• What Are
• What To See
• Where is located?
• How To Reach?
• How Long Does It Take?
• Where To Park?
• When Is The Best Time To Visit?
• Where To Eat?
• Where To Stay?
• What Is Nearby?
• Volendam & Marken – Our Impressions

What Are Volendam & Marken?

Volendam

Volendam is known as an old fishing village in the Netherlands with a picturesque harbor packed with boats and traditional clothing.

Marken Village

Marken Village once was an island, and now it is a peninsula just half an hour by boat from Volendam or twenty minutes by car. It has a beautiful harbor and charming wooden houses with canals.

What To See in Volendam & Marken

We made a Google Map and labeled all the recommended attractions, parking lots, and Volendam – Market Boat Express Tour. We hope this will help you plan your trip a breeze.

Volendam

We parked our four-wheel companion in Harbour South, Street -Strandweg 1. But, more about parking is in a dedicated section of this article. It is nice to stretch your legs after driving for some time. In addition, we had a chance to know Volendam gradually.

First, we walked the asphalted street of Zuideinde. The asphalt turned into fish bones pattern on the cobblestones street. Initially, the houses in the row were on one side of the Zuideinde. As we approach the center, the narrow brick houses are on both street sides. Since we were already several days in The Netherlands, we were getting used to small bricks as a building material for the houses.

Many houses looked almost identical. The typical narrow Dutch houses with pointing roofs, big front windows, and small concrete front porches are one by one in a row. Some houses have parked bicycles in front, as expected in The Netherlands. On the other hand, some had the ground floor made of small bricks with timber front panels on the upper floors, as in the photo above.

Suddenly the space opened up, and on our right-hand side, we saw the lake, many small boats, and an open sky on a perfectly aligned horizon. The row of houses continued on the left-hand side. However, these houses were small businesses such as bars, cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops, and very popular in Volendam, the photo studios in typical Volendam folk costumes.

As we get closer to the harbor, the town’s buzz becomes obvious while people mingle between different businesses to eat, drink, shop, or have fun.

1 – Bar de Molen (Mill Bar)

We saw a group of young men and women having fun and listing to music (some summer hits) in front of Bar de Molen (Mill Bar). Many wore red with yellow stripe Trilby-like hats, while above the bar’s terrace were yellow and red triangle flags. It looks like they had some Spanish-dedicated happy hour day. Here, we had two options. First, turn left into Zeestraat Street and go to the local open-air market. Yet, we opted for the second choice and mingled among these youngsters. They transferred to us some good vibes, energized us, and suddenly we felt younger. Thank you, boys and girls!

2 – ‘t HavenGat Eat Café

Finally, we arrived at the stretch of the harbor with the most beautiful fisherman houses. ‘t HavenGat Eat Café struck our eyes. This house is green with a yellow sign and many colorful flowers below the windows.

Here is the harbor corner where Boat Express departs for Marken village. We will write about Marken village in a minute.

We knew that harbor ended when the main street had houses on both sides.

3 – Chees Factory Volendam

We just wanted to turn around at the harbor end and go to the market. Yet, we spotted Chees Factory Volendam down the street. So we had to give it a go. It is time to take a few photos, taste some samples, and have a cheese time. After several tastings, our sensors got confused due to so many varieties and flavors. It was time to move on.

4 – Volendam Canals

We went to the quiet area of Volendam Canals for a change from the overcrowded buzz in the main harbor street. We started our short walking tour near Saint Vincent’s Church (Sint-Vincentiuskerk in Dutch). A few dozen steps away was a buzz, music, and noise from tourist overcrowded main harbor street. There was a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, as befits when it came near the structures for prayers such as churches.

On the canal are many lift bridges (black painted) with mechanisms to allow small boats passage. Next to the lift bridges are often small curved bridges. These bridges have dark-green curved beams as handrails and white posts to hold the whole construction in one piece. Such details add to the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding houses.

