Day 5: Cheese, Wooden shoes, and Pizza

After a hard fought weekend of baseball, a relaxing day of sightseeing is exactly what the boys needed. As a reward the boys were able to sleep in until 8 (sleep in....HA!). We had breakfast together as a team and got on the bus to head to Volendam. Volendam is a Dutch town on the Markermeer Lake, northeast of Amsterdam. It’s known for its colorful wooden houses and the old fishing boats in its harbor, which is lined with seafood vendors. 

Our trip into the city started at the Henri Willig Cheese Factory. We were given a quick tour in the area where they make the cheese. While there the tour guide explained to us the process of making the cheese, how long it takes, and the various types of cheeses they make in the factory. After the demonstration we were able to go into the gift shop where the boys could sample all of the cheeses made in the factory and also buy different types of cheeses and other snacks. Pictured below is part of the factory where the cheese is made.

After shopping around we headed next door to a wooden shoe factory. Because of the large amount of wetlands in Volendam, farmers and fisherman wear wooden shoes while they work. The special type of wood used for the shoes is water resistant and also prevents injury from working with cattle due to its hardness. We had a great demonstration from two shoemakers. They showed us the machines that are used in the process and even gave us a live demonstration. It was very cool for everyone to see this tedious process in action. Below is a photo of the machines used to make the wooden shoes. The machine on the right shapes the outside of the shoes and the machine of the left carves out the inside of the shoe

^You can't even tell the difference!!

After the demonstration we were able to go around the gift shop and pick up some souvenirs and tour the rest of the facility. The boys got some great items. (Below) Lucien was also a big fan of the giant shoe

After our visit to the factories we headed to the coast of Volendam where we were able to check out the shops and get a bite to eat. Volendam is known for its excellent seafood, french fries and desserts. The boys definitely got their fair share of all of the above. We also got to take in some beautiful views from the coast

Live action shot of french fry enjoyment

Once we finished up in Volendam we headed back to the hotel for some down time. The boys had about three hours to relax and get ready for the pizza cruise through the canals of Amsterdam. 

We were treated to a private boat and personal pizzas, as well as beautiful views and excellent sights. (Have I mentioned the architecture is amazing?) The boys loved the trip through the canals as we were able to see much more of the city, houses and museums that are around.

After the cruise we headed back to the hotel for a little bit of downtime before bed. Looking forward to another great day tomorrow!