Volendam, which means "filled dam" is well known for its quaint fishing boats and the traditional dress worn by older members of the community. One of the most interesting Voldendam things to do in the town is to take a look at the shoreline. The shoreline is the place where the land has been reclaimed and you can admire the unique architecture of the houses. Not only do the houses have the traditional Dutch gabled roofs but they also have been built on miniature stilts and placed behind the road which acts as a natural dam to protect them from flooding.

Along the Beach

Once you have seen the houses, the beach is ideal for a romantic moonlit walk or just simply to get some fresh air. The view of the coast is spectacular. This is also the best place to see the locals in their traditional fishing dress, although they wear it more for the sake of tourists than anything else.

The beach is also home to a number of pleasure craft if you would like a more detailed tour of the coastline. For a small fee you can pay a local to give you information about the historic buildings that you see around the coast.

Volendam Museum

The museum itself is located very close to the middle of the town, within easy walking distance of a car park and local restaurants. The permanent exhibitions focus on the local dress and customs such as the impressive 3-foot-tall bonnet worn by some fisherwomen. There is also an impressive catalog of local folk songs and dancing, complete with interactive films. If you are feeling very brave, you can also dress up in the same way as the locals and try a traditional dance or 2. Next to the museum is a picture theater which shows old Dutch broadcasts as well as documentaries about the lives of the people.

Cigar Bands

As an area that was developed from a fishing village into other industries, it became famous the world over for designing and manufacturing cigar bands. This building is located next to the museum and displays the multi-colored mosaic patterns that go into these designs. As you can imagine many of the designs have a very Dutch flavor, from pictures of windmills, provincial workers and, of course, fish.

Fotoshop Volendam

No visit to Volendam would be complete without a visit to the Fotoshop where you can put on traditional dress and have a photo taken as a souvenir! It’s a real keepsake.