We walked along Meerzijde Street and turned left into Dril Street. Finally, we ended up at the concrete bridge on Zeestraat Street, where we walked to the open market.

However, we admit that the Volendam Canals were not even close beautiful as the Giethoorn Canals that we visited previously.

5 – Shopping in Volendam

Like in many touristy locations, you can buy souvenirs, antiques, pottery, traditional Dutch wooden clogs, Dutch cheese, furs, clothes, accessories, and even wooden tulip souvenirs.

You can take a photo in traditional Dutch clothing in one of many photo studios in Volendam. The women’s costume of Volendam, with its high, pointed bonnet, is one of the most recognizable and prominent fashion details from the past.

It is a charming part of Volendam and a great spot to take photos for long-lasting memories of brick houses, with black timber upper-floor front panels and white windows on the again fishbone pattern cobblestone street.

6 – Volendam Panorama From Breakwater Structure

It was a time for a short break and panorama photo session of Volendam’s Harbor. The best location was the end of Volendam’s breakwater structure in the port. We found an empty bench as our base to gather our thoughts and enjoy the view of the harbor on one side and the lake on the other.

Old and new boats alike swayed on the almost calm lake water while waiting for their owners to set sail on new sea adventures. Beautiful and colorful timber and brick houses with boats and a lake in front and the sky above were a creative composition for a mesmerizing panorama of Volendam’s harbor.

7 – Volendam Marken Express Boat

Marken Village is half an hour’s boat tour from Volendam. Adults return ticket is € 16.00 and one way is € 10.00. A child (between 4-11 years) return ticket is € 8.00 while a single trip is € 5.00. The departures are every 30 to 45 minutes, starting at 10:30 in Volendam until the last boat at 19:00 in Marken.

Since the day was windy and we came by car, we drove to Marken instead.

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Marken Village

We drove 20 minutes from Volendam to Marken and parked at the village entrance. From the parking, we crossed over the white Beatrix lift bridge. On the left-hand side was a wooden clogs steam factory (Klompen makerij in Dutch). We opted to skip for now and go straight ahead to Marken’s harbor.

In front of the Dutch Cheese Shop, we turned left across a small bridge and followed the cobblestones pathway between charming houses painted green with white horizontal stripes. We just followed the signs to Haven since the navigation was so easy. We were in the middle of the small Marken harbor in no time.

8 – Marken Harbor

Marken Harbor has many souvenir & gift shops, cafés, restaurants, and taverns. Houses architecture is the same as we described. Inhabitants paint their houses in green, dark-green, or black colors with white horizontal stripes. In addition, white windows and door frames were dominant features of this architectural style.

We planned to sit, order drinks and refresh at one of the harbor dining places. But, the wind forced us to skip the idea and move on to the Marken Museum.

9 – Marken Museum & Grote Church

On our way to Marken Museum, we crossed another white Wilhelmina lift bridge. In front of the Grote church was a big group of tourists with a guide from Spain. To cheer them up and to test just a few words of my Spanish I greet them with Spanish toast: ¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro!

Their burst of laughs confirmed that I still remember Spanish lessons from many of my Latino friends.

Behind the church is a narrow Kerkbuurt street packed with small timber and brick houses with colorful flowers. Blue-violet-colored funnel-shaped petunia flowers and red-violet pelargoniums are the contest winners in our short flower competition.

10 – Marken Colorful Wooden Houses

Green and black wooden houses with white horizontal stripes are throughout the entire village. Surrounded by colorful flowers, gardens, and low wooden or metal fences additionally frame these beautiful sceneries.

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For a moment, these wooden houses reminded us of similar colorful timber houses at Bergen in Norway.

11 – Paard van Marken – Lighthouse

Paard van Marken is a 2.5 km (1.55 mi) half an hour walk or 10 minutes bicycle ride one way from the parking. Since the day was windy and we wanted to end the day in Zaanse Schans Windmills, we decided to skip the visit to the lighthouse. In addition, we knew that coming inside the lighthouse wasn’t possible, so another reason to skip it and move on.

