > Small Group Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam and Old Villages Tour from Amsterdam Including Dutch S
USD $62.00
Small Group Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam and Old Villages Tour from Amsterdam Including Dutch S
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Get the full experience of all the Dutch countryside has to offer on this 5-hour, small group tour from Amsterdam. Travel in comfort by private bus to the traditional fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, and stroll through the world-famous windmill village of Zaanse Schans. Visit a cheese factory for a tasting, stop at a restaurant for lunch, watch craftsmen make wooden shoes, and sample Dutch schnapps before relaxing on the ride back to Amsterdam.
Meet your guide at 9:30am behind Amsterdam's Central Station at "Cafe the Pont" to begin this 5-hour tour of the Dutch countryside. Hop aboard your private minibus and drive with your small group to the restored windmill village of Zaanse Schans, where you'll see a water mill, an oil mill, a paint mill, and a spice mill. Next up is the quaint fishing village of Volendam, known for its green timbered houses and warehouses. Visit the harbor, take a stroll on the dike, and even have a photo taken in traditional Dutch costume. Take a break in a restaurant for lunch at your own expense, visit a cheese factory and taste the local cheeses produced there, then you're off to Marken. One of the most charming villages of the Waterland area, this former island is a place where traditions are well preserved. Visit a wooden shoe factory and see how craftsmen quickly transform blocks of wood into clogs. Sample Dutch schnapps before driving by the villages of Uitdam and Ransdorp, the first home of artist Rembrandt van Rijn, and return to Amsterdam around 2:30pm.
We had bad experience for this tour, bad temper tour guide, rush schedule , worst than joining big bus tour that we joined 3 years ago that went to same sightseeing places. only 45mins given for lunch including walking around, FYI we didnt have chance to Walk around at Volendam after the lunch then alrdy rush us to another place, really disappointed for the whole tour. Join big group tour instead of this small group tour.
Review by: jenna.shankman, January 2018
Totally worth the it. small group which i personally love. You're not in one giant tour bus. They bring you to some of the oldest windmills very cute area-like a tourist road stop. Then to a cheese and shoe mill. Our guide was awesome, can't recall his name-tall skinny guy with longish blonde hair
Review by: Marie G, January 2018
Knowledgeable and accommodating tour guide.
Review by: Alex W., January 2018
This was a great small group experience! Our tour guide, Mr. T, was very nice and knowledgeable. Going around North Holland was beautiful and all the stops were incredible to see and walk around, even in the freezing cold! Very great tour. Highly recommend
Review by: olly1970, January 2018
Our tour guide Pol was excellent and the itinerary was great. Highly recommend.
Review by: Cathy C., December 2017
We had a wonderful day with our tour Guide Jan. He was an informative, personable, relaxed person that went with our flow our pace. The time of year worked in our favor as we were the only people on our tour. the Windmills are beautiful and we loved Volendam. Follow the directions as to where to meet your guide. The ferry you have to take from the train station to where you meet your guide is interesting insight as to how the Dutch commute! Great day overall.
Review by: Lea S, December 2017
I had a fantastic day on this tour. Was a little late because I got on the wrong ferry and the guide was there waiting for me!! The short trip to the windmills was filled with interesting stories and information. The tour was at a good pace with heaps of time for photo's and taking in the sites.
Review by: Nicole P, December 2017
The Zaanse Schans was pleasing to the eyes and has a rich history which is very interesting. It was amazing that a lot of windmills are still functional and not just there for display. The old villages we went to were like a breath of fresh air from hustle and bustle of Amsterdam. We enjoyed waking around the villages and trying some of the delicious food. We also enjoyed buying souvenirs as there were a lot of shops and a wide variety of items. Our guide Apostolis Tol for short was very knowledgeable about the places we went to. He was also very nice and has a good sense of humor. Overall, we had a great time!!! Though, this almost didn't happen as our guide didn't show up at the meeting place but he made an effort to contact us if we would still like to do the tour at a later time. We didn't have anything planned for the afternoon so we were still able to do the tour. Tol was really apologetic for not showing up earlier and he more than made up for it. Just before we went back to Amsterdam, Tol made us try some Schnapps which we also liked. We had a really great time at the tour and we hope more people will go on this tour as well!!!
Review by: Amandri J, December 2017
We had a wonderful time with our guide Teun. He really went the extra mile to engage with the tour group and brought a personal touch to the tour with his humor and friendly approach. The tour itself was very well organised with all pickup instructions and information communicated well in advance. We really enjoyed each of the various stops and found that the tour offered sufficient time to visit each place without feeling rushed. Each of the different locations offer a unique experience with a great mix between the touristy Zaanse Schans Windmills and Volendam, to the more quaint and quiet old villages and scenic routes.
