Giethoorn, Zaanse Schans & Afsluitdijk day tour from Amsterdam

Three Dutch landmarks and a boat ride through Little Venice in one morning and afternoon

A 10-hour guided day tour from Amsterdam visits Zaanse Schans for private demonstrations of traditional cheese-making, wooden shoe carving and diamond cutting, then stops at Afsluitdijk before spending the afternoon in Giethoorn with a one-hour boat cruise through the village's canals. Hotel pickup in Amsterdam is included, and the group stays under eight people in an air-conditioned minibus.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Zaanse Schans2h · entry included
2. Enclosing Dike30m

Visit Zaanse Schans, Afsluitdijk, Giethoorn

• Private cheese factory tour and tasting
• Wooden shoes factory demonstration
• Royal Amsterdam diamond demonstration
• Photo stop at Afsluitdijk dike
• Explore Giethoorn 'Little Venice'
• One hour boat cruise in Giethoorn

The experience

The tour departs from your Amsterdam hotel and heads north to Zaanse Schans, where you walk through a working cheese factory to watch how Dutch cheese is made the traditional way, then taste more than 26 varieties. Next door, a clog maker demonstrates the carving and finishing of wooden shoes by hand. You can try on different styles and colors. A third stop at the same site is a guided diamond tour showing the history and cutting techniques of a stone with 268 facets. Between the demonstrations, you have free time to photograph the windmills and explore the grounds at your own pace.

Around midday, the minibus stops at Afsluitdijk, the longest dike in the world, where you stand between the North Sea and the Ijselmeer lake. The observation tower is currently closed for renovation, so the photo stop is shorter than in past seasons, but the scale of the structure and the water views remain. After this break, you drive into Giethoorn, the village known as Little Venice because of its canals and lack of roads. The afternoon is yours to explore on foot or by water. The tour includes one hour in a traditional boat, gliding through the narrow waterways and past the thatched-roof houses. If you want to rent and drive your own boat instead, that option costs extra and gives you control of the pace.

The minibus is a Mercedes with air conditioning and a maximum of eight passengers. You get a bottle of water per person and all entry fees, taxes and the boat cruise are covered. The guide speaks English or Chinese. At peak season, two groups may be combined into one larger tour, and the operator will contact you in advance if this happens.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Amsterdam.
• air-conditioned Mercedes minibus for up to eight people.
• private guided tour of a traditional Dutch cheese factory with tasting of over 26 varieties.
• live demonstration of wooden shoe carving at a working clog maker's workshop with try-on options.
• guided diamond cutting and history tour.
• one hour traditional boat cruise through Giethoorn's canals.
• entry fees and taxes.
• one bottle of water per person.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by K7 Travel

Is this one for you?The shared minibus and fixed itinerary mean you're not driving or planning the route yourself. The guide handles the pacing and transitions between the three sites, which works well if you want a full day of sightseeing without the logistics. If you'd rather explore Giethoorn on your own schedule or control the boat yourself, the afternoon free time and optional self-drive boat rental let you do that. Just budget the extra cost for the boat rental.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I see and do at Zaanse Schans?

Zaanse Schans holds three separate demonstrations: a private tour of a working cheese factory where you taste over 26 types of Dutch cheese, a live clog-making workshop where a traditional craftsperson carves and finishes wooden shoes, and a guided diamond tour explaining the history and 268-cut technique of a famous stone. You also have free time to walk around the windmills and take photos.

How long is the boat ride in Giethoorn, and can I drive the boat myself?

The tour includes one hour in a traditional boat cruise through Giethoorn's canals. If you prefer to rent and drive your own boat, that option is available for an additional cost of around 10 euros per person, depending on the season.

What is Afsluitdijk and why is it on this tour?

Afsluitdijk is the longest dike in the world, built to separate the North Sea from the Ijselmeer, Holland's largest inland lake. The tour stops here for photos and to see the scale of the engineering, though the observation tower is currently closed for renovation.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour. You have free time in Giethoorn in the afternoon where you can eat at local restaurants or cafés.

How many people travel on this tour, and what kind of vehicle is it?

The tour travels in a Mercedes minibus with a maximum of eight passengers and air conditioning. At peak season, two groups may be combined into one larger tour, and the operator will notify you in advance if this occurs.