Where Are Volendam & Marken Located?

Volendam and Marken are just 22 km (13.7 mi) north of Amsterdam. Both are perfect places for a day trip visit from Amsterdam. Both belong to North Holland province, but Volendam is in Edam-Volendam municipality, while Marken is in Waterland municipality.

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We draw a Google Map of our The Netherlands: Epic 10 Days for Perfect Itinerary Road Trip with Maps. We share it with you so you can easily navigate to Volendam & Marken and plan your own Dutch tour in a breeze.

How To Reach Volendam & Marken?

The car is the most convenient mode of transportation to reach Volendam and Marken.

By car: We drove from our accommodation at Ermelo to Volendam for about one hour on highways A28, A1, and A10 and switched to local roads N247 and N517 to Volendam.

Here are few practical info about distances, time travel, and roads:

• Amsterdam – Volendam, 22 km (13.67 mi), 23 minutes drive, local roads N247, N517
• Rotterdam – Volendam, 97.5 km (60.6 mi), 1h 10 minutes drive, highways A13, A4, A5, A10, and local roads N247, N517
• Eindhoven – Volendam, 146 km (90.7 mi), 1h 35 minutes drive, highways A2, A10, and local roads N247, N517
• Groningen – Volendam, 183km (113, 7 mi), 2h drive, highway A7, and local road N247
• Zaans Vindmills – Volendam, 25km (15.5 mi), 25 minutes drive, local road N515, highway A7, and local roads N244, N247, N517

By bus: Bus line 316 runs from Amsterdam Central Station to Volendam and back, approx. 27 minutes. A one-way ticket costs € 5.47 with OV-chipkaart. Bus line 315 runs from Amsterdam Station Noord to Marken and back, approx. 30 minutes. A one-way ticket costs € 5.88 with OV-chipkaart.

Waterfront Transportation

By boat: If you drive a boat, Volendam has two marinas, and Marken has one.

• Gemeentehaven Volendam, located in the old harbor
• Marina Volendam, located on the south side of the town
• Marken Haven, located in the old harbor

By ferry: During the tourist season (mid-March – end of October), there is a Volendam Marken Boat Express that connects Volendam and Marken.

The return ticket for adults is € 16.00 and one way is € 10.00. A child (between 4-11 years) return ticket is € 8.00 while a single trip is € 5.00.

The departures are every 30 to 45 minutes, starting at 10:30 in Volendam until the last boat at 19:00 in Marken.

Alternatively, take bus line 316 from Volendam and change to bus line 315 at Broek in Waterland to get to Marken by bus.

Getting Around In Volendam & Marken

Once you arrive at Volendam. besides a pedestrian-friendly option for exploration, there are additional means of transport.

Fatbikes

Fatbikes are really attractive and many rent them to take a trip to Marken and back.

Bicycles

Dutch people love to ride bicycles and they are all over the country. So, Volendam is no exception.

E-bikes

Electrical bicycles are more popular each year, so no wonder renting companies follow the trend and have them on offer.

E-Scooters

Electrical scooters are also gaining in popularity so no wonder that many rent them to quickly accomplish more milage than snail pedestrians.

How Long Does It Take Visit To Volendam & Marken?

If you can dedicate one entire day to visiting Volendam and Marken, that is the best. However, we combined Zaanse Schans Windmills in addition. First, we came early to Volendam and spent around 4-5 hours. Next, we drove to Marken and spent additional two hours. Finally, we had time to watch the sunset at windmills in our last destination for the day.

Where To Park In Volendam & Marken?

We drew Volendam & Marken Google Maps, where we marked many parking lots. We shared it with you and hopefully, it will be helpful to you.

