{"id":306415,"date":"2025-11-20T15:08:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T15:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/amsterdam\/visit-edam-an-authentic-dutch-town-without-the-tourist-crowds-amsterdamian\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T15:08:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T15:08:51","slug":"visit-edam-an-authentic-dutch-town-without-the-tourist-crowds-amsterdamian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=306415","title":{"rendered":"Visit Edam, an Authentic Dutch Town Without the Tourist Crowds | Amsterdamian"},"content":{"rendered":"


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There\u2019s something wonderful about stumbling upon a place that feels like it wasn\u2019t expecting you<\/strong>. One hot summer day, I was on a day trip to Volendam<\/a> with a friend who was visiting the Netherlands for the first time and wanted to see traditional Dutch villages<\/a>. Volendam was the first Dutch village I visited when I myself was a tourist, and I still remember how different and amazing it seemed back then. Since my visit, the place has become more crowded and touristy. I still recommend it to people who are new to the Netherlands<\/a> for its beauty but also because it\u2019s easy to get to from Amsterdam.<\/p>\n

That day we found Volendam overcome by tourists, every place was crammed, too many souvenir shops and too little Dutch life. The cod sandwich from the fish stall was still as good as always, and some hidden streets still beautiful and quiet. However, we wanted something that felt more real<\/strong>, and, usually my choice would have been Marken<\/a>, just a ferry ride away from Volendam. But logistics required us to choose Edam, which was more suitable for our plans. We took the bus to Edam, hoping things would be quieter there.<\/p>\n


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As soon as we walked a few metres from the bus stop in Edam, we were immediately immersed in the peaceful atmosphere of a small Dutch village<\/strong>. We walked around without plans, just trying to discover the place. The streets were narrow and bordered with flowers, the canals and bridges picturesque, like straight out of a postcard, and in the city centre families were eating ice cream while older people were gossiping on a bench by the canal. Edam is that kind of town, the sort where shopkeepers still know their neighbours by name, and where tourists are welcomed but haven\u2019t yet transformed the place into a living museum. I couldn\u2019t believe I\u2019d never been there before!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for somewhere that feels like the Netherlands of old postcards, with canal reflections, church bells, bicycles leaning against every available wall, but want to experience it alongside actual Dutch people going about their actual Dutch lives, then Edam might just become your favourite day out from Amsterdam.<\/p>\n


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A Brief History of Edam<\/h2>\n

The history of Edam began in the 12th century with a dam on the River E (or Ye), built by farmers who were tired of the North Sea ruining their crops. Edam received city rights around the 1300s, and it developed a lot thanks to the shipping and fishing industries, competing in importance with cities like Hoorn<\/a>, Enkhuizen<\/a>, and Amsterdam<\/a>. Ships departed from the harbours in Edam for the major cities in Holland and international trading routes. The cheese market<\/a> became a major factor in Edam\u2019s economy in the sixteenth century (although the market that is held now is a tourist version of the original one).<\/p>\n


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What to do in Edam<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking for the picture-perfect village in the Netherlands, Edam is one of the main contenders. It\u2019s a beautiful, quiet place, where clouds reflect onto the narrow canals, old houses remind you of the past, and drawbridges are lifted to let the boats pass. You walk around and you marvel that people live in this picturesque place, and feel even a bit shy about taking photos. It comes alive more on the cheese market days, but if you want the quiet, you should pick other days for that.<\/p>\n

There are enough cheese shops to make sure you don\u2019t leave this place without a sample of Edam\u2019s treasured cheese, even if you don\u2019t go there on a market day.<\/p>\n

The best thing to do in Edam is walk around aimlessly, discovering the beauty of the village. But if you\u2019d like to mark some landmarks, there are a couple that you can add to your agenda.<\/p>\n


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The Famous Cheese Market<\/a><\/strong>
Every Wednesday in July and August, Edam turns back the clock to its trading days. From 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, the Kaasmarkt square fills with cheese carriers in traditional white uniforms, re-creating a traditional cheese market. There are some days when the market is held in the evening, so make sure to check the Edam Cheese Market website for the latest info.<\/p>\n


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Edam Museum<\/a><\/strong>
One of the oldest museums in North Holland, the Edam Museum is the place where you can learn about the history of this town. The museum is housed in two locations, one being Edam\u2019s oldest brick house (1530) and the other on the first floor of Edam\u2019s old town hall, dating from 1737. The collection is diverse and consists of classical and modern paintings, ceramics, archaeological finds, furniture, and all kinds of other curiosities.<\/p>\n

One of the famous features of the Edam Museum is the floating cellar, which rises and falls with groundwater levels. It\u2019s a loose wooden container resting on groundwater, rising and sinking with the tide. Back when the Zuiderzee still influenced the water levels here on Dam Square, this clever setup kept the basement from ever flooding. Floating cellars weren\u2019t unusual in Edam or Amsterdam, but this is the only one in the Netherlands you can actually visit today.<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s a charming legend attached to it: locals say a former owner, a sea captain, had it built because he missed the ocean too much. In this gently rocking cellar, he could still feel the movement of the water and hear a hint of the sea.<\/p>\n

At the Edam Museum you will also learn about Edam legends, like the Mermaid of Edam<\/a> (captured in Purmermeer and taken to Edam, where she was dressed in women\u2019s clothing), the Big Girl (Groote Meid in Dutch, a girl who was 2.54 metres tall) and Longbeard (a ship carpenter who grew his beard so long that he had to stand over a canal to be able to comb it).<\/p>\n


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De Kaaswaag<\/a> (Cheese Warehouse)<\/strong>
When the summer market isn\u2019t running, this is the place to go for your cheese fix. This is a mini-museum where you can learn the difference between jong and oud cheeses, understand why Edam cheese for export gets that famous red wax (hint: it\u2019s for protection), and yes, sample cheeses!<\/p>\n

Grote Kerk (Great Church)<\/strong><\/a>
Built in the 15th century, the church is famous for its extraordinary stained-glass windows that tell biblical stories in kaleidoscopic detail and offers tower climbs in summer (\u20ac3). The church\u2019s wooden vault, supposedly the largest in Europe, looks like an upturned ship\u2019s hull, a reminder of Edam\u2019s shipbuilding past.<\/p>\n