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    Volendam

    Netherlands

    Volendam

    VillageCulture

    Volendam is a former fishing village on the IJsselmeer north of Amsterdam, known for its harbor with old fishing boats and for the traditional costume with its high, pointed bonnet.

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    Volendam is a former fishing village on the IJsselmeer north of Amsterdam, known for its harbor with old fishing boats and for the traditional costume with its high, pointed bonnet. Visitors have been coming here for this reason since about 1875.The village originated in 1357 when the citizens of the neighboring town of Edam built a new harbor and dammed up the old one. It belongs to the municipality of Edam-Volendam, has around 22,700 inhabitants, and, unlike its surroundings, remained Catholic during the Reformation. The pop music that originated here is also named after the Dutch word for eel, the "Palingsound."
    Volendam is located on the IJsselmeer and belongs to the municipality of Edam-Volendam. Originally, it was the port of Edam; after the people of Edam had dug a shorter canal to the sea in 1357, farmers and fishermen settled by the old, dyked harbour. Today, the town thrives on tourism: Old fishing boats lie in the harbour, and many visitors have their pictures taken in traditional Volendam costume. By ferry, you can reach the former island of Marken, and by land, the cheese town of Edam.

    Sights in Volendam

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Volendams Museum
    Museum

    Volendams Museum

    The small museum tells the story of the place with recreated scenes where dolls wear traditional clothing.
    Open in Google Maps
    Harbor and De Dijk
    Attraction

    Harbor and De Dijk

    The dike by the harbor is Volendam's promenade: Here lie old fishing boats, here line up fish stalls, cafés, and photo studios where visitors get photographed in Volendam costume. From the harbor, the ferry to the former island Marken also departs.
    Open in Google Maps
    Cheese Factory Volendam
    Museum

    Cheese Factory Volendam

    Harbor cheese dairy with specialty shop. During tours and demonstrations, witness cheese making, then sample.
    Open in Google Maps
    Brands and Markers Museum
    Museum

    Brands and Markers Museum

    Marken was an island in today's Markermeer until 1957; a dam has connected it to the mainland ever since. The wooden houses of the roughly 1,700 inhabitants are densely packed on about 15 artificially raised mounds, the Warften. The museum in several old houses shows traditional costumes and objects from the fishing past; at its eastern tip stands the Paard van Marken lighthouse from 1839. From Volendam, a ferry crosses.
    Open in Google Maps

    Sights in Volendam

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Volendams Museum
    Museum

    1Volendams Museum

    The small museum tells the story of the place with recreated scenes where dolls wear traditional clothing.
    Open in Google Maps
    Harbor and De Dijk
    Attraction

    2Harbor and De Dijk

    The dike by the harbor is Volendam's promenade: Here lie old fishing boats, here line up fish stalls, cafés, and photo studios where visitors get photographed in Volendam costume. From the harbor, the ferry to the former island Marken also departs.
    Open in Google Maps
    Cheese Factory Volendam
    Museum

    3Cheese Factory Volendam

    Harbor cheese dairy with specialty shop. During tours and demonstrations, witness cheese making, then sample.
    Open in Google Maps
    Brands and Markers Museum
    Museum

    4Brands and Markers Museum

    Marken was an island in today's Markermeer until 1957; a dam has connected it to the mainland ever since. The wooden houses of the roughly 1,700 inhabitants are densely packed on about 15 artificially raised mounds, the Warften. The museum in several old houses shows traditional costumes and objects from the fishing past; at its eastern tip stands the Paard van Marken lighthouse from 1839. From Volendam, a ferry crosses.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Volendam

    1

    South Harbor Pavilion

    Seafood restaurant at the harbour's south end.
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    2

    Ristorante Da Noi

    Italian restaurant in Zeestraat, a few steps from the harbor.
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    Day Trips from Volendam

    MarkenA ferry operates between Volendam and Marken. Since 1957, Marken has also been accessible from the mainland via a causeway with a road and a cycle path.EdamEdam, the namesake of Edam cheese, is the second district of the municipality. The tourist office offers weekly city tours there, just like in Volendam; Wednesdays are market days.

    Accommodations in Volendam

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    Campgrounds in Volendam

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