Countryside, Mills & Fishermen's Village

Overview

Book with me and you get a 5-star private experience, because I'm an experienced and knowledgeable guide. With me you visit places where the big groups cannot get. I never rush you. With me you drive via the most beautiful small roads with a beautiful scenery. I have a broad interest and I can tell you about Dutch history, mills, polders, cheese, agriculture, economy, museums, monuments, politics, religion, our Golden Age, dikes, pumping stations, etc. I use my own car (Mercedes E-type). I can explain very well the connection between the mills, the Dutch Masters, the beautiful houses in Amsterdam and Dutch history.

What's included

• ✓Private transportation
• ✓Entrance to the Zaanse Schans attraction
• ✓Cheese tasting at the cheese farm
• ✓Entrance to a working mill

What you'll do

1. 1

   You drive through the beautiful countryside north of Amsterdam, through little villages, via small roads. Travelling on a relaxed way you pass by dairy farms, meadows, cows, sheep, geese, swans, horses and ditches with a very high water level. In the meanwhile you learn interesting things about Dutch agriculture. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to Zuiderwoude.

2. 2

   After Zuiderwoude you head for Monnickendam. On the way to Monnickendam you stop for 15 minutes near a pumping station and you learn about the former Zuyderzee, the polders, the dikes and the Dutch Water Management. Learn about the big flood in 1916 and the reason why the Dutch built the big closing dike. Learn about the 4000 Dutch polders (=reclaimed land) and the fresh water in the before salty Zuyderzee. You discover the turbines at the other side of the former Zuyderzee. You drive through the old fishermen's village of Monnickendam, with narrow streets, beautiful bridges and colourful houses.

   ⏱ 15 min
3. 3

   After Monnickendam you drive to the cheese farm Jacobs Hoeve to learn everything about the production and making of cheese. The demonstration is very interesting and you can taste all kinds of cheese (included). And they ship your cheese to your home, if necessary. WOW-experience: Jacobs Hoeve has a very modern stable with Jersey cows. All the cows wear a collar with a chip and they are fed and milked automaticly by a robot, without any human intervention. This technique is very sophisticated and top of the bill. This is a must see. You will be amazed.

   ⏱ 45 min
4. 4

   Via rural roads you drive to Volendam, the fishermens village. Here you visit the cemetary with the graves of 14 kids, that died in 2001 during a fire in a disco. Thereafter you walk through the oldest part of Volendam: the Maze. Admire the small fishermens houses, in which families lived with sometimes 12 children. Admire the gable stone on the whale fisher's house. Buy some souvenirs on the Dike, the touristic part of the village, with many shops and restaurants. Taste delicious fish at a fish stall. Enjoy the boats in the port and walk around. Enjoy 500 (!!) 19th century paintings in a famous hotel.

Availability & pricing

Pick your exact date & check live availability on the booking page.

Good to know

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.