During my third day in The Netherlands, I decided to take a bus tour which included the windmill village of Zaanse Schans, Delft, The Hague, Volendam and Marken, The Hague, and Maurodam. The bus left Amsterdam at 9am for a full day of sightseeing!

First stop was Zaanse Schans. This little village is comprised of authentically traditional Dutch homes and businesses, craft markets, a clog-making shop, and several, old windmills. The dark green cottages made for very picturesque views by the canals. One or two windmills are open to the public to see how they operate and were used for grinding spices.

After strolling through this remarkable village, we headed to the oceanside town of Volendam. I ate lunch at a restaurant on the pier. Though seaside restaurants mainly serve non-veggie food, this one had the most amazing veggie burger! It came with a side of fries. I was happy to have found this place!

My tour group had a half hour after lunch to visit the souvenir shops and go for a stroll near the docks.

Then it was time to take the boat over to the island of Marken. This village had such pretty homes and businesses in shades of green!

We entered a building which was part souvenir shop and part craft shop. Our group had the opportunity to watch as the craftsmen took us through the entire clog-making process using the proper machinery.

In the afternoon, we headed to the town of Delft. This other picturesque town can boast of beautiful 16th to 18th century architecture and churches. It is also famous for its blue and white pottery. I watched as the guides explained the pottery making process and showed us the various machinery and methods used to mold and paint.

After purchasing a miniature Delft vase, we headed to the main square of Delft where we had free time to explore the 14th century churches, city hall, shops, and cafes. The tour guide even pointed out the house where 17th century artist Vermeer was born.

Then it was time for our next stop. We arrived at The Hague in mid-afternoon. This is the country’s political center. The tour bus drove us past international embassies, royal palaces, and other government buildings.

Our day ended with a visit to Maurodam. This open-air museum houses a collection of mini-The Netherlands regions. Each region is showcased with miniatures of its town buildings, transportation systems, and peoples.

Upon arrival back in Amsterdam in the evening, I was ready for my dinner. I ate at another vegan restaurant in town called “TerraZen”(TerraZen). This casual restaurant offers Asian and western fare. I chose the bowl of udon noodles with spicy veggies in a vegetable broth. My dessert was the banana cake. Everything was delicious.

I even purchased their chocolate cake for my breakfast the following morning.

The evening ended with a boat cruise along the canals. We cruised by a building designed to be shaped like a piano. The illuminated buildings reflected off the tranquil waters and was a nice way to end an exciting, adventure-packed week in The Netherlands!

My day was filled with local culture, history, crafts, charming villages, and captivating vistas of The Netherlands!

The following morning, I hopped on the Eurolines bus for my two and a half hour journey across the border into Belgium!