Zaanse Schans Windmills, Clogs and Dutch Cheese Small-Group Tour from Amsterdam
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore Zaanse Schans and the Dutch countryside this tour from Amsterdam. With an informative guide, admire the lush, canal-crossed Dutch landscape. Take a tour of pretty Zaanse Schans, famous for its wooden windmills and green-painted houses, and visit a cheese farm and clog-making workshop to learn about these traditional crafts. Lastly, visit a working windmill to learn about the role of windmills in the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age.
- Perfect for first-time visitors to the Netherlands
- All admission fees are included in the cost of the tour
- Learn about the historical Zaans region from your guide
- Round-trip shared transfers from Amsterdam are included
What's Included
- Local guide
- Round-trip shared transfer
- Entrance fees
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- LOT61 Amsterdam Centraal StationOosterdoksstraat 4, 1011 DK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Meet your driver next to Amsterdam Centraal Station outside coffee store LOT61. Coffee store LOT61 is part of hotel DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station. Your tour guide will hold an orange umbrella.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Your tour starts in Amsterdam, where you'll meet your guide at a meeting point near Amsterdam Central Station. Then head out to the Dutch countryside with a small group of fellow travelers until you reach the photogenic village of Zaanse Schans, listening to your guide tell you all about the region and its history along the way.
Once in Zaanse Schans, visit the Kooijman Souvenirs & Clogs Wooden Shoe Workshop to see quintessential Dutch footwear being made before continuing to Molen De Kat, a paint mill that relies on wind power to create paint. Your next stop is the Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm to watch a cheese-making presentation, followed by a cheese tasting at the onsite cheese shop.
After experiencing the village, head back to your Amsterdam departure point.
Once in Zaanse Schans, visit the Kooijman Souvenirs & Clogs Wooden Shoe Workshop to see quintessential Dutch footwear being made before continuing to Molen De Kat, a paint mill that relies on wind power to create paint. Your next stop is the Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm to watch a cheese-making presentation, followed by a cheese tasting at the onsite cheese shop.
After experiencing the village, head back to your Amsterdam departure point.
1
Zaanse Schans
2 hours 30 minutes ⢠Admission Ticket Free
Zaan Tours (Pass By)
2
Kooijman Souvenirs & Clogs Wooden Shoe Workshop
25 minutes ⢠Admission Ticket Free
3
Molen De Kat
20 minutes ⢠Admission Ticket Included
4
Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm
15 minutes ⢠Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- As seats on this tour are restricted, all travelers should have a ticket
- Not wheelchair accessible
- This tour contains a moderate amount of walking
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 2,552 reviews
Katie_D, May 2026
Sharon was a fantastic tour guide we throughly enjoyed the whole experience from the bus pick up, the tour even though it was raining it didnt matter! And we were happy with all parts of the tour. Beautiful place to visit. Highly recommend đ
Leanne_B, May 2026
Our guide, Caroline, was fantastic. Great stories and we highly recommend this tour. The clog making demonstration, cheese tasting (so much cheese) and seeing the working windmill was a great way to spend the afternoon. We could have easily spent more time at Zaanse Schans.
Louise_P, May 2026
We enjoyed our visit very much. The tour guide was knowledgable and happy to answer questions. Learned a lot about the culture. The pace of the tour was perfect.
Malcome_D, May 2026
The trip is amazing. Tightly packed with interesting activities. Minimal driving. 20 minutes each way. 2.5 hours of fantastic scenery and short walks between the Mill, cheese making and Clog Making.
Heather_S, May 2026
Loved this tour. A friendly and knowledgeable guide gave us a fascinating glimpse into the workings of a typical village. We visited windmills, cheese making facilities and clog making. A really worthwhile experience.
Sreya_D, May 2026
Very good, short trip, but covers all the attractions. The travel guide was very friendly. The place is very touristy, so the crowd is unavoidable.
Janet_B, May 2026
After a short, comfortable bus ride, we immediately saw the beauty of the Zaanse Schans area. We walked across a big river bridge, stopping to take pictures.
Santiago explained the history and culture of the village. Itâs set up for tourism but there are regular residents also.
We saw a display of clogs: dressy clogs, painted clogs, even high workboot clogs. A craftsman shaped and formed a clog as we watched!
Next was a cheesemaking demonstration and explanation. Phaedra showed each step and cut slices for us to taste. It was completely contact-free and I appreciated that kind of care in a group setting.
Next we saw pigments added to paint to strengthen weather protection. It was powered by one of the beautiful windmills.
We petted the goats, but the grazing sheep did not come over.
In between each demonstration was free time. There are shops along the way including a big cheese shop.
We found benches everywhere to enjoy our free time and break up the walking. Next to the dike is a great place to relax.
Thank you to Santiago for a most enjoyable day. And to Harry the driver coping with the millions of bicycles calmly and safely!
