Get a break from Amsterdam on a 6.5-hour guided tour around the Dutch countryside. Start with a 20-minute drive to the windmill village of Zaanse Schans, situated on the banks of the river Zaan and home to the original 18th and 19th-century architecture, including several still functioning windmills and wooden houses. Watch live demonstrations of artisans at work, including a clog maker crafting wooden shoes worn by hundreds of years by Dutch people. There will be free time to explore on your own before continuing through typical polder landscapes (land reclaimed from water).
From there on, the tour continues to the beautiful Edam village, also called the pearl of the former Zuiderzee. Beautiful 17th-century buildings, including the leaning Carillon Tower, the Big Church, and the former town hall line Edam’s old streets and quiet canals. The public weighing house is most famous in Edam, beyond doubt. This is where the famous Edam Cheese Market is held every year between July and August. After a stroll around this historic village, you'll have the opportunity to see how Edam’s world-famous cheese is made. And, of course, to taste some cheese on a nearby farm.
Finally, your guide will take you on a short walk through the oldest parts of Volendam, exploring various twists and turns to sites such as St. Vincent’s Church, the wooden Stolphoevekerk, and the Fish Auction. You can also enjoy a walk on top of the Dike.