Old Holland at its most vivid: fishermen's painted houses lining a harbor promenade, the scent of smoked eel and fresh stroopwafels, and medieval Edam sleeping quietly 3 km away.
How you arrive depends entirely on your ship type.
💡 Pro move: Volendam is very walkable and flat. Edam has cobblestones — wear comfortable shoes.
River cruise ships dock directly at Volendam harbor; ocean ships call at Amsterdam or IJmuiden.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| River cruise lines (Viking, Avalon, Tauck, etc.) | Volendam outer harbor pier📍 | Docked |
| Ocean cruise lines (NCL, HAL, Oceania, etc.) | Amsterdam PTA or IJmuiden — excursion to Volendam📍 | Docked |
Most visitors combine both villages; adding Marken by ferry or Zaanse Schans windmills makes a full Dutch day.
Stroll the iconic harbor front lined with traditional wooden houses, active fishing boats, fish stalls, and souvenir shops. Stop for kibbeling (fried fish) and a costume photo.
Explore Volendam walking tours →The quieter, more elegant sibling: 17th-century canal houses, the Kwakelbrug drawbridge, Grote Kerk with stunning stained glass, and the Edam Museum with its remarkable floating cellar.
Find Edam guided tours →Sample young Edam cheese at Henri Willig or a local cheese farm, then head back to Volendam for smoked eel from Smit Bokkum (in operation since 1856) and raw herring the Dutch way.
Book Dutch food tours →A 30-minute ferry ride across the Markermeer to Marken, a peninsula village of green-painted wooden houses on stilts — one of the most unusual villages in the Netherlands.
Book Marken Express ferry →An open-air museum village 25 km from Volendam with working 18th-century windmills, clog-making demos, and cheese farms. Often combined with Volendam on cruise excursions.
Find Zaanse Schans excursions →Several studios on De Dijk (including Foto de Boer) dress you in lace cap, wooden clogs, and striped costume for a professional portrait — the quintessential Volendam souvenir.
Volendam costume experience →Both villages are compact and flat — ideal for leisurely wandering.
Start at the harbor pier, walk De Dijk promenade east past fish stalls and painted houses, then duck into the Doolhof — a maze of narrow alleyways and tiny brick cottages behind the harbor — before looping back.
A flat, scenic cycling and walking path along the top of the dike connects the two villages. Walk or rent a bike at the harbor. Arrive in Edam at the canal near the Kwakelbrug drawbridge.
Climate normals for Edam-Volendam, North Holland, Netherlands (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F / 7°C | 37°F / 3°C | 14 | 8:43 AM | 4:55 PM |
| Feb | 46°F / 8°C | 37°F / 3°C | 12 | 7:55 AM | 5:52 PM |
| Mar | 49°F / 9°C | 39°F / 4°C | 12 | 6:53 AM | 6:44 PM |
| Apr | 55°F / 13°C | 43°F / 6°C | 11 | 6:42 AM | 8:38 PM |
| May | 62°F / 17°C | 49°F / 9°C | 11 | 5:43 AM | 9:29 PM |
| Jun | 68°F / 20°C | 56°F / 13°C | 11 | 5:16 AM | 10:04 PM |
| Jul | 71°F / 22°C | 59°F / 15°C | 13 | 5:35 AM | 9:55 PM |
| Aug | 71°F / 22°C | 59°F / 15°C | 15 | 6:22 AM | 9:04 PM |
| Sep | 66°F / 19°C | 55°F / 13°C | 11 | 7:14 AM | 7:54 PM |
| Oct | 59°F / 15°C | 50°F / 10°C | 14 | 8:05 AM | 6:44 PM |
| Nov | 50°F / 10°C | 43°F / 6°C | 15 | 8:02 AM | 4:46 PM |
| Dec | 46°F / 8°C | 39°F / 4°C | 15 | 8:44 AM | 4:25 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Bus 316 runs from Amsterdam Centraal Station directly to Volendam in about 35 minutes. A Waterland day ticket (€13.50) covers unlimited regional bus travel.
Taxis from Amsterdam cruise terminals (IJmuiden or Amsterdam Passenger Terminal) to Volendam cost roughly €60–€80 and take 20–25 minutes. Book via Staxi or TTA Taxi Volendam.
Uber is confirmed available in both Edam and Volendam. Options include UberX, UberXL, and Uber Comfort; book on demand or schedule in advance.
Short 2.7 km hop between Edam and Volendam takes about 4 minutes by taxi. Useful if your ship offers a tender to one town and you want to visit the other.
Operators like Gray Line and HopOn HopOff Holland run coach day tours combining Volendam, Edam, and Zaanse Schans windmills, departing Amsterdam. Prices vary; check GetYourGuide or operator sites.
Upcoming cruises that call at Edam-Volendam, North Holland, Netherlands. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.