Experience Pure Holland: Volendam & the Zaanse Schans
Of course it is wonderful to swap Dutch soil for foreign parts every now and then. However, the beauty, authenticity and versatility of our own country are often forgotten as a result. We at goMICE, after many years of experience in organising meetings and incentives both at home and abroad, can confirm that the Netherlands is also a highly suitable destination for an unforgettable meeting or incentive trip!
In this blog, we would therefore love to take you to two quintessentially Dutch locations in North Holland and share our favourites for company outings or client days. Naturally, when it suits the target audience, optionally supplemented with substantive components and always featuring surprising elements to make it an unforgettable LIVE moment. Experience Purely Dutch with goMICE!
Besides the fact that North Holland is rich in many modern cities, some 30 minutes north of the bustling capital Amsterdam, various picturesque Dutch locations can be found. Places where you immediately experience the unique feeling of stepping back in time hundreds of years. This is also true for the old fishing village of Volendam and the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Zaanse Schans.
Volendam: boats, traditional costume and fish!
Volendam, the fishing village on the Markermeer whose fishing culture, picturesque houses and traditional costume are world-famous. We are happy to share some of our favourite group activities in Volendam:
- Photo shoot in the Volendam Maze. The Doolhof is the oldest part of the centre of Volendam, where characteristic houses can be found. The atmospheric, narrow streets are separated by small canals and drawbridges. With a little imagination, it is easy to picture what the village used to look like! Naturally, you will want to capture this place on camera... but which team can come up with the best artisanal story and capture it in a catchy photo reportage in the Doolhof?!
- Guided tour of an eel smokehouse. Paviljoen Smit Bokkum is daily active in the traditional smoking of fish, including the most famous eel in the world. Learn more about how the eel is caught, processed and smoked. And taste the eel you have smoked yourself during a delicious lunch!
- Boat trip to, and visit to Marken. Step aboard the luxury ferry, which has been chartered exclusively for your group, and enjoy a short crossing to the Marken peninsula. Accompanied by a local guide, stroll through Marken past the picturesque houses and the boats in the harbour, visit the lighthouse and experience the village like a large open-air museum! Would you like to enjoy the view across the water for longer and would you like to add a business aspect to the incentive? Then the VIP lounge on board is the perfect setting for a fully catered meeting!
- A snap in traditional Volendam costume. Following in the footsteps of many famous Dutch people and international stars, you and your colleagues cannot be left behind in having a photograph taken in traditional Volendam costume! An unforgettable moment full of hilarity to capture together forever!
Experience the Zaanse Schans!
Discover the quintessential Dutch splendour of the Zaanse Schans, a unique piece of Dutch world heritage where history can be felt, just like in Volendam. From a clog maker's workshop to an artisanal bakery, and from cheese makers to the world-famous windmills, it can all be found in this place! Here are a few goMICE favourites:
- Cruising past Dutch heritage. The Zaanse Schans is very easy to reach by car and bus. But what could be more fun than making use of the adjacent water? Step aboard the exclusively chartered boat that moors in Zaandam and watch the windmills appear in the distance. Enjoy a drink and a bite to eat if you wish as you cruise together past the monumental warehouses and factory buildings.
- E-Chopper tour. To get a good impression of the Zaanse Schans, it is great fun to do an e-chopper tour around the local area. There are various routes that really show off the characteristic houses and the views of the windmills. Turn the key and drive off on these eco-friendly, sturdy bikes!
- Chocolate workshop in a mill. How do you make chocolate from cocoa beans? And what is the real taste of chocolate? During the workshop in a historic cocoa mill, you will learn, surrounded by hundreds of chocolate bars, according to traditional 18e-century techniques to crack cocoa beans and process them into cocoa paste. Naturally, a comprehensive tasting of the various types of chocolate follows.
Unique places to stay in the local area
Inntel Hotels Zaandam
To stay in the nostalgic, authentic atmosphere, an overnight stay in one of the most unique hotels in the Netherlands is an absolute must. The stunning facade of the Inntel Hotel Zaandam makes it look as though the hotel consists of a stack of detached green Zaan houses. Zaandam is located near both Volendam and the Zaanse Schans, making it an ideal location for a pleasant overnight stay. The hotel rooms at the Inntel are furnished according to contemporary luxury and comfort standards, interspersed with historical elements from the Zaan region. This certainly completes the pure Dutch experience!
Zaan Hotel Zaandam
Alongside the Inntel Hotel, the Zaan Hotel is also ideal for a luxury overnight stay in Zaanse style! Here, the eye-catching facade is also reminiscent of traditional green Zaanse houses. The interior of the Zaan Hotel is in a boutique style and exudes warmth and luxury. This style is reflected in the elegant hotel rooms, which likewise offer modern amenities and great comfort.
Your Pure Holland experience with goMICE
Are you just as enthusiastic about the special possibilities of a “Purely Dutch” theme and curious about the options that suit your organisation? goMICE is your partner for organising meetings, events and incentive travel. Also in the Netherlands! With our Stretch-method furthermore, we also help you think about how you can start early with informing, exciting and stimulating your target audience. This reinforces your message even further and we ensure that your next LIVE moment is delivered with even more impact and results!