Highlights
- Beemsterpolder & windmills
- Stay at cattle farm
- Bikeride passing old fishingvillages
- Antique auctionbuilding
- Visit a cheesemaker
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1.
Just north outside Amsterdam we find ourself in the serenity of Waterland. This peat meadow area was to soggy for agriculture therefore the farmers are keeping stock. From the cowmilk they make severel typical dutch products like, cheese, yoghurt, buttermilk and custard. Farmers traded their goods with the Zuiderzee fishermen from Monnickendam, Volendam and Edam. From a silent electrical boat we enjoy the natural sounds and widespread polder landscape. In Edam we stop for a short visit at fort ‘Edam' which is part of the De fence Line of Amsterdam, which was placed on the World Heritage List in 1996. This 135 km-long line of defense encircling the capital city was constructed between 1883 and 1920. The defense line could be operationalized within 48 hours by flooding the surrounding areas. Edam is a small town located at the IJsselmeer (former Zuiderzee) famous for the Edammer cheese a perfect place to have lunch. We hop on bikes to explore the coastline of the IJsselmeer. The ferry takes us to the island of Marken which is now connected to the mainland by a dike. Polderland is not strong enough to support heavy brick houses, therefor you will see that most houses here are build out of wood in contrast to the most parts of the Netherlands.
The Beemster is the first so-called polder in the Netherlands that was reclaimed from a lake, the water being extracted out of the lake by windmills. The Beemster Polder was dried during the period 1609 through 1612. It has preserved intact its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dykes and settlements, laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles. Because of its historical relevance, and because the original structure of the area is still largely intact, the Beemster was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1999. We visit the villages Graft and De Rijp in this area. At a typical dutch farm we spent the night, what would be more appropriate in this cattle-area?
Day 2.
After a healthy fresh farm breakfast we leave to visit the windmills of the Schermerpolder. See for your own eyes how the windmills are able to drench a whole lake. Nearby we go to a cheese maker. Cows are kept here in a highly modernized and computerized stable. The milk is mainly used to produce several kinds of local cheese. After we see how the cheese is being produced we make a short stop in Alkmaar, which is well known for it's cheese market. Now it's time we visit a unique auction building from 1912, built on the water, where we take place in the seats for auction. The goods pass by in small botes, you have to be quick.
Are you able to get a good price for the potatoes? The engine whistles and the fireman puts coal onto the fire. Wooden partitions creak, wheels sing and steam hisses. You find yourselves at the Steam Tram Museum receiving a most thrilling journeys through time. Enjoy the impressive collection of Dutch steam tram rolling stock, antique baggage, authentic signals and signaling devices.We end this tour at the great divide from the IJsselmeer to the North Sea, the Afsluitdijk (Closure Dike). This major dike in the Netherlands, constructed between 1927 and 1933 and running from North Holland province, to the Friesland province, over a length of 32 km (20 miles) and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level. It is a fundamental part of the larger Zuiderzee Works, damming off the Zuiderzee, a salt water inlet of the North Sea and turning it into the fresh water lake of the IJsselmeer.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
More participants on a booking - lower price per person!
Price Includes:
All transportation, private tour guide, background information, entrance fees mentioned in the program, meals (lunch 2x, dinner and breakfast), accommodation.
Price Excludes:
Drinks at dinner, extra entrance fees, changes to program, tips and all other (personal) expenses.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Netherlands
Local Culture
Sightseeing
National Parks
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