Top Zaandam Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises

Learn more about Dutch history and traditional culture on a half-day trip from Zaandam city center to Zaanse Schans. Admire the windmills and historic homes, have a go making your own Dutch clogs, and see how local cheese is made. You’ll also visit a working industrial windmill to see how these iconic Dutch buildings operate today.

Experience a different side of the Netherlands on this small-group historical and cultural tour from Amsterdam. A great way to deepen your knowledge of the country, this guided trip includes a visit to Zaanse Schans, a popular tourist attraction known for its windmills, and a walking tour of Volendam, a picture-perfect seaside town with traditional wooden houses. You’ll also have the chance to sample cheese, waffles, and pancakes.

Discover Zaanse Schans like never before with the Secrets of Zaanse Schans City Game, a fun self-guided walking tour and city game packed with puzzles, riddles and hidden stories! This GPS-based exploration game lets you experience Zaanse Schans while exploring famous spots such as the Zaans Museum, the Zaandam Time Museum, the Bakery Museum, the first Albert Heijn shop and the windmills. Play solo for a personal challenge or together with friends, family or colleagues. During the game you solve tricky questions, puzzles, riddles and creative photo tasks to score points, unlock extra clues and solve the final mystery. Pause whenever you want and continue later at your own pace. Compete for a place on the leaderboard or play competitively for team building, making this scavenger hunt and walking tour through Zaanse Schans perfect for every type of explorer.

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey from Zaanse Schans' main dock. Get on a luxury boat for an exciting adventure. The main attraction is the famous windmills. You'll have a relaxed boat ride with a great view of these old wonders. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you about the windmills and the history of the area, making your experience more interesting. After that, you'll see beautiful traditional Dutch houses from the boat. Your guide will tell you stories about these historical homes. Moving on through the Dutch countryside, you'll reach Wormerveer, which has played an important role in the Dutch colonial past. Explore old industries, warehouses, and history, discovering the story of this place. On the way, you'll find important heritage like Cacao and Soap factories, adding to the area's history. If you're lucky, you might smell the delicious roasted Cacao. The tour ends where it started, giving you a full understanding of the history and culture of this amazing region.

Discover the charm of Zaanse Schans on this self-guided 45-minute walking tour through a historic Dutch village of windmills, wooden houses, and centuries-old craftsmanship. Starting at Klaverringdijk, stroll past green-painted homes, cross wooden bridges, and visit working windmills that still produce paint, oil, and timber. Tour highlights include: • De Kat, the world’s only working paint mill • Traditional Zaan architecture with green facades and white trim • A clog workshop showcasing centuries-old shoemaking techniques • Cheesemaking demonstrations with tastings • Museumwinkel Albert Heijn, the first store of the iconic Dutch chain The tour ends at the Museum Zaanse Tijd, home to 17th–18th century Dutch clocks.

Escape the busy city and visit the famous windmills of Zaanse Schans on a private chauffeur-driven tour from Amsterdam. This shorter countryside experience is ideal for travelers who want to see one of the Netherlands’ most popular windmill villages without booking a full-day tour. Your professional English-speaking chauffeur will pick you up from your hotel, apartment, cruise terminal, or another address in Amsterdam and drive you in comfort to Zaanse Schans. Enjoy free time to explore the historic wooden houses, traditional windmills, small shops, cheese and clog demonstrations, and Dutch countryside views at your own pace. Your chauffeur will wait while you explore independently and then drive you back to Amsterdam. Please note: this is a private chauffeur-driven tour, not a guided walking tour.

Capture your memorable moments against the charming backdrop of Zaanse Schans with a private photoshoot led by an experienced local photographer. Tailored for couples, families, and solo travelers, this session will guide you through picturesque locations, ensuring you feel at ease while posing for stunning shots. During the session, you will receive professional direction and up to 30 professionally edited digital photos delivered within four working days, so you can relive your Amsterdam adventure. Perfect for immortalizing special occasions or simply enjoying the beauty of the city.

Escape the crowds and discover the Dutch countryside in comfort and style on a private tour from Amsterdam. This experience includes door-to-door service with a professional English-speaking chauffeur in a luxury Mercedes E-Class or similar, or V-Class or similar, depending on your group size. Visit the famous windmills of Zaanse Schans and the charming fishing village of Volendam at your own pace. Your chauffeur will drive you between the locations and wait while you explore independently, giving you the freedom to enjoy each stop without the pressure of a large group tour. This private experience is ideal for couples, families, business travelers, and small groups looking for a relaxed and comfortable way to see two of the Netherlands’ most popular countryside destinations. Please note: this is a private chauffeur-driven tour. A licensed tour guide is not included.

You will be picked up at your hotel in Zaandam or other address in Zaandam with a luxury Mercedes sedan or minivan. The driver will bring you to the cruise/port terminal in Amsterdam.

Discover four of the Netherlands’ most popular countryside destinations in one private chauffeur-driven tour from Amsterdam. This experience includes door-to-door service with a professional English-speaking chauffeur in a comfortable Mercedes E-Class, V-Class, Vito, or similar vehicle, depending on your group size. Visit the famous windmills of Zaanse Schans, the charming fishing village of Volendam, the historic cheese town of Edam, and the traditional village of Marken. Your chauffeur will drive you between each location and wait while you explore independently at your own pace. This private tour is ideal for couples, families, business travelers, and small groups who want a relaxed and comfortable way to experience the Dutch countryside without the pressure of a large group tour.

Discover Zaandam like never before with the Secrets of Zaandam City Game, a fun self-guided walking tour and city game packed with puzzles, riddles and hidden stories! This GPS-based exploration game lets you experience Zaandam while exploring famous spots such as Zaandam City Hall, the Rozengracht market, the Wilhelminabrug, the February Strike monument and the historic centre. Play solo for a personal challenge or together with friends, family or colleagues. During the game you solve tricky questions, puzzles, riddles and creative photo tasks to score points, unlock extra clues and solve the final mystery. Pause whenever you want and continue later at your own pace. Compete for a place on the leaderboard or play competitively for team building, making this scavenger hunt and walking tour through Zaandam perfect for every type of explorer.