WANT TO VISIT THE ZAANSE SCHANS?
WINDMILLS, MUSEUMS AND MORE TIPS!
Perhaps this is one of the most famous places in the Netherlands if you ask a foreigner: the Zaanse Schans. Here you go back to the 17th and 18th centuries and experience the ancient Netherlands. The Zaanse Schans is a particularly beautiful area with windmills, nice museums and old Dutch houses and definitely worth a visit if you want to discover the Netherlands. In this blog you can read all about the windmills, sights, tickets, parking and even more tips for your visit to the Zaanse Schans!
VISIT THE ZAANSE SCHANS, HOW TO GET THERE?
The Zaanse Schans is located in Zaandam about 20 km from Amsterdam and therefore many tourists will visit the windmills as a day trip. We visited the Zaanse Schans in October 2021 and there were almost no tourists to be seen! Combine the Zaanse Schans with a day at Volendam and Marken or a city trip to Amsterdam. Are you going to this area in April or May? Be sure to spend a day at the bulb fields. Every year the bulb fields in the Bollenstreek color in all the colors of the rainbow! In short: there is plenty to do in North Holland.
BY CAR TO THE ZAANSE SCHANS
You can go to the Zaanse Schans in several ways. We went by car and parked our car in this free parking lot. The car park is next to the train station and from here it is about a 12 minute walk. Do you want to park closer? You can park for 12 euros per day at the Zaans Museum.
BY BUS OR TRAIN TO THE ZAANSE SCHANS
The Zaanse Schans is also easily accessible by public transport. From Amsterdam you can take both a bus and a train. By train it is only fifteen minutes to Station Zaandijk Zaanse Schans. From here it is a 12 minute walk to the mills. Do you prefer to go by bus? Then take bus 391 from Amsterdam Central and you will be there in 50 minutes.
✈ Tip: are you planning to travel for one or more days by train, bus, ferry, metro or tram? Then it can be advantageous to purchase an ARTT ticket. You can then travel unlimited in the Amsterdam region and visit the Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Keukenhof, among others. You can purchase a ticket here and costs 19.50 euros for 1 day, 28 euros for 2 days or 36.50 euros for 3 days * check current rates, they might fluctuate.
OUR FAVORITE HOTELS NEAR THE ZAANSE SCHANS
When visiting the Zaanse Schans, you can combine this with a trip to Zandvoort as well. You can get a breath of fresh air on the beach here and especially in the spring and summer it is wonderful! You can stay at the Beachhotel Zandvoort and I can definitely recommend it. Would you rather spend the night at the Zaanse Schans? Then take a look at Heerlijck Sleeping. You can also choose to spend the night in Amsterdam and take a day trip to the Zaanse Schans from there. In that case we can recommend Tribe Amsterdam City.
THE WINDMILLS OF THE ZAANSE SCHANS
The windmills of the Zaanse Schans are known worldwide and often the main reason to visit this area. The windmills are on the bank of the river Zaan and on the other side you see a flat landscape. So really Dutch! There are several windmills that you can visit. Do inquire in advance whether the windmills are open. The mills from the outside are more than worth a visit. But if you have a chance definitely go in and climb up. The views are great!
SIGHTSEEING ZAANSE SCHANS
In addition to the windmills, there are many more nice sights in the Zaanse Schans. Read below what you should not miss!
THE OLD ALBERT HEIJN IN THE ZAANSE SCHANS
Everyone knows the Albert Heijn, but did you know that the very first Albert Heijn is located in the Zaanse Schans? What once started as a small grocery store has now grown into the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands. You can admire the predecessor of the current Albert Heijn in the Zaanse Schans. You will even find the original furniture from 1887!
THE GIANT CLOGS OF THE ZAANSE SCHANS
Not to be missed are the gigantic clogs next to the clog factory. You can take a super nice photo here in the wooden shoes with the windmills in the background.
THE VIEW FROM THE JULIANA BRIDGE IN THE ZAANSE SCHANS
You have the best view when you stand on the Juliana Bridge. From here you can see all the mills along the river. On the left you see all nice colored houses. So both sides are worth a photo!
THE OLD HOUSES OF THE ZAANSE SCHANS
The Zaanse Schans is an old neighborhood and you can see that in the houses. You will only find this architectural style in few places in the Netherlands and every house is unique. It seems as if you are on holiday abroad, because this was completely new to me. I have never seen the Netherlands in this way before and I really enjoyed experiencing it!
WHAT TO DO IN THE ZAANSE SCHANS?
In addition to the before mentioned sights, there are also a number of things you must do during your visit to the Zaanse Schans. You can read the 5 best things to do in the Zaanse Schans below!
TAST THE TASTIEST CHEESE OF HENRI WILLIG AT THE CATHARINA HOEVE
When you say the Netherlands, you say cheese of course! It cannot be missed, there is a super nice cheese farm in the Zaanse Schans. At the Cheese Farm Catharina Hoeve you can taste all kinds of delicious cheeses from Henri Willig, such as sheep’s cheese, pesto cheese, normal cheese, truffle cheese and many more varieties! The staff are dressed in traditional clothing and are only too happy to help you. A fun experience for young and old and don’t forget to bring a tasty cheese for home!
DRINK A ‘CHEESE’ BEER ALONG THE WATER
I hear you thinking: ‘what’s a cheese beer?’. You can also buy beers at the cheese farm I just shared with you. We bought a Whey Trippel. The basis of this tripPel is whey, a by-product of cheese. Now the beer does not really taste like cheese, but it is nice to try this beer along the waterfront of the windmills
CLIMB THE VIEW TOWER OF THE ZAANSE SCHANS
Next to the Zaans Museum you have a viewpoint that you can climb for a beautiful view of the windmills and the countryside
EAT A SYRUP WAFFLE AT THE ZAANSE SCHANS
Another delicious Dutch product: stroopwafels. I love it and that is why this should not be missed during your visit to the Zaanse Schans. Simply because it is so deliciously Dutch.
VISIT THE DIFFERENT MUSEUMS IN THE ZAANSE SCHANS
In the Zaanse Schans you have many museums that you can visit. The Zaans Museum is the largest museum in the area and you can learn more about the history of the Zaan region.
It is also nice to visit the clog factory where they teach you how the clogs are made.
You also have the Verkade Pavilion where you can learn all about the Verkade brand and the biscuits, the Cacao Lab for information about making chocolate and the Museum of the Dutch Clock.
Are you planning to visit several museums? Then it is wise to purchase the Zaanse Schans Tourist Card. With this card you can visit all the museums for an affordable price!
ACCESS, TICKETS AND OPENING HOURS
ZAANSE SCHANS
Many people think you have to pay for the Zaanse Schans, but the outside area is freely accessible and always open! So you can just go there to see the mills. However, if you want to visit the windmills or the various museums, it is necessary to buy tickets. Each place has different opening hours and it is good to be informed to avoid disappointment. You can find more information about the opening hours per location on the Zaanse Schans website. As I said, it is wise to purchase a Zaanse Schans Tourist Card so that you can enter all museums. You can buy tickets online via this website. The windmills are not included in these combination tickets. To visit a mill you can buy a ticket at the mill itself. Each mill ask 4 euros per person entrance (in 2021).