Edam houses canal with boats
© KH-Pictures via Shutterstock

When you think of Edam, you often think of cheese first. But Edam is more than just cheese. In this authentic town on Markermeer lake, you will also find pleasant shopping streets and cozy terraces at less than half an hour from Amsterdam.

  • Authentic Dutch town near IJsselmeer.
  • Just 30 minutes from Amsterdam.
  • Visit the famous cheese markets or go on a boat tour.

Edam, more than just cheese

Edam cheese has been a famous Dutch export product since the Golden Age. The small, often red cheese ball has been transported to every corner of the world for centuries.

When you visit Edam, you can explore the 18th-century cheese warehouses and, of course, try this quintessentially Dutch delicacy yourself. The cheese warehouses keep the memory of our colorful, fragrant past alive.

Edam does not only have a rich history in relation to cheese. As early as the 12th-century, farmers and fishermen built shacks on the banks of the IJ river. This simple town evolved into the city of Edam, which continuously grew in prosperity until the late 17th century.

In addition to cheese, shipbuilding and trade also contributed to Edam’s development. It even was one of the most important trading cities in Holland in addition to Amsterdam, Hoorn and Enkhuizen! Discover the history of Edam at the Edams Museum.

More in this area

There are plenty of reasons to visit this beautiful region! Edam is very near Volendam, Monnickendam and Marken, typically Dutch fishing towns on the Zuiderzee. If you would like to see these places in a different way, why not book a cycling holiday? The Zuiderzee itinerary leads you to all of these beautiful places and other authentic villages around the IJsselmeer.

Want to visit Edam?

Book a tour from Amsterdam to the Zaanse Schans and its windmills, as well as Volendam and Edam. The tour takes you to all of the highlights in these typically Dutch towns.

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