Parking in Volendam: Driving Tips and Car-Friendly Stays

Volendam's harbour lanes are narrow and its paid parking is limited, so where you leave the car decides how easily you see the village.

How Volendam's parking actually works

Volendam is a compact former fishing village on the Markermeer, and most of its old centre is pedestrian or near-pedestrian. The main paid car park sits off De Seinsfuin and the Slobbeland approach, a few minutes' walk from the harbour, with a second cluster near the Julianaweg entrance to town. Rates run roughly €2–3 per hour in season, and machines take cards; the busiest window is late morning to mid-afternoon from April to September, when coaches unload at the Dijk.

If you are staying overnight, check before booking whether your accommodation has its own spaces. Many small Volendam hotels and guesthouses sit on streets where permit holders only park, and a handful sell a limited number of spaces at €10–15 a night. Arriving after 16:00 on a Friday in July, I would head straight for the paid car park rather than circle the Haven looking for a gap, because the harbour streets fill quickly and turning a car around there is genuinely awkward.

Driving in from Amsterdam, Hoorn and Edam

By road, Volendam is about 20 km from central Amsterdam, roughly 30–40 minutes via the A10 ring and the N247 through Monnickendam. From Hoorn it is around 25 km and 30 minutes along the N247 and N517. Edam is only 3 km away, a 7-minute drive on the N247, so pairing the two in one day is easy — but park once in Volendam and walk, because the Edam-Volendam road has no pavement for long stretches.

Public transport is a real alternative: bus 316 from Amsterdam Centraal runs frequently and takes about 30 minutes, and bus 110 links Edam and Volendam. If your stay is in Amsterdam and you only want a half-day here, I would leave the car at the hotel and take the bus — the saving on parking plus the absence of any useful through-road makes it the better plan. For a multi-day Noord-Holland loop including Marken, Monnickendam and Hoorn, the car earns its keep.

Where to base yourself with a car

Volendam itself suits travellers who want the harbour at breakfast and the Dijk at sunset. Cars are more of a liability than an asset inside the village, so choose a place with private parking or use the main car park as your base. Edam, 3 km inland, is quieter and has free or low-cost parking on the edge of the old town near theScheepsmakersdijk, with a 10-minute walk to the Grote Kerk — a good compromise if you want to drive out to Marken and the Beemster polder.

Marken, reached by the N518 and the dike road from Volendam, keeps cars outside the core; you park at the edge and walk in. Monnickendam has a paid car park near the harbour that is calm on weekdays. I would book two nights in Volendam with confirmed private parking, then a night in Hoorn, where the station-adjacent car parks are cheaper than harbour-side spots and the town rewards an evening walk.

Timing, seasons and what to skip

Best months for driving are May, June and September: the roads are clear, the car parks are half-full and daylight lasts late enough to enjoy the dike after dinner. July and August bring coach traffic and full car parks by 11:00, while October to March is quiet enough that you can park near the harbour without stress, though some harbour restaurants close midweek. Avoid King's Day at the end of April and the Volendam events calendar's busiest weekends, when the N247 backs up towards Monnickendam.

Skip driving into the Dijk at all if you can; it is one-way and thick with pedestrians. Skip the temptation to park on the dike road towards Marken — it is narrow, unlit and unsuitable for stopping. And skip a day-trip car if your only goal is Volendam and Edam: the bus and a short walk cover both comfortably.

Questions, answered

Where are the main car parks in Volendam?

The principal paid car park is off De Seinsfuin near the Slobbeland approach, with another cluster by the Julianaweg entrance. Both are a short walk from the harbour and Dijk, take card payments, and charge roughly €2–3 per hour in high season.

How long does it take to drive from Amsterdam to Volendam?

Allow 30–40 minutes for the 20 km via the A10 ring and N247 through Monnickendam. Traffic near the IJ tunnel and the Monnickendam roundabout adds time on summer weekends, so leave before 09:30 or after 18:00 if you can.

Is it better to take the bus than drive to Volendam?

For a half-day from Amsterdam, yes. Bus 316 from Centraal takes about 30 minutes and runs frequently, and you avoid hourly parking charges. If you are touring Marken, Edam and Hoorn over several days, the car is more practical.

Can I park overnight in Volendam?

Overnight parking is possible in the paid car parks, but many village-centre streets are permit-only. Confirm with your accommodation before booking whether a private space is included, as only some small hotels and guesthouses offer one.

How far is Edam from Volendam by car?

Edam is 3 km inland, about 7 minutes on the N247. Parking on the edge of Edam's old town near the Scheepsmakersdijk is cheaper than Volendam's harbour car parks, and the walk to the Grote Kerk takes around 10 minutes.

Can I drive onto the dike road to Marken?

The N518 dike road is narrow and unsuited to stopping for views. Drive it as a through route to Marken, where cars are kept outside the core and you park at the edge, then continue on foot.

When is the quietest time to park in Volendam?

October to March is calmest, and weekday mornings outside school holidays are easy. From April to September, car parks fill from late morning, so arriving before 10:00 or after 17:00 gives the best chance of a space.

What should I avoid when driving around Volendam?

Avoid entering the Dijk, which is one-way and crowded with pedestrians, and do not attempt to park on the narrow road towards Marken. Skip the car entirely if your plan covers only Volendam and Edam.

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