Amsterdam Windmills, Edam Cheese & Waterland Private Tour

Summary

Windmills turning, cheese tasting and quiet Dutch villages on a private day trip from Amsterdam

You’ll wander beneath working windmills at Zaanse Schans, sample cheeses at a local Edam farm, try Dutch seafood if you’re brave enough, and stroll through tranquil villages where time seems to slow down. With hotel pickup and a guide who knows every shortcut (and story), you’ll get glimpses of Holland most visitors miss—plus plenty of chances to just pause and breathe it all in.

What’s the experience like?

I’d always pictured Holland as tulips and bikes, but standing by the Zaanse Schans windmills, it actually smelled like wood shavings and river air. Our guide, Pieter, grew up nearby — he told us stories about how each windmill once had its own job: grinding spices, making paint. The sails creaked above us while a few ducks squabbled in the reeds. I didn’t expect to feel so small next to something so old and stubbornly alive.

We drove out to Edam after that. The road cut through flat fields dotted with cows and those skinny canals — Pieter called them “sloten.” In Edam, we tried herring (I hesitated but went for it) and then wandered past houses with lace curtains and bikes leaning everywhere. There’s this quiet pride in the way locals nod at you — not unfriendly, just… reserved? Maybe that’s the cheese talking. We tasted a bunch at a family-run farm — nutty, creamy, even one with cumin. I definitely butchered “Gouda” in Dutch; everyone laughed except the cat curled up by the stove.

Lunch was in Monnickendam by the harbor — old boats rocking gently and a bell tower that looked like it belonged in a storybook. The whole place felt sleepy in a good way. Later we walked through Broek in Waterland where everything seemed painted: wooden houses with gardens bursting into spring colors, birds calling somewhere out of sight. It’s only fifteen minutes from Amsterdam but honestly felt like another world entirely. Not many tourists around either — Pieter said big buses aren’t allowed here, which explains why it was so peaceful.

I still think about that moment when we stood quietly by a narrow ditch watching cows graze under an open sky — just wind and distant church bells. If you want a day trip from Amsterdam that feels unhurried (and includes pickup), this private tour is probably it. I’m glad we let someone else drive for once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit windmills, cheese farm and villages

• Visit operational windmills at Zaanse Schans
• Explore Edam village and try Dutch seafood
• Tour family owned cheese farm and taste cheese
• Drive through Monnickendam old center
• Visit peaceful village of Broek in Waterland
• Enjoy scenic Waterland wetlands landscape

Top questions

How long does this Amsterdam windmills & cheese tour last?

The tour is a full-day experience starting from Amsterdam with return included.

Is hotel pickup included for this private day trip?

Yes, hotel pickup and return are both included in your booking.

Which windmills do we visit on this tour?

You’ll visit Zaanse Schans to see several historic working windmills along the river Zaan.

Do we get to taste cheese on this tour?

Yes, there’s cheese tasting at a family-owned farm near Edam with several varieties offered.

Are there stops for lunch or snacks?

The itinerary includes time for lunch in Monnickendam; food costs are not specified as included.

Is entrance to any windmill included?

Your entry fee to one windmill at Zaanse Schans is covered by the tour price.

Can I buy souvenirs like clogs or cheese?

You’ll have opportunities to buy cheese, wooden shoes (clogs), and other souvenirs at the farm stop.

Are large groups or buses allowed on this tour route?

No, some villages like Broek in Waterland don’t allow large tourist buses; this keeps things quieter.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water along the way, all entry fees (including access inside one working windmill), plus plenty of stories from your local guide as you travel between Zaanse Schans, Edam’s cheese farm, Monnickendam for lunch breaks by the harbor, and peaceful Broek in Waterland before heading back to Amsterdam.