Holland Tour

As I said, for peace of mind, with limited time in Holland, just take a tour - recommended to take TOURS & TICKETS [http://www.tours-tickets.com/] There are plenty of choices, just pick your suitable time.. The top fives listed by TOURS & TICKETS are :

For Excursions, I took #1 Countryside and windmills & #3 Hop on-Hop off tour. #4 Canal cruise is more for relaxing tour. #5 Grand holland is great if you have many days in Holland. #2 Touristbus is not so recommended - I just read it from the City Advisor link. They said that the bus is old etc. And yeah,, that's what I thought too when I saw the bus..!! ah ahha

COUNTRYSIDE AND WINDMILLS TOUR

Volendam, Marken and Windmills

Duration: 05:00 hours

Departure at 9:15 h. from at Damrak 34. Check-in 30 minutes before departure!

Tour details :  A visit to Amsterdam and The Netherlands is not complete witout having seen the lovely Dutch countryside. During this excursion you will see the Zaanse Schans, the picturesque windmill village, with its typical green-timbered houses and warehouses. Here we will visit a cheese farm where cheese still is being made in the traditional way.   After a highly informative demonstration you will get to taste and compare all types of cheeses (visit/demonstration free and optional). Other highlights of this excursion include the famous and lively fishing village of Volendam (where you will have time for lunch in a nice fish restaurant) and the boat trip to or from the former Island of Marken, where we will visit a local traditional clog maker, who will demonstrate you with enthusiasm how within minutes a simple piece of wood can be transformed into a wooden shoe (visit/demonstration free and optional). This excursion is perfect to combine with a city tour in Amsterdam! Please also see our interesting package deals! *As of November the trip to Marken will be made by bus and not by boat My comment - if you are confident enough with the European train system, there's no need to combine the trip with the city tour trip. Reason, it is very easy to travel in Amsterdam. The train system is very systematic. You won't get lost. and the people are very friendly and helpful. You can ask, they speak very fluent English too! Just google through and find for your favourite spot. there are plenty! look for the nearest train station and vwallah!!   A-hah! see they have changed the trip to Marken to go by bus. Lucky I went in November (early) and my trip was by boat! and it was Excellent!!!   Enjoy the tour - my Holland pics in chronoligal order **  1. Meeting point at Damrak 17, 830am The Damrak Street, Amsterdam Central   2. Going to Marken, the clog making and cheese factory   24.7km Amsterdam Central to Marken  On our way to Marken  Bus stop over to enjoy the scenic view of IJmeer (or Markeermeer) - meer means sea, I guess  Tree with clogs (terompah lerr)

Our tour guide

A dutch lady hosting cheese tasting and demonstration

Owh.. me trying a pair of clog

The clog 'factory'

That's a lot of clogs!

Yummylicious cheeeeeeeeeeese

I told u,,. that's a LOT of clogs!

 

3. Marken to Volendam

From Marken to Volendam by boat

 

As I said, I went in November. So I was lucky that the trip from Marken to Volendam was by boat. I get to see the nice view of Marker Sea in very cold temperature. Reached volendam with a very warm welcome by the villagers. Very nice people.

That time was about noon, I saw a kebab restaurant. It was owned by a Moroccon, I guess. He let me use his back room for praying. It's complete with Sejadah and he helped me with the Kiblat direction. Ate a very nice Halal kebab in Volendam and spend the rest of the time window-shopping.

On the boat to Volendam

Volendam - the fishing village

Approaching Volendam

Say good bye to the boat. We will continue our journey with the next bus

Not ours! :)

Nice people of Volendam

 

4. Volendam to Zaanse Schans

Volendam to Zaanse Schans, the windmills village

Then we proceed to Zaanse Schans, the windmill village. Windmills are one of Holland's trademark. Going to Holland without seeing windmills is not right. You have to see one - the real windmills. The best place to see is at Zaanse Schans. They have plenty...

A Japanese dude took this picture. Not really a dude.. grandpa maybe.. haha

Been longing to come here. Finally at last!

That's was shaky,,dude

Some of the biggest windmills

Man, it was chill

Love this

Windmills of Zaanse Schans

Good business, as usual

5. Back to Amsterdam Central

Arrived Amsterdam at about 4pm. Looks like there's plenty of time but I have a train to catch. Two more hours to Den Haag..

More to blog.. soon...