Giethoorn, Volendam, Windmills

Giethoorn, Volendam, Windmills is one of ten day trips compared on this site, it runs 10 hours, and the live listing opens at $161 a person. It carries 4.8 from 812 reviews, reproduced here exactly as the operator publishes it.

Overview

This is a 10-hour day trip that packs Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Giethoorn into one loop from Amsterdam: the windmills, the fishing village and the car-free canal village known as the Venice of the North. You travel by air-conditioned car, minivan or luxury bus with a local guide, and the day is built around a rhythm of short coach rides and long stops. The coach transfers between stops range from 20 minutes to an hour and a half, so most of the day is spent on the ground rather than on the road.

Zaanse Schans comes first, with about 105 minutes for a guided walk, free time, shopping and a cheese tasting among the windmills and wooden houses. Volendam follows for an hour and a half of harbour time, street food and wandering. Then comes the longest drive of the day to Giethoorn, where a canal cruise past thatched-roof farmhouses is already included in the price, followed by roughly two and a half hours in the village before the coach back.

It suits travellers who want countryside and villages without renting a car, and reviewers repeatedly praise the guides for their knowledge and enthusiasm. It is less suitable for wheelchair users or anyone with mobility impairments, and the listing warns there is a fair amount of walking. Departure is at 8:30 AM sharp from Prins Hendrikkade, with no hotel pickup.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Prins HendrikkadeWait in front of the LOVERS Cafe (Lovers Canal Cruises Amsterdam) at Prins Hendrikkade 20A. Arrive 15 minutes before the 8:30 AM departure.
2. Coach to Zaanse SchansA 20-minute drive out of the city to the windmill district.
3. Zaanse Schans, 105 minutesGuided tour, photo stops, free time, shopping and a cheese tasting among the windmills and wooden houses. Clog making is demonstrated here.
4. Coach to VolendamA 30-minute transfer to the fishing village.
5. Volendam, 1.5 hoursBreak time, a guided tour, free time, street food and local snacks around the harbour and narrow streets.
6. Coach to GiethoornThe longest drive of the day, 105 minutes.
7. Giethoorn, 2.5 hoursA guided walk, free time and an included canal cruise through the car-free village of thatched-roof houses.
8. Coach back to AmsterdamA 1.5-hour return drive, ending at Prins Hendrikkade 20A.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape how this day goes, from the early start to the amount of walking at each stop.

• Early start. The coach leaves at 8:30 AM sharp from in front of the LOVERS Cafe on Prins Hendrikkade, and the operator asks everyone to be there 15 minutes ahead. There is no hotel pickup, so plan the morning route in advance.
• Walking and pace. The listing is clear that the tour involves a fair amount of walking and is less suitable for people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users. Expect guided walks plus free time at all three stops, on your feet for much of the day.
• Guides carry it. Reviewers again and again single out the guide as the reason the day works, praising their knowledge, enthusiasm and organisation. The listing also describes the trip as superbly organised from start to finish in traveller feedback.
• Food and extras. A cheese tasting is included, along with a live demonstration, but food and drinks beyond that are on you. Volendam's stop includes street food and local snacks, which you pay for yourself, as do tips and personal expenses.
• Any weather. The tour runs rain or shine, so bring layers and something waterproof. Times can shift depending on traffic in the area, so keep the evening loose.
• Camera ready. Photo stops are scheduled at every destination on the itinerary, so keep a camera within reach throughout the day. One reviewer described the countryside as beautiful, and the itinerary builds in scenic views on the way between stops.

Common issues. The experience requires a minimum of four travellers; if that minimum is not met, the operator offers a different date or experience, or a full refund. Pets are not allowed, and the day is long, with the longest single coach stretch running 105 minutes. Some travellers mention that commentary at the stops could be clearer and more consistent. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and times can change with traffic.

Questions People Ask