Op weg met de fiets naar de Zaanse Schans. Strak blauwe lucht.

A bike tour exploring the countryside and the industrial heritage of Zaanse Schans, the number one day trip destination in the Netherlands.

Starting in Amsterdam, your local private bike guide will take you on an offbeat excursion to Zaanse Schans, showcasing a variety of attractive highlights. You will also enjoy a local tour, avoiding the crowds and discovering hidden gems around the Zaanse Schans.

This is the ‘anti-cyclical Lex and the City approach’. (And that includes advice on touring on Sunday morning, too! ;) )

 

Cette page en Français | in het Nederlands  (Wir sprechen auch Deutsch. (Online, am Telefon, und unterwegs.)

Areas: Amsterdam-North: both hip and scenic | Industrial heritage of the 17th-18th-19th century | Twiske recreational area | Historic houses  | Nature | Private | High end | Refreshing | Zaanse Schans: wooden shoes, cheese and (many) windmills.

Zaanse Schans with loads of mills, cheese and clogs above Amsterdam- Picture by Lex and the City private bike tours
Biking from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, the place where you will find these kind of “Zaanse” houses. This is the (free) entrance of ZS.

 

Lex and the City takes its customers, private groups, to the highlights in- and above- Amsterdam.  (The unusual way)

Biking privately to Zaanse Schans; the number 1 day-trip destination of the Netherlands, with your private group.

Lex and the City private tour guides in front of the (many) windmills of the Zaanse Schans – in 2019. Sven was biking and Lex was skating.

The Zaanse Schans is one of the major tourist attractions of the Netherlands.  Historic mills and green wooden houses were relocated here to recreate the look of an 18th/19th-century village. If still needed, first read more about the Zaanse Schans on their website. It’ll bring you into an ancient world of wooden shoes (clogs), cheese farms, cows and flowers, however it represents our rich history, specifically our industrial heritage of the 17th, 18th and 19th century. At the same time…it is virtually always busy on the Zaanse Schans.

However not on the scenic route TO Netherlands’ no.1 day-trip! Our role is to show you the tempting cycle route from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, come up with appealing stories about it during that offbeat excursion Amsterdam, and be your “starting-up-the-experience guide” at the Zaanse Schans itself as well. (without that bike)

1/2 day trip to the Zaanse Schans (or full day tour), or a local bike tour around Zaanse Schans., riding a bike, foot-bike or on inline skates (or a combination). Get a bit into the everyday lives of people from the Netherlands, as this is not a standard touristic trail. 

A bike ride out, being a nice combination with the Amsterdam highlights and hidden gems and, in spring, with the tulips in North-Holland; the world’s single biggest flower bulb field. (and still pretty unknown.)


 

Guided countryside bike tour to the Zaanse Schans FROM Amsterdam: including your private guide(s) upon arrival. “Lexcursion”

Haaldersbroek - What a hidden gem, right beneath the Zaanse Schans - Picture by tour guide Lex
Haaldersbroek – What a hidden gem, right beneath Zaanse Schans

Cycle tour Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans – Passing by these kind of nice houses in Oostzaan. (And then continuing the ride to Zaanse Schans.) An offbeat excursion from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans: starting from the bike rental near central station in Amsterdam, heading for the small ferry to the North, discovering the Northern part of Amsterdam (with a great mill), showing you the green area with appealing bike paths, “t Twiske”.

Guided bicycle tour. Or by foot-bike (scooter) One way is appr. 24 km. With time for swimming, good food, connecting and tanning. It is also a great way to be in less touristic surroundings, before arriving at the popular Zaanse SchansEven at Zaanse Schans we ride our bikes partly; along all those cute windmills! The bike lanes are almost…ZEN. ;)

For the tour planners out there: calculate about 4,5 hours of biking to Zaanse Schans and spotting. 

 

Three different kind of cycle tours to-, around- and in- the Zaanse Schans: of which 2 from Amsterdam and one just touring locally:

Cycle tour Amsterdam - Zaanse Schans - Passing by nice houses

Experience 1: Bike trip from Amsterdam, in the afternoon visiting time in the Zaanse Schans. (And back by bike-taxi and train?)

