Near Amsterdam: Don't Miss the Windmill Villages

After exploring the capital, Amsterdam, there is one popular place that you simply have not been to Amsterdam without visiting. Today, Rin will take you to see it: a Dutch windmill village.

This trip takes almost a full day, because we visit several places and also take a boat ride.

We start with a short ride of 20 km from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, a windmill village on the banks of the Zaan river.

Here you can see historic windmills and traditional 17th-century houses that have been beautifully preserved.

Then we continue to Edam, a beautiful town known around the world for its cheese.

Visit a farm to taste real butter and cheese, and watch a demonstration of traditional Dutch wooden clog making.

Next, we go to Volendam and Marken, taking a 30-minute ferry from Volendam to Marken.

See a traditional, brightly colored fishing village at Volendam. You can walk along narrow streets past colorful houses and visit the harbor full of fishing boats, shop for souvenirs and try local fish. It is a truly Dutch way to end the day.

So for Amsterdam, please allow 2 days: 1 day for the city and 1 full day for the windmill villages. Another place we recommend in this area is Giethoorn, Netherlands. It is a village without roads, with only canals, and the whole village is adorable. It is uniquely Dutch, like nowhere else.

Text by Rin

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