Boat Tours at Zaanse Schans Windmills

For public cruises, we recommend booking ahead — especially in summer (June–August) and on weekends when tours regularly sell out. Walk-in tickets are sometimes available at the dock, but availability is not guaranteed.

For private cruises, always book in advance to secure your preferred date and time. We generally advise booking at least a week ahead in peak season.

We offer free cancellation up to 14 days before your tour for all bookings. Cancellations made within 14 days may be subject to a cancellation fee. For private bookings, please check your booking confirmation for the specific terms applicable to your tour.

Public cruise: Kids €9,00 · Adult €11,50 · Adult with open bar €16,50

Flower Boat (seasonal): Kids €11,50 · Adult €14,00 · Adult with open bar €19,00

Private cruises: From €124/hour for the (partially) closed or open boat (up to 12 people). From €187/hour for the large boat (up to 40 people). Skipper, guide and all taxes always included. See private cruise pricing →

Absolutely — children love the windmill tour. Kids under 12 get a discounted ticket (€9,00 on the public cruise, €11,50 on the Flower Boat). There is no minimum age requirement. Our guides make the commentary fun and accessible for younger visitors too. Private tours are especially family-friendly as you have the whole boat to yourselves.

All bookings are processed securely through FareHarbor, which accepts all major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Payment is taken at the time of booking.

On the public windmill cruise you'll pass all 10 working windmills of Zaanse Schans from the water — the view you simply can't get from land. Your guide will point out the traditional Dutch wooden houses painted in their iconic Zaans green, the Swaerte Walvis whale-hunting heritage site, the centuries-old Tea House, and the world's biggest cacao factories (you'll literally smell the chocolate). The cruise also passes the legendary De Adelaar and the scenic town of Wormerveer.

The public windmill cruise is 25 minutes. It departs daily — check the booking page for available departure times. Private cruises can be booked from 1 hour up to a full day (with custom pricing beyond 4 hours).

Yes — all our tours are conducted in English. Our guides are experienced, engaging and passionate about the history of Zaanse Schans and the Zaan region. Private tour commentary can be arranged in Dutch and English.

Yes — we run tours in all weather conditions unless there is a safety concern such as extreme wind or storm. Light rain is perfectly fine, and our (partially) closed boat is sheltered so you'll stay comfortable. The Zaan landscape actually looks spectacular in moody weather. In the rare case we need to cancel for safety reasons, you'll receive a full refund.

Every season has its own character. Spring (April–May) is stunning with tulips in the polder and fresh green colours. Summer (June–August) is our busiest season — long days, warm weather and the Flower Boat is running. Autumn (September–October) is less crowded with beautiful golden light. Winter offers a magical foggy atmosphere and far fewer tourists — the windmills in mist are unforgettable. We run year-round except for the Flower Boat, which is seasonal (April–September).

Yes — you're welcome to bring your own food and drinks. Our private boats also have on-board fridges and wine coolers, and the (partially) closed boat even has a built-in BBQ. If you'd prefer us to handle the drinks, we offer basic drinks packages (wine, beer, soft drinks) at €8 per person per hour, and luxury drinks (cava, craft beer, premium wine) at €10 per person per hour, plus a nibbles platter at €11,50 per person.

On the public cruise (€11,50/person) you join other guests for a 25-minute guided tour — great for solo travellers or couples wanting a quick, affordable experience.

On a private cruise you rent the entire boat exclusively for your group, with your own dedicated skipper and guide, flexible departure times, and the freedom to customise the experience — duration, route, food and drinks. For groups of 6 or more, the price per person is often comparable to or cheaper than the public tour. From €124/hour for up to 12 people.

We have three private boats: the (partially) closed boat and the open panoramic boat both take up to 12 people. The large boat — the biggest commercial tour boat on the Zaan — takes up to 40 people. For groups larger than 40, get in touch and we can discuss options.

(Partially) closed boat: Up to 12 people. Fully adjustable roof — completely open, completely closed, or anything in between. On-board BBQ, coffee machine, fridge, wine cooler, 220V electricity and luxury pillows & blankets. From €124/hour.

Open panoramic boat: Up to 12 people. Fully open for 360° views. On-board fridge and wine cooler, luxury pillows and blankets. 8.5m × 3.2m. From €124/hour.

Large boat: Up to 40 people. The biggest commercial tour boat on the Zaan. Double sundeck front & rear, champagne coolers, luxury cushions and comfortable bench seating. From €187/hour.

Very. For a group of 12 people on the closed or open boat, a 1-hour private tour works out at just €14,92 per person — barely more than the public cruise price, but you get the whole boat to yourselves, a personal guide, flexible timing and a far more intimate experience. The large boat at 30 people works out at just €8,33/person for 1 hour.

Absolutely — we do corporate events regularly. Our large boat (up to 40 people) is particularly popular for team outings, company parties and corporate hospitality. Add a drinks package and nibbles, and you have a complete event package on the water. Contact us at ahoy@dutchboattours.nl for group quotes and availability.

We're rated 4.9 out of 5 across 892 Google reviews — the highest-rated tour experience at Zaanse Schans. The view of the windmills from the water is genuinely unlike anything you'll see from land. Most visitors say it's the highlight of their entire trip to the Netherlands. At €11,50 for the public cruise, it's one of the best-value experiences in Holland.

Please contact us directly before booking so we can advise on the most suitable boat and help ensure the experience is comfortable for everyone in your group. Email us at ahoy@dutchboattours.nl and we'll be happy to help.

The Netherlands weather is unpredictable, so we recommend bringing a light waterproof jacket even on sunny days. On the open boat, blankets and pillows are provided for cooler weather. Comfortable flat shoes are fine — you won't need to do any climbing. If you're coming for photos, mornings tend to have the best light.

Our public tours are conducted in English. For private tours, Dutch-language commentary can be arranged. If you're visiting with a group that speaks another language, get in touch and we'll do our best to accommodate — contact us at ahoy@dutchboattours.nl.

Yes — it's a popular combination. Keukenhof is about 40 minutes south of Zaanse Schans by car, or around 1.5 hours by public transport. Many visitors do Keukenhof in the morning and Zaanse Schans in the afternoon (or vice versa). We recommend booking the boat tour earlier in the day to avoid the afternoon tourist peak at Zaanse Schans.

Plenty. After your boat tour you can visit the windmills from the inside, explore the Zaans Museum, walk through the traditional village, visit the Clog Workshop, and taste Dutch cheese and stroopwafels at the local shops. The whole area is compact and walkable — budget 2–3 hours to see everything comfortably. Many visitors combine it with a visit to nearby Zaandam to see the Monet Atelier and the iconic Inntel Hotel.