One Perfect Day In Zaanse Schans, Netherlands – A Complete Travel Guide

One Perfect Day In Zaanse Schans, Netherlands – A Complete Travel Guide Located 20 km from Amsterdam, postcard-pretty Zaanse Schans is a sort of open-air museum that welcomes visitors into its charming and rustic surroundings. Spending one perfect day in Zaanse Schans gives visitors a glimpse into what life must have been like in the industrial region of Zaan during the 18th and 19th century.

Zaanse Schans, an industrial heritage site, is one of the most visited destinations in the Netherlands. The windmills, wooden Dutch homes, traditional crafts, and museums leave a lasting impression on those seeking a uniquely Dutch experience.

After all, when we think of the Netherlands, windmills, cheese and a lush green countryside comes to our minds. The beautiful scenery of the charming countryside coupled with a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Zaan River offers a perfect contrast to the hustle bustle of Amsterdam.

If you happened to stumble upon this post, then my guess is that you are considering a visit to Zaanse Schans. So, here’s a comprehensive travel guide on how to spend one perfect day in Zaanse Schans. This post includes details on how to reach Zaanse, where we stayed and things to do during your visit to this beautiful, recreated Dutch village.

One Day In Zaanse Schans Netherlands - the best things to do

A bit of history of Zaanse Schans – a European Industrial Heritage Site

By the 18th century, the Zaan had become an important industrial region of the Netherlands with nearly 600 functional windmills. Windmills were widely used for pumping the water from one canal to another in order to reclaim the land from the sea in the Netherlands. However, they also served a key role in the industrial growth of the area as they were used for a variety of purposes. For example, windmills were used for grinding seeds, spices and even producing oils or paints.

Zaanse Schans was founded in 1961 as a neighborhood of Zaandam. It is located on the east side of River Zaan near the town of Zandijk. Zaanse Schans, in its own unique way, captured a snapshot of the life in the Zaan village from the 18th and 19th centuries. Interestingly, the wooden homes that we see there today were actually transported to Zaanse Schans when it was being established. The ten iconic windmills of the Zaanse Schans are a major draw for tourists visiting this region of the Netherlands.

A visit to Zaanse Schans gives us a chance to view the traditional crafts of cheesemaking and clog making, the milling process at its windmills, authentic Dutch homes, and barns.

Traditional Zaan Homes

How to reach Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam

Spending one perfect day in Zaanse Schans is included in the itineraries of many tourists visiting Amsterdam and the nearby cities in the Netherlands.

Zaanse Schans is easy to reach from Amsterdam by train, bus, car or if you are feeling adventurous – even by bike (now that’s something I would love to try in a future visit).

We took the train from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Zaanse Schans. The timetable for the trains and travel planner on the NS website were very helpful for planning our visit. The train journey from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans is covered by the Eurail pass as well as by the Amsterdam regional train ticket.

We purchased the tickets to the frequent Sprinter trains from Amsterdam to Koog Zaandijk. Boarding a train that is heading to Uitgeest brings the passengers to Koog Zaandijk in about 18 minutes. After disembarking from the train, a short 15 mins walk through the small town of Zaandijk brings visitors to the bridge across River Zaan.

Walking along the town of Zaandijk Netherlands

As we walked across the bridge towards the east bank, the beautiful scenery of the windmills and dark-green traditional homes added to the excitement of this quintessential Dutch experience.

Walking across the bridge to Zaanse Schans

The Connexion Bus 391 can also be taken from Amsterdam Centraal to Zaanse Schans. The bus takes nearly 40-45 mins to reach Zaanse Schans. By road, reaching Zaanse from Amsterdam is a ride of merely 20 km. A taxi ride can cost up to 70€  – quite expensive, compared to the price of other public transportation options. If you plan to arrive at Zaanse in your own vehicle, then parking is available near the entrance for a fee of about 10€ for the day.

Another way to reach Zaanse is by boat – the Zaanferry. This ferry runs from the Amsterdam Centraal and sails past the industrial region of Zaan before arriving at Zaanse Schans.

Day Trip or Overnight Stay at Zaanse Schans?

Giant clog at Clog MuseumWe visited Zaanse Schans twice and loved it during both visits. My husband and I first visited Zaanse Schans in the summer and decided to stay for two nights in Zaanse Schans.

Our stay in this area served as a perfect springboard for exploring the Zaan region as well as several of the sights to see on our Amsterdam bucket list.

We absolutely loved the stay in Zaanse – it offered the perfect contrast to a busy day of touring Amsterdam and was such a welcome way to unwind and relax in a peaceful countryside setting.

