Last Updated on August 30, 2024 by Laura
Waterland. It sounds like a name from a fantasy movie until one discovers that is actually a quite extensive area of the Netherlands. Indeed, Waterland is a municipality in the North Holland province. This encompasses a series of picturesque villages and towns that guess what? Are located close by or surrounded by water. With my great surprise, I discovered that it’s incredibly easy to visit from Amsterdam and in this blog I will tell you exactly how to organise Netherlands’ Waterland day trip with public transport.
What is the Netherlands’ Waterland?
The Netherlands are famous for their water-based landscapes, but there is a place that encapsulates the country’s essence just in one name. Waterland. Yes it’s real, and No, I never heard about this place before I was planning my week to the country. Indeed, fascinated by my self-created mental picture of this land full of water, I did some research. In this regard, discovered that Waterland is one of the wettest places in the Netherlands as well as one of the oldest man-made polder-occupied areas of the country.
A waterlogged expanse that is probably easier to navigate than exploring on foot. Historically part of West Friesland and now technically called North Holland, Waterland is a place for the unexpected. Green landscapes, canals and polders alternates picturesque fishing villages of which the oldest one established in the 13th century. Quite an interesting alternative for those who wish to explore the Netherlands further than Amsterdam.
Waterland now
The Waterland municipality now encompasses 8 different villages that can be visited in 1 or two days. These are:
- Broek in Waterland
- Ilpendam
- Katwoude
- Marken
- Monnickendam
- Overleek
- Uitdam
- Watergang
- Zuiderwoude
Because Waterland is part of the North Holland region, many people often add Edam and Volendam as part of their itinerary. Indeed, this will give you a better perspective of the historical development of the whole area and won’t make you miss lovely places like Edam (where you can grab some very good cheese!).
Best season to visit the Netherlands’ Waterland
Spring and Summer are definitely the best seasons to visit this area of the Netherlands. In fact, because many villages are surrounded or close-by to water, possible flooding might make your visit miserable during the winter months. Autumn is still a borderline period to visit as weather might be changing easily. We visited during spring and we absolutely loved it. Weather was perfect, many villages were fully in bloom and no crowds! Summer, of course, is the peak period to visit Waterland as you can also navigate the canals and spend a lot of time outdoor enjoying the sunshine.
Getting to the Netherlands’ Waterland from Amsterdam
Getting to the Waterland/North Holland villages from Amsterdam is very very easy. Imagine that we did it with the public transport and with the twins on the strollers. Of course, if you have a car you can do an even easier hop off, but renting a car is not strictly necessary. Here below I’ll tell you exactly how to visit with the very-well connected bus line from Amsterdam.
Taking the bus from Amsterdam to Waterland
As I was travelling without a car (and with the twins). I was struggling a lot in understanding how to get to Waterland and North Holland on public transport. Indeed, this area is not well-connected by train and my only other choice was the bus. After a lengthy research, I discovered there is a quite underrated, and mostly unknown, special bus ticket that not only can take you to as many villages as you want in North Holland/Waterland, but it makes you saving a lot of money on single fares!
After some desperate days where I wanted almost to give up and rent a car, I found this ticket called “Go Dutch”. This is a special bus ticket created for tourists that allows you to hop and off (as many times as you want) for one day on the EBS bus lines. These are specific lines that travel across the Waterland area. The ticket cost €12,50 and it’s valid for one day.
To the convenience of tourists who wish to visit the area, they divided the itinerary into 3 different routes that one can follow. We managed to do the Orange and Blue routes that go through the Waterland and Small Town harbours of North Holland. If you want to get a complete tour of the whole region add the Red Route. For this, you’ll probably need an extra day.
How to buy tickets for the Go Dutch lines.
Don’t be fooled by the webpage “buy tickets” online button. It doesn’t work. The only way to get this ticket is through the ticket machines at the Amsterdam Central Train Station. Please note these tickets are not released from the regular train tickets booths. There are special booths called “Public Transport Tickets” (see photo above). We found one in front of the supermarket Albert Heijn To Go. You can immediately recognise them as they are stand-alone and specific for travels outside Amsterdam. The issued ticket has a chip inside and to use it you’ll just need to tap on and off from the bus. It activates automatically on your first tap.
Where is the EBS bus stop in Amsterdam train station?
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – EBS bus station
The EBS bus stop departing from Amsterdam is located at the top floor of the station. You will recognise it immediately because of the stained glass ceiling creating a beautiful multicolour effect. Depending which route you are taking make sure you are in the correct bus stop.
- The buses 314 and 316 go towards Edam/Volendam/ Broek in Waterland
- The buses 305/306 go towards Pumerend
Netherlands’ Waterland and North Holland day trip itinerary
As I wanted to get the most of this day trip in this area of the Netherlands, I expanded our itinerary also to some North Holland towns that are a must-visit if travelling in the Area. These are Edam and Volendam that were our fist two stops of the day. You can see our complete itinerary on the map above. You can do it both with public transport or by car. You can also change order of the towns you visit or add more in the group.
