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Voykit pocket guide · Netherlands
Edam
Give Edam half a day on foot from Volendam or a bike loop from Purmerend; sleep here only if you want the car-free evening quiet.
Edam is a small former trading town about 20 km northeast of Amsterdam, grown together with Volendam and part of the Zaanstreek-Waterland region. The old centre is compact: canals, a 15th-century church, a weigh house and the cheese market that runs on Wednesdays in July and August. There is no train station, so you arrive by bus, bike or boat. Most travellers see it as a half-day stop between Volendam and Marken; a night here buys you empty streets after the day buses leave.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (busiest, cheese-market crowds), Dec–Feb (short days, some closures)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards dominate; some shops and cafés are card-only and a few supermarkets accept debit cards but not all credit cards, so carry both.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- KPN, Vodafone and Odido run the networks; Lebara and Lyca sell cheap prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and at Schiphol.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112 · Police non-urgent 0900-8844
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: 5–10% for good service; tell the server the total when paying by card.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask.
- Toilets
- Stations charge about €0.70–1; cafés expect you to buy something; free urinals (and a few public toilets) in city centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2.50–4 |
| Cheese sandwich or uitsmijter | €6–12 |
| Main course in a local restaurant | €12–22 |
| Beer, café / supermarket | €3–5 / €1–2 |
| Edam cheese, small wedge | €5–12 |
| Bus ride within the region | €2–6 |
| Edam Museum entry | €4 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AMS · Amsterdam Schiphol
- About 25 km by road; train to Amsterdam or Purmerend, then busAbout 16 mi by road; train to Amsterdam or Purmerend, then bus
Typical fares
- Bus Amsterdam → Edam
- about €6, 30–45 min
- Bus Edam → Volendam
- about €2–3, 10–15 min
- Bike rental, per day
- €10–20
Get around
The centre is walkable in 15–20 minutes end to end. Rent a bike for the polder and IJsselmeer dike routes; two shops in town rent bikes (Ton Tweewielers, Schepenmakersdijk 6; Fietsspeciaalzaak Ronald Schot, Grote Kerkstraat 7/9). Buses link Edam with Volendam, Purmerend, Amsterdam and Hoorn.
See and do
Known for
- Edam cheese
- Wednesday cheese market (July–August)
- Canals and the Grote Kerk
- Edam Museum in a 1530 brick house
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Volendam | Bus from Edam, about 10–15 min, or a 30–40 min bike ride | About 30 min |
| Marken | Bus via Volendam, or the seasonal Volendam–Marken ferry | About 1 h |
| Monnickendam | Bus or bike along the dike | About 30–45 min |
| Zaanse Schans | Bus to Purmerend or Zaandam, then local bus | About 1.5 h |
| Broek in Waterland | Bus toward Amsterdam, or bike | About 45 min |
| Purmerend | Bus 113 or similar from Edam | About 30 min |
Sleep
- Old centre (Damplein and Keizersgracht)
- Walk to everything; a handful of small hotels, so book ahead in summer.
- Voorhaven and the harbour
- Canal-side cafés and the boat quay; quietest after the day visitors leave.
- Strandbad / Zeevang side
- Camping and water sports on the IJsselmeer edge; you need a bike or car.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HalloHAH-loh |
| Thank you | Dank u weldahnk u vel |
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels?spraykt u ENG-els |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kost het?hoo-VAYL kost het |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan ik met kaart betalen?kan ik met kaart buh-TAH-len |
| Where is the toilet? | Waar is het toilet?vaar is het twa-LET |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Hugging new acquaintances
- Directness: Say what you mean; expect honest, blunt answers; avoid: Taking bluntness as rudeness
- Punctuality: Be on time; diaries plan weeks ahead; avoid: Dropping in unannounced
- Money: Split bills; pay your share; avoid: Showing off wealth
- Homes: Bring flowers or a small gift; congratulate everyone at a birthday; avoid: Expecting dinner if invited for coffee
Scams and watch-outs
- No train station: plan the bus connection before you leave Amsterdam or Purmerend.
- The cheese market is a July–August Wednesday event only, not a year-round market.
- Some shops and museums keep short or seasonal hours; check before a long ride out.
Very safe. The real risks are bikes on the narrow lanes, uneven quays by the water, and going out on the IJsselmeer without checking the weather.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Edam yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Edam cheese
- Wednesday cheese market (July–August)
- Canals and the Grote Kerk
- Edam Museum in a 1530 brick house
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- VVV Edam tourist information: www.vvv-edam.nl/
- Wikivoyage: Edam, revision 5201449 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5201449
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Edam
Naar dit adres, alstublieft
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Edam; most are in The Hague, some consulates in Amsterdam.
Local buses may be cash-free; check the operator's app or use a contactless card.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/edam). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.