The beautiful Volendam-Marken Express has been connecting the fishing town of Volendam with the island-peninsula Marken for over 80 years and is beloved by locals and tourists alike. Cruise along the former Zuiderzee coastline and learn all about this area's fascinating history and culture, with a fun audio guide available in English and Dutch.

Set sail on this traditional ferryboat experience and discover two charming Dutch towns steeped in seaside history. Volendam is famous the world over for its fishing industry and hardworking townsfolk, while Marken was populated by Frisian monks in the 13th century and was an isolated community until it became connected to the mainland in 1957.

Between the two, you'll see all the cutesy buildings, bicycles, tulips, cheese, and clogs that you'd expect, and you can choose to set off from Volendam or Marken. Or get a return ticket and make a roundtrip of it – all the better to admire the beautiful coastlines.

Naturally, you're welcome to take your bicycle for a small extra fee, and if you want to take your Dutch fanaticism to the next level, you can opt for a special photoshoot in Volendam in traditional Dutch costume. Just say kaas!

Getting to the departure point:

From Amsterdam Central Station (back side), take the EBS bus to Volendam or Marken. Boats from Volendam depart at: 9:45 (when busy), 10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 12:45, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00, 15:45, 16:30, 17:15, 18:00 (when busy), 18:30 Boats from Marken depart at: 10:30 (when busy), 11:15, 12:00, 12:45, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00, 15:45, 16:30, 17:15, 18:00, 18:30 (when busy), 19:00