Tour 1: Do you want a guided scenic (and quiet!) one way to Zaanse Schans by bike of 24 km, including a visit to the Zaanse Schans? (day trip of which 4 hours of biking with stops.) and possibly having a private bus to bring back the rental bikes? (You’d go back by taxi, coach or public transport (bus or train).)

Focus on arrival upon lunchtime. You’d have the time to discover Zaanse Schans on your own in the afternoon. (And a walking introduction 1st of Zaanse-Schans by your dutch bike tour leader.) We’ve got three appealing track-options to get there.
Price of this offbeat tour, lunch, bikes..

Lex van Buuren on inline skates in front of the Zaanse Schans.
Lex van Buuren on inline skates in front of the Zaanse Schans. – 2019, making plans for this special country-side tour.


Experience 2: round bike trip Amsterdam, including visiting time in the Zaanse Schans.

Tour 2: Or do you want a North-Holland round bike trip with 2 different cool cycle tracks and including a visit of Zaanse Schans? (46 or even 59 km of biking, sporty day excursion) Pricing of this rural tour, lunch, bikes..

Carry on with tour 3 beneath this tempting house on the route of that same tour 3. ⇓

Tempting Zaandijk, part of the Lex and the City bike-tour around and within Zaanse Schans - the Netherlands, North Holland
Tempting Zaandijk, opposite the Zaanse Schans. Photo by your Lex and the City tour guide.

 

Experience 3: Local cycling-tour in & around Zaanse Schans

New in 2024! (In case you prefer a local tour in & around the Zaanse Schans:) Can we tempt you to a 12 km (or 8) round trip around & within (a part of) the Zaanse Schans with Enge Wormer, (dreamy) Haaldersbroek, Zaandijk, Wormerveer, and finish at the windmills with a simple, but private lunch?

Local, active tour around and into the Zaanse Schans by bike. 
Would you like it with your group? We (can) arrange good dutch tour bikes, as well as that local Amsterdam based guide, the Lex and the City organization, transportation of bikes and creation of the excursion. Pricing of the rural and picturesque tour, lunch, bikes, transport bikes.

Laat je verleiden met ongewone fietstours in Amsterdam door je Lex and the City lokale gids die jullie leiden naar de verborgen plekjes van de hoofdstad. Hier zie je de houten huizen Buiksloterdijk
Buiksloterdijk – Amsterdam North

 

Target groups of this un (L) expected countryside windmill & industrial heritage excursion in North-Holland ⇓

Biking past the windmills on Zaanse Schans - Photo Lex and the City tours
Biking together past the (9) windmills on Zaanse Schans – Photo by Lex

Off the beaten track tour along tree-lined bike paths for families (Children adore it.), business and even VIP groups, eager to get to know famous spots in the neighborhood of Amsterdam. With a curious eye.
Possibly part of an incentive trip. Or company outing. The beautiful scenery North of Amsterdam and visiting the mills could be an inspiring addition to your Netherlands’ business trip.
Great offbeat excursion Amsterdam solution as well for (customers of) DMC’s, group planners and incentive houses.

 


Highlights of the private bike tours 1 & 2 to- and/or- from the Zaanse Schans: content of this offbeat excursion Amsterdam.⇓

Cycling with your private group to the Zaanse Schans. Along a beautiful windmill in Amsterdam North: Molen d’Admiraal.

It could be that industrial heritage route.Passing by Zaandam and the HEM. And NDSM wharf, circular and heritage. (This could be included on the way to Zaanse Schans as well; ask us.)

The raw and recycled side of the NDSM Wharf with the Trammeland trams and the Crane Hotel - Picture by Lex and the "Noord" tours
NDSM Wharf, Crane Hotel. Industrial heritage


Cycle GPS route Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans. | One way: appr. 24 km | Including around Zaanse Schans passing by the windmills: 8 to 12 km

The bike track does not show the ferry back from NDSM to Central Station. (An interesting sightseeing tour by the way, including the Westerdok area and great view over Amsterdam Central Station.)

