Picture this: fields of grass and flowers separated by a lake and reconnected with curving wooden bridges, towering windmills in the background of a Dutch village. This site looks like it jumped right out of a painting and that is Zaanse Schans for you. There’s no better, or prettier way to portray this small neighborhood of Zaandam. If you’re about to jet off to this picturesque town and have no idea what else to do, besides visiting the windmills and getting a mandatory Instagram picture with these iconic structures, read on for we’ve gathered the best things to do in Zaanse Schans, the Netherlands.
1. Learn about the history of Zaanse Schans at Zaans Museum
With several exhibitions like Claude Monet in Zaandam, Typisch Zaans and many more, you’ll be stepping into the shoes of the locals and seeing the town through their eyes. Anticipate an educational and interactive experience like being transported to a chocolate and biscuit factory of the early 20th century or seeing historical books and collections that date back to the early 19th century for yourself. There’s no better way to get a true blue Dutch experience!
Zaans Museum
Address: Schansend 7 Zaandam
Website: Zaans Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 0 to 3 years: free; 4 to 17 years: 6.67 USD; Seniors, students and CJP: 9.45 USD; Adults: 13.34 USD
2. Check out the collection of timepieces at Museum Zaans Tijd
Go back in time at the Museum Zaans Tijd, a clock and watch museum where you can marvel at its extensive collection of timepieces, from pendulums, turret clocks to even pocket watches that we do not see much of these days. It’s not every day that you will get to see an Egyptian water clock or the first pendulum.
Museum Zaans Tijd
Address: Kalverringdijk 3 Zaanse Schans 1509 BT Zaandam 075 – 61 797 69
Website: Museum Zaans Tijd
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: Free entrance with Museumkaart, I Amsterdam City Card and Zaanse Schans Card
3. Learn about barrel making at Kuiperij
Get acquainted with another historical icon of Zaanse Schans, a popular and iconic way to transport goods; the barrel! Here, you can see and touch these wooden barrels for yourself while you learn about the craft and historical use of these modes of transportation of goods. Presently run by the Zaans Museum, this used to be a family business that was run for years. Thankfully, the site has been preserved to retain its ancient look and historic charms. There’s no better way to get to know a town than by learning about its history.
Kuiperij
Address: Schansend 7, 1509 AW Zaandam
Website: Kuiperij
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 4pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm
Price: Free with I Amsterdam city card
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4. Experience shopping at Museum Shop Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn Museum is a quaint grocery store much like ones that were operated in the past. Though small in size, it’ll be interesting to pay it a visit as it’s not quite your typical grocery store. Stepping inside, you will feel like you are taken back in time, where ingredients are stored in jars, tins and barrels. This was among the first stores in the area, and most of what it was has been preserved. In fact, it still boasts the original interior from the late 1800s. There is not be much to buy here (besides some coffee and tea) but you’ll enjoy the store’s quaint old charm.
Albert Heijn Museum
Address: Kalverringdijk 5, 1509 BT Zaandam, The Netherlands
Website: Albert Heijn Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 4:30pm (daily)
5. Snack on traditional Dutch treats at In de Gecroond Duyvetaker Bakery Museum
Posted by Anke De Wolff on Sunday, 2 June 2019
If you couldn’t already tell, Zaanse Schans’ charms revolve a lot around their rich history. Adding on to that list is In de Gecroond Duyvetaker Bakery Museum which resembles a bakery from the 19th century. The bakery also houses an authentic oven from the past which makes the building all the more nostalgic. This building dates back to the 1600s, with most of its old-world charms retained. After you’ve finished looking around the museum, you can get your hands on a variety of traditional Dutch treats for a sweet wrap up to your visit!
In de Gecroond Duyvetaker Bakery Museum
Address: Zeilenmakerspad 4 1509 BZ Zaandam
Website: In de Gecroond Duyvetaker Bakery Museum
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
6. Experience walking in clogs at De Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop
Besides its windmills, Amsterdam is also known for its clogs, another icon of the country. You will really get the true Dutch experience here at De Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop where you can try on and walk around in a pair of clogs. You can also watch the making of the clogs, using the same antique machines from a hundred years ago, a fascinating sight for all.
De Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop
Address: Kraaienest 4, 1509 AZ Zaandam, The Netherlands
Website: De Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop
Opening hours: 8:30am - 5pm (daily)
7. Taste authentic cheese at Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm
There’s no better place to taste some good old cheese than at Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm, a site that’s made up of quaint wooden houses and windmills. Going way back in history, this farm is from the 17th century with most of its history retained. It has a wide selection and a variety of cow, goat and sheep cheese. You can watch the demonstration of the cheese-making process and taste it for yourself after.
Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm
Address: Zeilenmakerspad 5, 1509 BZ Zaandam The Netherlands
Website: Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm
Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)
8. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Zaans Gedaan CacaoLab
Morgen, zaterdag 27 april, is het CacaoLab de hele dag gesloten. We wensen iedereen een feestelijke Koningsdag! Zondag zijn we gewoon weer geopend, graag tot dan.
Posted by Zaans Gedaan on Friday, 26 April 2019
Here’s one for those of you with a sweet tooth: Zaans Gedaan CacaoLab. Though small and humble it offers over 130 different candy-like chocolate bars, licorice and cocoa. Loved for its wide variety and old charm, this place is a must-visit if you love chocolate and other sweet treats. It’s also a great place to get your souvenirs. Authentic Dutch chocolate is the way to anyone’s heart, really.
Zaans Gedaan CacaoLab
Address: Kalverringdijk 25 Zaanse Schans, 1509 BT Zaandam The Netherlands
Website: Zaans Gedaan CacaoLab
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
9. Cruise past windmills on the Zaanse Schans river cruise
What better way to get up close and personal with the iconic structures of Zaanse Schans windmills? The answer: a river cruise! With these endless lakes surrounding the windmills, the best way you can get closer for a better view would be to hop onto a riverboat and cruise past down the lake. While you’ll pass many of these wooden mills, you’ll stop at the most popular of the eight, Het Jonge Schaap, to have a look inside! If you thought the tour ends there, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the view on the other side; the iconic green wooden houses across fields of grass and flowers.
Zaanse Schans: River Cruise
Experience the area's quaint charms
If you love small towns with a quaint charm that’ll remind you of the past, you’ll fall in love with Zaanse Schans. This neighborhood is magnificent and while that alone is a good enough reason to pay it a visit, its many museums and old buildings rich in history and culture are truly the cherry on top. Educational, historical and beautiful, you don’t need more reasons, do you?
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