Review by: Anna Dominique R, December 2017
Our tour guide was very informative, courteous, and with a sense of good humour. He was the star of our tour! I prefer small group tours than big buses so if you feel the same way, then I'd very much recommend this. The tour around the old villages is a plus to the already amazing stops at the Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam, and the cheese and cloggs place. Take this tour if you only have a few days in Amsterdam but still want to explore the countryside because it only takes less than half a day which leaves you a lot more time to explore the city of AMS! The only reason I'm giving this tour a 4/5 is because the car we used wasn't really as clean but I'm a bit of a neat freak so it had a big impact on me. If the rating allowed a 4.5, I'd give 4.5!
Review by: Robyn H, December 2017
A great way to see outside the city centre. Our guide had good local knowledge and we learned about the history of the areas we visited as well as enjoying the great scenery. There were only 6 people on the tour which made it like a private tour.
Review by: Bill E, December 2017
great tour, great guide, very happy we didn't do the big bus tour.....highly recommend this tour
Review by: Debra H, December 2017
Our driver and guide was very friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. We saw a lot of places and things in a short time.
Review by: Sora S, November 2017
This trip was super fun and super good!! The guide was very nice and knowledgeable, and every stop we made was so fun and unique. I loved the small fishing village where I tried herring and smoked eel for the first time! They were really fresh and flavorful. I would def. recommend this!
Review by: Tara B, November 2017
This trip was AMAZING!!!! Our tour guide was super knowledgeable, nice and very energetic. She knew so much about Amsterdam and the Netherlands. It was a cold rainy day but that didn't stop us. I loved this tour and loved my tour guide. I highly highly recommend this tour!!!!
Review by: Anna Marie D, November 2017
It was an amazing tour. Teun was very attentive and knowledgeable. He was fun and because we were a small group which their company prefers, it becomes much more personal and exclusive. Thank you Teun for the amazing experience!
Review by: WanderLust, November 2017
This tour was exceptional! It was my sister and I's first time in Amsterdam and we couldn't have chosen a better tour to explore the villages outside of the city. Our meeting point was at the Cafe, right in front of the ferry station. We stayed in a hotel near the Central Station so to get to the meeting point we had to take the ferry free of charge, to cross the river to get to the Cafe. At the meeting point, our tour guide, Tol I t think it was short for Apostole, was there to greet us. He was friendly, easy going, and on time. Our group was divided into two smaller groups and my sister and I ended up having a private tour 'cause it was just us two with Tol! Lucky us! The drive to the villages wasn't too long and Tol was an excellent driver- my sister and I felt safe.
Review by: Raissa R, November 2017
My sister and I thoroughly enjoyed this trip to the villages outside of Amsterdam. We were a little wary about having to take the ferry across since we had to find the station but the ferry station was easy to find right outside Central Station, off to the right of the pedestrian/bike walkway and the ferry came every 3-5 minutes. The free ferry ride was quick and once we were across, the meeting point at the Cafe was directly right in front and our guide Tol can't remember his full name was already there waiting for us. We wanted a drink at the Cafe, which only accepts credit cards, and Tol offered to pay with his card and we'll pay him with cash. Tol was awesome, very informative and allowed my sister and I to go our own pace we like to take lots of pictures. We ended up having our own private tour with him since our group was split into two groups one was a group of 8 friends and the other group- just my sister and I. Tol even helped two girls we met at Zaanse Schans because they got left behind by their tour group! He let them join our group so they can finish seeing the rest of the villages.
Review by: Marie, November 2017
This small group tour was amazing, would recommend small group tours all the time
Review by: Michelle B, November 2017
Great way to see some countryside outside of Amsterdam. Free ferry across to pick up point was easy and our guide was ready and waiting. The windmills were beautiful and the wind showed up to give us a look at the windmills in motion. Places to buy hot drinks and souvenirs,welcome on the cold day. Volendam was a wonderful surprise,quaint and interesting to wander around. Totally enjoyed the day.
