--- title: Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat lang: en type: tour city: Amsterdam country: Netherlands price: 138 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.64 reviews: 274 duration_minutes: 540 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 45 of 48 (Windmills & Countryside Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-22 data_updated: 2026-10-22 canonical: https://guidekin.com/netherlands/amsterdam/tours/small-group-giethoorn-zaanse-schans-w-pickup-small-boat/ --- # Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat In our comparison: #45 of 48 in Windmills & Countryside Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Enjoy easy hotel pickup on this small-group day tour from Amsterdam, visiting the idyllic canal village of Giethoorn, known as the “Dutch Venice,” with a photo stop at the iconic Lego Hotel in Zaandam, and the historic village of Zaanse Schans. Explore Zaanse Schans with a traditional clog and cheese factory demonstration, try on wooden clogs, taste Dutch cheese, see iconic windmills and visit a diamond factory. Admire the green wooden houses along the River Zaan and capture Instagram-worthy photos while learning about 18th- and 19th-century Dutch village life. Cruise Giethoorn’s canals on a small electric boat guided by a friendly expert—you can even navigate the boat yourself for an authentic local experience, avoiding crowds and enjoying open views. Wander past charming thatched-roof houses, wooden bridges, and scenic canals. This full day small-group tour combines scenic beauty, culture, history, and hands-on experiences for a seamless, unforgettable day in the Netherlands. ## Before you book - Hotel pickup: no car needed - Starts 09:30: one departure a day - Food not included: bring or buy your own - Strollers OK: infants accepted **Pickup:** Hotel pickup included ## Key facts - Price: from €138 per person - Duration: 9h - Rating: 4.64/5 from 274 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Cherry Travel & Tours - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English - Start times: 09:30 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-22 ## Reviews 4.64 from 274 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 91% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 249 of 274. - 5 stars: 222 (81%) - 4 stars: 27 (10%) - 3 stars: 12 (4%) - 2 stars: 5 (2%) - 1 star: 8 (3%) ## What's included - Hotel Pickup for two or more participants at one location - Professional guide - Boat trip on a small electric boat in Giethoorn, guided and drive your own boat experience. - Tour coach or van - Guided tour in clogs, cheese and diamond factory in Zaanse Schans. ## Not included - Gratuities - Lunch - Big touristy 40-seater boat, at own cost and own arrangement. We offer small boat local experience. ## Itinerary 1. **Zaanse Schans** (1h 30m; admission included) - Visit Zaanse Schans traditional wooden windmills and distinctive green wooden houses which were relocated there to recreate the atmosphere of an 18th/19th-century village. Duration is about 1.5 hours including visits with demonstrations at cheese factory and wooden shoes... 2. **Kooijman Souvenirs & Clogs Wooden Shoe Workshop** (20m) - (This part is included in Zaanse Schans) Visit wooden shoes factory to learn about history of traditional Dutch clogs. Attend a workshop with demonstration of how clogs are made. Try fitting wooden shoes to have a feeling of wearing wooden shoes. Some free time for souvenirs... 3. **Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm** (20m; admission included) - (This part is included in Zaanse Schans) Attend a professional demonstration of quality cheese-making by the staff in traditional Dutch costumes. Followed by free tasting of a wide cheese selection, and other typical Dutch treats. Free time for Dutch delights shopping. 4. **IJsselmeer (Lake IJssel)** (pass by, no stop) - On the way to Giethoorn, enjoy interesting facts and stories from our friendly guides pointing out of significant sights including the largest artificial lake in the Netherlands - IJsselmeer. IJsselmeer is a closed off inland bay, bordered by the Afsluitdijk (Enclosing Dike)... 5. **Giethoorn** (3h 30m) - Discover a Dutch village only accessible by boat on a day trip to Giethoorn from Amsterdam. Experience the "Venice of the Netherlands" where there are no main roads and all transport is on the water of the many canals. Take 1-hour small electric boat (9 people maximum) led by... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:30 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-22 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries - Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Children must be accompanied by an adult - If you come with luggage, strollers, or bulk items, please inform the tour operator Cherry Tours in advance. - Children younger than 12 years need car seats, infants need baby chair provided by travellers. - Cancellations within 24 hours due to failure to inform tour operator for special arrangement will not get refund. - Infant with less than 6 years old, we do not recommend this tour. - Cancellation due to any of the above unfulfilled conditions, will not be refunded. - The trip offers small open boat, if customers wish to take a big boat (covered, with 40 passengers on board, shared with other groups), at own cost, arrangement and subject to availability - Not recommended for travellers with reduced mobility. ## Compared with other Windmills & Countryside Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #45 of 48** | €138 | 9h | 4.64 (274) | shared | | [Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, "Lego-houses" and Volendam Tour](/netherlands/amsterdam/tours/amsterdam-zaanse-schans-lego-houses-and-volendam-tour/?format=md) | €33 | 5h 30m | 4.94 (570) | shared | | [Escape Amsterdam: E-Bike to Zaanse Schans Windmills & Zaandam](/netherlands/amsterdam/tours/escape-amsterdam-e-bike-to-zaanse-schans-windmills-zaandam/?format=md) | €90 | 5h 30m | 4.94 (533) | shared | | [Amsterdam private tour to windmills, cheese farm and villages](/netherlands/amsterdam/tours/amsterdam-private-tour-to-windmills-cheese-farm-and-villages/?format=md) | €300 | 7h | 4.96 (280) | private | Ranked #45 of 48 in Windmills & Countryside Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €11 to €600, median €119; typical length 5h 30m. 17 of 48 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/netherlands/amsterdam/windmills-countryside-tours-amsterdam/?format=md ## More in Amsterdam - All Amsterdam tours: https://guidekin.com/netherlands/amsterdam/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/netherlands/amsterdam/tours/small-group-giethoorn-zaanse-schans-w-pickup-small-boat/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/netherlands/amsterdam/?format=md