Day trip Zaanse Schans

by Tanja
Day trip Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans consists of a row of old but still functioning windmills and green painted houses and barns along a river in the Dutch countryside. The historic village is free to visit and easy to reach. A day trip to Zaanse Schans might be a little touristy perhaps, but, for half a day trip, Zaanse Schans is a charming and interesting place to visit from Amsterdam, also with children. 

Day trip to Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans is located just North of Amsterdam, along the river the Zaan, an area known as Zaanstreek. Zaanse Schans is perfect for a day trip from Amsterdam. There are seven At seven active windmills. In the typical Dutch barns you can watch Dutch crafts like wooden shoemaking, cheese making, and bread baking. You also can taste many different kinds of cheese and chocolate from Holland.

From Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam it takes about 40 minutes by train or bus. A visit to Zaanse Schans can best be combined with a visit to another historical village such as Volendam, Marken, and Monnickendam. The most part of Zaanse Schans is free to visit.

Below there are some good tours that take you to the windmills of Zaanse Schans and to see of the other villages on a day trip.

The History of Zaanse Schans

The name Schans refers to defense works. It was constructed by the Dutch people to fight off the Spanish during the 80-year war. The battle and the Zaanse victory of 1574 is memorized every year with a reenactment.

In the 17th century, a thousand windmills stood along the river to make flour (for bread) and cocoa (for chocolate). There were also windmills that sawed wood, crushed seeds to make oil, to grind spices and to grind colored wood to fabricate paint. The Zaanstreek is often named as the world’s first industrialized area.

Towards 1850, steam engines took over the miller’s job. Around 1920 only some twenty windmills stood still along the river. To save the last Dutch windmills, thirteen mills were moved and saved.

Together with the windmills, houses and barns were moved to the Zaanse Schans. The open-air museum of Zaanse Schans with its many windmills and barns is now a popular tourist attraction in Holland.

Last paint mill in the world

Nowadays you can take a look inside the fully-functioning windmills of Zaanse Schans, like De Kat (The Cat). This windmill at Zaanse Schans is, probably the last paint windmill in the world. It’s quite impressive to walk around inside and outside the windmill and see the wooden parts and millstones grind. The millstones grind colored wood to obtain powders that can be used to make paint by adding oil of egg. The paint is for sale at the mill.

Dutch crafts, chocolate, and cheese

Apart from windmills, there are also many craft shops at Zaanse Schans. Several Dutch crafts are demonstrated: from woodworking to cheese making and bread baking. At the Dutch cheese shop, you can taste the many slices of cheese with a large variety of excellent mustards.

Chocolate shop and wooden shoes workshop

At the small but charmingly decorated chocolate shop, you can grind your own chocolate and prepare your own chocolate drink. There is also a liqueur distillery, a barrel maker and a wooden shoe workshop where you can make your own Dutch clogs.

Dutch Albert Heijn and Verkade

The strong smell of chocolate in the air sends out a signal: that the Zaanstreek still is a highly industrialized area and chocolate is still in the making every day. The well-known supermarket Albert Heijn originates from this area, as well as the famous Dutch chocolate brand Verkade.

How to get to Zaanse Schans

A day trip to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam can be made by bus, train, car or bicycle.

To Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam by bus

Bus 391 is called the Industrial Heritage Line. It leaves from Amsterdam Central Station (platform E), passes the NDSM wharf and ends at Zaanse Schans. Check http://www.bus391.nl/

To Zaanse Schans by train from Amsterdam

From Amsterdam you can also take a train to Koog-Zaandijk. The train takes you there in 17 minutes. From there it’s another 15-minute walk.

To Zaanse Schans by car from Amsterdam

It’s really easy to get to Zaanse Schans by car from Amsterdam. Just take the ring A10, direction North. Continue on A8 and follow signs for Leeuwarden/Purmerend/Zaanstad. Take exit 2 (direction Zaandijk). From there you can follow the sigs to Zaanse Schans. Depending where you are in Amsterdam, it should take you about 30 minutes. Parking costs in 2015 € 9 for a day ticket.

To Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam by bike

Sporty types can also bike to Zaanse Schans. It’s about 17 kilometers, so it should take you a little over an hour to get there.

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