Review by: lana_1227, November 2017
This is a great 1/2 day tour option, I am not a 'tour' person, but wanted to see some of the smaller towns and this seemed like an easy way to do so. It was. It was even fun to take the harbor boat across the canal to the meeting point, in the am it gives a great sunrise view and when the tour finishes you can go to the Eye or the top of the building for a sky high view. Our guide was great, friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. His name was Toon I believe, great guide. We had rainy cold weather and he was quick to offer options and give us the best day possible. Really good driver and pointed out interesting things along the drive. It was a fun day and I would highly recommend this tour with this company, it is well laid out, not stressful or rushed for time, fun, informative and offers a good time in the cute, albeit touristy villages. but you are on vacation and are a tourist to enjoy it. Hans the wooden shoe and cheese maker is really funny and interesting.
Review by: iblynda, November 2017
Guide was excellent and went out of his way to make the tour personal. Only six of us on the tour so far superior to the big bus tours we saw, especially at the Zaanse Schans Windmills. Volendam was lovely and we could have spent more time there but the old villages were also enchanting and worth visiting. Loved the Dutch countryside!
Review by: Bailey, November 2017
Small tour. Great guide. Loved every second of it.
Review by: Andrea G, October 2017
A wonderful tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable. We learn so much about the history and geography of the Netherlands. We saw many places we would never have discovered on our own.
Review by: Simon G, October 2017
This was a fantastic tour. The stops we made were excellent to learn and experience the local culture. The countryside is beautiful. Our guide Teun was awesome. He made the entire tour very comfortable and was shared many valuable insights. Highly recommended.
Review by: xiaoli H, June 2017
The Driver/guide sorry forget his name is a handsome, professional, and very nice guy. He guided all scene we expected. The beautiful windmills and fish village. The guide offer us wine to celebrate our successful trip at the end of the trip.
Review by: Daivid U, June 2017
This was a nice trip to see the Dutch country side and get away from the craziness of Amsterdam. You will see the main attractions that every other tour bus sees but will be with a small group. the windmills, cheese/clog making and fishing village for lunch were nice. We also walked through a small village away from all the other groups and this was the best part. Our guide was good and gave us a little information at each stop, then an hour or so to explore on our own.
Review by: Ann Lorraine P, June 2017
Excellent trip with Apostley as our wonderful guide._br/_ Weather was a bit dull and misty to see all the views but overall excellent value for money. Wandered around windmills, visited cheese and clog making factory. Had local fish dishes for lunch and the icing on the cake was when our guide stopped, produced a picnic hamper with schnapps and local biscuits! Excellent
Review by: awaywego_98, June 2017
We really enjoyed this tour. There were only 6 of us in a mini van with a wonderful guide Roxanne. It was nice to get away from the city and get a taste of the countryside of Holland. The stops were all interesting and the pace of the tour was great for this senior who is not a fast walker. We were blessed with beautiful weather which made this a perfect excursion.
Review by: Laurie H, June 2017
The tour was very well organized and or guide was great. Pick up was very smooth and the locations we visited were great. The summer rush was starting so crowds were around but our guide knew how to work around them. I would recommend this group as the trip was well worth the money.
Review by: Carol C, May 2017
Would highly recommend this small group to all. Special treatment and extra time where the large group are on a time line. The Villages and Windmills were amazing , not the mention the cheese that we brought back!
Review by: GORDANA R, May 2017
Odlican provod
Review by: Sameera P, May 2017
Had a very pleasant time exploring the old towns just outside amsterdam. very nice and knowledgable guide. A small tour group.
Review by: abarbure, May 2017
I really enjoyed the tour. I liked the small group, more personal and easy to get answers to any questions. The guide took us to some really Dutch places, I highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Ronald L, May 2017
What a great day!! Our guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his region. The tour itself was well planned and gave us plenty of time to have a good look around. The small group aspect of the tour is one of the best parts. Your get a better feel on the tour rather than being herded on the big bus.
Review by: John P. B, May 2017
We had a wonderful time on this tour. It was a small group so we were able to ask questions and received good information about the areas we visited. Just a note, you do need to pay 4 to get into each windmill, but well worth it. The schnapps at the end of the trip was a nice ending to the tour. Our tour guide was the best!
Review by: Michael S, May 2017
Would have been nicer if we had less time in a van and more time at the villages. Never had enough time to actually get into one of the windmills and felt hurried along.
Review by: Teresa S, April 2017
This tour was not as advertised. First we went to Zaanse Schans, but we were only given 40 minutes there. We could have easily spent several hours. It was great but we weren't given enough time. This was because we were then shuttled to a cheese and clog making demo, which is nothing but a tourist trap to try and get you to buy cheese and souvenirs. We were there for a very long time. Then we had to choose between Volendam and Marken, because there wasn't enough time to do both. We chose Marken, which was cute and quaint, but we spent a little too much time there too. We did get to climb on the dikes, which was fun. We enjoyed the tour, but didn't appreciate that so much of it was spent at a tourist trap. That wasn't what we signed up for and we felt a little cheated.
