Dutch Food, Windmills & Countryside Tour
Visit windmills, the Dutch countryside and enjoy the best of Dutch food with a private guide and driver
Discover the rich history of Dutch cuisine on this immersive countryside tour
Travel in comfort with luxury van transportation, picked up right from your hotel in Amsterdam. This exclusive tour is designed for small groups of up to 6 guests, offering an intimate, personalized experience. Between village stops, you’ll drive through the picturesque Dutch countryside—passing grazing cows, lush green fields, canals lined with willows, and traditional farmhouses with red-tiled roofs. Your guide will share stories about rural life, local traditions, and the landscape that has helped shape Dutch food culture for centuries.
Step back in time at Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum village that showcases traditional Dutch life. Nestled along the River Zaan, it features historic wooden houses and several functioning windmills, some of which date back to the 17th century. Enjoy a guided walk through this picturesque setting while visiting the spice mill De Huisman for a speculaas tasting, crafting your own hot chocolate at a local cocoa shop, sampling a freshly made stroopwafel, and witnessing a traditional wooden clog demonstration. It’s a charming look into the Netherlands’ rural traditions and way of life.
Your next stop is the village of Edam. Walk through the cobbled streets of this historic village and enjoy two flavorful experiences. At a traditional Dutch butcher shop, sample savory specialties like ‘osseworst’, ‘grillworst’, and ‘kruidnagelworst’. Then, visit a candy shop to try some Dutch “drop”—the nation’s beloved licorice treat—with insights into its unusual flavors and history.
After a short drive, you’ll stop at a smokehouse restaurant run by a local family for a tasting of classic Dutch fish. Sample herring, smoked eel, and crispy fried cod—paired with a glass of jenever or local beer in true Dutch style.
Your last stop is a visit to the charming harbor town of Monnickendam, where you’ll enjoy a rich Dutch cheese tasting that includes everything from Gouda and Edam to Leiden cheese.
Tour Highlights
- Luxury van pick-up & drop-off from your hotel
- All food & drink tastings included
- Expert local guide
- Guided walking tours through each village & Zaanse Schans
- Entrance tickets to Zaanse Schans included
Where does the tour start and end?
A complimentary pick-up and drop-off service is included with this tour for all locations within Amsterdam. If you would like to be picked up or dropped off outside of Amsterdam, please contact us to discuss the available options. Additional charges may apply.
Which countryside villages and spots will I visit?
During the tour, you will visit the famous windmills of the Zaanse Schans as well as the charming, centuries-old villages of Monnickendam and Edam.
Can you cater for food allergies and dietary restrictions?
The tour is well suited for most food allergies and dietary requirements. Unfortunately, we can not cater for the vegan lifestyle.
How many can join the tour?
How much food is served?
Come hungry and do not make a dinner reservation for at least 3 hours or so after the tour as you will enjoy lots of Dutch food
What non-alcoholic options are available?
A wide selection of delicious non-alcholic beverages, including at the Dutch wine tasting, is available.
Will the tour go ahead in bad weather?
The tour will go ahead in any weather, unless a ‘code orange’ warning has been issued by the Dutch weather institute KNMI. In case of a cancellation due to such circumstances, we will try to offer an alternative date, and if that is not possible in your case, you will receive a full refund.
How much walking is involved?
Around 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) on easy terrain. The majority of the tastings are seated, and between tastings you will walk and stand still for up to 20 minutes. As some of the tasting locations are in centuries-old buildings, you may encounter small steps and steep, narrow staircases. Restrooms may also be located upstairs or downstairs. Please contact us if you have reduced mobility and, for example, use a walker or wheelchair. As this is a private tour, we will be happy to discuss with you if and how we can adjust the tour for you.
What an amazing tour. Our guide Jan was awesome! Very knowledgeable about the history and culture of Amsterdam. Our food stops were all different and represented the variety of foods that can be found in Amsterdam. All were very yummy!! I highly recommend this tour!!
I had the greatest time during my tour this past Sunday. Lots of good local food with a great guide. Each place has been picked carefully and represents different aspects of the city’s food universe, from the classic apple pie to Indonesian-inspired dish. Being in Amsterdam for a full week, I went back to many of the places. I recommend 100%!
We had such a wonderful time with Thijs on the Grand Dutch Food & History Tour! I expected good things, since Rick Steves gave Amsterdam Food Tours high marks in his Amsterdam travel book, but the tour exceeded expectations. It did not feel like a tour but having a lovely walk around the city with a friend, who knew all of the good spots to visit and enjoy fantastic food, beverages and experiences. As a bonus, we learned a great deal about the city and its history along the way. I would recommend the tour to everyone and when we visit Amsterdam again in the future, we will look to Amsterdam Food Tours to make the trip memorable.
We had an excellent Sunday tour with Thijs, and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting. We were only in the city for a couple days, so having this tour was the perfect combination of exploring a neighborhood, learning some history of the city, and trying lots of different types of foods (I will be thinking about the sandwich for a long time to come). Can’t think of a better introduction to Dutch cuisine, and only regret we aren’t here long enough to go back and try full meals at every place we stopped.
If you’re looking to experience the real Amsterdam beyond the usual tourist spots, this tour is absolutely perfect. It offers a fantastic journey through hidden corners, unique places, and special tastings that you wouldn’t come across on your own. The guide is empathetic and highly engaged, making the whole experience incredibly enjoyable and well worth every cent. For those who wish to explore Amsterdam through its food and culture, this tour is a golden opportunity.
We had a really great time on our Grand Dutch Food & History tour. Rudolph was an excellent guide – very knowledgeable, entertaining and also very humorous. The food and wine selection was very good and we learned a lot about Amsterdam, its history and its food culture. We would highly recommend the tour.
Enjoyable tour! So much valuable information shared with the group. All the food was delicious. Definitely recommend this food tour!
Just finished a tour with our excellent guide – David. He was informative and knowledgeable about the history as well as the food. His time management was good – we never felt rushed and yet we got to all the places. He was very comfortable to be with and answered all our questions. We got a true sense of the Dutch culture. And all the stops served up yummy food. We will not be needing to eat dinner tonight. Would absolutely recommend.
Jan did a great job providing a thorough and detailed history of Amsterdam as well as showcasing highlights of boutique dutch cheese, wine, and the delicious apple pie! I am thrilled with his genuine enthusiasm and would be glad to have Jan again as my tour guide, share a good meal and conversation. Highly recommended! (tour during mid August 2025)
Marc gave an amazing tour today, the excellent choice of stops gave a wonderful glimpse into Amsterdam life and history. From traditional apple cake, meats, cheeses, wines to Indonesian satay all wrapped in engaging stories and information about this beautiful city. Marc and the wonderful local businesses earned every one of the 5 stars!
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If your group size is larger than 10 people, please email us at [email protected] to book instead of using the online booking option.
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