However, this is a recommended tour if you have just one day. These towns are quite small, so you can set a limit of 1-3 hour for each stop. If you want to spend half a day in one place, I recommend you to limit the stops on your route.
Edam
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – De Kaaswaag Edam by Henri Willig
Get yourself a cheesy start of the day with your first stop. From Amsterdam Central Station, take bus 314 to Edam and exit at the bus stop Busstation. This is a 5/6 minute walk from the centre of the town.
Edam is part of the North Holland region. It became a borough in 1357 and since then it’s primary economy was based only on one thing: cheese. That semi-hard round shaped cheese that is worldwide famous and served with different fruity jams comes exactly from here. A small town in the north of the Netherlands.
Cheese was probably also the main reason why this town became so famous in the Middle Ages and granted a permanent weekly “right to market” in 1526. A right that continued non-stop until 1922! Since 1989, the cheese market is held every Wednesday only in July and August. If you are a cheese lover, this is something you shouldn’t miss!
Things to do in Edam
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – Edam
The historical centre of Edam is very small to get around. You can see everything in the space of two hours. Of course, tasting cheese is a primary activity and I would recommend to pop into De Kaaswaag Edam by Henri Willig. This is a historical cheese “weighting house” dating 1778 where the cheese used to be weighted in occasion of the weekly market. The weigh house has not only a shop (where you can buy and taste cheese) but also a small exhibition.
Aside from tasting cheese, Edam has also a lovely centre where you can visit the oldest museum in the North Holland. This is located in the ‘Stone Merchant’s house’ a 15th-century Gothic house that is one of the oldest buildings in Edam.
A last unmissable landmark is the Carillon of Edam. Part of the Church of Our Dear Lady, this carillon tower has been designed in the 16th century and it’s one of the oldest in the Netherlands.
If you visit during summer, you probably want to the chance to get a coffee or drink near the Dam. Indeed, there are many pretty bars that open only during the warm season.
Practical information
- Distance from Amsterdam by bus: 30 mins
- Length of the visit: 2 hours
Where to stay in Edam
Meeuwen Manor – Photo Credits: Booking.com
Meeuwen Manor is probably one of the most peculiar accommodations where to stay in Edam (my favourite among all!). Indeed, this is an original 18th-century Dutch house that still preserve its historical charm. They have also free bikes to rent! If you want to opt for something more centrally located, l’Auberge Damhotel is located directly on the picturesque Keizersgracht canal. It has some nice, cosy rooms and an excellent restaurant.
Volendam
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – Volendam
Your next stop will be at a very short distance from Edam. Indeed, go back to the Edam Busstation. From here, take bus 316 towards Amsterdam Noord and stop at Volendam Centrum. Then walk about 7 mins to the seaside harbour.
Established in the 16th century, Volendam is a touristic and picturesque fishing town. It’s famous for being one of the few remaining places in the Netherlands where inhabitants still wear the traditional Dutch clothes. In this regards, if you want a peculiar souvenir from the Netherlands, here you can take a whole photoshoot in traditional clothes too!
Volendam most’s interesting and photogenic sites surround its marina. Here you can find some lovely shops, clogs makers and very nice restaurants. In this regard, if you are lucky to have a day of sunshine, Volendam waterside restaurants are probably a perfect spot for lunchtime. We opted for this option too and we stopped at lunch at Cafe de Dijk. This is a traditional Dutch restaurant and during summer it has also a nice outdoor terrace. They have also a kids menu and kids facilities that is always a pro!
After lunch, we did a little walk around the harbour while waiting for the ferry to Marken.
Taking the Marken Express Ferry
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – Marken Express Ferry
One of the most convenient (and quick) ways to get to the small island of Marken from Volendam, is taking the Express Ferry. This departs every 45 mins and it reaches the island in about 10/15 mins. We opted for this option thinking that the children would have surely had fun (and they did!). Moreover, it saved us some time. The ferry has some tables where guests can seat and watch the navigation or take something to drink/eat at the bar. There is also an outdoor seating area that we didn’t visit for safety of the children.
Tickets cost € 10 one way €16 return and you can buy them here. Please note that when you book a ticket, you will receive a voucher (not a ticket). This needs to be exchanged at the central office down the harbour. Make sure you exchange this with plenty of time as the ferry won’t wait for you
Practical information
- Distance from Edam by bus: 10 mins
- Distance from Amsterdam by bus: 40 mins
- Length of visit: 2 hours and 30 mins
Where to stay in Volendam
If you want to extend your stay in Volendam, the only hotel I would recommend is The Old Dutch. This is a nice hotel right on the harbour that has also an excellent restaurant. Rooms are clean and spacious and the unbeatable location allows you to explore the town very easily.
Marken
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – Marken
Marken, historically Markaland, is a little island part of the Waterland. It was separated from mainland Netherlands during the 13th century, during the formation of the Zuiderzee lake. For centuries, the island was completely isolated from the mainland. This contributed to the development of a local peculiar dialect called Merkerers. Because of this prolonged isolation during the centuries, Marken was considered the last bastion of traditional Dutch culture and subject of many folklorist studies during the 19-20th centuries.
