Picturesque Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is just a short day trip from Amsterdam and this well preserved town feels like an open-air museum full of traditional Dutch handicrafts and culture. I felt like I was on sensory overload when I stepped off the bus and took in my first view of the village. This was exactly how we had pictured Holland to look and we practically didn’t know where to start our visit. No matter whether you take a guided day trip to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam or visit independently, don’t miss these things in the village.
There were once more than 1000 windmills along the river
1. Visit a Working Windmill
Thump-thump. Thump-thump. The sound drew us down the gravel path toward the windmills along the Zaan River.
The people that had lived along the banks of the Zaan River had gotten rich from trade and fishing and built their first windmills around 1600. The windmills produced everything from barley and rice to paper, wood, cooking oil, and even tobacco and hemp. The people that had lived along the banks of the Zaan River had gotten rich from trade and fishing and built their first windmills around 1600. The windmills produced everything from barley and rice to paper, wood, cooking oil, and even tobacco and hemp.
Of the over 1000 windmills that once dotted the riverbank, there are just 13 remaining. Only six of those 13 are working windmills at Zaanse Schans: a mustard mill, two sawmills, two oil mills and the world’s last working dye mill.
A visit to at least one of the windmills is not to be missed when visiting Zaanse Schans.
The grindstone crushing chalk at the De Kat Mill
The thump-thumping got louder as we approached the first windmill and wandered in. The windmill is a paint and dye mill called De Kat and was built between 1646 and 1696. It unfortunately burned to the ground, but was quickly rebuilt in 1782. Believed to be the only remaining mill of its kind, the mill grinds raw materials to make pigments for paints.
On the ground floor, we could see the huge grind stones crushing the chalk. The grindstones are driven by the windmill. As we watched the materials being ground and ducked every so often as the huge machine rotated around, we understood the sign warning “Your visit to this windmill is at your own risk.”
The cogs turning to power the grindstone
We climbed the narrow and steep ladder up to the second level. Here we had a direct view of the huge wooden cogs that turn, transferring the wind energy down to the grindstone. The wooden floor seemed almost rickety as it creaked and shook from the cogs turning.
The ladders are steeps and doorways small
Another narrow ladder led up to a tiny door and we emerged outside onto the platform encircling the mill. Stepping onto this platform is not for those with a fear of heights.
Looking up at De Kat Windmill
Wooden planks were nailed a few inches apart and even I dared not to look down to the river running below as we inched our way along the platform. We watched the sails of the windmill complete their revolution, moving a little quicker as the wind picked up.
We had visited a windmill selling baking supplies a few days earlier in Grosbeek, but it had long since been retired. I never thought it would be possible to visit a working windmill and it was fascinating.
Each mill operates on different days and hours, so be sure to check the schedule if there is a specific mill you’d like to visit. Each mill costs €3 to visit or one mill can be visited with the Zaanse Schans Card.
Visit the third windmill for an excellent mug of Dutch hot chocolate and a short film on the history of the windmills of Zaanse Schans.
See clogs being handcrafted at the Clog Workshop
2. Clomp Around in Some Klompen
When you think of something typically Dutch, we’d be willing to be windmills and wooden clogs come to mind (at least they do for us). Dutch clogs are part of the heritage, but are really only worn mostly in rural areas by farmers and gardeners because they’re great for walking around on the swampy ground. Dutch clogs are actually even certified by the European Union as a safety shoe because they can withstand sharp and heavy objects as well as concentrated acids.
Traditionally, skilled artisans made clogs by hand and could produce up to seven pairs each day. Today, clogs are made by machines, but clog makers still do make them by hand at the Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop.
Dutch clogs are typically made from willow or poplar and over six million are produced each year. Of those six million, most of them destined to be purchased by tourists.
Clogclapskates
Part of the Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop is dedicated to an interesting Wooden Shoe Museum where you can see clog roller skates, betrothal clogs and many other unique clogs. The Dutch apparently love to skate and these clogclapskates had a lap time of 48 seconds at Thialf Stadium in Heerenveen.
Bethrohal clogs made by a French clog maker from the Pyrenees
Traditional Dutch clogs had other purposes. In the 9th century, it was a tradition for a fiance to present his future bride with a pair of long pointed wooden shoes made with the utmost love on Christmas Eve.
For more practical purposes, there are many less intricately detailed versions of clogs simply worn for work. The clogs were adapted for the type of work they would be worn for and all kinds of professions wore clogs.
Klompen are a popular tourist souvenir
Free clog making demonstrations take place regularly throughout the day and the shop boasts the largest selection of clogs in all colors and sizes in The Netherlands. Be sure to try on a pair and see what it feels like to clomp around in your klompen. If you do want to purchase a pair as a souvenir, the shop has all colors and sizes for women, men and children, and range in price from around €20 – €150.
Me and my friend Theresa take advantage of a photo op with lots and lots of clogs
And no visit to the Wooden Shoe Workshop would be complete without sitting in and wearing giant clogs.
The Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop is open daily from 8:30am – 5pm.
