Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans Day Trip: Windmills, Canals, Cheese

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/17

Duration10h

GroupUp to 50

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Watch clog makers at work, then drift through Giethoorn's car-free canals

A guided day trip from Amsterdam that visits Zaanse Schans windmill village and Giethoorn, the canal-laced village known as the Venice of the North. The tour includes a clog-making demonstration and cheese tasting at Zaanse Schans, a scenic one-hour boat cruise through Giethoorn's waterways, and free time to walk the village. Transportation is by air-conditioned coach with a live English-speaking guide.

10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Zaanse Schans and Giethoorn

Explore Zaanse Schans windmills
Watch traditional clog making
Enjoy cheese tasting at farm
Travel to Giethoorn village
Take scenic canal boat cruise
Free time to explore and lunch

The Experience

Zaanse Schans comes first. You'll see the historic windmills and traditional Dutch houses that line the waterfront, then step into a wooden clog workshop to watch artisans shape and finish clogs by hand. A cheese farm visit follows, where you can taste local varieties and learn how they're made. The guide provides live commentary throughout, so the details of what you're seeing (why the windmills were built this way, how the clog-making process works) come as you go rather than after the fact.

The second half of the day is Giethoorn, a village with no roads through its center, only canals and wooden bridges. You'll board a boat for a scenic cruise that takes you past thatched-roof houses and under low arches, seeing the village from the water the way locals do. After the cruise, you have free time to explore on foot, wander the narrow lanes, and stop for lunch at one of the cafés along the water (at your own cost).

The whole day runs about 10 hours, with the coach handling the travel between Amsterdam and both villages. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters on a full day of stops and walking. Children can bring a pram or stroller, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels. There's no hiking or strenuous activity, just walking at your own pace through villages and sitting for the boat ride.

What’s included

Air-conditioned coach transportation from Amsterdam.
live guide commentary in English.
clog-making demonstration at Zaanse Schans.
cheese tasting at a local cheese farm.
one-hour scenic canal cruise in Giethoorn.
free time to explore Giethoorn village on foot.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Dutchtrips

Is this one for you?This is a shared guided tour, so you travel with other visitors and follow a set schedule. The guide handles the route and timing, which means you don't plan the day yourself. It suits anyone who wants to see both villages in one trip without renting a car or figuring out train connections, and who prefers having someone explain what they're looking at as they go.