Take a day trip out of the city and visit Holland’s famous windmills in the countryside around Amsterdam. On this tour you’ll see the canals and greenery of rural life in the Netherlands, and learn about the rich history of the area. Stroll around the historic village of Zaanse Schans and see the old shipyard, important here since the 17th century. In Volendam or Marken, see how wooden clogs are made!

Choose an all-inclusive tour option to include a cheese making demonstration and boat ride between Volendam and Marken
Travel by luxury, air-conditioned bus to and from Amsterdam Central Station
Explore historic fishing villages and get a real sense of rural life in the Netherlands
See the famous windmills up close on a special tour (all-inclusive package only)

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

Unlike many others, this fast-paced tour offers flexible start times, and half- or full-day options.

What's Included

Transport by luxurious air-conditioned bus with free Wi-Fi
The traditional Dutch experience in fishing villages Volendam & Marken
An up-close look at the windmills of Zaanse Schans
Cheese demonstration
Visit a traditional Marker house (only on the All-Inclusive Tour)
30 minute boat tour between Volendam and Marken (only on the All-Inclusive Tour)
Visit an operating windmill (only on the All-Inclusive Tour)
Clog making demonstration with operating antique steam engine (only on the All-Inclusive Tour)

Hotel pickup and drop off
Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Holland Windmills Tours & Tickets Amsterdam
De Ruijterkade 34, 1012 AA Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Tours & Tickets Shop is located in the IJ hall of Central Station on the far eastern side. Show your (smartphone) ticket at the Tours & Tickets office, where you'll be guided to the bus across the street.

Start time

12:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children up to and including 3 years old are free of charge (not occupying a seat)
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 80 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on sanitization during Volendam, Marken and Windmills Day Trip from Amsterdam?

A:The policy on sanitization is:

Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

Be sure to choose the 7 hour tour as it allows you more time to explore which is essential when visiting Zaanse Schans.

Everything is fast so be prepared to go, go go.

This is the best way to explore Countryside and in very reasonable price.

Reviews

4.0

3,636 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 3,636 reviews

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Bus alone to 3 cities is worth it!

Rod_C, Sep 2022

We booked with this tour (Trips and Tickets, Amsterdam) thru Viator. The one thing I'd advise is for you to go to the ticket operator the day before the tour. If we had not done that, we would have been late as Viator says the tour starts at 8:45 but when we went to the operator, they actually left the meeting place at 8 AM. Granted the bus waits until 8:45 but by then you would have lost your chances of getting a good seat on the bus - although all the seats are comfortable, because we were there at 8 and followed the guide closely to the bus, we were able to get the best seats in the house - front row on the second deck! Our guides were Pia (main), Sylvia (secondary) and Nick (driver). Pia was funny and did an excellent job narrating the instructions, giving jokes, rounding up the kittens all while translating between English and Spanish. Sylvia handled a situation quite calmly, too, as a "Karen/Kevin" seemed to be berating her because there was no French translation. But Pia was so gracious as to direct the unsatisfied customer to the party that sold them the tickets because Tours and Tickets never advertised it with French audio guide. Anyways, we were able to sample the sites quickly - and for us, an hour in each city was well enough for picture taking and just experiencing it and learning a bit about it. We would not have accomplished so much without the tour. We were planning on just taking the bus to Zaans Schans ourselves but since we only had a limited amount of time in the Netherlands, the tour gave us the opportunity to see 3 cities in one day. If we had taken public transportation, yeah, it would have come out the same because it takes about the same amount of time but you'd have to walk to the stations and then commute back to Amsterdam to do another 30 minute ride to Volendam. Being on the bus heading straight to Volendam/Marken was a big time saver. And just being able to relax on the bus was worth the tour. Now if you ask me if the extra dollars for the all inclusive tour was worth it...maybe not. All the information from the demos is available on the web - you just get the added bonus of a couple of demo instructions which might have been time better spent exploring the sights - I guess that's up to you. The windmill demo was a bit too long and we didn't have enough time to explore Zaans Schans because we spent so much time listening to the stories. The information was very, very interesting, though and I'm glad I learned a few things...but looking back now, I would have better enjoyed myself exploring the area more rather than listening for info that's already on the web if I was interested in it. Same with Marken - too much time watching a demo of how a Klog is created...could have been exploring the town for 20-30 minutes more. And a short history and demo of how a stroop waffle is made wasn't really worth it. All in all, though, just having the ability to save time, be on a bus and visit 3 areas in 1 days worth it. Specially when your guides are so funny, competent and a hoot to have conversation with.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Windmills and fun

Charles_L, Sep 2022

On my first full day in Amsterdam, a buddy and I hauled out north of the city to see the country. First visit, the Windmills. I knew windmills played a vital function to the early settler to this area, but personally I really knew nothing more than what I saw in postcards. Windmills slowly turning in the breeze with tulips all over the place. NOT THE CASE..... These machines (yes, machines) are the early Dutch industrial district. I was fascinated with the engineering of these things. We also headed over to Volendam which is a charming little village. A bit of a tourist trap but an enjoyable time spent there. Our Viator tour guides were very informative and entertaining. They will accommodate just about any language that is spoken in the EU.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Fantastic experience

C_O, Jun 2022

This was a brilliant day trip out of Amsterdam. It was well planned and very enjoyable to see all of the attractions and sights. The tour guide was really nice. I would highly recommend this tour, great value for money.

