In short
- Windmills, green wooden houses and demonstrations: the Zaanse Schans.
- A fishing port, the waterside, a more authentic village away from the windmills: Volendam, possibly with Marken.
- Little time (half a day): the Zaanse Schans, 24 minutes away by bus.
- A full day: Volendam and Marken, or both sites together using bus 801.
The Zaanse Schans
The Zaanse Schans, in Zaandam, brings together working windmills, green wooden houses, workshops, a cheese farm, a clog workshop and several museums on the banks of the Zaan. The village is still free to enter in 2026; only the windmills and museums charge admission. The Zaanse Schans Ticket costs €29.50 (€20 for ages 4 to 17) and gives access to two windmills and the participating museums; a single windmill costs €7.50. Most places open from 9:00 to 17:00.
- Time: half a day is enough.
- Transport: bus 800 from Central Station, about 24 minutes; or the train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans (17 minutes) then a 15-minute walk.
- Advantages: everything is grouped together and easy to visit, including with children.
- Drawbacks: very busy with coaches, especially in the middle of the day; part of the attractions is paid.
Volendam (and Marken)
Volendam and Marken are two former fishing villages on the Markermeer. Volendam draws the crowds with its dike, shops, fishmongers, cafés and studios offering photos in traditional costume; Marken, Protestant and an island until 1957, is calmer, with its green and black wooden houses and its lighthouse. The Marken Express boat links the two villages in about 30 minutes. The Volendams Museum is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00 (€8).
- Time: 3 to 4 hours for Volendam alone, a full day with Marken.
- Transport: bus 316 from Central Station to Volendam; Marken is reached by metro 52 to Noord then bus 315, or by boat from Volendam.
- Advantages: the seafront, the fish, the chance to combine bus and boat.
- Drawbacks: fewer indoor places to visit; Volendam is very touristy along the dike.
Comparison
| Zaanse Schans | Volendam | |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | Windmills, workshops, museums | Harbour, dike, costume photos, Marken |
| Recommended time | Half a day | 3-4 h, or a full day with Marken |
| Trip from Centraal | Bus 800, about 24 min | Bus 316 |
| Cost | Village free; windmills and museums paid | Village free; museums €4 to €8 |
| With children | Very good | Good |
| In bad weather | Sheltered museums and workshops | Less pleasant (wind on the dike) |
Doing both in the same day
Bus 801 links the Zaanse Schans to Volendam via Edam and Purmerend, every 30 minutes at weekends and, on weekdays, until 18 October 2026 according to the published timetables (check before you leave). The plan: the morning at the Zaanse Schans from 9:00, before the groups, then bus 801 to Volendam for a fish lunch and a walk along the dike.
Our advice
Choose the Zaanse Schans if you want the classic image of the Netherlands, with windmills, and if you are short of time. Choose Volendam (with Marken) if you prefer the waterside, a walk and fish. For more ideas, see our guide to excursions from Amsterdam and the one on windmills around Amsterdam, and for transport tickets our guide to getting around Amsterdam.
