Windmillhopper boat on the Zaan, in front of the windmills

The best view of the windmills is from the water. The Windmillhopper is an open boat for twelve people at most that goes up the Zaan with a local guide for 25 minutes: it passes in front of the windmills, the warehouses and the merchants' houses and stops just long enough for photos. It leaves every half hour from the 't Glop square, beside the De Huisman spice mill, from April to September, every day except Thursday. It costs €12.50 for adults and €8.50 for children.

If it leaves you wanting more, from May to September cross the river on the volunteers' pedestrian ferry, from 10:00 to 17:00, and return along the other bank, Zaandijk's, with the windmills opposite.