If you’re visiting Amsterdam for a few days, planning a day trip is an easy way to see more of the Netherlands. One of my favorite trips is a trio of small towns reachable by bus: Edam, Volendam, and Marken. This circuit though North Holland shows you a more traditional side of the country, where farming and fishing was a way of life. It’s quite a contrast to the big city, and that’s why I think Edam, Volendam, and Marken are the perfect day trip from Amsterdam.
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Overview of the Edam, Volendam, and Marken Trip
Edam, Volendam, and Marken are close enough that you can visit all of them in a single day. And you can do it on your own by public transportation! You’ll get to enjoy charming canal views, hop on a ferry boat, and learn about traditional life in Holland.
While you could focus on just one of these towns as your day trip, putting them together gives you a lot of bang for your sightseeing buck. I can’t take credit for this idea: it’s outlined in Rick Steves’ Amsterdam Guide, which I recommend picking up before your trip!
Your day trip will start in the small town of Edam. After a 30 minute bus ride from Amsterdam, you can stroll the picturesque canals and try some of their world-famous cheese. From Edam, you’ll take a quick bus ride over to Volendam’s nostalgic waterfront. That’s where you can pick up the ferry to Marken in the afternoon.
As the grand finale you’ll explore the tiny fishing village of Marken. Cozy little homes and traditional costumes take you back to when Marken’s fishing boats sailed the Zuiderzee. Now this “island” is connected by a causeway, so there’s a convenient bus back to Amsterdam. (Full details for planning your trip are below.)
Highlights of Edam
The Story of Edam Cheese
To me, the “must-see” of Edam is its cheese museum. The Story of Edam Cheese is an interactive museum that tells the story of this famous product and the people who made it. Historically, Edam was where farmers of the area brought their cheese to be weighed and sold. The museum shows you the inner workings of a farmhouse and outlines the process of cheese making. It all starts with a dairy cow, then the milk is processed, and finally the cheese is molded into the characteristic round shape.
The museum is operated by cheese producer Henri Willig, and you can sample their tasty products next door. It’s fun to check out all the unusual flavors, but make sure to try the authentic Edam cheese too. Tickets are €8.00 and give you a 10% discount at the Henry Willig store.
Edam Kaaswaag (Cheese Weigh House)
Another cheese-related sight? That’s right! Edam’s historic cheese weighing house (kaaswaag) was built in 1778. It was the heart of the action at Edam’s cheese market. Farmers brought their cheese in on boats, the cheeses were weighed on the official scale, and then the buying and selling began. Today, the cheese weigh house is a nice photo spot and another outpost of the Henri Willig cheese empire.
The Kaaswaag is open seasonally April through September. If you happen to be visiting in July or August, you can see a re-creation of the cheese market on Wednesday mornings.
Walking Around Edam
Edam is a wonderful town to explore on foot. You’ll see quiet canals lined with beautiful gardens and a few historic bridges. As you walk towards the town center, you’ll pass the gothic bell tower called the Speeltoren. It was once the spire of the Kleine Kerk, but the church itself was demolished.
At the main square (Damplein), you’ll find a collection of shops and restaurants plus the Edam Museum. I skipped the museum, but it looked interesting if you have extra time. Wander further to find the imposing brick facade of the Grote Kerk, Edam’s main church.
If you’d like a complete self-guided walk of Edam, there’s one in the Rick Steves Amsterdam Guide.
Highlights of Volendam
Marken Express Ferry
Honestly, the best part of touristy Volendam is probably the voyage over to Marken. You’ll leave Volendam’s little harbor and enjoy a scenic trip across the IJsselmeer, a freshwater lake formed by enclosing part of the North Sea in 1932. The Marken Express arrives at the even-smaller harbor of Marken in about 30 minutes.
The ferry to Marken runs about every 45 minutes between 10:30 am and 6:00 pm (longer hours in peak season). There’s not really a need to book in advance, but you can buy tickets online.
Touristy Restaurants and Shops
Volendam’s waterfront is appealing to walk but filled with the sort of touristy shops and restaurants that don’t merit staying too long. You’ll find a long row of eateries serving standard Dutch fare and seafood at inflated prices. In between there are kitschy shops were you can get old-timey portraits wearing traditional Dutch outfits. I’d recommend spending more time in Edam and Marken instead.
Highlights of Marken
Marken Village Walk
The best part of visiting Marken is just getting to walk around this time-warp village. There are two sides to town, so make sure to see both. I’d start with the Havenbuurt close to the port where the ferry arrives. Cross the little canal and you’ll enter a world of tiny houses with well-tended gardens. Don’t be afraid to walk down the narrow lanes–these are actually streets.