See how cheese is made and taste cheese
3. Go Cheese Tasting
Who doesn’t love cheese? (Well, unless you’re lactose intolerant. Then skip this one.) And free cheese is even better.
Oh my Gouda, this is good!
We’ve never seen so many different types of Gouda in our lives. There was regular Gouda, smoked Gouda with herbs, Gouda with chilies and even a neon green Gouda with pesto. If Gouda isn’t your thing, there are many other Dutch cheeses as well.
The Cheese Farm De Catherinahoeve also conducts free cheese making demonstrations throughout the day and is open daily from 8am – 6pm.
4. Indulge in a Dutch Pancake
What’s so special about a Dutch pancake? We wondered the same thing.
Nearly 29 centimeters in diameter (that’s almost one foot), they come in sweet or savory varieties and are eaten as a main course. My sweet tooth got the better of my and I ordered the pancake with apricot jam, eggnog and whipped cream. I excitedly watched as the batter was poured in the pancake mold and waited in anticipation for it to turn golden.
De Kraai Pancake Restaurant is open March – October from 9am – 6pm and November – February from 10am – 5pm. Pancakes range from €6 – €12 depending on toppings.
Albert Heijn Grocery and Museum
5. Shop at the Historic Albert Heijn Grocery
The historic Albert Heijn Grocery is how Albert Heijn, grandfather and founder of the mighty Ahold supermarket emporium, began when he took over the small grocery store from his parents in 1887. The recreated inventory of coffee and spices serves as a small museum for the original grocery.
In a back room, a small museum dedicated to the history of Dutch coffee (actual coffee, not the other meaning of “coffee shop” in The Netherlands) walks through the modernization of the coffee grinder. To be honest, the coffee grinder hasn’t changed all that much over the course of a couple hundred years.
Dutch licorice and some other things can be purchased in the grocery store. Admission to the museum is free and it is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10:30am – 1pm and 1:30pm – 4pm.
Know Before You Go
Or book a day trip to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam that includes round trip transportation, entry fees and lunch at the pancake restaurant.
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Kay says
That’s a fun article, Jennifer. A couple of months ago I watched National Geographic documentary about a similar place in Holland… Really want to go there and get a pair of these beautiful clogs 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Oh how fun! I would have loved to visit more villages like this one while I was in Holland. I was quite surprised to find that most places were relatively new as I didn’t realize Holland had been as damaged as it was during the war.
Arianwen says
First of all, how cool are the clog skates??! Totally impractical, but amazing nonetheless. I also wanted to note how trendy your Hello Kitty socks look in a pair of clogs. I think you’re onto something there!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Haha, Ari! I’m secretly a Hello Kitty lover. I have to hide it though under my boots with Hello Kitty socks. ?
Endri Hasanaj says
That’s some crazy shoes! Haha I found this post very enjoyable to read and funny! Keep up the good work mate! I also thought those clog skates were soooo cool! I need to get some of those one of these days 😀
Greetings from Athens
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Endri! I thought the clog roller skates were pretty cool myself. If they had been selling them, I’d be roller skating down my street in clogs right now. ?
Andrea says
My Dad brought home some when I was a kid and I used to love walking around in them. Then one day they didn’t fit anymore 🙁 I need to get some new ones!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Well, I know just the place for you to find a large selection! There were actually quite a few pairs that were very stylish, I’m just not sure I’d ever really wear them. And the prices were quite good for them being handcrafted.
Petra says
Thanks to for this post I just added a stop to this workshop to our September itinerary. Thanks so much!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That’s so great to hear, Petra! It’s always wonderful when we hear that our story has inspired someone else to visit. Enjoy!
Andrew says
Neat visit. We had grand plans to go out there and then just kind of collapsed into relax-mode in Amsterdam.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
If you go back, you guys must visit Zaanse Schans! It was my favorite place in Holland. So very Dutch and exactly what I pictured Holland to be like.
Sofie says
Great pictures! The darker skies at a lot to them, I think, and the windmills seem in such good ‘shape’!
I’m going to look up how far a drive this is from where I live:)
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I really liked the moodiness the clouds gave, but I was really glad the rain held out for my visit!
Mandy says
Oh, I love this! All this time I admired windmills from afar and never realised how interesting they must be from the inside. Well, thank you, you’ve inspired me to visit The Netherlands (I last visited when I was four) and to make sure I see the inside of a working windmill too!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Visiting the working windmill was absolutely one of the highlights of my visit to The Netherlands, Mandy! I highly recommend checking one out when you have the chance. As much as I hope I captured what it was like in words and photos, there is nothing quite like feeling the floor shake beneath your feet from the big sails.
Freya says
Zaanse Schans looks very beautiful. I love windmills but I have never been inside a windmill. Great photos.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Freya! Zaanse Schans was very beautiful indeed. I loved the baby sheep and ducks that were on the riverbanks. It just couldn’t have possibly been more picturesque.