Volendam – Parking Lots

There are many parking lots in Volendam. We parked at Marina (Haven in Dutch) since it was free of charge. As we approached the Volendam and passed on the left-hand side BP petrol station and Ford car dealership there was a big sign marking free space and directions for different parking in Volendam. We turned right.

Parking Zones in Volendam are:

• Harbor South (Haven Zuid in Dutch)
• Marinapark
• Center (Centrum in Dutch)
• Harbor North (Haven Noord in Dutch)

Here is the list of parking lots with practical info.

Harbor South (Haven Zuid in Dutch)

P1 – Pieterman

You can easily recognize these parking spaces by the blue lines on the asphalt.

Address short-term parking (Receptie in Dutch): Pieterman 1
Capacity: 300
Walking time to the center: 12 minutes
Rates: Free

P2 – Strandweg (Haven Zuid in Dutch)

The parking lot is on the left-hand side.

Address long-term parking (Lang parkeren in Dutch): Strandweg 1
Capacity: 300
Walking time to the center: 14 minutes
Rates: Free

P4 – Beach (Strand in Dutch)

The parking lot is on the right-hand side, in front of the beach.

Address: Strandweg 2
Capacity: 300
Walking time to the center: 17 minutes
Rates: Free

P5 – Campers (Campers in Dutch)

This is more a campers’ area rather than a parking lot.

Address: Strandweg 2
Capacity: 300
Walking time to the center: 17 minutes
Rates: Don’t know

P6 – Port Center (Harbour/Centrum in Dutch)

As you drive into Volendam follow the parking direction sign Harbor South (Haven Zuid in Dutch) turn right after the BP petrol station and Ford car dealership, then follow Haven sign straight forward and follow the road.

Address: Slobbeland 2
Capacity: 90 cars
Walking time to the center: 7 minutes
Rates: Free

P-Marinapark

P3 – Marinapark (Jachthaven in Dutch)

This parking lot is opposite the campers’ area and on the left-hand side. But, it has an entrance gate. We believe this parking is only for Marina yacht and apartment owners.

Center (Centrum in Dutch)

There are many short-term parking spaces (marked with blue lines) in the Center of Volendam. But, these are limited only to 1 1/2 hours of parking time!

Parking Garage Havenhof

As you drive in Volendam follow the parking direction sign Centrum.

Address: Zeestraat 21
Capacity: 160 cars
Walking time to the center: 5 minutes
Headroom: 1.9m (6.23 ft.)
Opening hours: 24/7
Rates: € 0.50 for the first half hour, then € 1.00 per half hour. Day ticket maximum € 30.00.

Parking Garage Centrum Volendam

As you drive in Volendam follow the parking direction sign Center (Centrum in Dutch).

Address: Boegstraat 2a
Capacity: 120 cars
Walking time to the center: 7 minutes
Headroom: 2.1 m (6.89 ft.)
Opening hours: Mon-Fri open until 10 p.m., Sat-Sun open until 11 p.m. Exit: 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Rates: € 1.00 first hour, day ticket maximum € 9.00.

Harbor North (Haven Noord in Dutch)

P – Parallelweg

As you drive in Volendam follow the parking direction sign Harbor North (Haven Noord in Dutch).

Address: Parallelweg 2
Capacity: 125 spaces
Walking time to the center: 8 minutes
Rates: Free

There are many parking lots in this area (Lang parkeren, Campers, Jachthaven, Strand, Receptie, etc.). You want to look for long-term parking (Lang parkeren in Dutch)

Marken Parking

As soon as we entered Marken village on our left-hand side was a big parking lot. We pulled out our card and for two hours and forty-five minutes we paid € 8.10.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Volendam & Marken?

Volendam & Marken are all year round for tourist visits, especially as a day trip from Amsterdam. The tourist season is between April and October. However, the summer months of June, July, and August color the places in the most attractive shades. So we can enjoy the best and desire to come back over again.

