Volendam

Volendam
De Dijk (the dike) of Volendam with its many small shops, restaurants and sidewalk cafes, where hundreds of tourists enjoy the local atmosphere and the view of the harbour and the Markermeer. The Doolhof (maze), small streets where it looks like you have gone back in time a hundred years. The ships and boats that sail to and from Marken on the horizon.
Volendam, a tourist and artists’ destination since 1880, described in song as the pearl of the Zuiderzee, and still a village that speaks of nostalgia to millions of visitors from all over the world.

Picture in folk costume
Having a bachelor party, company outing, family gathering or other grand day out? Taking a picture together in traditional Volendam costume is a fun activity that gives you a lasting memento of your day together. Groups of up to 60 are effortlessly immortalized. Charming and helpful assistants are at the ready to help you metamorphose into real Volendammers.

Guided walk through Volendam
You can make a guided village walk. A traditionally costumed local lady or gentleman will tell you everything there is to know about the village, its history and the many nicknames that are still in use today. The walk will also take you along the Dijk and the Doolhof, with its many tiny houses that would house families with up to 15 children.

Eel smokehouse tour
The smokehouse is at the historical heart of the Paviljoen and it has been smoking many kinds of fish for over 150 years, eel being the most famed. No less than 6 generations of the Smit family have worked there, passing their secrets on to the next generations. The 5th and 6th generation (Jan Smit and his son Evert) are still smoking fish daily, and during the season the whole family lends a hand with cutting, skinning, spiking and filleting the eels and other fish. There is a tour where all is explained about the fascinating life cycle of eels and the craft of traditional fish smoking.

Spaander Hotel
The old inn is the part of the hotel where it all started in 1881; Leendert Spaander received his guests here, and offered hospitality to many an artist in exchange for one of their paintings. Their depictions of life in a Dutch fishing village put Volendam firmly on the map. Spaander’s offspring have left the room in its original state as much as possible. The walls hung with dozens of paintings, some by famous impressionists, transport us to days of yore.

Visit Volendam
A visit to Volendam can be easily combined with a day’s sailing aboard the Catharina van Mijdrecht.
We will be happy to organise this for you.

Check the Tourist Information website for more information.
Check the smokehouse website for more information.