Discover two perfectly preserved Dutch fishing villages — flamboyant Volendam with its harbour-front in national costume, and car-free Marken island, once cut off from the world. A private tour reveals the real character of old Holland.
What to expect
Your private guide drives you northeast through the classic Dutch polder landscape to Volendam, where fishermen's wives still wear the traditional white-winged cap and striped apron on market days. You sample smoked eel fresh from the harbour stalls and visit an artisan herring smoker. A short ferry crossing (15 min) delivers you to Marken — a former island where wooden stilted houses and a tiny lighthouse feel frozen in the 17th century. The return passes the vast panoramic sweep of the IJsselmeer.
Good to know
Volendam is 35 km northeast of Zaandam (approx 40 min by private car). The Marken–Volendam ferry runs seasonally (April–October); confirm dates at waterland-express.nl. Half-day tour fits comfortably before most all-aboard times. Bring a layer — the IJsselmeer waterfront is breezy.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Zaandam — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.