Most Dutch families have vacations during the Dutch summer school holiday (mid-July to the end of August). This period is the peak summer season.

We visited Volendam and Marken in mid-July and had an overcast day with some wind. It was not perfect weather but acceptable.

What & Where To Eat?

There are many dining places along the main harbor street in Volendam. The offer is for different tastes and wallet sizes. Pancakes, Dutch pancakes, Waffles & Dutch Waffles (Stroopwafel), Ice creams, Dutch Fries, Fish & Chips, a variety of sandwiches, and Dutch chees are just a few of the available options.

We decided to taste typical Dutch fast food called Kibbeling, fried fish pieces with fries, salad, and sauces. Please notice that the dish and souses were in punt boats shaped trays. We were lucky to visit Giethoorn village and learn about punt boats in Dutch history.

We tried to avoid sauces based on eggs on hot summer days, but the day was not that hot, and the fast food place where we bought the Kibblings looked very decent. However, we do not have any restaurants to recommend. Just follow your gut feelings and go for it.

Where To Stay in Volendam & Marken?

We stayed in this part of the Netherlands for three days. Since we wanted to visit Giethoorn village, Volendam & Marken, Zaanse Schans Windmills, Amsterdam, and De Haar Castle, we picked our accommodation that is almost in the middle of these places. What we want to say, we don’t have any hotel to recommend from personal experience in Volendam or Marken.

We stayed in this lovely thatch roof bungalow near Ermelo as our base for exploring Giethoorn, Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam, and Marken village.

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What Is Nearby Volendam & Marken?

We are already several days in The Netherlands on our The Netherlands: Epic 10 Days for Perfect Itinerary Road Trip with Maps and we are excited with each day passing by.

Amsterdam

It is more likely that you will visit Amsterdam and come to Volendam and Marken village as a day trip than vice versa. Anyway, Amsterdam is the capital, the biggest city in the Netherlands, and a must-see location. Amsterdam’s canals, architecture, tall narrow brick buildings, and rich day and nightlife are just a few reasons to visit it.

Zaanse Schans Windmills

Zaanse Schans Windmills is another day trip option from Amsterdam and only twenty minute’s drive from Volendam. features 13 windmills, half of which are fully functional and open for visits for at least part of the year. During the 17th century, more than 600 windmills were constructed in the area around Zaanse Schans, creating the first industrial zone. We did not miss an opportunity on our road trip to visit Kinderdijk Windmills near Rotterdam so we can compare the two sites. The distinction is obvious when getting some basic info about the two. Kinderdijk Windmills were used as polder drainage mills and water management systems, while each Zaanse Schans Windmill is a factory.

De Haar Castle (Kasteel de Haar)

Kasteel de Haar was our next stop after Volendam & Marken village on a road trip through The Netherlands. It was a perfect attraction to compare impressions between castles and fort/fortresses since we visited Fort Bourtange on our first day in The Netherlands.

De Haar Castle is the largest castle in The Netherlands, located just outside Utrecht and a half-hour drive from Amsterdam. The castle was rebuilt in the 19th century and its walls hide the extravagant history and flamboyant lifestyle of the castle’s owners, especially in the 1950s.

Giethoorn Village

We came to Volendam & Marken from Giethoorn village so although, over an hour’s drive, it is worth mentioning and please do not miss it.

Giethoorn is a picturesque village due to its waterways, canals, and beautiful thatched farms built on small peat islands connected by over 170 small wooden bridges. We took a boat trip on the canals to see the sights.

Volendam & Marken – Our Impressions

Volendam and Marken are nice places to visit either as a day trip from Amsterdam or if you are passing by as we did on our road trip. We are glad for a chance to visit both places and would be happy to return in the future.

So please remember, if you plan your trip to Amsterdam, make sure you have extra days for several extraordinary day trips.

We made a Google Map so you can follow our 10 days on The Netherlands Epic Road Trip.

We wish you an epic trip!