Zaanse Schans
9am
Meet and greet with your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby, from where you will be taken for a 30-minute drive by luxurious private vehicle to Zaandam for a guided tour of the Zaanse Schans.
With its traditional characteristic green wooden houses, charming stylized gardens, small hump-backed bridges, tradesmen’s workshops, historic windmills and engaging little shops the Zaanse Schans gives the feeling of stepping back into the 17th and 18th century, however this is not an open-air museum but a colorful living and working neighborhood on the banks of the river Zaan.
Zaanse Schans – Windmills
There are many windmills at the Zaanse Schans. Windmills were used, for example, for sawing wood, drying land, hulling and threshing grains, and the production of nut oil, paint and mustard. Your guide will take you to several mills like the wood cut mill The Young Sheep and spice mill De Huisman. Learn how the mills work traditionally, climb the steep stairs and have a spectacular view over the river Zaan.
Besides the windmills, at the Catharine Hoeve you can see how cheese is made and you can even sample a large variety of delicious cheeses.
And learn everything about wooden shoes including a demonstration on how wooden shoes are made at the wooden shoe factory. www.zaanseschans.nl
Edam
11.30am
After this exciting tour, we continue with a scenic 30-minute drive to the historic and picturesque village Edam.
Edam is a village in the northwest Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Combined with Volendam, Edam forms the municipality of Edam-Volendam. Approximately 7,380 people live in Edam. The entire municipality of Edam-Volendam has 28,492 inhabitants. The name Edam originates from a dam on the little river E or IJe where the first settlement was located and which was therefore called IJedam. Edam is famous as the original source of the cheese with the same name. The old town center, within the borders of the old city walls, is nowadays protected by the government, both the main structures and architectural details. A number of notable buildings survive in good condition.
Upon arrival or after the walking tour, there is leisure time for lunch in one of the local restaurants.
There will be some leisure time for lunch in Edam in one of the local non-touristy restaurants.
Dairy Farm
1.45pm Fully refreshed, we continue the tour with a 45-minute drive to, and guided tour including cheese tasting at a local dairy farm.
Cheese has been made at this farm by the family for three generations. With love and patience. In the artisanal, traditional way. The family currently lives on the farm.
The farm is located on a 70 hectare island in the middle of the lakes of South Holland. Traditionally, people are transported by rowing boat, but nowadays also often by ferry.
3.45pm From here, you will be taken back to your hotel in Amsterdam, where you will have the remainder of the day for your own leisure. You will arrive back around 4.30pm.