This is a MUST tour if you have limited time. Windmill tour was most instructive, with the history and reasons for windmill development, instrumental in cocoa bean crushing, making this the capitol of the cocoa trade in Europe. Windmill sawmills(there is a windmill available to view the sawmill) producing lumber for building homes and businesses.
If you have the time, Windmill tour is worth one day, about 4-6 hours. Marken and Volendam a second day, 5-8 hours. Volendam offers history, eclectic shops, cafes, restaurants, cheese factory. Lunch or dinner at Hotel Spaander (19th century hotel) is a MUST, guests included Eleanor Roosevelt, Walt Disney and Muhammad Ali. Some 19th century artists who stayed here paid for their stay with artwork, displayed on the walls. Frequent ferry to/from Marken, EU10.00 one way. Marken sights include a wooden shoe factory. A tour will provide many interesting facts and history of this former island in the former Zuider Zee (salt water), now Ijselmeer(fresh water) created by damming 1927-32.