It is not necessary to make it a day-trip, what counts is the time you need to go there. Google maps says it is 17 km, however that is not the scenic version. The touristic one is 24 km. We recommend adding going around the Zaanse Schans, which will show you additional en authentic “Zaans life” from the early days. (an additional 8 or 12 km, named here “tour 3”.)

If your hotel is based in town itself, 3 hours would be more work than fun, in the case of a company outing. I’d say hardly impossible, taking into account not everyone will be a trained cyclist.

NDSM Wharf - Temporary Leave space for space monument 2024
NDSM Wharf – Temporary Leave space for space monument 2024

Moreover we ask our customers to create the time-space needed to fully enjoy the trip; including enjoying un(L)expected, surprising moments.
And for yourself you should count the time being there, for example 2-3 hours.

 

Amsterdam – Zaanse Schans, another biking route 1 (one way). Including the historic dike in Amsterdam North, and also Zaandam ⇓

Amazing house during the bike tour to Zaanse Schans, coming from Amsterdam - Lex and the City tours
Typical “Zaan” house during the bike tour to Zaanse Schans, coming from Amsterdam – Lex and the City tours

 Highlights:

You do not have to choose which tour 1 while booking, we can do that together later. (Or simply leave it to the Lex and the City tour planner.)


Having lunch, privately & in peace next to Zaanse Schans. Nutritious lunch right after the tour from Amsterdam.

What about lunch in between the bike tour and your visit to Zaanse Schans?
Having a private lunch at the eco-friendly & new Zaanse Tuin. A ZEN eco-garden, just a 10 minutes walk from the Zaanse-Schans. Including coffee, soup, bread with dutch cheese, eggs from the local chickens, fruit dutch cookie, eco-toilet and peace for the mind… ;).
You can also combine the local in- and around- Zaanse Schans bike tour (called “tour 3” ⇑) with this durable kind of lunch.
Pricing.
A Facebook impression of this additional part of the So-Holland-bike-(L) excursion.

Having a private lunch next to Zaanse-Schans with your own group after the bike tour
Having a private lunch next to Zaanse Schans with your own group after the bike tour. (Spring 2022 with a small German group of bike friends.)

 

Proposed time schedule for tour 1: a 1/2 guided bike excursion to Zaanse Schans ⇓

Naar de Zaanse Schans vanuit Amsterdam - Met de fiets, de step of de skate
Zaandijk, opposite the Zaanse Schans

Either:
– 9:30 AM: Meet up at the bike store on Oosterdokseiland for handing out the bikes (Without further notice it will all be normal tour bikes.)
– 12:30 AM: On the Zaanse Schans we have arranged a welcome from a local bike-taxi driver who lives there. We can stall the bikes over-there for the bus to pick them up. And we could offer you a simple dutch lunch on the inner-square in front of her house. This place is quiet and still right above the windmills and the mill museum.
– 1 PM: possibly a (free) visit to the cheese factory with your bike/skate tour guide.
– 1:45 PM  –>: spare time in Zaanse Schans and return to Amsterdam by yourself either by train (and our bike-taxi to bring you to the station), bus or taxi. (Or private coach)La redoute zanoise - Sabots Usine de chaussures en bois - Zaanse Schans - endroit pour une photo chouette

Or:
– 9:30AM: Meet up at the bike store on Oosterdokseiland for handing out the bikes
– 12:30AM: arrival at Zaanse Tuin for lunch (Right above the Zaanse Schans)
– 12:45 AM: Bringing bikes to the bike-van on the (quiet) edge of Zaanse Schans.
– 2PM: short introduction of Zaanse Schans
– 2:30PM: possibly a free visit to the cheese factory
– 3PM –>: spare time in the Zaanse Schans.

 

Pricing season 2025 of those 3 Zaanse Schans biking trips for private groups: including 21% VAT ⇓

The Zaanse Schans by bike with Lex and the City tours

⇓ Carry on with the other prices/offers beneath this tempting house to be found on the route of tour 3.

