Zaanse schans is a hidden gem just a few kilometers from Amsterdam.
Today, I'd like to take you on a tour of the various windmills hidden away.
Here we go!
Zaanse schans: article summary
Where is Zaanse Schans?
Zaanse Schans is located in the town of Zaandam. It is about 20 km from Amsterdam and 1.8 km from the town of Zaandijk.
Despite its small size, the town is visited by millions of tourists every year for its unique set of attractions. These include windmills, museums and workshops.
Once there, you can smell the lovely chocolate-scented air on your way into the village. There are two chocolate and cookie companies near the village. You'll find a small boutique to buy local chocolate and cocoa-based souvenirs.
See windmills
The main attraction for which Zaanse Schans is known is its fascinating windmills. The village once boasted 1,000 windmills.
Today, only 13 of these still exist, and only a handful are still functional.
It's also the only place where you can see a working dye mill.
There are many windmill tours you can take in Zaanse Schans, so make sure you take the time to see them all during your stay.
Visit the Zaanse Schans time museum
When you enter the Zaanse Schans Time Museum, you'll be captivated. You'll discover four centuries' worth of Dutch watches. You'll also discover amazing facts about the history of watchmaking in the Netherlands.
What's more, the Zaanse Schans Time Museum experience includes an adventure in a watchmaker's workshop. so you can see how these incredible pieces are built.
Another advantage of this museum is that you'll hear all the clocks in it striking every hour.
Enjoy a cheese tasting
As everywhere else in the Netherlands, your visit won't be complete without treating your taste buds to a world-renowned Dutch cheese.
That's exactly what you can do in the cheese farms of Zaanse Schans.
The most popular of these farms is Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm. If heaven were a place on earth, it would be for cheese lovers.
Here you can sample a wide variety of Dutch cheeses, such as Gouda, Edam and goat cheese.
To top it all off, the Catharina Hoeve cheese farm also serves as a petting zoo. There are many farm animals, such as goats and sheep, who are very friendly with farm visitors.
Explore the city's architecture
The town is famous for its windmills and museums, and rightly so. However, the first thing that will catch your eye when you set foot in the village is its unique architecture.
The houses and stores you'll see on your walk are all characterized by with their small, brightly-colored aesthetic.
Some of these buildings are also centuries old, making them truly incredible to behold.
How to visit the Zaanse Schans windmills
Although admission to Zaanse Schans is free, visiting the village's many attractions is often not.
To visit the windmills, you need to buy tickets.
Adult tickets range from €5 to €18. For children, tickets cost between €2.50 and €9.
It's important to note that visiting the windmills at Zaanse Shcans is not limited to simply seeing their exterior. Your guide will take you inside the windmill to show you its internal structure and workings.
How to get to Zaanse Schans and where to park
There are several ways to get to this village from Amsterdam.
One of the most popular options is the Rnet-bus 391, which departs every 15 minutes from the Amsterdam Central Station. The bus journey from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans takes about 40 minutes.
Another way to get there is by train. The journey from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaandijk Station takes 17 minutes.
If you don't like public transport and prefer to make the journey by car, you'll find that parking is easy and convenient. Location will cost you approximately €12 per day.
As you can see, the village of Zaanse Schans is a must-see if you're spending a few days in Amsterdam. Here you can relax and discover magnificent landscapes and architecture unique to the Netherlands.
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