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Escape the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam and step into the traditional Dutch village of Zaanse Schans.
Zaanse Schans is a small, picturesque village located just outside of Amsterdam. It offers a glimpse of traditional Dutch life with its well-preserved historical windmills and houses.
Zaanse Schans was established in the 1960s as an open-air museum to showcase Dutch industrial history and village life.
Windmills, workshops, and houses from the 18th and 19th centuries were relocated here, representing industries like oil production, sawmilling, and paint-making. The village is named after the Zaan River.
How to reach Zaanse Schans:
Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood of the small town of Zaandam. It's located 20 KM from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It's very convenient to reach Zaanse Schans and There are different ways to reach to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam
a. Train:
There is a direct train from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans which is around 17 minutes train. From the station, it's a 15-minute walk to the village.
b. Car:
There's a drive of around 20-30 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaanse Schans.
c. Cycle or Scooter:
It’s always a good idea to rent a cycle in Amsterdam and enjoy the countryside and neighboring towns. You can also rent a scooter in Amsterdam for a scenic and flexible ride to Zaanse Schans.
It takes around 45 minutes depending on the traffic. But it's a very nice and smooth journey as you cross the countryside and enjoy different spots.
How did we reach to Zaanse Schans:
We rented a scooter but be careful with the scooter companies and also check their ratings and reviews.
We rented a scooter from “Scooter Rent Amsterdam” and Unfortunately, we had the worst experience with them. Normally, you can get the scooter for € 30 for a day plus the fuel price but now, the prices may vary.
Our Journey to Zaanse Schans:
We headed towards Zaandam on our scooter on a lovely sunny day, enjoying autumn at its fullest. Leaves from the trees covered the cycle and scooter paths. We passed small parks and canals on our way to Zaanse Schans - a perfect place for a scooter ride.
Near "Hemweg Amsterdam," we waited for a ferry and crossed the canal. It reminded me of my trip to Denmark, where I took a large ferry from Hamburg. After an hour-long journey, passing small towns and Zaandam, we finally reached Zaanse Schans.
Things to do in Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is a heaven on Earth !!
It's a typical Dutch countryside with preserved windmills and houses and gives a real feel of how the Netherlands used to be in the 17th and 18th Centuries.
Let's check out the things to do in Zaanse Schans:
1. Visit the Historic Windmills
You can see the windmills next to the bank of the Zaan River. It's one of the most photogenic spots. There are a total of ten windmills which have different names and purposes and produce Mustard, dye, and Oil.
a. De Kat:
It's a traditional windmill which is still in use and it's producing pigments for paints.
b. De Zoeker:
We decided to have a look at the Windmill “De Zoeker”. You can get the ticket at the entrance of the windmill. The ticket was € 4.50 in 2018 but now, it may vary. The traditional wooden machinery was installed and designed to crush the peanut.
The peanuts and linseed are pressed by the rotating machine and extract the peanut oil and linseed oil. The machine was rotating with the windmill. You can also buy fresh peanut oil from the mill as well.
The windmill also has old framed black and white photographs showing how it had been installed. The big traditional wooden drums were placed for the collection of the oils. The video was also played on the windmill to show how it started.
The miniature windmill has also been placed there to give a clear idea of how it is working.
Then, we climbed up the stairs to see the machine and how it was working. The windmill is continuously rotating and makes the machine rotate along. The view of the countryside is just breathtaking. On the one side, It has green lush fields, and on the other side Zaan River.
c. Het Jonge Schaap:
This windmill has been recently reconstructed and it has a sawmill where logs were still processed using wind power.
d. De Bonte Hen:
The De Bonte hen also makes Oil from the Flaxseed where the seeds are crushed and removed and then pressed.
e. De Huisman:
This windmill has a mustard mill and makes spices too.
2. Explore the Zaanse Museum
Do you want to experience the history and culture of the Zaan region - then you should visit the Zaanse Museum. The museum presents the Industrial Revolution, traditional costumes, and Zaanse products like mustard and chocolate.
3. Watch Traditional Clog Making
Zaan region is also famous for wooden shoes known as Clogs. You can also visit the Wooden Shoe Workshop known as (Klompenmakerij) and experience how traditional Dutch clogs are made by hand and machine.
It was so fascinating to know about the history of Clogs. And don’t forget to buy a traditional pair of Clogs from there.
4. Visit the Cheese Farm
Catharine Hoeve Cheese Farm offers a wide variety of typical Dutch cheese, Honey, Chocolates, other dairy products, and small souvenirs.
There’s also a machine installed in the shop so you can have a look at how cheese is being produced. The small farm with goats, sheep, horses, and hens is in front of the shop. Catharine Hoeve also has a farm behind the store.
5. Take a Boat Tour
You can also enjoy the boat tour in River Zaan and enjoy the beautiful view of windmills from the water.
7. Visit the Bakery Museum
You can also visit "In de Gecroonde Duyvekater" which is a Bakery Museum where you can find about the traditional Dutch baking methods. You can also learn about the old recipes and also enjoy a sample of freshly baked bread.
8. Cycling or Walking along the Zaan River
We would highly suggest enjoying some time on the bank of the Zaan River as well. There’s a coffee shop located and also some other traditional shops for buying souvenirs.
9. Visit the Wevershuis (Weaver's House)
You can also visit the Weaver house which is a small house and depicts the history of weaving. You can also see the looms and fabrics being used during the 17th century.
10. Visit the Tinkoepel and Zaanse Tijd Museum (Clock Museum)
You can also visit the Tinkoepel and Zaanse Tijd Museum which has an antique collection of Dutch clocks and how timekeeping evolved over the centuries in the Netherlands.
Ending Note:
Beware while renting a scooter!
After a great day, we walked to where our scooter was parked, but we weren't able to start it! The fuel gauge showed us that it was full, and everything seemed fine.
We asked locals for help, but no one succeeded. Calling “Scooter Rent Amsterdam” wasn’t helpful either.
The lady said they'd collect the scooter the next morning. The next day, we learned the fuel was empty, and the needle was broken. It's important to check the reviews of the company before renting the scooter.
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