Next, you can walk across the Wilhelmina Bridge to the Kerkbuurt. This is the neighborhood where you’ll find the Grote Kerk and the Marker Museum described below. I would start by visiting those spots, but there are some really picturesque spots worth exploring on this side of Marken as well.
Grote Kerk
Marken’s Grote Kerk (“big church“) is a lovely church that proudly shows off the town’s heritage. Model ships hang above the marine blue benches, with sun motifs decorating the arched glass windows. At the front of the church there’s a list of all the Grote Kerk’s pastors going back to 1579. And along the walls you can find a collection of old photos that capture Marken’s past days as a fishing village.
Marker Museum
For an up-close look at Marken’s past, stop by the Marker Museum. This small museum proudly displays traditional costumes of Marken (including wooden shoes) along with household items like furniture. In fact, the best part of visiting the Marker Museum is getting to see what it’s like inside of one of the traditional houses. Cozy rooms with a signature blue and yellow paint scheme were a refuge for fishermen and their families. Make sure to watch the video at the beginning of the museum too.
Planning Your Trip to Edam, Volendam, and Marken
This day trip is wonderfully simple to plan. Nothing here really requires advance reservations. You can use regular public transportation and go any day of the week. Just be aware that some sights may have slightly different hours on the weekend. I would plan to spend the whole day, but it’s possible to make the trip shorter.
Here’s roughly what my schedule for the day looked like:
9:30 Bus to Edam
10:00-12:30 Explore Edam, visit the Story of Edam Cheese and the Kaaswaag
12:45 Bus to Volendam Centrum
1:00-2:00 Lunch in Volendam
2:15 Ferry boat to Marken
2:45-4:45 Explore Marken, visit the Marker Museum and the Grote Kerk
5:00 pm Bus back to Amsterdam
The only change I would make to this schedule is eating lunch in Edam if possible. To me, the restaurants on the Volendam waterfront were nothing special. I also would have liked a little more time in Marken, so consider heading there earlier.
Looking for more ideas for Amsterdam? Check out my guide on the best things to do in Amsterdam!
Getting Around North Holland by Public Transportation
Getting around the Netherlands by public transportation is easy! If you’re comfortable navigating with Google Maps, just type in your destinations and go. You can pay for buses, trams, and trains with a contactless credit card or with the OVPay app. Always remember to “tap out” before exiting, and the system will automatically calculate your fare.
For those who would like a detailed explanation, here are step-by-step instructions for this trip to Edam, Volendam, and Marken:
Amsterdam to Edam
To reach Edam by bus, you can depart from either Amsterdam Noord Station or Amsterdam Centraal.
I went with option #1: Amsterdam Noord, which you can easily reach by metro. (Yes, there’s a subway in Amsterdam!) Take the metro to Noord and head upstairs to the bus station. Bus #110 or #112 are likely your fastest routes to reach Edam.
If you’re going from Amsterdam Centraal, you’ll walk or take the tram up to the station. To reach the bus station, follow the IJpassage across the train lines and find the bus station on the upper floor. Then pick up either the #314 or #316 bus to Edam.
Once you’re in Edam, follow signs for the Centrum. You’ll head towards a metal lifting bridge and turn right at the canal just before you reach it.
Edam to Volendam
Head back to the Edam bus station and pick up the bus to Volendam (likely #316). Make sure your bus is going to Volendam Centrum. In Volendam, you’ll head toward the Volendams Museum and turn right down Zeestraat to reach the waterfront.
Ferry from Volendam to Marken
You should be able to see the ferry boats at the far end of the waterfront. Head down to the dock and buy a ticket for the next ferry or a later departure. The ferry runs about every 45 minutes. You won’t need a return ticket, since you’ll be taking the bus from Marken.
Marken to Amsterdam
Marken’s bus station is outside the village near a big parking lot. I suggest taking the #111 bus to Amsterdam Noord and then using the metro to reach Amsterdam’s city center. It’s also possible to get to Amsterdam Centraal Station by bus with a transfer in Broek in Waterland.
More Tips for Visiting Edam, Volendam, and Marken
- Avoiding large tour groups – Tour buses regularly bring large groups of visitors to Edam, Volendam, and Marken. Enjoy them early or late for the smallest crowds. Be flexible with your exploring to work around them.
- Dress for the weather – The weather on the IJsselmeer can be significantly cooler and windier than in Amsterdam. I would bring a jacket, dress in layers, and be prepared for rain. Otherwise you may be caught in a downpour without an umbrella like I was!