Henry says
I’ve had a fascination with windmills since childhood, after having seen them on television, and having seen them at a former amusement park in Richmond, BC. Aside from the stereotypes of windmills, bicycles, clogs, and tulips from Holland, I saw all of them there … except for the windmills. I really like how close your trip was to Amsterdam, although I suppose nothing is really that far in Holland! Thanks for your post!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It really was close and so easily reached on your own. I was so glad I chose to just go by bus instead of with a tour. I had time to see what really interested me and wasn’t rushed. This was definitely my favorite thing I did in 10 days in The Netherlands.
Toutankhaleson Teodore says
tres bien
Charli l Wanderlusters says
Clogs, cheese and pancakes, where do I sign up! What a quaint little place. We’ve spent some time exploring Amsterdam and found ourselves in Delft but haven’t come across Zaanse Schan. Thanks for the heads up we’ll be checking this out next time we’re over there.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Definitely visit next time you are in Amsterdam, Charli! Zaanse Schans is just a short 40 minute bus ride from there and well worth the day trip! It was everything Dutch that I had imagined Holland to be.
Turtle says
Ah, now this is a REAL Dutch experience… at least the way I imagined it 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I know! I’m not sure why I didn’t connect that so much of Holland would be “new”. I expected it of Rotterdam, but even visiting the oldest village of Nijmegen, the buildings were all much newer than I was anticipating. So I was thrilled to get even a tiny piece of traditional Holland at Zaanse Schans.
Leigh says
I’ve never heard of the place but looks like a great find – and the Dutch pancake looks divine.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The Dutch pancake was indeed divine! My friend Teresa had a cherry marmalade pancake that had whole cherries and whipped cream on it and she was also raving about hers. I just needed a bicycle to work off the calories from the pancake and to complete the Dutch experience!
Dana says
Wow – I didn’t realize that windmills can be used to produce so many different types of products. Very interesting, and great photos!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I didn’t either, Dana! I actually didn’t realize they produced another other than wind powered electricity until my visit. Amazing all the products they can produce! And you could even purchase peanut oil produced in one of the mills.
Cyndi says
I love how you described the town as its own museum. I seek out those places! Any place that shows itself and history and culture off to me better than a museum can is wonderful in my book 🙂 I’ve been reading so much on Amsterdam lately, and this fueled my wanderlust to visit even more! (and also, GOUDA!)
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks, Cyndi! Museums really aren’t our thing. We’d much rather discover a place through its culture and Zaanse Schans certainly does that. Definitely put it on your must list for when you visit Amsterdam. And this year is a great year to go! Amsterdam is celebrating 400 years of its canals all year long.
Harry Masters says
Also a must visit is this quaint little distillery De Tweekoppige Phoenix. It has a vast collection of unique onsite distilled liquors and liquers. FREE TASTINGS!
Heidi says
Hi Jenn,
Do you know if it is easier to take the train there or the bus like you suggested? I noticed by train there is a 17 minute walk, but I don’t know if the bus drops you off right in front of the town.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Heidi,
The bus drops off right in front of town, which is why I recommend the bus over the train. Saves the long walk from the train station. Have fun!
Monique says
Hi Jenn,
Your blog post is VERY helpful! 🙂 Thank you for this!
My family will be visiting Zaanse Schans in March, and we’ll definitely be following your tips. Just a question: for the clog workshop and cheese farm, how long did you take? And are these sights close together or quite spread apart?
We only have half a day in Zaanse Schans (sad, I know!), so we really want to maximize our time.
Thanks!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Monique, Zaanse Schans is quite compact. You can easily visit the whole village in just a few hours. I’d say you can walk from end to end in around 15 minutes. You will definitely be able to see the clog workshop and cheese farm plus the windmills in a half day. Enjoy your visit!
Alan Gloud says
After reading your post, I now have a pretty good idea as to where I should go for buying clogs for me and which are the ones that are best suited for me.
Ummi says
Thanks for sharing.. I will be there end of May 2016
Lucas says
Hi jenn
I’m going to amsterdam on december, and i would like to know if worth the visit to zaanse schans.
Thanks!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I think it would be! I know the village gets decorated for the holidays, so I imagine it would be even more charming than usual all decked out in its holiday finest.
Acton Bell says
I really enjoyed reading this. I would also like to add that clogs are an extremely popular style of footwear in Sweden too and many Swedish wooden clog brands are popular in the US with their styles and designs mixing comfort and style together.
Mumun says
Just wanted to pop in and say thank you for the useful and trivial information you’ve provided. It helped much for my trip. Thank you!
Shirley B says
Is it easy to ride a metro from Amsterdam central station to Zaanse or do you recommend booking a tour to get there?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Shirely,
As we explained in the “Getting There” section, there are tours for a day trip to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam, but it is also possible to visit on your own as we did.
Take the 391 bus from Amsterdam Central Station, which leaves twice hourly, to Zaanse Schans. Tickets can be purchased for €7 round trip.
Jamey Wolbert says
Thank you for this article! I’ve read a lot of your content and always find it quite useful and amusing. Just wanted to say thanks for sharing your adventures and inspiring others.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for stopping by, Jamey! It’s always nice to hear from regular readers.