Zaanse Schans, Lego Village & Giethoorn: Day Tour with Boat

4.96

(132 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I only signed up for this Zaanse Schans, Lego Village & Giethoorn day tour because my friend wouldn’t stop talking about Dutch cheese. Turns out, the morning was more than just cheese (though we tried so many slices I lost count—my favorite was something smoky, but I never caught the name). Our guide, Pieter, had this way of making even the cheese-making process sound like a family story. The factory itself smelled sharp and milky at once—like walking into someone’s kitchen before breakfast. I didn’t expect to laugh so much about wooden shoes either; watching them carved right in front of us was oddly satisfying. I tried on a bright blue pair that squeaked on the old floorboards—Pieter said they’d last longer than my sneakers.

After that we drove to Zaandam City Center for the “Lego” building. It’s not actually made of Lego (I asked), but it looks like giant toy blocks stacked up against the sky. Everyone took turns posing in front—somehow my photo ended up with a pigeon in it, which feels about right for Holland. We wandered around what they call the “Lego Village,” just taking it slow. There were families out with strollers and a couple of locals who nodded as we passed—felt less touristy than I expected.

The drive to Giethoorn took longer than I thought (maybe an hour and a half?), but you get used to watching green fields blur by. When we finally arrived, it was quieter than anywhere else that day—the kind of silence you notice after city noise. The boat cruise through Giethoorn’s canals was honestly my favorite part; our group barely talked for the first ten minutes because everyone was just looking around at these tiny bridges and thatched roofs. At one point a heron flew right overhead and someone gasped—it wasn’t me this time! If you want to try steering your own boat here you can pay extra, but honestly I liked letting someone else do the work while I watched ducks paddle past.

I still think about how peaceful those canals felt—even now. It’s funny how you go for cheese or photos and end up remembering the quiet parts most.