Review by: Sandra Z, April 2017
We enjoyed our guide, Tole, and his familiarity with the area since he lives close by. The Zaanse Schans windmills are in a commercial park with traditional Dutch homes and shops. Tole explained the different kinds of windmills, wooden shoes and features of the homes. We then had time to explore some on our own. The cheese factory was very close to the windmills and was touristy but they did show us how they make cheese and there was a demonstration on manufacture of wooden shoes. The cheese sampling was in their store so you could buy the ones you tasted. Tole gave us a choice for our next stop and we went to Markem, a quiet little fishing village. There wasn't much to do there but it was picturesque and we got to sample some kebbling, lightly fried cod. The schnapps tasting was on top of the levee. Tole brought a picnic basket with several we could try. It was a bit cold and breezy to stop there but it was interesting to sample the different kinds. I had thought we would be stopping in a shop to do the tasting.
Review by: Frederick F, April 2017
Very personal. Great balance of free time and guided information. Feel like a local.
Review by: Suzanne C, April 2017
This tour was fantastic. There was only 4 of us so it felt like a personal tour. Tol explained all the history on the windmills at Zaanse Schans. Pointing lots of things along our way. He is such a wonderful, local guide. Tol took us to the best place in Volendam to try eel, which was surprisingly nice. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone. Thanks Tol.
Review by: Cheryl L, March 2017
Very nice tour, small group just like our own private tour. Our guide is friendly and share with us a lot local story. We are unlucky due to the bad weather, however the whole journey is pleasant due to our good and amazing guide._br/_ Thanks to Apostolis for going extra mile to help us solve the hiccup that we face in Amsterdam.
Review by: robyngorman54, March 2017
This tour was by far better than we could have imagined. Tol was probably the best we've ever had. There were just two of us, but it was wonderful. The sun was shining and the Windmills in Zaanse Schans were stunning. Volendam was such a picturesque little village we hated to leave. We saw the beautiful Dutch countryside and stopped on a dike to sample a wonderful Dutch drink. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone. The fact that it is a small group tour guarantees you more personalized day. We will definitely be back and will do this all over again. Fabulous isn't even a good enough word to describe our experience!
Review by: Chelsea O, March 2017
What a fantastic tour! Our guide, Apostolis sp? was so knowledgeable and charming and gave us a great look into the Dutch countryside with great history facts and tips on what to see/eat/do around the area. We loved being able to see a different part of the Netherlands outside of Amsterdam, and even on a rainy day, the windmills and little villages were an incredible site. The small group made the tour feel very personal-we loved every stop!
Review by: Carol M, March 2017
It was raining, cold and windy on our tour day but that didn't stop our guide from delivering a fantastic tour through the windmills and historical villages. Included in the tour we watch wooden shoes being made and tasted some delicious cheese. A lunch stop over at a charming local waterfront restaurant provided a nice warm up with a hearty bowl of pea soup with sausage and bacon. Highly recommend!
Review by: velda l, February 2017
There were only 4 of us in this tour and it was really personalised! The tour was informative and fun. Highly recommended.
Review by: Catherine S, February 2017
This small group tour was the highlight of our trip to the Netherlands. Our tour guide, Tol, I believe his full name was Apostoli was fantastic. He was patient with our group of eight and took the time to answer questions as they came up. He shared a lot of his personal experiences with us and balanced our time as we requested. We took this tour in November 2016 and I recommended it to friends who visited Amsterdam in early January 2017. They were fortunate to have the same guide and were so appreciative to have found this opportunity to learn more about the Netherlands from this tour.
Review by: Rusitha M, January 2017
One of the best excursions we did when we are in Europe. We enjoyed the whole day with our Guide. He was very interesting.. Also friendly and flexible. He had good knowledge about what he was talking about... Comfortable vehicle too.
Review by: Mark M, January 2017
This was an outstanding tour. We were provided a great experience, our guide was very knowledgeable and most accommodating. Highly recommend to all.
Review by: Stuart M, January 2017
Can and #39;t say enough good. Small personalized attention far better than previously taken big bus tours in area that take you to their own owned stores. This in contrast took us to all locally owned sites like cheese and clog making. Easy to get to across river. Ferry free and only several minutes.
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