Zaandam’s top tours center on the area’s remarkable Dutch heritage, with the Zaanse Schans windmills as the star attraction. Local guides make these historic sites come alive while mixing in tasty Dutch treats – traditional cheese and warm, fresh stroopwafels are highlights. I especially love the small-group windmill tours for their personal touch and unhurried pace. The combination tours to nearby Volendam and Marken give you the most bang for your buck, efficiently connecting these must-see villages. For active travelers, e-bike tours provide a fun way to cruise between sites while enjoying countryside views. Let’s look at the best tour options in Zaandam.
Key Points
- The Zaanse Schans & Volendam Small-Group Tour offers an intimate experience, featuring traditional Dutch delicacies and positive reviews.
- The Zaandam: Zaanse Schans Highlights Windmill Luxury Boat Tour provides a relaxing boat ride and cheese tasting.
- The Private Tour Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam & Marken offers a comprehensive 8-hour tour with guided visits and luxury transportation.
- The Half Day Tour Zaanse Schans From Amsterdam features historical houses, windmills, traditional crafts, and a cheese tasting at a renowned farm.
- The Zaanse Schans: the Windmills Village Tour in Italian provides a culture with a small group tour conducted in Italian.
Zaanse Schans & Volendam Small-Group Tour From Amsterdam (7 Pax)
As a small-group historical and cultural tour from Amsterdam, the Zaanse Schans & Volendam Small-Group Tour From Amsterdam (7 Pax) offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the picturesque windmills of Zaanse Schans and the charming seaside town of Volendam.
With a maximum of 8 travelers, the tour provides an intimate and personalized experience, allowing guests to explore the rich history and culture of these iconic Dutch destinations.
During the tour, travelers will have the chance to sample traditional Dutch delicacies, including cheese, waffles, and pancakes.
The tour also includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Amsterdam, private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, and all entry fees.
While the tour isn’t wheelchair accessible, the tour operator can accommodate advance notice for wheelchair users.
The Zaanse Schans & Volendam Small-Group Tour From Amsterdam (7 Pax) has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with an overall rating of 4.8 stars.
Feedback highlights the tour’s attention to detail, the knowledgeable guides, and the overall value for money.
Read our full review: Zaanse Schans & Volendam Small-Group Tour From Amsterdam (7 Pax) Review
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Zaandam: Zaanse Schans Highlights Windmill Luxury Boat Tour
The Zaandam: Zaanse Schans Highlights Windmill Luxury Boat Tour provides visitors with a unique and immersive experience in the picturesque Zaanse Schans.
This 3.5-hour tour combines a guided visit to the iconic windmills of Zaanse Schans with a relaxing boat ride along the waterways. Guests can explore the windmills, observe traditional crafts, and learn about the region’s rich history and culture.
The tour also includes a cheese tasting, allowing participants to sample local delicacies. With a rating of 4.4 from 3,981 reviews and a price starting at $39.04 per person, this tour offers excellent value for money.
Certified by GetYourGuide, it’s likely to sell out, so early booking is recommended. Whether you’re interested in Dutch heritage, picturesque landscapes, or simply seeking a unique experience, the Zaandam: Zaanse Schans Highlights Windmill Luxury Boat Tour is an excellent choice for your visit to the Zaanse Schans.
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Private Tour Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam & Marken
This private tour provides a comprehensive exploration of three renowned Dutch destinations – Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken. Priced at Kč 10,686 per person, the 8-hour experience includes hotel pickup, a professional English-speaking guide, and transportation in a luxury private car or minivan.
Visitors will embark on a guided tour of the picturesque Zaanse Schans, where they’ll witness two working windmills, indulge in a cheese tasting, and observe Jersey cows and high-tech milk robots.
The tour then continues to Katwoude for an additional cheese tasting before heading to Volendam for a guided tour, lunch, a boat cruise, and time to explore the charming town.
Finally, the group will visit Marken, where they’ll enjoy a guided tour and sightseeing, including a traditional Dutch house.
The tour is wheelchair accessible and can accommodate private groups. Based on a 4/5 rating from a recent review, the tour offers a memorable experience for business visitors, with the guide’s friendliness, responsiveness, and professionalism praised despite the weather.
Read our full review: Private Tour Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam & Marken Review
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Half Day Tour Zaanse Schans From Amsterdam 3,5 Hours
A half-day tour from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans offers visitors a 3.5-hour immersive experience in this preservation village. Priced from $155.63 per person, the tour includes free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and a reserve now, pay later option.
Highlights of the tour include exploring historical houses, 17th and 18th-century windmills, and traditional crafts. Participants can indulge in Gouda and Edam cheese tasting at a renowned cheese farm, witness a wooden shoe craft demonstration, and taste the famous Dutch stroopwafel.
The tour also includes a visit to the world’s last remaining paint mill, De Kat, built in 1781.
The tour provides private pickup and drop-off in Amsterdam, air-conditioned transportation, and entrance fees for the windmill visit. A live guide in Dutch and English is available, and large groups can request pickup.
Participants should be prepared for some walking, with the tour involving small strolls.
