Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 274 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat worth booking?
Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat is a 9-hour experience in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from $158 per person. It scores 75 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 274 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 75 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (274)
- Duration
- 9 hours
- From
- $158 per person
Enjoy easy hotel pickup on this small-group day tour from Amsterdam, visiting the idyllic canal village of Giethoorn, known as the “Dutch Venice,” with a photo stop at the iconic Lego Hotel in Zaandam, and the historic village of Zaanse Schans. Explore Zaanse Schans with a traditional clog and cheese factory demonstration, try on wooden clogs, taste Dutch cheese, see iconic windmills and visit a diamond factory. Admire the green wooden houses along the River Zaan and capture Instagram-worthy photos while learning about 18th- and 19th-century Dutch village life. Cruise Giethoorn’s canals on a small electric boat guided by a friendly expert—you can even navigate the boat yourself for an authentic local experience, avoiding crowds and enjoying open views. Wander past charming thatched-roof houses, wooden bridges, and scenic canals. This full day small-group tour combines scenic beauty, culture, history, and hands-on experiences for a seamless, unforgettable day in the Netherlands.
What you get
About this experience
Enjoy easy hotel pickup on this small-group day tour from Amsterdam, visiting the idyllic canal village of Giethoorn, known as the “Dutch Venice,” with a photo stop at the iconic Lego Hotel in Zaandam, and the historic village of Zaanse Schans. Explore Zaanse Schans with a traditional clog and cheese factory demonstration, try on wooden clogs, taste Dutch cheese, see iconic windmills and visit a diamond factory. Admire the green wooden houses along the River Zaan and capture Instagram-worthy photos while learning about 18th- and 19th-century Dutch village life. Cruise Giethoorn’s canals on a small electric boat guided by a friendly expert—you can even navigate the boat yourself for an authentic local experience, avoiding crowds and enjoying open views. Wander past charming thatched-roof houses, wooden bridges, and scenic canals. This full day small-group tour combines scenic beauty, culture, history, and hands-on experiences for a seamless, unforgettable day in the Netherlands.
What's included
Included
- Hotel Pickup for two or more participants at one location
- Professional guide
- Boat trip on a small electric boat in Giethoorn, guided and drive your own boat experience.
- Tour coach or van
- Guided tour in clogs, cheese and diamond factory in Zaanse Schans.
Not included
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Big touristy 40-seater boat, at own cost and own arrangement. We offer small boat local experience.
What you'll see and do
Zaanse Schans
Visit Zaanse Schans traditional wooden windmills and distinctive green wooden houses which were relocated there to recreate the atmosphere of an 18th/19th-century village. Duration is about 1.5 hours including visits with demonstrations at cheese factory and wooden shoes factory. Photo stop at the bank of Zaan River for the best panoramic view of all the windmills.
90 minutes here · Admission included
Kooijman Souvenirs & Clogs Wooden Shoe Workshop
(This part is included in Zaanse Schans) Visit wooden shoes factory to learn about history of traditional Dutch clogs. Attend a workshop with demonstration of how clogs are made. Try fitting wooden shoes to have a feeling of wearing wooden shoes. Some free time for souvenirs shopping.
20 minutes here
Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm
(This part is included in Zaanse Schans) Attend a professional demonstration of quality cheese-making by the staff in traditional Dutch costumes. Followed by free tasting of a wide cheese selection, and other typical Dutch treats. Free time for Dutch delights shopping.
20 minutes here · Admission included
IJsselmeer (Lake IJssel)
On the way to Giethoorn, enjoy interesting facts and stories from our friendly guides pointing out of significant sights including the largest artificial lake in the Netherlands - IJsselmeer. IJsselmeer is a closed off inland bay, bordered by the Afsluitdijk (Enclosing Dike) which is the largest dike in the Netherlands with 32KM long, constructed during 1927-1932, being part of the Delta Works, Seven Modern Wonders. We will also pass by Ketelbrug, it is a bridge also a dike to get a good feeling of a dike. Unlike the largest one Enclosing dike, it is only 800-metre-long (2,600 ft) bridge opened on 15 June 1970.
Pass by without stopping
Giethoorn
Discover a Dutch village only accessible by boat on a day trip to Giethoorn from Amsterdam. Experience the "Venice of the Netherlands" where there are no main roads and all transport is on the water of the many canals. Take 1-hour small electric boat (9 people maximum) led by our friendly guide cruising around the village. Be your own captain, you can even drive the boat to experience a real local lifestyle. See the unique traditional thatch-roof cottages connected to arch-shape wooden bridges (there are over 150 arch-shape wooden bridges in the Giethoorn).
210 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Amsterdam
Meet at the pick up area at the canal side of Double Tree by Hilton Hotel. Pls provide mobile contact and connect on WhatsApp for free calls with Wi-Fi or internet. In case we do not see you there, we call you.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Meet at the pick up area at the canal side of Double Tree by Hilton Hotel. Pls provide mobile contact and connect on WhatsApp for free calls with Wi-Fi or internet. In case we do not see you there, we call you.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Cherry Travel & Tours
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- If you come with luggage, strollers, or bulk items, please inform the tour operator Cherry Tours in advance.
- Children younger than 12 years need car seats, infants need baby chair provided by travellers.
- Cancellations within 24 hours due to failure to inform tour operator for special arrangement will not get refund.
- Infant with less than 6 years old, we do not recommend this tour.
- Cancellation due to any of the above unfulfilled conditions, will not be refunded.
