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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F / 7°C | 37°F / 3°C | 14 |
| Feb | 46°F / 8°C | 37°F / 3°C | 12 |
| Mar | 49°F / 9°C | 39°F / 4°C | 12 |
| Apr | 55°F / 13°C | 43°F / 6°C | 11 |
| May | 62°F / 17°C | 49°F / 9°C | 11 |
| Jun | 68°F / 20°C | 56°F / 13°C | 11 |
| Jul | 71°F / 22°C | 59°F / 15°C | 13 |
| Aug | 71°F / 22°C | 59°F / 15°C | 15 |
| Sep | 66°F / 19°C | 55°F / 13°C | 11 |
| Oct | 59°F / 15°C | 50°F / 10°C | 14 |
| Nov | 50°F / 10°C | 43°F / 6°C | 15 |
| Dec | 46°F / 8°C | 39°F / 4°C | 15 |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
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.