Depart from the old harbour in Volendam on your bike to explore multiple villages. Along the route you will see a beautiful windmill, lots of meadows, a countless number of cows and sheeps and you will cross the famous Dutch dikes. The one time you will be cruising on top of the dike, so you can see (and even dive into!) the lake, the 'Gouwzee'. The other time you are riding meters below sea level along the dike to experience how the Dutch locals live behind the dikes.
From Volendam you can either choose or be advised which villages you would like to visit with your bike. Within one hour you can perfectly visit Edam, a almost 800 year old town north of Volendam. Edam is famous for its peaceful narrow alleys and small canals, the beautiful façades of the cozy houses and the unique small boutiques. Also Edam is known for its cheese market where visitors can both taste and purchase a various number of cheeses.
Also another town, which is called Monnickendam can be visited in only one hour of time. When walking or cruising around in the old center of Monnickendam it will feel like you went back in time. Along the streets you will see the beautiful houses made of light bronze bricks. Also the old harbour with its pretty ships and charming terraces is definitely worth a visit. An absolute highlight in Monnickendam is the beer brewery, where you can see where and how the beer is brewed, where you can taste the homemade sausages and enjoy the lovely terrace along the water.
When you have more time to spend it is highly advised to make a tour from Volendam to Monnickendam and from Monnickendam to the former island Marken. Marken is a stunning town with lovely bridges over the small canals and really nice wooden façades. As the island can only be reached by the 10 kilometer long dike, the small town is surrounded by water where it becomes really clear again how the Dutch are dealing with living below sealevel. From Marken it is possible to take the boat back to Volendam. The Volendam-Marken Express is departing each 30 minutes from Marken to Volendam and it is possible to bring your bike on the ship. After a 30 minutes cruise you will be back in Volendam where you can drive underneath the dike back to the rental company to bring back your bike.