Varied tour - covering a lot of Dutch life

Maggie_P, Nov 2022

This tour was from noon to 6pm and covered a number of aspects: windmills, viewing clog making demonstration, 30 min boat ride, cheese making demonstration and free time to eat / shop in Volendam. A very compact but full of sightseeing tour - very good if wanting to see it all in one go.

Loved it, had fun.

Robert_S, Oct 2022

This was a great trip, we booked the all inclusive version. We got picked up at central train station, and headed on out to the country side to see the windmills, then on for cheese making/tasting then on to clog making. It was a great day. You do not have a lot of time at the windmills, but you do have enough to see them, take photos, have a snack and use the restroom. The cheesemaking was a lot of fun, and you have time for a nice lunch at your own cost. The clog making was great, not too long, and not too short. I would gladly do it again if I had to chose.

Historic windmills

Jackie_S, Oct 2022

Beautiful country side . Visiting Amsterdam is not complete without visiting these historic lovely windmills, towns and country side.

Day trip

Denise_P, Oct 2022

Was a great way to experience these villages. Guides did a great job!so nice to see see the country side not just the city . Beautiful!

1 traveler found this review helpful

Incredible Day Trip

John_M, Oct 2022

First make sure you book the all-inclusive trip. This included windmill demo, boat ride and especially the wooden shoe demo were fantastic. Ian our guide was exceptional. Wonderful evening to end our trip to Amsterdam!!

Visiting the country side...

Lowell_R, Oct 2022

Visiting the country side in Amsterdam was really spectacular. The windmill visit as well as the boat trip across the lake was just spectacular. This was a very interesting and great way to spend a day in Amsterdam.

Beyond beautiful

Omnia_E, Sep 2022

Sylvia and the rest of the team were great and helpful and made the trip super fun. I'm recommending this trip to all of my friends. The places were magnificent and breathtaking , it was nice to see this part of Holland.

Windmills

Glen_W, Sep 2022

Could have been more time in the villages. Some stops were too quick. Not enough time to see shops etc.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Different side of the Nederlands

Christine_M, Sep 2022

Great to get out of the city to see something different. This was a well organized tour with plenty to see.

Windmills, clogs and cheese!

Kathy_K, Aug 2022

This was a wonderful way to see the Dutch countryside and included so much history and information. Would highly recommend

1 traveler found this review helpful

Fun tour

S_H, Aug 2022

Just fun to see the Dutch countryside and learn about the canal system and see how wooden shoes are made and cheese being made

Not to be missed

Steve_W, Aug 2022

This was an absolutely fun experience! This is a must do trip in Amsterdam. The windmills, small towns, lunch and boat ride we’re all a lot of fun and very educational. Our tour guides made the entire experience very enjoyable!

Lovely places to visit

Clare_G, Aug 2022

Beautiful countryside and fishing port villages. Such a nice change from being in Amsterdam, so well worth a trip out. Would definitely recommend. Only downside is that there was not enough time to enjoy the Wimdmills or Marken. Felt like a proper tourist as the tour guide marched us round with a bag tied to the end of a selfie stick! A whole day trip to these three places would be preferable. That said, very glad we went. Beware though - the scheduled departure time was 2.45pm- the trip actually left central Station at 2.15 and we were at the Windmills by 2.45!

The tour guide and river...

CharitoC, Jul 2022

The tour guide and river Stef were a good pair, entertaining, and knowledgeable about the trip. The pick up time was on time, no time was wasted. The places to see were interesting.

Honeymoon

WilliamJ_M, Jul 2022

Took the tour to get to see more of Holland in less time. Was pretty much interesting and guides were excellent. Nice experience.

The tour was amazing I...

marwah_a, Jul 2022

The tour was amazing I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see and know more about the windmills, the picturesque view of Volendam city is speechless. And Diana the tour guide was great and very informative.

Pass unless you enjoy being part of a herd

Jeffrey_d, Jul 2022

I enjoyed the overall trip but the descriptions were poor. There could have been more details as it was described as a demonstration, the only demonstration was the clog making, everything else was just someone explaining what took place or how the process worked. The windmill was nice to hear about and see, but the first issue was no time was allotted for a bathroom break. We asked about it and our guide said then you should probably skip going inside the windmill. We did not get to see it work (lack of wind) and out of multiple windmills there we were only able to see one. The clog demonstration in Marken was nice, but no time to actually see the town, other than the walk to the docks to take a 35 minute boat ride to Volendam. The boat ride was nothing more than transportation, no commentary about what we were seeing what lake we were crossing. The cheese making demonstration was just an individual explaining the process and them we got to sample cheese, no real demonstration. Then we had time for lunch and to walk around Volendam before we met and walked to the bus location to go back to Amsterdam. There was a lot of other things wrong with this excursion. There were two groups, those that paid for the transportation or the all inclusive version. At the meeting place, we were not separated into groups, we were just herded to the buses. I am not sure how many people were on our bus, but the all inclusive group was so large that we could not fit into any of the demonstration location. They could have organized better by splitting the group. We never really heard what the guide was saying because she was in the front and the group was so big. We realized that we needed to stay next to here to figure out what we needed to know. I do not think anyone got left behind, but in 2 locations they said to be there at a time and then we left 5 minutes before that time. We always made sure we were back to the meeting location 10 minutes early. There were two guides, but for a group of our size you needed at least 4 to 6. We were walking through the towns in a group of 60 plus people. We did Viator because my fiancé had used them a few years ago and enjoyed the tours. She said this was nothing like she had ever experienced before. We will not use them again, we will go with a tour company that keeps the groups small and has organization and provides details.

3 travelers found this review helpful

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Product code: 2550LIN2A

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