Zaanse Schans is a popular tourist attraction in Netherlands. It's an open air museum where you can see traditional windmills, warehouses and workshops. It makes a perfect day trip from Amsterdam since it's only 15-20 minutes train away.
Getting to Zaanse Schans:
You can book a day trip to the village or you can visit on your own like me. From Amsterdam Central Station, you can either take Bus 391 or a 15-minute train to Koog-Zaandijk station and walk 10 minutes from the station.
There are about seven windmills remain in the area. This is the first windmill you will see if you're walking from the train station.
Map of Zaanse Schans.
Visitors will need to cross over this bridge before reaching Zaanse Schans.
During its heyday in 18th and 19th century, the Zaan region was an important industrial area dotted by hundreds of windmills.
Many of the characteristic houses in Zaanse Schans are now museums, workshops, gift shops but some still remains as private residences.
I really like the wooden house at Zaanse Schans. They look really pretty.
A cruise along the Zaan river will provide a different view of Zaanse Schans and its windmills. The boarding time is 11am to 4pm, which departs every 30 minutes. The cruise takes approximately 25 minutes. The ticket is 9.5 euros per adult and 5 euros per child (age 4-12). It is free with Amsterdam pass.
From a distance, I could see the sails of windmills slowly turning.
This small jetty is a popular spot to take photographs of the windmills.
Walking towards to the windmills of Zaanse Schans. This wood saw windmill called De Gekroonde Poelenburg was built in 1869 in Koog aan de Zaan. In 1904 the mill was then moved to a location on De Gouw, a body of water in Zaandam-Oost. Finally, in 1963, it was taken apart again and rebuilt at the Zaanse Schans.
Seeing the windmills from outside is free, but if you want to enter the windmills, the entrance ticket is now 5 euros per adult and 2.5 euros per child in 2019 for each windmill.
De Kat is a paint mill. De Kat was built in 1664. Apart from paint, the mill also produces chalk, pigments and oils.
The area was really windy, so remember to bring a jacket or windbreaker.
Since I've seen the interior of a windmill at Kinderdijk before, I opted to just stroll along the path and see the windmills from outside this time.
Zaanferry is a new ferry service which departs from pier 14 behind Amsterdam Central Station to Zaanse Schans. For more infor, visit the website: https://www.zaanferry.com/en
Of course, I wouldn't miss taking photographs in front of the windmills.
There are plenty of workshops and museums around Zaanse Schans.
The village itself is really picturesque and charming. Whether you choose to walk around or cycling around, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
The Bakery Museum is where you can try many delicious cakes and bread. Free entrance.
A charming gift shop in Zaanse Schans area.
Goodbye, Zaanse Schans. With this, it marks a perfect end to my trip in Netherlands.
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