OFF BEAT ADVENTURE - Let's go Dutch
Away from the
hustle-and-bustle of Amsterdam, the dutch villages of Volendam and Marken
showcase a quaint countryside charm
Amsterdam offers a variety
of interesting places nearby . In the previous article we learned about the
Dutch village of Zaanse Schans, this time we are going to tell you about an
excursion to Volendam and Marken towards North-East of the Dutch capital.
If there was ever a perfect
day's outing for the family, it is a trip to Volendam-Marken. There is so much
to do for everyone that include a breathtaking ferry ride, stunning landscapes,
ancient alleys and host of activities like seeing how wooden shoes are made and
visiting a cheese factory. There is a light house to see and the place also
offers a great seafood-scene.
A bus from Amsterdam
Central brings you to Volendam; stroll through the village and then take a
ferry to the gorgeous Marken. Both places are connected by public transport to
Amsterdam. Since I was staying near the Amsterdam central, I took a 4.5 bus
trip that takes you into the charming Dutch countryside in about 45 minutes.
First thing that strikes
you here are the colourful wooden houses with doors sporting art decorations in
the front yard. As you walk towards the harbour to board the ferry, there is a
small market that has several souvenir shops where you can buy things from
fridge magnets of windmills to wooden shoes or even traditional costumes.
The harbour front is always
buzzing with tourist activity. There are many triangular architectured cafes
where you can sip a drink and enjoy a meal.Since it is a fisherman's village,
there is an amazing variety of seafood. Freshly caught and cooked fish is
mostly served with local butter and vinegar sauce.Many stalls sell kibbeling,
salted herring or smoked eel. One thing that you must try is Poffertjes that
are a Dutch version of pancakes made with yeast and buckwheat flour. It is
served with powdered sugar and a variety of fresh fruits.
You can spend some time
watching the lake with countless sails and fish boats, many of which have
interesting fronts.
Before you board the ferry,
remember to visit the Cheese Factory that not only has an outlet selling
several varieties of Dutch cheese, but also has other interesting experiences
to offer. There is a museum in the basement that tells the history and evolution
of Cheese over thousands of years. You can attend a demonstration session of
how cheese is made from fresh milk. Kids will surely love the tasting session
that also teaches how to recognise cheese on the basis of smell and taste.
Every 30-45 minutes, there
is a ferry plying between Marken village.The boat-ride itself is mesmerising
and you get bowled over by the quiet charm as you approach Marken. At Marken,
you can stroll through the beautiful lanes or take a bike to go around.
The gorgeous village has
gardens, canals and beautiful houses that give a mesmerising experience.
A must-have experience at
Marken is the visit to wooden shoe factory. The Dutch factory workers, farmers
and fishermen are said to have been wearing wooden shoes or `clogs' for hundreds
of years to protect their feet. This factory shop has a variety of them. There
is also a demo session to show how these shoes are made. The man who gives the
demos makes it extremely funny and interesting.
Nowadays, these are bought
more as souvenir, but the variety in terms of shapes, sizes, designs and
colours is pretty interesting.
You can also get yourself
photographed in traditional costume to preserve the memory of your visit.
If you love to walk or
cycle through the countryside, a visit to the light house is what you will
enjoy for sure. It takes you through vast agricultural greens where you can
also see adorable black and white cows grazing lazily . The cylindrical brick
tower is called Paard van Marken, meaning horse of Marken, which replaces its
early 18th century, primitive counterpart.
A visit to both the places
is a day's trip. Since these are villages, things shut down in the evening but
if you still have energy you can head back to Amsterdam and put on your party
shoes for a late evening outing.
Naveen Soni is a Mumbai based travel enthusiast Oct 26 2017 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)
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