Overview
See all that is typical Dutch by luxurious minivan: tulips at Keukenhof and cheese, windmills & clogs at Zaanse Schans and Volendam.
Highlights
-Scenic drive of the flower fields around the Keukenhof
-Entrance to Keukenhof bulb flowerpark.
-Explore the historic windmills of Zaanse Schans
-Learn how Dutch cheese is being made in an old farm
-Stroll the twisting streets of Volendam, and soak up the fishing village atmosphere
-Watch traditional craftsmen at work, making clogs and other artifacts
-Marvel at the landmark monuments of Volendam, including the old fish auction rooms
A comfortable, air-conditioned minivan will take you to today’s first destination Keukenhof. After a short ride from Amsterdam to the bulbflower area around Lisse, we start your tour by making a scenic ride in this area. Depending upon the season you see a landscape with colourful bulbflower carpets in almost any colour you can imagine. We try to find a spot where we can stop to make some pictures. Then we continue to the true highlight of this tour, the park Keukenhof. Once a mere kitchen garden filled with vegetables and herbs, the Keukenhof now has the distinction of being the world’s largest flower garden, hosting some 1.000,000 visitors per year. Wander through the 15 kilometresof footpaths and 32 hectares of gardens, where millions of bulbs are planted each year. Tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and other spring bulbs of a variety of vibrant colourscarpet the grounds.
After having spent about 3,5 hours in the gardens continue to the windmill village Zaanse Schans. This outdoor conservation area is situated on the banks of the ZaanRiver and is home to traditional 18th and 19th century architecture, including several functioning windmills. Watch live demonstrations of craftsmen at work, including a clog maker crafting the famous wooden shoes of the Netherlands. There will be some free time to explore the village on your own, before traveling through the distinctive polders (land reclaimed from the water) of the Beemster area.
Next is the opportunity to see how the world-famous Dutch cheese is made and, of course, to taste it in a close by cheese farm.
Finally, you will stop in the beautiful seaside village of Volendam. This typical fishing village with its bustling harbourhas been a major tourist attraction as early as 1875. People come from all over to see the small buildings and houses and take in the locals in their traditional Dutch clothing. This is a great place to pick up souvenirs for those at home or a memento foryourself, and to have photos taken in traditional Dutch costume.
Finally you will return to the city and can look back on a day full of great and typical Dutch highlights.
Tour + Canal Cruise - 1 hour
Only if you have booked this option, once back in Amsterdam, your guide will give you your ticket for a Canal cruise. The Amsterdam Cruise passes all of Amsterdam's famous attractions. Canal houses from the Golden Age, the Westerkerk, the Anne Frank: the Cruise takes you past all of them. Sightseeing in Amsterdam couldn't be a more relaxing experience.
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