Exploring Zaanse Schans

The second time around, we visited Zaanse with our kids and during this visit, we stayed in Amsterdam and explored Zaanse Schans on a day trip. Frankly, the only reason we did so was that the B&B in Zaanse Schans was completely booked by the time we planned our trip.

I guess whether you choose to stay overnight at Zaanse or visit it on a day trip is a matter of personal preference. We preferred staying in Zaanse Schans for its serenity and ability to explore the region after the rush of day tourists had passed.

Moreover, waking up early in the morning and walking up to the nearby ferry dock rewarded us with one of the most glorious views of still waters of the Zaan River, sleepy windmills and dawn breaking upon the skies and adding a beautiful pink hue to the clouds.

Beautiful morning at Zaanse Schans Netherlands

Whether you choose to visit Zaanse Schans as a day trip or decide to stay overnight in the Zaan region, I am sure you will fall in love with picture-perfect Zaanse Schans.

Our stay at B&B Heerlijck Slaapen

B&B Heerlijck Slaapen is the only accommodation located on the premises of Zaanse Schans and offers stylish, tastefully decorated rooms across its three buildings. The rooms in this B&B are adorned with traditional Dutch decor and are located inside the charming wooden buildings facing the Zaan River.

We stayed at Aan’t Glop, probably the most romantic room at this B&B due to its panoramic views.

Sharon was such a gracious hostess and went out of her way to help us get settled in and offered lots of suggestions that helped us make the most of our visit. The generous breakfast served in the beautiful breakfast room was the perfect start for the day. A private garden in the B&B allowed us to have our own mini picnic with the beautiful backdrop of ferries floating past the windmills.

Heerlijck Slaapen Zaanse Schans

I am sure we will stay at this B&B during a future visit – it was one of the most comfortable and relaxing stays during our trip across Europe.

One Day In Zaanse Schans – The Best Things To Do To Make The Most Of Your Visit

If you choose to visit Zaanse Schans on a day trip, make sure to head to Zaanse early in the morning. Most of the museums and attractions open by 8:30 am but for more details about the timings, be sure to check the official Zaanse Schans website.

Clog Museum in Zaanse Schans

Entry to the Zaanse Schans premises itself is free but to enter the windmills, additional payment needs to be made. There is paid parking available as well for cars nearby. Given its popularity, Zaanse Schans can be quite busy during the day time and even more so over the weekends. However, I must say, even though we visited Zaanse during the peak tourist season, we never found the crowds overwhelming since this open-air museum is spread out over quite an expansive meadow.

Here’s a list of the best things to do to make the most of your visit to Zaanse Schans.

Explore the beautiful alleys of Zaanse Schans village

As soon as we climbed down the steps from the roadside to enter Zaanse Schans, we felt as if we had been transported back in time to a charming Dutch village. A beautiful small garden located near the roadside was the starting point for our leisurely stroll as we explored this picturesque village.

The main street leading from this garden took us along beautifully decorated 18th and 19th-century Zaan houses. A few of these houses were lined with bricks on the outside while most were painted in the characteristic dark green hues.

Zaan Homes Zaans Schans Netherlands

Walking around Zaanse SchansWalking along the village, we came across several barns and farm animals grazing over the lush green meadows. Strolling along Zaanse Schans was a peaceful experience in itself – we felt so close to nature and it was hard to believe that such a serene place was located so close to a bustling city like Amsterdam.

Beautiful Buildings in Zaanse Schans Netherlands

Visit Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm

Besides windmills and tulips, what else can you think of that is quintessentially Dutch? I’d say cheese!! When visiting Zaanse Schans, a stop at Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm is a must. This is actually a cheese factory where you can see how cheese is made and can also purchase Dutch cheeses after sampling the large variety they offer.

The variety of delicious, freshly made cheeses they sell is mind-boggling. My favorite was the lavender cheese. The burst of the aroma of lavender in my mouth as I ate the cheese was absolutely divine and completely unexpected. My kids loved the fresh gouda cheese and we all had our fill of the samples before purchasing several kinds of cheeses and snacks from their beautiful storefront.

Besides selling cheese, they also hold cheese making demonstrations. The staff, clad in traditional Dutch wear, explain the process of cheesemaking and the differences between different types of cheeses during this demonstration. It is certainly quite interesting, to say the least.

cheese factory at Zaanse Schans

Stop by the Clog Museum/ Workshop at Klopenmakerik

To learn more about the traditional craft of clog-making in the Netherlands, stop by the Klopenmakerik De Zaanse Schans – the clog museum and workshop. The entrance to this museum is free. At the clog workshop, visitors are able to watch a demonstration of the carving of wooden clogs and learn more about the process of clog making.

The small, yet informative museum near the entrance displays clogs used for various purposes – such as the intricately carved wooden clog worn at weddings as well as clogs with spikes used for treading over icy surfaces.

