Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis (CC BY-SA 2.0, resized)
Volendam and Monnickendam — Private Day Trip from Amsterdam
Two old fishing harbours on the water, half an hour from Amsterdam. Fresh herring on the quay, painted wooden houses, and the quieter town most visitors drive straight past.
- 6 hours
- 1hours riding time
- 5hours standby at the destination
- Up to8passengers
- Mercedes sedan, V-Class or Vito
Tour highlights
- The harbour front at Volendam, lined with painted wooden houses
- Fresh herring and smoked eel straight off the boat
- Photographs in traditional Dutch costume, if you fancy it
- Monnickendam — smaller, older and far quieter
- A working lifting bridge and a 15th-century church tower
- Optional ferry across to the island village of Marken
Volendam and Monnickendam — two harbours, two very different moods
Half an hour north of Amsterdam the land flattens out and the water takes over. This is where the fishing fleet worked, back when the Zuiderzee was still open sea and these towns lived entirely off it.
Volendam is the one on the postcards. A curved harbour front, wooden houses painted in strong colours, boats tied up a few metres from the restaurant tables. It is busy, and it is unapologetically set up for visitors, but it has earned that — the place is genuinely beautiful and the fish is genuinely fresh.
Monnickendam is five minutes away and gets a fraction of the visitors. It is older, smaller and lower-key: a working lifting bridge, a church tower from the 1400s, and a smokehouse where eel has been cured over wood chips for generations. Most coach tours drive straight past it. We do not.
Herring, properly
There is a ritual to it. Raw herring, chopped onion, hold it by the tail, tip your head back. Locals will tell you it should be eaten standing up, outdoors, ideally in a bit of wind.
If raw fish is not your thing, the smoked eel from the Monnickendam smokehouse is one of the best things you will eat in the Netherlands, and it comes with no performance required.
The costume photograph
In Volendam you can put on the full traditional outfit — lace cap, striped apron, the lot — and have a portrait taken. It is thoroughly touristy and absolutely nobody regrets it. Grandparents especially tend to end up in front of the camera, and the print goes home in the suitcase.
Adding Marken
From Volendam a small ferry crosses to Marken, which was an island until a causeway connected it in the 1950s. The houses are dark timber and stand on posts, because the water used to come in. It feels older and stranger than Volendam, and the crossing itself is a nice twenty-five minutes on the water.
If you would like to include it, just say so in the morning — your driver will work the timings out.
Where is it?
Photos
Your day
- 09:30
Pick-up in Amsterdam
Straight from your accommodation.
- 10:00
Monnickendam first
We start with the quieter one, while it is empty. A small harbour, a lifting bridge, and a smokehouse that has been curing eel for generations.
- 11:15
On to Volendam
The famous harbour front. Wooden houses in bold colours, boats tied up along the quay, and herring stalls that have not changed in decades.
- 12:30
Lunch on the water
Fish, chips and a view. Your driver will point you at the good ones.
- 13:30
Optional — the ferry to Marken
Twenty-five minutes across the water to a former island village of black timber houses on stilts. Worth it if you have the time.
- 15:00
Back in Amsterdam
Dropped at your door.
What's included
- Private Mercedes V-Class or Vito minivan
- Hotel or apartment pick-up and drop-off
- English-speaking driver for the whole trip
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Bottled water and free child seats
Not included
- Ferry to Marken
- Costume photography
- Food and drinks
Can be added
Ferry to Marken
A short crossing to the old island village. Quieter than Volendam and architecturally stranger, in a good way.
Ferry ticket paid on the day
Traditional costume photograph
A Volendam institution. You put on the full traditional outfit and get a printed portrait. Unashamedly touristy and quite hard to resist.
Paid at the studio
Add Zaanse Schans
Windmills in the morning, harbours in the afternoon — see our combined tour.
See combined tour
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Volendam and Monnickendam?
Volendam is the famous one — bigger, brighter, busier, and built around its harbour front. Monnickendam is older, smaller and much quieter. We take you to both because most tours skip the second one entirely.
Is the herring really worth trying?
Yes, at least once. Eaten raw with onion, held by the tail. If that is a step too far, the smoked eel is superb and much less confronting.
How long does the Marken ferry take?
About 25 minutes each way and it runs through the summer season. Tell your driver in the morning and we will plan the timings around it.
Can we do this together with the windmills?
Yes, that is our most popular full day. Zaanse Schans, then Volendam and Marken. Ask us for the combined price.