Our river cruise boards in Zaandam instead of Amsterdam. How do we get there, and what do we do while we wait?
Zaandam is just north of Amsterdam, across the IJ, and it hosts a large share of the region's river ships because the Amsterdam region spreads them across neighboring towns; local reporting counted 393 river-cruise ships expected at Zaanstad's quays in 2023. A car takes you and your cases from Schiphol or your Amsterdam hotel to the berth, fixed at booking: from Schiphol about €96 in Business Class. With a half day to spare, the Zaanse Schans windmills are a few minutes from many of the quays.
Last updated:
Prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Schiphol to Zaandam | ≈ €96 | estimate: about 28 km × €3.42/km · exact fixed price shown at booking · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Schiphol to Zaandam | ≈ €124 | estimate: about 28 km × €4.44/km · exact fixed price shown at booking · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Schiphol to Zaandam | ≈ €190 | estimate: about 28 km × €6.79/km · exact fixed price shown at booking · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Business Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, with a chauffeur by the hour | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
Rides outside Amsterdam are priced from the measured road distance (or a fixed route price where one applies) and shown as one fixed price before you book. By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, starting and ending in the same city. The chauffeur waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
Getting to the quay
| From | Ride | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Schiphol | About 30 minutes | About €96 in Business Class |
| A central Amsterdam hotel | About 23 minutes | About €70 in Business Class |
| With a half-day tour first | Car by the hour, bags in the trunk | From €65 an hour |
Send us the ship's name and the quay from your documents; Zaandam has several.
A half day near the ship
- Zaanse Schans: working windmills, a short drive or bus ride away.
- Czaar Peterhuisje: the wooden house where Peter the Great stayed in 1697, in central Zaandam.
- The Inntel hotel: the stacked green Zaan houses next to the station make a quick photo stop.
- Lunch by the Zaan: cafés along the river, ten minutes from most berths.
Related questions
Is Zaandam far from Amsterdam?
No; it borders Amsterdam to the north.
Can we combine boarding with a windmill visit?
Yes: book the car by the hour, see the windmills with your bags in the trunk, then board.
Will the ship's transfer from Schiphol be cheaper?
Compare per person against our per-car price; for three or more, the car often wins.
Sources
- NH Nieuws: hundreds of river cruise boats expected in Zaanstad (2023) (checked October 31, 2026)
- Zaans visitor information (checked October 31, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.