Amazing house in tempting Zaandijk - part of the Lex and the City bike-tour around and in the Zaanse Schans
Historic house in tempting Zaandijk – part of the Lex and the City bike-tour around the unknown Zaanse Schans

Carry on with the other prices/offers beneath this tempting house to be found on the route of tour 3. ⇓

Haaldersbroek, a hidden gem south of Zaanse Schans - Picture by Lex and the City
Haaldersbroek, a hidden gem south of Zaanse Schans – Picture by Lex and the City
German friends small biking-group during the Holland excursion on a mini ferry in the countryside above Amsterdam
German friends bike group during the Holland Zaanse Schans excursion on a mini ferry in the countryside above Amsterdam. June 2022. Danke, Johannes fürs’ Bild.


Contact about private tour The Zaanse Schans by bike or skate, starting from Amsterdam, for small groups.

The Mill of 't Twiske recreational area with great bike road heading for The Zaanse Schans.
Windmill of ’t Twiske recreational area, with great bike path heading for the Zaanse Schans. (Lex is here on inline skates, but can join on his bike…)

+31655337726 | [email protected]

Below you see more pictures of “The Zaanse Schans privately by bike, foot-bike or inline skate“.

The landing page of the private guide Amsterdam and North-Holland, Lex and the City, with best kept secret tours in French, German, English and Dutch.


Contact with hotel managers for the Zaanse Schans private excursion from Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam-North with the Adam Tower, including the Amsterdam Lookout with the swing on the roof - First part of the private bike tour to the Zaanse Schans with Lex and the City tours.
Amsterdam-North with the Adam Tower, including the Amsterdam Lookout with the swing on the roof – Possibly the first part of this private bike tour.

Are you a hotel Meetings & Incentives manager or concierge?

Chk our private tours page for hotel concierges and Meetings & Incentive hotelmanagers in “Noord”.

(Wir könnten uns auch unterhalten auf Deutsch.)

 

Take your time to enjoy the guided bike tour AND de Zaanse Schans.

If you choose for a countryside tour like Zaanse Schans, Lex and the City advises not to set 2 goals for the day.
Or alternatively choose for a city bike tour in the morning and give yourself spare time in the afternoon.
The Zaanse Schans is even a “countryside tour +” as there is the visit itself as well. (There is pretty much to see and do.)


Travel program with tulip bicycle guide in the north of North-Holland, to the largest flower bulb field in the world.

Pennings bollen en bloemen uit Breezand raadt Lex and the City aan voor tours langs de bollenvelden en bloemen in de Kop van Noord-Holland.
Your rural Amsterdam bike tour leader and out of the box guide

Press this wonderful recommendation from Pennings from Breezand for the private tulip tours of Lex and the City. (By the way, he has used our Amsterdam Holland bike – mill postcard for this purpose. )

 

Where you looking for another rural and countryside biking tour above Amsterdam?

This offbeat countryside excursion is part of Lex and the City rural tours above Amsterdam: other countryside bike excursions above Amsterdam

Ransdorp is characterized by its traditional wooden houses. Picture by Lex and City
Private bike tour “rural North”, with dreamy Ransdorp.

Lex and the City private tours above Amsterdam: tailor made, safe & cool, offbeat and for the curious eye.

Lex van Buuren persoonlijke sportieve coach in AmsterdamYour out of the box Amsterdam-and-above tour leader speaks : French, English, German and of course Dutch as well.
Lex van Buuren is local tour guide himself and has people around him who embrace the same leX-factor culture. Looking for the highlights above Amsterdam.
With a curious eye.
Eye for individuality and conditions.
Tailor-made.

 

Free publicity for our offbeat tours and excursions: “Lexposure

Page is in dutch; however you’d get an impression, as it includes articles in English in the Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, the Sunday Times Magazine and the Guardian. –>  publiciteit – pers Lex and the City

 

Biking during an incentive trip in the Netherlands and on Texel with Lex and the City tours

⇓ Carry on with the other prices/offers beneath this tempting house to be found on the route of tour 3.

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