route 3: small town harbours

This 8 hours route leaves from Amsterdam Central Station and heads towards places that used to be important harbours… until the sea was filled in to create new land.

Marken

The village of Marken used to be situated on an island. The houses were built on hills to protect them from the water. You’ll find quaint cafes on the harbour.

Volendam

Bustling with visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the world-famous port – Volendam may be somewhat touristy, but it’s certainly worth a visit.

Edam

Back in 1357, Edam was awarded the right to be a city and to create a toll-free harbour. That was the beginning of an amazing era of trade, which brought merchants and ship builders to these shores. It turned this small city into one of the region’s most important harbours in the (not so distant) past.

buy your ticket with 10% discount

It’s easy to travel to Amsterdam Country side for only €12,50 a day. Get 10% discount if you buy here online. The tickets are available for download immediately after payment.

buy your tickets local

If you coming from the city center, walk all the way through the station past track 14/15 into the hallway at the rear side. There you find at the bottom of the escalator the Public Transport Ticket shop.

Day tickets Adult

Day tickets Kids

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Edam

Back in 1357, Edam was awarded the right to be a city – and to create a toll-free harbour. That was the beginning of an amazing era of trade, which brought merchants and ship buildings to these shores, and turned this small city into one of the region’s most important harbours. One of them is the Edam Museum, located both at the former city hall as well as the home of a 16th century merchant, which takes you back to the Golden Age of Holland. But perhaps the most famous site in Edam is the cheese market, which operated until the 1920s. For a taste of the past, witness one of the re-enactments of the cheese market action, held each week during summer.

 

RENT A BIKE FROM TON
One of the best ways to go local is to go by bike. Make a tour to Middenbeemster! You can hand in Tons bike at the VVV office in Middenbeemster too. (just 2 min. from the bus station), Schepenmakersdijk 4-6.
T: +31 (0)299 371922, www.tontweewielers.nl

 

HOW TO GET THERE

From Amsterdam Central Station, take bus 314 to Edam and exit at the bus stop Busstation.

314 to Busstation (Edam).

Volendam

Bustling with visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the world-famous port, Volendam may be somewhat touristy, but it’s certainly worth a visit. Once known as the Pearl of the Zuyder Zee, Volendam has attracted visitors throughout the ages, including many artists. Take a walk away from the harbour, and down the back of the dike. There, you will discover an amazingly beautiful labyrinth of tiny streets and homes well worth exploring. While you’re there, try some local smoked eel or salted herring.

 

ART HOTEL SPAANDER
Staying at art hotel Spaander means bathing in cultural history and romance. Haven 15 – 19, Volendam. +T: +31 299 363 595, www.hotelspaander.nl/en/

 

Cruise between Volendam and Marken
For eighty years the Volendam-Marken Express has been faithfully providing a ferry service between the picturesque tourist attraction Volendam and the authentic fishers’ island of Marken.The Volendam-Marken Express gives a unique insight into the history of the former Zuiderzee. Haven 39, Volendam. T: +31 299 36 33 31, www.markenexpress.nl

HOW TO GET THERE

From Edam’s bus stop, take bus 316 and hop off at bushalte Julianaweg / Centrum, Volendam.

316 to Julianaweg/Centrum.

Marken

Picturesque Marken was an island in the middle of the Zuyder Zee until 1957. Today it is connected to the mainland by a dike, and its wooden houses are snuggled together on the former island. It’s like walking through an open air museum! So don’t be shy about exploring the village streets and alleyways – where houses were built on hills to protect them from the waterfloods. You’ll find special cafes on the harbour. And if you’re lucky, you may spot someone in traditional costume.

 

CLOQEXPERIENCE
Visit the woodenshopfactory with ?a traditional clog maker!. Kets 52. ?T: +31 299 601 250?www.theclogexperience.com

 

HOW TO GET THERE

To return to Amsterdam Central Station, take bus 315 from station Kerkbuurt-Centrum. This bus departs 2x per hour and the trip takes 35 minutes.

Trip tips

The routes below are suggestions for 6, 7 or 8 hour tours. The LocalBus tickets is valid for all three routes and it is possible to create custom combinations of stops yourself.

ROUTE 1: WONDERFUL WATERLAND

A 6-hour route that takes you from quaint villages to a former island.

Broek in Waterland looks like a postcard, but it’s real! This picturesque village is just ±20 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station. No wonder so many famous rich 17th & 18th century merchants and seafarers built their home there.

Marken was an island in the middle of the Zuyder Zee until 1957. Today it is connected to the mainland by a dike – with its little wooden houses snuggled together on the former island.

Monnickendam is ideal for exploring on your own – with cute cafes, historic sites and nice shops.

Route 2: Heading to Amsterdam Waterland

A 7-hour route to heart of the lowlands – for a true taste of Holland, without the tourist crowds. Including a visit to 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Just outside Amsterdam you’ll find the lovely Graft-De Rijp. Actually, they are 2 small villages joined together as a municipality. In the 17th century, when de Rijp was still connected to the Zuyder Zee, it was famous for hemp (for rope making) fishing and whale hunting.
Middenbeemster is one of the towns that make up the municipality of De Beemster. The area is also part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam – a ring of 42 forts built in the 19th century to protect the city of Amsterdam.
Purmerend is a great combination of modern and traditional Holland.

 

Route 3: Small town harbours

This 8 hours route leaves from Amsterdam Central Station and heads towards places that used to be important harbors… until the sea was filled in to create new land.

Marken is a village that used to be an island, where houses were built on hills to protect them from the water. You’ll find quaint cafes on the harbor.
Bustling with visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the world-famous port – Volendam may be somewhat touristy, but it’s certainly worth a visit.
Back in 1357, Edam was awarded the right to be a city – and to create a toll-free harbor. That was the beginning of an amazing era of trade, which brought merchants and ship builders to these shores. And turned this small city into one of the region’s most important harbors.

 

ticket-office

For travel information you can call 0900 – 9292. For tickets and personal advice you can go to the Public Transport Ticket shop.

 

Opening hours Ticket Office EBS

We are open 7 days a week: from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am tot 6.00 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.