Volendam is a coastal town in the North Holland province of Netherlands. It is a quaint town known for its charming vibes, colorful buildings, canals and port. Some of the best things to do in Volendam, Netherlands include exploring the canals & islands on a boat, admiring traditional Dutch architecture, roaming the farmlands, and experiencing Dutch traditions.
The town has a long-standing maritime and farming heritage. Some of the best places to visit in Volendam are situated on the seaside. This includes old port buildings, houses, maritime museums, and even historic ships. One of the most amazing things to see in Volendam is the Halve Maen ship. It is a replica of a historic vessel and houses a museum narrating the maritime history of the Netherlands. You can also get on historic and modern boats to go for Volendam sightseeing.
The tour goes through the canals of the town and its coastline. Many of these are guided tours where you get to learn about various Volendam tourist attractions and the history of this little town. People can also take a boat trip during Volendam travel to visit nearby port towns and Islands.
While exploring the town you will see many colorful wooden houses. These are some of the best-preserved pieces of traditional Dutch architecture. These historical Volendam attractions along with paved streets, small shops, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants give this town a unique aesthetic. You can also enjoy traditional cuisines with an ocean view at the food joints at the port.
Another aspect of the Dutch traditions that you can enjoy when you visit Volendam is the farmlands. You can see windmills, explore picturesque landscapes, and even participate in many farming activities.
Although, the top things to do in Volendam include making cheese and bakery items. You can tour the factories, make some cheese yourself, sample innumerable varieties, and even dine exclusively on traditional cheese-based dishes. You can also dress up in traditional pastoral costumes and have your pictures clicked. These are the most amazing places to see in Volendam for people who wish to experience local culture.
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Top 14 Tourist Places to Visit in Volendam, Netherlands
1. Simonehoeve
This traditional cheese farm is one of the most popular Volendam attractions and offers a unique cultural experience. You get an insight into the dairy farming traditions of the Netherlands. You will get to see how cheese and clogs are made at this farm.
You can also be a part of the process through workshops and cultural activities. These are some of the best things to do in Volendam, Netherlands. You can try your hand at making different types of cheeses and even try out local delicacies. You will need at least 2 hours for this experience.
I suggest you must go for a Cheese Making and Clog Making Workshop and Tour at Simonehoeve. If you have less time and want to visit Simonehoeve then I suggest you should take a Guided Tour to Simonehoeve.
2. Volendam Museum
This museum focuses on life in this town during the 1800s and 1900s. The museum is divided into five rooms, each depicting a different period. It is one of the best places to visit in Volendam, Netherlands.
The rooms contain classic furniture, interior decor, clothes, home equipments, and more. You will need an hour or so to explore this museum when you visit Volendam, Netherlands.
3. Experience Volendam: Historical Museum and Photo in Costume
This museum has digital exhibits that take you back in time. You put on VR glasses and have an immersive experience exploring the history of the town. It is one of the most interesting things to see in Volendam, Netherlands.
It gives you insight into the history of the town and helps put the rest of the trip into perspective. You will need about an hour from Volendam travel to tour this museum.
I suggest you should get your Ticket to Experience Volendam in advance.
4. Cheese Factory Volendam
This place explores several decades of tradition of making Dutch cheese. If you are a cheese lover, this is perhaps the best Volendam tourist attraction for you.
The factory is spread over 400 square meters and walks you through the process of Dutch cheese making. You also get to taste a variety of cheeses. The factory has an interesting souvenir store where you can buy a variety of cheeses and cheese-based accessories. You will need 2 hours to tour this factory.
5. St. Vincent’s Church (Sint-Vincentiuskerk)
Built-in 1860, this church has an interesting history connected with the city’s culture. The church has simplistic architecture but is more known for the artworks and historical artifacts housed inside the church. You will need 30 to 45 minutes from Volendam sightseeing to explore the church.
6. De Dijk van Volendam
This is the oldest area in the town and is one of the best places to see in Volendam, Netherlands. The area has colorful old buildings with shops, restaurants, and cafes.
It is a great place to shop, dine, drink, or just admire the rustic vibe of the charming streets. You can easily spend an hour or more exploring this area when you visit Volendam.
7. Marken Island
A day trip to Marken Island is one of the top things to do in Volendam, Netherlands. The island is home to a quaint town with colorful buildings, small houses, canals, farms, gardens, and a port.
The village looks like a movie set and is full of picturesque historical and cultural attractions. You can take a ferry from Volendam travel to visit Marken Island. People can book a few-hour tour or a day trip to the island.
If you are in Volendam and want to visit Marken Island then I suggest you should get your Ticket of Express Boat Cruise to Marken Island in advance. Or if you are in Amsterdam then you can go for a Day Trip to Marken Island, Volendam, and Zaanse Schans.
8. Het Doolhof
A Doolhof is a maze-like garden with dead ends. You will find many gardens and housing colonies arranged in this structure. Some of these date back to the Middle Ages.
There are two such places to visit in Volendam. You can visit Broeders van Liefde and Het Doolhof, the second is more popular. This maze garden was built during the 1600s.
The garden is full of interesting sculptures and structures and it’s really fun to explore them. You will need an hour or so to enjoy this place when you visit Volendam.
9. Canal Cruise
You can take a boat tour through the canals for Volendam sightseeing. The tour begins from the town’s port. You then navigate through the small and large canals of the town with a guide narrating the story of the town and its attractions.
You will get to cover most of the things to see in Volendam including historical sights, windmills, and farmlands. It takes about an hour or so for this cruise.
I suggest you should go on a Guided Cruise Tour in Volendam.
