When you think of Amsterdam the typical iconic images undoubtedly come to mind. Outdoor cafes along the canal lined streets. Bicycles with a bouquet of flowers and a fresh baguette in the basket. Buildings that look like they could be made out of gingerbread. Wooden shoes and windmills. Cheese for days. And Amsterdam is all these things. Beautiful and romantic with all the amenities of a city but the charm of a small town. If you’ve never been I highly recommend you put it on your list. And while you are there, I also recommend a day trip to the villages outside the city, particularly Volendam and Edam.
About a 40 minute bus ride from Amsterdam’s Central Station, Volendam is Holland’s best-known fishing village. A picturesque harbor town on Markermeer Lake, Volendam is best explored meandering through the village’s charming, traditional homes or strolling along the boardwalk at the water’s edge.
Cafes, shops and museums are abundant. If you are a seafood lover, no visit would be complete without trying kibbeling (traditional battered and fried fish nuggets). Generally speaking I am not a huge fan of fish. Mostly because it can be fishy. But I do try and follow the “when in Rome” mentality when I travel so I bought myself a snack. Besides, anything fried is usually a safe bet. And honestly? Kibbeling was incredible. Light and crispy without being greasy and served with a garlic aioli of sorts. Fresh doesn’t even begin to describe it, not even a hint of fishiness here. And you could hardly ask for a more beautiful setting. You can get this snack all over the village but I highly recommend the Vishandel Lekkers stand which also offers other Dutch delicacies such as herring and onions…I figured I didn’t want to overdue my newfound enjoyment of fish all in one day so I skipped that one.
Another 10 minute bus ride down the road and you will arrive in Edam, a bucolic hamlet right out of a fairytale. It’s hard to believe that such beauty still exists in our modern world. Calm and quiet, this historical town is lined with canals, cozy cafes and classy shops (although I did find prawn flavored Pringles in one).
While simply wandering the town is worth a visit in itself, there is another big draw…cheese. I mean if you consider cheese to be a tourist attraction, which as a turophile (literally means “cheese fancier” according to Merriam-Webster), I do.
Edam is a semi-hard cheese that is traditionally sold in rounded cylinders coated in wax. You can see this in most store windows all over Holland but ideally you should get it direct from the source. In the Middle Ages farmers brought their cheeses via horse-drawn cart or by boat to the center of the city to be weighed, sold and exported. Nowadays there are still traditional cheese markets held in the summer, although now more so for tourists than actual commerce.
Regardless of your reasons, don’t leave Holland without visiting these storybook settlements. They may be a little off the beaten path but unless you hate all things pretty, you won’t be disappointed.