Scott_D, May 2026
Great tour. The guide was excellent. She lived at the place and had a vast amount of knowledge. We enjoyed it.
Thomas_P, May 2026
My spouse and I did this tour and it was truly wonderful. The local and very charismatic guide (Toes spelling?) was exceptional. This little gem of a village is so unique, full of charm and just a lovely way to spend the day. Would highly recommend.
Bev_B, May 2026
Our guide Toos was excellent. Her knowledge and personality made the tour very enjoyable.
She definitely made the tour worthwhile.
Richard_G, May 2026
Be prepared to walk through the whole tour. Most walking was on level ground with a few uneven areas. Going in into the windmill was my highlight the tour, and sampling cheese was pretty good too
Rachel_B, May 2026
We experienced so much of Amsterdam! Our guide was superb!!! Knew and loved his city and wanted to share !
Lorne_M, May 2026
My wife and I booked this very nice tour to go visit windmills in Zaanse Schans Netherland which is about 30 by car from Amsterdam. We had a wonderful driver in a new and comfortable small bus. Our tour guide Claudia whose family still lives in the small village was absolutely outstanding and did a wonderful job. This cute little village was very busy with tourists.
Claudia (tour guide) explained all in and out of this beautiful little village.
Stephen_R, May 2026
Great walking tour with small group rather than 80 plus groups that we passed. Guide took us around the old town, cheese tasting, inside a windmill, and a quick chocolate shop. Excellent
Karen_J, May 2026
Cute little village. Crowded but some nice little souvenirs. I would have liked a little more time as I felt quite rushed.
Sherry_D, May 2026
What a great tour. our tour director Sharon had great info and stories to tell. Such a pleasant person!
Jillayne_R, May 2026
We had trouble finding the meeting place. Would help to be holding a flag . Once we found it , the tour and guide âMikieâ were terrific!! Very interesting!!
Kimberly_P, May 2026
Liz was an amazing tour guide! She was very informative, friendly and accommodated the experience for the group that was with her. Seeing the windmills and learning of the history about their uses, how they were moved to the new location, and discovering the cultural background of the village were fascinating. This is a great introduction tour, and allows you the opportunity to explore more if you want to go back on your own. In spite of the tunnel being closed on our return back, she was able to maneuver a new route and keep the conversation going.
Donna_S, May 2026
A very informative, professional, enjoyable your with an excellent, amusing and knowledgeable your guide who kept our interest throughout.
Mark_W, May 2026
Had a great tour with Cathrine. Great at explaining a bit of Netherlands life and history. Things moved at a comfortable pace. Would recommend to anyone
Sharon_M, May 2026
The Zaanse Schans was very interesting.and we learnt a lot about Dutch history.
We saw how the basic cloggs were made. There is a nice collection to see at the place. There was a short explanation about cheese. Our guide Caroline took us through the windmill tour.
I think that the place itself could have more films to show about the whole process of clogg making and cheese.
The village is very pretty to walk around and the whole experience was fun even though it was por8ng with rain
Jordan_B, May 2026
Very informative and interesting. Fun experience over all and went at a wonderful pace. Would highly recommend!!
Donna_C, May 2026
I was on the fence about doing a tour or going on our own, and Iâm so glad we decided on the tour. I love the extra history and facts that a great guide provides. The area was so busy, but our guide got us in everywhere and we avoided the crowds. The comfortable van was also a nice plus!
barryward1976, May 2026
Very good experience. Lots to see and Mikey and Harry out tour guide and driver were exceptional. Great knowledge. Very friendly and kept obnoxious Americans in check. Lovely place to visit and so beautiful to get out of Amsterdam and see real Dutch sights.
Lauren_B, May 2026
This tour was a great addition to my time in Amsterdam! The clog making demonstration was well done as was the cheese making! I enjoyed seeing the inside of the windmill and the view from the top! I would highly recommend it!!
Eleanor_L, May 2026
What a great tour! Carolyn and Harry were great! Carolyn did a great job of leading us around the area and doing her best to avoid crowds and give us fascinating information about Zaanes Schans! Int really was so interesting! What a beautiful area!
Lori_L, May 2026
It was a great experience!! Highly recommend this tour. Liz was a great tour guide and fun!! Thank you!!
waleska_w, Apr 2026
Our tour guide was greatâ Calem, I think.
Funny, attentive, and very informative. We all had a great time. We even took a picture together.
Karen_B, Apr 2026
Like the tour but as it was so busy we missed out on two elements, it became very rushed . Would recommend the tour be about another hour in length.
The guide was excellent
Gayle_T, Apr 2026
Fascinating! Wonderful village, close to Amsterdam, with demonstrations of many things. We saw working windmills, clog-making, and learned about making cheese.
Busy and crowded, this would better with another hour or more of free time, but we did love every minute. Great shopping for genuine local products.
Our guide was excellent!
From $50.42
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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