Amsterdam Windmills & Volendam Day Trip with Cheese & Clogs

Summary

Windmills turning slow, cheese scents in the air, Volendam’s painted houses and laughter over Dutch fruit wine

You’ll ride out from Amsterdam to see Zaanse Schans windmills turning slow above green fields, taste fresh Gouda at a family farm, watch clogs carved by hand, then wander Volendam’s colorful streets before sipping Dutch fruit wine in Broek in Waterland. Expect real stories from your guide and small surprises along the way.

What’s the experience like?

The day kicked off quicker than I expected — we’d barely left Amsterdam when our guide, Pieter, started telling stories about the old industrial heart of Zaanse Schans. The bus was quiet except for him and the soft hum of tires on wet roads. When we stepped out, the air smelled like grass and something sweet (maybe waffles? or just my imagination). Inside one of the windmills, you could feel the old wood under your hands — rough, a bit sticky from oil. The miller waved us up a ladder that creaked so much I almost bailed halfway, but I’m glad I didn’t. From up top, all those green houses looked like toys scattered along the riverbank.

I thought I knew what Gouda tasted like, but at the little family farm outside Zaanse Schans it was somehow different — creamier, with a salty tang that stuck around. A woman named Marijke showed us how they make it by hand (she let me try to pronounce “kaas” properly; she laughed and shook her head). There were cows everywhere and a faint smell of hay mixed with rain coming in through the open barn door. We watched a guy carve clogs out of wood — chips flying everywhere — and he handed me one still warm from the blade. It felt weirdly alive.

Lunch was in Volendam or Monnickendam (our group voted for Volendam), right by the sea dike where all these brightly painted houses lean into each other like old friends. The fish was smoked and strong — not for everyone maybe, but it tasted like real sea air. Some locals sat nearby gossiping in Dutch; I caught maybe one word out of ten but their laughter needed no translation. Later in Broek in Waterland we tried Dutch fruit wine (sweeter than I expected), and someone joked about moving there for good. The light over the canals was soft and gray-blue — I still think about that view sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Dutch countryside and villages

• Visit Zaanse Schans windmill village
• Tour windmill interior
• Visit family-owned clog and cheese farm
• Cheese tasting at farm
• Visit fishing village of Volendam
• Walk along Volendam sea dike
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Broek village and Dutch liquor tasting
• Relax on return to Amsterdam

Top questions

How long is this Amsterdam windmills & Volendam day trip?

The tour lasts about 5.5 hours including travel time from Amsterdam.

Is lunch included on this tour?

You’ll stop at a restaurant for lunch during the trip; food is at your own expense.

What villages do we visit on this small-group tour?

The main stops are Zaanse Schans windmill village, a cheese farm near there, Volendam or Monnickendam (your choice), and Broek in Waterland.

Are children allowed on this tour?

The minimum age is 7 years old to join this experience.

Does this tour include pickup?

Yes, pickup is included from central Amsterdam locations.

Will we see how wooden clogs are made?

Yes, you’ll watch craftsmen make clogs by hand at a family-owned farm.

Is there cheese tasting on this day trip?

Yes, cheese tasting is included at a traditional farm near Zaanse Schans.

How many people are in each group?

The group size is capped at 8 people for a more personal experience.

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable transport from Amsterdam with pickup, entry fees to both Zaanse Schans windmill village and a working cheese farm where you’ll also get to taste fresh Gouda cheeses, live clog-making demonstration, plus Dutch fruit wine tasting before heading back late afternoon.