Clog museum zaanse schansThere is also quite a large array of brightly painted wooden clogs that one can purchase along with a large variety of beautifully handcrafted Dutch souvenirs. It’s easy to overspend on the adorable handcrafted souvenirs at this shop.

wedding clogs at clog museum zaanse schans

Step inside the windmills to learn about how they function

There are 10 functional windmills at Zaanse Schans that are used for grinding flour, spices, pigments (for making paints) and sawing lumber. These iconic windmills are the main draw of Zaanse Schans and paying a nominal fee allows visitors to get a chance to enter some of the windmills to observe how they operate.

Iconic windmills of Zaanse Schans

A welcome board near the entrance to Zaanse Schans also describes the various types of windmills one can see in the area. We visited the Spice Mill – Specerijenmolen De Huisman. The aromas of the freshly ground spices were everywhere as we entered this functioning windmill.

It was fun and informative to watch the process of how spices were ground inside this museum. The shop inside this windmill also sells the aromatic spices along with other Dutch souvenirs.

Enjoy eating the delicious and famous Dutch pancake at De Kraai

It wasn’t until I visited De Kraai that I realized how different Dutch pancakes are from the pancakes I had tasted back home in California. The thin, large, freshly made pancakes that were served at this famous pancake restaurant were the perfect picnic snack for our family.

Visit the Bakery Museum and enjoy eating warm stroopwafels

You can almost taste the yummy Dutch sweet treats as you stop by the Bakery Museum, thanks to the aromas of the freshly baked goods near the bakery shop. Besides selling freshly made delicious stroopwafels, waffles, and almond cookies, the museum also showcases the traditional methods and utensils used in baking which are still used to this day in this museum.

Enjoying Stroopwafel at the bakery shop zaanse schans

Take the boat tour on Zaan River for a panoramic view of Zaanse Schans

Walking around Zaanse Schans is a delightful experience in itself. However, a boat ride on the Zaan River is another way to soak in the beauty of the region from a different perspective. There are windmill cruises that run every 30 mins daily from Kalverringdijk23 stop (9.50€ for adults and 5€ for children) that offer a scenic and enjoyable way to explore the region.

Additionally, the Zaanferry from Amsterdam or Zaandam to Zaanse Schans also offers its passengers views of the industrial region of Zaan and its windmills as it arrives at Zaanse Schans.

Ferry dock at zaanse schans

Rent a bike and explore the countryside

Without a doubt, one of the most enjoyable experiences for us during our visit as a couple, as well as on a subsequent visit with our kids, was renting bikes and heading out to explore the Dutch countryside.

Bikes can be easily rented from the bike shop located in Zaanse Schans at an hourly rate. We were provided the map of the North Zaanse Schans region and followed it to explore the region by bike. We had taken the bike tour in Amsterdam earlier and my kids preferred biking in the countryside compared to biking in the busy streets of Amsterdam.

Enjoyed biking around the Zaan countryside

Visit the Zaans Gedaan Cacao Lab

To learn more about the traditional chocolate-making process in the region, a visit to the Zaans Gedaan Cacao Lab is a must. The Cacao Lab offers demonstrations and workshops explaining how chocolate is made from cocoa beans using the traditional Dutch methods and utensils. The sweet, vivid memories of munching on these delicious chocolates made onsite from the cocoa beans of the region as we strolled along the Zaan River make me want to go back to Zaanse once again.

Enjoy shopping for handcrafted Dutch souvenirs in the boutiques in Zaanse Schans

There are several small boutiques around the Zaanse Schans village where visitors can stop by to purchase the traditional, handcrafted Dutch souvenirs. It’s easy to end up overspending when you visit the cheese shop, clog workshop, and the adorable souvenir shops selling jewelry, soaps and decoratives.souvenirs-at-clog-factory-zaanse-schans

A visit to Zaanse Schans is a peaceful way to experience the iconic Dutch windmills, the countryside and the traditional crafts of the region. It is hard to imagine that such an oasis of tranquility is located so close to one of the most visited cities in the world – Amsterdam. If you are planning on spending some time in Amsterdam during your trip to the Netherlands, read our post on what makes it so easy to fall in love with Amsterdam.

I know for a fact though that we will return to Zaanse Schans again but until then…… Tot ziens dear Zaanse Schans!

Disclaimer: It’s a pleasure for us to share our travel experiences with all our readers and we sincerely hope to inspire your future travels. In order to help us maintain this blog and offset the costs of running landoftravels.com, we have sprinkled affiliate links throughout the site. If you choose to make a purchase via any of these affiliate links, we’ll earn a tiny commission at no additional cost to you.

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One Day In Zaanse Schans Netherlands

 

 

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