Amsterdam: Countryside E-Bike Tour with Cheese & Windmills

Summary

Cheese tasting, windmills and village cycling in Waterland

You’ll ride an e-bike from Amsterdam into Waterland’s peaceful countryside, taste Dutch cheese in a village farmstead, pass historic windmills and dikes, and meet locals (plus some surprisingly large pigs). Expect real Dutch weather, easygoing company, and moments you’ll remember when city life gets loud again.

What’s the experience like?

We’d barely left Amsterdam Central when our guide, Martijn, waved us onto the ferry — bikes and all. The city faded behind us, replaced by this weird quiet you only get near water early in the day. There was a sharp smell of river air and something sweet from a bakery nearby (I never found it). Our e-bikes felt almost too easy at first, but I got used to it quick — especially once we started weaving along the old canal. Martijn pointed out d’Admiraal windmill just as a couple of ducks nearly collided with my front wheel. He told us about its history — I caught maybe half because I was distracted by the way the reeds moved in the breeze. It’s just… different out here.

We rolled into Zunderdorp next, and suddenly everything slowed down — green wooden houses, someone hanging laundry, two kids waving from their bikes (way more confident than me). In Ransdorp, Martijn offered to show us the tower but honestly my legs were happy to stay on solid ground for a minute. Cheese tasting happened under this low-beamed roof that smelled like hay and something sharp; I tried pronouncing “Gouda” right but Li laughed at me anyway. The cheese was creamy and salty and somehow tasted better after riding through all that open space.

The Nieuwendammerdijk stretch was longer than I expected — old captain’s houses lined up close together, some with faded paint or flowers stuffed in window boxes. At one point we passed these enormous pigs rooting around in the mud; one snorted so loud I nearly dropped my phone trying to get a picture. Heading back toward Amsterdam North felt strange — like we’d been gone much longer than a few hours. The city noise hit different after all that silence out there. Still think about those green fields sometimes when I hear bikes rattling over cobblestones back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — E-bike tour through Amsterdam countryside

• Pass central station to ferry
• Take bike ferry over River IJ
• Visit windmill d'Admiraal
• Explore village of Zunderdorp
• Visit village of Ransdorp
• Cycle over Nieuwendammerdijk dike

Top questions

How long is the Amsterdam countryside e-bike tour?

The total route covers about 35 kilometers round-trip from central Amsterdam.

Is this e-bike tour suitable for beginners?

No, it’s only for experienced and confident bike riders with good balance.

What villages do we visit on this day trip from Amsterdam?

You’ll cycle through Zunderdorp and Ransdorp, plus see Broek in Waterland.

Is cheese tasting included on the tour?

Yes, there’s a cheese tasting session with local Dutch cheeses during the ride.

Does the tour include pickup or transportation?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet at central Amsterdam for departure.

What happens if it rains during the bike tour?

The tour runs rain or shine; raingear is provided if you don’t bring your own.

Are helmets provided for this cycling tour?

Yes, helmets are included for all participants.

How early should I arrive before departure?

Please arrive 15 minutes early; late arrivals may not be able to join.

What’s included

Your day includes use of an electric Dutch bike with handbrakes and gears, helmet rental for safety, raingear if you didn’t bring your own (trust me — Dutch weather is unpredictable), plus a small Dutch snack and proper cheese tasting along the way before heading back to Amsterdam by ferry.