Netherlands 2026

The buildings in Zaandam were unlike anything I'd ever seen before—bright green wooden houses stacked in unexpected ways, each with its own charming Dutch gables and quirky character. You almost can't believe it until you see it first hand, but...

it is real.... and it is LARGE.... and it is AWESOME. A giant work of art.

As a first-time visitor, and someone who has travelled to quite a few places, this was unlike anything I'd ever seen before, I couldn't stop looking around. It was one of those rare places that immediately made me smile.

Walking through the streets, I found myself stopping every few steps just to take it all in. It was the kind of place that makes you slow down, look up, and appreciate the creativity behind every building.

For me, Zaandam was the perfect introduction to the Netherlands—a town that combines centuries of Dutch heritage with playful, eye-catching architecture. It's a place that leaves a lasting first impression and instantly makes you excited to see what the rest of the country has to offer.

Side note: While in Zaandam, we popped in to the Lagom Grand Cafe, to take a moment and enjoy a cup of coffee.

FYI ~~ lagom—meaning "not too little, not too much, just right"

As luck would have it, we were fortunate enough to find on the menu a Dutch favorite; "Poffertjes"! You know what they say.. "when in Rome".

One to scratch off the list of foods we wanted to try in the Netherlands.

The moment we arrived at Zaanse Schans, we could feel the history and charisma. Just moments away from Zaandam, this charming Dutch village, famous for its historic windmills, traditional green wooden houses, artisan workshops, and peaceful canals, made us understand why its such a hot spot for travelers. If you've ever imagined the "classic Netherlands," this is it. Albeit an extremely busy and bustling spot, you are still able to capture the essence of the heritage and picturesque area.

My recommendation is to take the water cruise along the shores of this village. We booked the WindmillHopper tour.

A completely different perspective and a much calmer and less crowded way to enjoy the windmills along the route. Our guide also explained the different processes that still to this day are active in some of the windmills. Spices, paint and chalk pigments, oils, timber and flour are still produced at the windmills on site in Zaanse Schans.

Several other traditional crafts can be experience in the village as well such as wooden clog making, cheese making, weaving and pewter casting. Take the time and watch the demonstrations! It's quite the experience.

Next stop.... Edam.

One of the highlights of our visit to Edam was, of course, trying the famous cheese. We spent a lot of time at the local cheese shop Kaasspeciaalzaak Edam, where the shelves were packed with colorful wheels of cheese in every flavor you could imagine.

There were classic Edam and goat cheeses, along with garlic, pesto, smoked, truffle, chili, herb & garlic and tons of other varieties. They offered free samples, so we spent quite a bit of time tasting the different kinds. Even if you're not a huge cheese lover, it's hard not to get caught up in the hype.

We ended up buying the Honey Thyme and Herb & Garlic cheeses, but the best find for us was the fig and almond bread!!!!!! What a decadent treat. Needless to say we scratched lunch off our list of things to do.

Our next stop in Edam was De Kaaswaag Edam by Henri Willig. It was interesting to learn that this building was once the town's original cheese weighing house, where farmers brought their cheese to be weighed and traded centuries ago. Seeing the old weighing scales and learning a bit about Edam's history made the visit feel much more than just another cheese shop.

Every Wednesday morning from July to August Edam hosts a cheese market where locals dress in traditional costumes and reenact the trading of Edam cheese. Unfortunately we weren't able to experience this spectacle in Edam, but hang in there. We did get to experience this ritual later on, on our trip.

The town of Edam, is a destination that perfectly captures the charm of traditional Dutch life. While many people know the name because of its famous cheese, Edam is so much more than a culinary destination. It's one of the Netherlands' most delightful towns to explore and to be honest it did end up being our favorite in ALL of Netherlands.

Walking through Edam feels like stepping back in time. Just a slow paced, easy living, friendly town where historic merchant houses line the canals, colorful flower boxes brighten the streets, and elegant drawbridges connect neighborhoods that have changed very little over the centuries. Unlike some of the countries busier tourist destinations, Edam offers a relaxed pace that invites visitors to slow down and simply enjoy the scenery.

Speaking of food.....

Our quest for a slice of traditional "appeltart" just so happened to present itself at the lovely 'De Fortuna' Restaurant in Edam. This adorable outdoor terrace and restaurant was the perfect spot for us to take a break and enjoy another cup of coffee, as well as a slice of this flakey, apple treat. #chefskiss. The waiter was such a delight, the scenery on the terrace along a tiny canal, and the perfect sunshine day just made the moment a cherished memory.