Excursions

Amsterdam offers a wonderful combination of history, culture and the dynamics of a trendy metropolis. A tour with a tourist boat, discover the city by bike, guided hikes, Hidden Treasure Tours: you’ll find something you love! This page will give you an impression of the exciting excursions available in and outside of Amsterdam.

Zaanse Schans Windmills

The Zaanse Schans is a newly built museum village, with one small anomaly compared to regular museums: it is inhabited by real people. The Zaan area was famous for its windmills that produced paint, flour and woodworking. You can also buy mustard produced by one of the five local windmills. Amidst the gables, mostly green with white decorations, you’ll find an old Albert Heijn greengrocer and a cheese house. Boat tours across the river Zaan will offer a different perspective of the village.

Alkmaar’s cheese market

The Dutch export industry delivers some 400,000 tonnes of cheese to foreign countries every year. The most important cheese market is found in Alkmaar. This city has been an integral part of the cheese trade for 700 years. The market, which is held on Friday’s from 10 a.m. from midway through April to midway through September, is popular among tourists and the cheese bearer’s guild. The bearers weigh the cheeses and carry them on wooden carriers on their shoulders.

Cheese and wooden shoes factory

The Simonehoeve is a farm that produces Gouda cheese. They’ll reveal their production secrets to you and then show you how wooden shoes are made. You don’t want to miss the tasting of 9 different kinds of cheeses (with a little mustard) while enjoying a fruity glass of wine. This is interesting for young and old, and it’s open every business day.

The real Dutch country side

Amsterdam is not the only place worth visiting. Also be sure to explore the Dutch country side on an organized tour of the country. Visit the coast, the beaches, the beautiful nature and the large forests.

The historical city of Delft

The historical city of Delft, found close to the Hague, was established in 1100. The city earned its riches by weaving and trading cotton in the 13th and 14th century. If you’d like to spend a day in Delft, you’ll discover its narrow canals and picturesque houses. Delft is known for its unmistakable blue and white pottery, known as Delft blue.

Storm barrier (200 km from Amsterdam)

The crown in the work of this giant water barrage is the barrier dam which stretches along the three Oosterschelde canals for 2.5 kilometers. This dam consists of different rows of gates and their enormous supporting piers which will, under normal weather conditions, allow the tides to flow in and out of the Oosterschelde river mouth. Birds, fish and of course the local fishermen benefit from this. During powerful storms, like the one in 1953 that killed 1835 people and flooded large parts south-west Holland, the valves can be closed to prevent the rising water from reaching the nearby lower parts of the country. It takes about a half hour by car to reach the storm barrier from Amsterdam. It comes highly recommended for those who are interested in Holland’s water management.

Theme park the Efteling

A theme park featuring fairytales and dwarfs, home to some of Holland’s best rides and attractions.

The Keukenhof Flower Exhibition

An absolute sight for sore eyes. Only three months a year (March, April and May) millions of tulips and other flowers blossom. This is a terrific experience for everyone, young and old. It’s a great event to take beautiful pictures! An overwhelming array of colors in a beautiful area of over 32 hectares. You’ll discover elements of the traditional and the modern landscape. The flowers in the Garden Pavilion are one of a kind. The parade is surprisingly lovely to see and will give you lots of ideas and inspiration for trends to incorporate in your own garden. Visiting period: April, May and June.

The Hague, Madurodam

Madurodam is a miniature city where all quintessential Dutch buildings and architecture have been recreated. Discover miniature buildings, people, airplanes and much more. Nearly all famous Dutch buildings have been recreated on a smaller scale.

The famous pier of Scheveningen is located on the beach at Scheveningen. This pier stretches up to 200 meters into the sea. You could have a lovely drink or bite to eat after a relaxing day at the beach. Visiting period: summer.

Volendam, a fishermen’s village.

Volendam used to be a wealthy Dutch fishermen’s village. However, when the South Sea was closed down in 1932 the fishing boats could no longer reach the sea. Nowadays Volendam has made its own historic theme park out of the city. The local population still wears the traditional clothing from their fishing days and will happily pose for a picture with you dressed in the same garments.