Giethoorn boat cruise & Dutch countryside from Amsterdam

There are no roads in Giethoorn. Everything moves by water.

A full-day guided tour from Amsterdam explores three traditional Dutch villages: Zaanse Schans with its iconic windmills and clog workshop, a working dairy farm where you taste over 25 cheeses, and Giethoorn, where a one-hour boat cruise carries you through car-free canals lined with thatch-roof cottages. Small groups, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, cheese and waffle tastings, and free time to wander each stop are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Dutch villages and countryside

• Visit traditional windmills and landscapes
• Attend wooden shoe workshop demonstration
• Watch cheese making and taste cheeses
• Visit local farm and see cows
• Boat ride through Giethoorn canals
• Free time to explore Giethoorn village
• Return to Amsterdam

The experience

Zaanse Schans opens the day with a 30-minute drive from Amsterdam into the polders: the flat, dike-crossed landscape that defines the Dutch countryside. Your guide walks you through the village's traditional wooden windmills and green houses, explaining how the landscape was engineered and what the mills once ground. The clog workshop sits here too, where you watch a demonstration of how wooden shoes are carved and shaped, then have time to browse the shop. The cheese farm comes next, also within Zaanse Schans: a professional shows how Dutch cheese is made, and you taste your way through more than 25 varieties before exploring the farm's shops on your own.

The drive to Giethoorn takes about three hours, crossing farmland where you can see the cows that supply the milk you just tasted. Once there, the boat cruise is the heart of the day. For an hour you drift through Giethoorn's canals (there are no main roads here, only water) past thatch-roof cottages with small gardens, arch-shaped wooden bridges, and the Bovenwijde lake opening beyond the village. After the boat returns, you have free time to walk the village and its shops before the drive back to Amsterdam. Bottled water travels with you all day, and the vehicle is air-conditioned.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from Amsterdam.
• entry to Zaanse Schans windmill village with clog workshop and cheese farm demonstrations.
• tastings of over 25 Dutch cheeses, waffles and chocolate.
• one-hour boat cruise through Giethoorn's canals.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Alx Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the pace relaxed and personal, which suits families and travelers who want to absorb each stop without rushing. The mix of guided demonstrations, boat time and free exploration works for people who like structure but also want to wander on their own.

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Top questions

What is Giethoorn and why is it called the Venice of the Netherlands?

Giethoorn is a village built on canals with no main roads. All transport happens by water. The one-hour boat cruise takes you through these narrow waterways past traditional cottages and wooden bridges, showing why it earned the Venice comparison.

How much time do I get to explore each village on my own?

After the guided demonstrations at Zaanse Schans and the cheese farm, you have free time to walk through the shops and village. The same applies in Giethoorn after the boat cruise returns, before the drive back to Amsterdam.

What tastings are included in this tour?

The tour includes cheese tasting (over 25 varieties at the dairy farm), waffles, and chocolate. Bottled water is provided throughout the day. Lunch is not included and you'll arrange that yourself.

How long is the boat ride through Giethoorn's canals?

The boat cruise lasts one hour and covers Giethoorn's canals and the Bovenwijde lake, passing thatch-roof cottages and traditional wooden bridges.

What's involved in the clog workshop at Zaanse Schans?

You watch a demonstration of how traditional Dutch wooden clogs are made, then have free time to explore the workshop and shop for clogs or other items.

Is this tour suitable for families with children?

Yes, the tour is designed for all fitness levels and all family members. The mix of boat time, farm visits, demonstrations and free exploration keeps the pace varied, and the small group size means personal attention throughout the day.