One of the peculiarities of Marken are its houses. Indeed, due to the continuous flooding in the island, many accommodations are traditionally built on poles. After a flooding disaster in 1916 where many people lost their lives or homes, the government has started the construction of the Afsluitdijk (a water barrier to protect the area). This was complemented in 1957 by a dike connecting the island to the mainland. Therefore it can be easily said that Marken is a peninsula now.
What to do in Marken
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – Marken Harbour
Marken stretches for about 3 km. Therefore is quite easy to visit all in a few hours. It might be seems banal to suggest, but one of the best things to in Marken is walking! Indeed, from the very moment you arrive in its small harbour you’ll immediately feel the need to explore what’s beyond. The village expands from the back of the port area until the other end of the island and the different neighbourhoods are colourful and picturesque to see.
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – Grote Kerke in Marken
If you want to add a few more activities, I would recommend visiting a traditional house, heading down the lighthouse and pop inside the most peculiar church you’ll find in the Netherlands: Grote Kerk. I stumbled on this church by chance. The exterior is very sober but the interior of the church is not what you expect. Indeed, instead of the usual religious icons and pictures, you’ll find hanging models of historical ships. Not 100% sure about the history behind this choice but this is such a peculiar place that it needs to be seen! During summer, you can also take advantage of the numerous cafes and restaurants open on the harbour and have a longer stay.
Practical information
- Distance from Volendam by bus: 26 mins (with line 316). By Ferry 15 mins
- Distance from Amsterdam by bus: 1 hour
- Length of visit: 1 hours and 30 mins
Monnickendam
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – Monnickendam
To reach Monnickendam from Marken, take bust 111 from Marken Centrum and then get off at Monnickendam Zuideinde. From the bus stop to the centre of the town is just a 5 mins walk.
Dating 1355, Monnickendam became part of the Waterland only in 1991. It’s a lovely and small seaside town. It has a nice, walkable marina full of cafes and restaurant and a quaint city centre of which 16th-century De Speeltoren (bell tower) can seen from literally every corner.
Things to do in Monnickendam
Personally, we decided to undertake a walk in the city centre until the marina for then stopping at a cafe’ at the lovely de Koperen Vis. This has a nice terrace where to have a lovely break under the sunshine! If you want to add some more sightseeing, I recommend a tour of the De Speeltoren (bell tower) and its museum where you can learn more about the Waterland area and the city. Moreover, if you have some extra time to spare, have lunch at the Waag. This is Monnickenam’s historic weigh house dating 1382 and now converted into a lovely restaurant. It has also a nice view on the marina!
Practical information
- Distance from Marken by bus: 19 mins (with line 111)
- Distance from Amsterdam by bus: 50 mins
- Length of visit: 1 hours and 30 mins/ 2 hours
Where to Stay in Monnickendam
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip, Fortuna Spinoza – Photo credits: Booking.com
Honestly, I think that Monnickendam has one of the most beautiful accommodations in this area of the Netherlands! This is called Fortuna Spinoza. This is a historic house with an incredible history that starts since the 18th century! The renovation that has been done on the house is incredible with a great taste for decor.
Broek in Waterland
Netherlands’ Waterland day trip – Broek in Waterland
Possibly the most famous of all the towns in the Waterland, Broek-in-Waterland is, since the Middle Ages, a favourite residential places for merchants and seafarers coming from the central areas of Amsterdam. This because the town was particularly famous for a as a flourishing trading place due to grain imports from the Baltic Sea area, herring fishing and whaling.
In the 17th century, wealthy families from Amsterdam moved here and build beautiful stately homes known as “Broekergrijs” because of their grey colour. Thanks to its national monument status, much of the architecture of Broek-in-Waterland is protected since the Middle Ages. This makes wandering around this city like travelling back in time.
Things to do in Broek in Waterland
Summer is particularly good for visiting Broek in Waterland because one of the best things to do is renting a whisper-boat and navigate its pretty canals. You don’t need any particular licence for this as these boats are slow and safe to use. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Church of St. Nicolas, standing in the village since 1400.
Where to Stay in Broek in Waterland
The Inn on the Lake. Photo Credits: Booking.com
Broek in Waterland is one of the few places where you can find the Broekergrjs. So what’s better than stay in one of those original and historical state houses? The Inn on the Lake is s the old vicarage of the village. In this regard, is one of the rare houses in the village with a second floor. The Inn is exquisitely renovated (I have a particular love for the Italian style, Red Room!). They have also a beautiful terrace with a peaceful view on the canals. Dreamy place!
Practical information
- Distance from Monnickendam by bus: 12 mins (with line 314 or 316)
- Distance from Amsterdam by bus: 25 mins
- Length of the visit: 1 hours 30 mins – 2 hours (if navigating the canals).
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