Read our full review: Half Day Tour Zaanse Schans From Amsterdam 3,5 Hours Review
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Zaanse Schans: the Windmills Village Tour in Italian
For those visitors wanting to experience the Zaanse Schans windmill village in Italian, a 4-hour small group tour offers an immersive opportunity.
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 1,000 reviews, this tour takes guests on a journey through the charming historic village, home to wooden houses, windmills, and traditional Dutch crafts.
The tour is conducted in Italian, providing a unique cultural experience. Visitors will explore the iconic windmills, learn about their history and functioning, and even have the chance to go inside one.
They’ll also discover the traditional cheese-making process and observe local craftspeople at work.
With a small group size, the tour allows for a more personalized experience and ample time to ask questions.
At just $40.59 per person, it’s an affordable way to explore the Dutch countryside and take in the rich heritage of Zaanse Schans.
Whether a solo traveler or part of a group, this Italian-led tour offers an engaging and educational glimpse into the Zaanse Schans windmill village.
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Zaanse Schans & Zaandijk: Walking Tour Mills, Cheese & More
Visitors seeking a more immersive experience beyond the iconic Zaanse Schans windmill village can embark on a walking tour that explores the nearby town of Zaandijk.
These tours provide a comprehensive look at the region’s traditional crafts and historic sites.
For those interested in hands-on experiences, the Zaanse Schans and Zaandam tour offers the chance to visit a cheese farm, where participants can observe cheesemaking demonstrations and sample the local products.
Another option is the Zaanse Schans Windmills Bike Tour, which allows visitors to explore the picturesque landscape by bicycle while learning about the area’s windmill heritage.
Those seeking a more leisurely experience can opt for the guided Zaanse Schans and Zaandam e-bike tour, which covers the highlights of both locations at a comfortable pace.
Regardless of the chosen tour, travelers can expect to gain a deeper appreciation for the unique cultural and historical charm of this Dutch region.
Read our full review: Zaanse Schans & Zaandijk: Walking Tour Mills, Cheese & More Review
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From Amsterdam: 4 Provinces Highlights Van Tour
Departing from Amsterdam, the 4 Provinces Highlights Van Tour offers travelers an opportunity to explore the diverse landscapes and historic towns beyond the capital.
Priced from €119 per person, this 8.5-hour tour takes you through four Dutch provinces, with stops at iconic destinations like the windmills of Zaanse Schans, the Afsluitdijk water barrier, and the charming Frisian towns of Sloten, Urk, and Elburg.
With a maximum group size of 8, the tour provides an intimate experience led by a knowledgeable English-speaking guide.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy snacks and a bottle of water, while also having the option to purchase additional food and drinks.
The tour’s flexible cancellation policy, allowing free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and the “reserve now, pay later” option make it a convenient choice for travelers.
Based on positive reviews highlighting the guide’s expertise and the tour’s unique destinations, the 4 Provinces Highlights Van Tour is an excellent way to discover the highlights outside of Amsterdam.
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Dutch Countryside Adventure: Windmills, Cheese & Clogs Tour
Travelers seeking to enjoy the quintessential Dutch countryside can embark on the Dutch Countryside Adventure: Windmills, Cheese & Clogs Tour.
This full-day excursion offers a comprehensive glimpse into the region’s iconic landmarks and cultural traditions. Guests can explore the historic Zaanse Schans, a well-preserved open-air museum showcasing authentic windmills, wooden houses, and craft workshops.
The tour also includes a visit to the charming villages of Edam and Volendam, where travelers can savor local cheeses and witness the crafting of traditional clogs. With an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 and priced from £31.32 per person, this tour provides excellent value for money.
Those seeking a more personalized experience can opt for the Guided Zaanse Schans & Zaandam E-Bike Tour, which offers a 5.5-hour immersion in the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Whether on foot or by bicycle, the Dutch Countryside Adventure delivers a memorable and authentic exploration of the Netherlands’ picturesque countryside.
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Tour to Zaanse Schans Windmills and Volendam From Amsterdam
Those seeking to experience the iconic Dutch countryside can embark on the Tour to Zaanse Schans Windmills and Volendam From Amsterdam.
This 5-hour tour, priced at $291.48 per person, is limited to 7 participants and features live English-guided experiences.
Highlights include visiting the historic Zaanse Schans, where participants can see traditional windmills in operation, followed by a cheese tasting at Jacobs Hoeve Cheese Farm.
The tour then heads to the charming town of Volendam, offering a photo stop, free time, and lunch at a top fish restaurant.
Included in the tour are hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transportation, admission to the windmill park, and the opportunity to explore Dutch culture and purchase traditional souvenirs.
With free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, this tour provides a well-rounded introduction to the picturesque Dutch countryside and its renowned attractions.
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The Sum Up
Zaandam offers a variety of tours that showcase the region’s rich history and cultural heritage. Visitors can explore the iconic windmills of Zaanse Schans, discover the charming fishing village of Volendam, and enjoy the Dutch countryside. These tours provide an opportunity to experience the unique sights, sounds, and flavors of the Zaandam area.