Amsterdam & Dutch Countryside Shore Excursion from Ijmuiden

This full day Ijmuiden to Amsterdam shore excursion combines the highlights of Amsterdam with an afternoon in the Dutch countryside, giving you both city sightseeing and rural Dutch tradition in a single day. It is one of the fuller day trips from Ijmuiden, pairing a private city tour and canal cruise with countryside stops at a windmill, a cheese farm, and a traditional fishing village.

Your tour starts with a private transfer from the Ijmuiden cruise port into Amsterdam, about 14 miles (22km) and roughly 30 minutes depending on traffic. When you arrive you meet your guide and begin on foot. The walking tour passes the Begijnhof, a courtyard where beguines, pious Catholic women who lived and dressed like nuns, are documented living as early as 1346. You also see the Bloemenmarkt flower market on the Singel Canal, the Opera and Ballet Houses, the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), and the Red Light District.

Next comes an Amsterdam canal cruise, one of the most popular ways to see the city. Over 3 million people take a canal cruise here every year. You pass gabled houses and glide under historic bridges as your guide explains why Amsterdam's canal ring is sometimes called the Venice of the North.

After the canal cruise you have time on your own for lunch (not included) before heading out to the countryside.

The afternoon covers Dutch countryside traditions. You drive along canals and dikes through land reclaimed from the sea, past the canal houses that mark the polder landscape. The first stop is a windmill dating back around 400 years, where you also have the chance to go inside.

The remaining stops are set by your interests. Options include sampling Gouda or Edam cheese at a working farm, visiting a traditional fishing village such as Volendam or Marken to see old fishing boats and the traditional dress some residents still wear, watching how wooden clogs are made, or trying local fried fish or a Dutch pancake. Edam itself has held a chartered cheese market since 1526, made permanent in 1594, on the strength of city rights dating to 1357.

Your guide arranges the countryside stops around what interests your group most. At the end of the day your driver returns you to the pier in Ijmuiden.

• Mobility: Due to uneven surfaces, steps, and walking distances, this itinerary is not suitable for guests using wheelchairs. Please contact us for alternative sightseeing options, including private driving tours that may better accommodate your needs.