- Buses from Amsterdam Centraal reach Volendam in roughly 30-40 minutes
- A seasonal ferry links Volendam and Marken in about half an hour
- Marken's green and black wooden houses stand on mounds
- Arrive early or late in the day to miss tour groups
- Airports
- Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
- Best time to go
- April-October
- Type
- Town
Volendam and Marken are former fishing communities on the shore of the IJsselmeer in North Holland, less than an hour from Amsterdam. Volendam is a lively harbour town with a dyke-top promenade, fish stalls and souvenir shops. Marken, a former island now joined to the mainland by a causeway, is quieter, with clusters of wooden houses built on mounds against flooding.
Both are firmly on the tourist trail, and Volendam in particular can feel commercial in summer. Still, the combination of the two, linked by a boat across the water, makes a classic and easy day out from the capital. Read our Netherlands guide for more.
Things to do
- Volendam harbour and dyke – stroll the Haven, the raised promenade lined with cafés and shops, and watch the boats come and go.
- Smoked fish – try smoked eel, herring or kibbeling (battered fish bites) from the stalls along the harbour.
- Volendams Museum – a small local museum about fishing life and traditional dress, known for a room decorated with millions of cigar bands.
- Traditional costume photos – a long-standing Volendam tradition is posing for a photo in local costume at one of the studios on the harbour. It is kitsch, but popular.
- Marken Express ferry – a boat across the Gouwzee between Volendam and Marken runs regularly in season, taking around half an hour.
- Marken village – wander the lanes of the Havenbuurt and Kerkbuurt, with their tarred and green-painted wooden houses, and visit the Marken Museum for a sense of island life.
- Paard van Marken – the lighthouse at the island's eastern tip, reached by a pleasant walk of about 30-40 minutes along the dyke.
- Edam – the historic cheese town is just a few kilometres north of Volendam, quieter and very pretty, and easy to add by bike or bus.
Where to stay
Most visitors come for the day from Amsterdam. If you want to stay:
| Area | Why stay there |
|---|---|
| Volendam harbour | Waterfront views and plenty of restaurants in the evening |
| Edam | A calmer historic base a short ride away |
| Amsterdam | The widest choice of hotels, with buses to Volendam from Centraal |
Getting there
Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) or take the Eurostar from London to Amsterdam Centraal. From Amsterdam Centraal, regional buses run frequently to Volendam (roughly 30-40 minutes), and separate buses go to Marken. Bus numbers and operators change from time to time, so check before you travel; contactless bank cards are accepted on most Dutch public transport.
Cycling is a lovely alternative: the route from Amsterdam Noord through the Waterland countryside to Marken or Volendam is about 15-20 kilometres each way, flat and mostly on quiet paths. By car, Volendam is about 25-30 minutes from central Amsterdam.
Best time to visit
April to October, when the ferry between the villages runs and the weather suits walking and cycling. Summer weekends are the busiest. Morning visits to Marken and late-afternoon walks in Volendam are the quietest times. In winter both villages are much calmer, but some services are reduced.
do the loop Amsterdam-Marken by bus, Marken-Volendam by ferry, then Volendam-Amsterdam by bus, so you never retrace your steps.
Top attractions in Volendam and Marken
MuseumAnne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank hid for two years and wrote her diary, now a moving museum on the Prinsengracht.
MuseumRijksmuseum
The Netherlands' national museum, home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch, Vermeer's The Milkmaid and 800 years of Dutch…
Volendam and Marken on the map
Frequently asked questions
Are Volendam and Marken worth visiting?
Yes, for a taste of traditional village life near Amsterdam, though expect crowds and souvenir shops in Volendam. Marken is quieter and more authentic-feeling.
How do you get from Volendam to Marken?
The Marken Express ferry crosses in about half an hour in season. You can also travel by road via the mainland, or cycle along the dyke.
Can you do Volendam, Marken and Edam in one day?
Yes, if you start early. Edam is a short ride from Volendam, and the ferry makes the Marken leg straightforward.
Is Marken still an island?
No. It was linked to the mainland by a dyke road in 1957, but it retains much of its island character.
Written by
Emma City breaks & deals editor
Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.
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