Zaanse Schans

Small group

Starting from Amsterdam, enjoy a comfortable drive to Zaanse Schans. There, hear your guide tell you about the sights and history of this unique, small village and region. Visit a wooden shoe workshop to see how the traditional wooden clogs are made. Also, enjoy a trip to a local cheese farm to learn how the Dutch Gouda cheeses are made. There, taste all kinds of delicious cheeses. After hearing about the magnificent windmills from your guide, enter one to see how these wind-powered industries operate. Get out on the balcony to experience the power of the wind yourself and to enjoy the lovely view of the countryside. After your guided tour at Zaanse Schans, head back to Amsterdam.

A relaxing and complete journey to the typical Dutch countryside, visiting a windmill and fishing village. After being picked up from your hotel in the Amsterdam area by a friendly local guide, you will transfer to your van to enjoy a small-group traveling experience with a personal touch. Your typical Dutch experience begins with the Zaanse Schans windmill village. You can see the clog makers at work in the workshop, and learn about the history of wooden shoes in the museum. Following this you will experience a cheese factory demonstration where staff will be dressed in traditional Dutch costumes. You can buy beautiful souvenirs in a wide variety of outlets from cheese, wooden shoes, delft blue pottery, to local handcrafted items. Do not miss your chance to have your picture taken in the giant wooden shoe! Following this, you will arrive in Volendam at around noon. Here you will begin a guided walking tour to explore the charming seaside village. You can stroll along a walkway adjacent to the old port area, visit local vendors for authentic Dutch treats, experience seafood from the region, and sample cheese, waffles and pancakes. You will also have the opportunity here to dress up in an authentic local costume!

Visit the Floriade Expo 2022, an exhibition organized only once every 10 years in the Netherlands. Then, make your way to Zaanse Schans to see traditional windmills dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. See a clog maker in action. Dig into some Dutch cheese. Meet your guide and head to your first destination, just 40 minutes away from Amsterdam, in a comfortable minivan. The main theme of this year's Floriade Expo is ‘a celebration of green’ divided into 4 sub-categories: greening the city, feeding the city, making the city healthy, and energizing the city. Get ideas on how cities can be made green with all species of trees and plants playing a specific role. Gain knowledge about cultivating food in the city. Learn tips and tricks on leading a healthy lifestyle wherever you live and develop an understanding of sustainable energy solutions. The Floriade Expo is situated in an area spanning 60 hectares (148 acres) which will be converted into a green urban district of the city of Almere after the exhibition is finished. Walk through this beautiful park over the green bridges and learn everything about green infrastructure. Visit the pavilions in which the participating countries will present their flowers, plants, and culture. Take a ride by cable car. Get an insight into the real estate sector of the future. Also, enjoy plenty of opportunities to grab a nice drink or savor a local and healthy dish. After spending about 4 hours at the Expo, continue to the windmill village of Zaanse Schans. This outdoor conservation area is situated on the banks of the Zaan River. See traditional 18th and 19th-century architecture, including several functioning windmills. Watch live demonstrations of craftsmen at work, including a clog maker crafting the famous wooden shoes of the Netherlands. Use your free time on the tour to explore the village on your own. Then, travel through the distinctive polders (land reclaimed from the water) of the Beemster area. Next, see how the world-famous Dutch cheese is made and taste some on a close-by cheese farm. Finally, return to the city while looking back on a day full of great Dutch highlights.