- The trip offers small open boat, if customers wish to take a big boat (covered, with 40 passengers on board, shared with other groups), at own cost, arrangement and subject to availability
- Not recommended for travellers with reduced mobility.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 273 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Pace and timing
3 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
273 verified traveler reviews for Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Very good tour
This was a great tour. It’s a very long day, due to traffic and other delays it was almost 11 hours instead of 9. Muhtki was a great tour guide.
via Viator
The tour is exactly what...
The tour is exactly what was expected to see. It’s beautiful and interesting. It’s a long day due to distance but expected. My only complaint is the fact that I was told to go to a different hotel as the pick up place. I arrived 15 minutes before the time I was expected to be there and waited and waited. There were 4 other people waiting which booked through a different company not Viator. At some point a driver stopped to pick up people. I asked if he was with Viator and he said no. I stood next to him since he was checking the other 4 people. He knew he had one more person to pick up there but didn’t even asked me if I was there for the tour. They left. 15-20. More minutes went by and I contacted the number I was given. They said they stopped by but I wasn’t there. I explain that I have been there for over 45 minutes. They contacted the driver and luckily he had picked up 2 other passengers and was driving by again. To my surprised it was the same person and same van. I was given no explanation. No I’m sorry. Nothing. I told him that I asked if he was with Viator. He said that he missed me because I was on another piece of paper since the other 4 guests had booked through a different company. When I got on the van I was not happy. I’m not sure if he knew that he was picking up 5 people why he wouldn’t ask my name at the first pick up time to confirm with his list. The tour was very anyway. But not the best way to start the vacation.
Response from the operator: Dear Luis, thank you for your detailed feedback and for the 4-star review. We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and found it beautiful and interesting. We’re sorry for the confusion at pickup. This tour is operated for customers booking through different tour operators and platforms, so guests may be travelling together even though they booked through different companies. We have informed our guide for improvement. We’re happy the tour itself met your expectations, and we’ll do our best to provide an even smoother experience and earn that 5th star next time. We hope to welcome you again for our other tour adventures! Happy travels!
via Viator
Very nice experience!
Very nice tour. Both destinations were wonderful. Our tour guide gave us a lot of great information, but his accent and fast-paced speech made him somewhat difficult to understand. Also, it wasn’t clear that we could be picked up at our hotel. Probably our fault that we overlooked it. Overall, we would still recommend.
Response from the operator: Hello Jeff, Thank you for your kind review and for recommending our tour! We’re glad you enjoyed both destinations and the complete information provided by our professional guide. We have also shared your feedback with him as an opportunity for improvement. For pickup, our tour description asks guests to contact us in advance to arrange hotel pickup. If no pickup is arranged, our regular meeting point is DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station. We offer personal service contacting each and every one guest the day before the tour date through WhatsApp and the booking platform, but unfortunately could not reach you beforehand. As a small-group tour operator, we always try to provide personal service and go the extra mile rather than simply waiting for guests to contact us. We’re happy everything worked out and hope to welcome you again on another personalised tour!
via Tripadvisor
This trip was outstanding...
This trip was outstanding made by the fact that the guide Mr Mukti did an exceptional job in every aspect. One of the key things he did was to change the sequence of visits which helped us avoid crowds in Giethoorn and zaanse... It was a very successful trip
Response from the operator: Dear Channadandra, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy you had an outstanding trip. Mukti will be delighted to hear your kind words. One of the advantages of our small-group tours is the flexibility to adjust the itinerary for a more comfortable experience. Combined with our unique small electric boat canal cruise in Giethoorn, it makes the tour more personal and fun. Thank you for choosing Cherry Tours. We hope to welcome you again soon for our other fun tours!
via Viator
Great tour and a fantastic experience! I really enjoyed it. The guide was amazing, friendly
I had an amazing time on this tour and enjoyed every moment of it. The guide was excellent, very friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience enjoyable and memorable. Everything was well organized, and I learned a lot while having fun. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. Thank you for a wonderful experience!
Response from the operator: Dear Ahmed, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you had an amazing time and enjoyed every moment of the tour. Creating fun, memorable, and informative experiences is exactly what we strive for, and your kind words mean a lot to our team. Thank you for recommending us to other travelers. We hope to welcome you again on one of our other small-group adventures from Amsterdam, such as Bruges, Cologne, Maastricht, or Giethoorn. Safe travels, and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Warm regards, Cherry Tours
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 96
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 75
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Amsterdam.
How much does Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat cost?
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Prices start at $158 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Amsterdam usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat take?
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Plan for about 9 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Amsterdam is not rushed.
Is Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 75 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 274 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Amsterdam, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat?
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Around 96 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Amsterdam can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Amsterdam and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Amsterdam within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Amsterdam?
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On Outty we rank every Amsterdam experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with 10 Tastings, Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Local Guide and Small Group, Amsterdam 90 minutes Canal Cruise with bar and snacks on board.. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat?
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Included: Hotel Pickup for two or more participants at one location; Professional guide; Boat trip on a small electric boat in Giethoorn, guided and drive your own boat experience; Tour coach or van; and Guided tour in clogs, cheese and diamond factory in Zaanse Schans. Not included: Gratuities; Lunch; and Big touristy 40-seater boat, at own cost and own arrangement. We offer small boat local ex. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat?
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Meet at the pick up area at the canal side of Double Tree by Hilton Hotel. Pls provide mobile contact and connect on WhatsApp for free calls with Wi-Fi or internet. In case we do not see you there, we call you. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: If you come with luggage, strollers, or bulk items, please inform the tour operator Cherry; Children younger than 12 years need car seats, infants need baby chair provided by travell; Infant with less than 6 years old, we do not recommend this tour; and Not recommended for travellers with reduced mobility. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Amsterdam. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Small Group Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans w/ Pickup & Small Boat?
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Across 274 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
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