Giethoorn, Public Boat Cruise, Zaanse Schans Windmill Tour｜Netherlands

Explore the picturesque village of Giethoorn on a day trip from Amsterdam. Cruise through the canals on a public boat tour, visit a cheese farm, and see traditional windmills at Zaanse Schans.

Climb aboard an air-conditioned Mercedes minivan with your personal driver guide and travel through a typical Dutch landscape for 1.5 hours en route to the picturesque town of Giethoorn. Continue to the Enclosing Dike (Afsluitdijk), the 32-kilometer dike connecting the provinces of North Holland and Friesland.

Admire the Afsluitdijk, built to tame what was formerly the Zuiderzee (now the Ijsselmeer Lake), and a prime example of Dutch water prowess. At Giethoorn, experience how the Dutch people live with, and on the water upon arrival, and set off to explore on foot and by boat.

Admire the many types of boats in the town, from gondolas to punters and flat-bottom vessels used as transportation on the canals. Enjoy the peace and quiet of a town where cars are forbidden. Cruise past the skillfully restored farmhouses and see the different types of construction. After this tour, you’ll have some free time for lunch and to explore on your own.

Next, head for Zaanse Schans, an outdoor museum including wooden homes, shops, and operational windmills from the 18th and 19th centuries. Visit the Clog Museum to observe traditional craftsmanship and wooden shoemakers in action. Learn the craft of making cheese in the Netherlands by visiting a cheese farm in Catharina Hoeve.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, a collection of functional windmills, wooden homes, stables, and shops may be seen in the windmill town of Zaanse Schans, which is an outdoor museum. All of these structures were relocated here starting in 1961, revitalizing the Zaan region’s most profitable era.

Enter one windmill which is included in your excursion, and see how these wind-powered industries operate. Get out on the balcony to experience the power of the wind yourself and to enjoy the lovely view of the countryside.