10. Woltje’s Stroopwafels & Museum
This historical bakery shows you how the traditional Dutch Stroopwafels are made. You can tour the bakery and try out a variety of treats. It is one of the most fun Volendam tourist attractions.
The tour takes about 30 to 45 minutes and you can also buy great local souvenirs to take home.
I suggest you should book a Woltje’s Stroopwafels Experience in advance.
11. De Kathammer Windmill
This windmill dates back to 1652 but was reconstructed several times during the 19th and 20th centuries. You can drive to the farm or take a bicycle tour to get to this windmill. The journey only takes a few minutes and you will come across a few other Volendam attractions during the tour.
12. Halve Maen
This ship is a replica of the 17th-century vessel that sailed from the Netherlands to Manhattan. It is one of the most incredible places to see in Volendam. The ship looks phenomenal and is one of the most photographed attractions.
The interior is true to the era and it tells you about the Dutch naval history. You need an hour to tour the ship and explore the museum within.
13. Paling Sound Museum
This museum is a collection of more than 100 years of Volendam’s musical history. It celebrates the artists, songs, and tunes that originated from the town. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this museum.
14. Zaanse Schans
This wonderful little town is only 30 minutes away from Volendam and is the most popular day-trip destination. It is known for its picturesque small-town appeal and several historical attractions.
The town has many buildings dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. It has colorful houses, museums, windmills, canals, and boat tours. You can take a day trip from Volendam or Amsterdam to explore Zaanse Schans.
I suggest you should book a Day Trip to Zaanse Schans in advance.
If you are looking for more places to see in Volendam, check out the sections below. We have compiled a complete list of attractions and activities to explore in the town and its surroundings.
Things to do in Volendam, Netherlands
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Volendam, Netherlands
- Volendam Museum
- Palingsound Museum
- Edams Museum
- Experience Volendam: Historical Museum and Photography
- Edam Fort
- Sint Vincentiuskerk
- Marken Lighthouse
- Stolphoevekerk
- Grote Nicolaskerk
- Purmerends Museum
- Wat Buddhavihara
- Kunsthuis Waterland
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Volendam, Netherlands
- Ilperveld Nature Reserve
- De Leek
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Volendam, Netherlands
- Simonehoeve
- Teun’s Tuinposters
- Gouwzee
- Edam Cheese
- Slobbeland
- Melkwegbrug
- Beemster Arboretum
Shopping in Volendam, Netherlands
- Dutch Market
- Harbour Street
- Havenhof Shopping Centre
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Volendam, Netherlands
- Hiking
- Boat Cruise
- Kayaking
Sightseeing in Volendam, Netherlands
- Parkeergarage Havenhof
- De Dijk van Volendam
- Visafslag
- Kwakelburg
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Volendam, Netherlands
- Smit Bokkum
- Cafe de Boer
- Pieterman
- Cafeteria Kippie
- Cafe can den Hogen
- Cafe Lennon’s
- ’t Havenget
- Romy’s Kitchen
- Cafe de Dijk
- Riksja
- Lotje ine & Dine
- Sjaakie’s Cafe
- Old Dutch Hotel
- Van der Linde
- Cafe Centraal
- Spaander
- Tapas Dolce Vida
- Wafelhuis
- The Flying Dutchman
- Pieterman
- Thirty5
- Lunchroom de Koe
- Cafe de Jaren
Where to Stay in Volendam?
Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Volendam. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Volendam.
Luxurious Hotels
- Marinapark Volendam
- Hotel Old Dutch
- Boutique Hotel The Old Bridge
- DV Groep Bed & Breakfast
- Hotel Spaander, BW Signature Collection
- Hotel van den Hogen
- Hotel Pension de Harmonie
- Hotel De Fortuna
- L’Auberge Damhotel Edam
- Van der Valk Hotel Volendam
Custom Tours Package in Volendam
How to Reach Volendam, Netherlands?
By Air
The Amsterdam Airport is the closest one you can pick to visit Volendam. The airport is 42 km away from the town. This airport receives direct flights from several cities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Some of the most popular destinations include Athens, Dublin, Mexico City, Toronto, Montreal, Madrid, Paris, Marseille, Belgrade, Delhi, Malta, Riga, Tallinn, Strasbourg, Tel Aviv, Vienna, London, Sofia, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, Zagreb, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Venice, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Reykjavik, and many more.
Once you get to Amsterdam, you can get buses and rental cars to reach Volendam.
By Road
You cannot get direct trains for Volendam travel. The closest train station to the town is Purmerend Overwhere. It is 14 km away from Volendam. You can get a bus to this station from many cities in the Netherlands including Hoorn, Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Leiden, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, and many more.
You can also get direct buses to reach Volendam from almost all over the Netherlands. If you are planning to get to Volendam by road, you can head for routes A10, N247, A7, N517, and N244.
By Water
You can get ferries to visit Volendam from Marken Island.
Image Reference
- Simonehoeve –
- Volendam Museum – Pedro Cano / Flickr
- Experience Volendam: Historical Museum and photo in costume – Stephen Kelly / Flickr
- Cheese Factory Volendam – latooja / PixaBay
- St. Vincent’s Church (Sint-Vincentiuskerk) – Dqfn13 / Wikimedia Commons
- De Dijk van Volendam – joiseyshowaa / Flickr
- Marken Island – jddartphotographer / PixaBay
- Het Doolhof –
- Canal Cruise – PublicDomainPictures / PixaBay
- Woltje’s Stroopwafels & Museum – maduarte / Flickr
- De Kathammer Windmill – Uberprutser / Wikimedia Commons
- Halve Maen – Marcel Douwe Dekker / Flickr
- Paling Sound Museum –
- Zaanse Schans – Mustang Joe / Flickr
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