Zaanse Schans: tourist village in Holland. Royal lights of Benelux. Day four. Zaanse Schans From Amsterdam to Zaandam and Zaanse Schans

What makes the city of Zaandam (Holland) attractive to tourists? First of all, the famous house of Peter I, because it was in this Dutch city that the Russian Tsar learned the basics of shipbuilding. Millions of travelers come here to visit a unique museum under the sky - the ethnographic village of Zaanse Schans. Time seems to have stopped here, every corner is imbued with the spirit of history.

general information

Zaandam in Holland is a settlement and at the same time the administrative center of the Zaanstad region, which is located in the western part of the country in the province of North Holland. Zaandam is a suburb of Amsterdam and is located 17 km from the capital of the Netherlands, if you move to the northwest.

Zaandam has an area of 23 km2 and is home to about 70 thousand people. The city has a high population density - there are slightly more than 3 thousand people per 1 km2. This is due to the fact that Zaandam is an industrial settlement where many enterprises of various types are concentrated.

Interesting fact! The name comes from the name of the Zaan River, on the banks of which the settlement is located.

On the southern side, Zaandam is limited by a canal connecting the capital of Holland with the North Sea. In the west, the border of the settlement is the Zaan River. Directly in the settlement there are two large reservoirs - in the northeast, in the picturesque Jagersveld park. Not only locals, but also guests of Zaandam come here to relax and have a good time. The second reservoir is located in the southeastern part of the village.

Zaandam appeared at the end of the 12th century, when Western and Eastern Zaan united. Zaandam received city status by order of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

Good to know! Western and Eastern Zaan are two ancient settlements that appeared at the beginning of the 14th century. The settlement received the “dam” part of the word from the name of a dam built near Zaandam in the 13th century.

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Dutch city's source of income was whaling. More than fifty shipyards were built in Zaandam, from which two dozen seagoing vessels were launched annually. Since the 19th century, industry has been actively developing in the settlement, new enterprises have opened that worked on wind energy (it was created by numerous mills built throughout Holland). The Netherlands produced paper, varnishes and paints, spices and cocoa, tobacco, oils, and masterfully processed wood.

In the mid-19th century, wind power was gradually replaced by steam engines, however, Zaandam managed to retain its status as a shipbuilding center. In addition, a cocoa and chocolate factory, a logging company, and ammunition and weapons are produced here today.

In the second half of the 20th century, Zaandam became part of the municipality of Zaanstad, and in 2011 received the status of its capital.

Interesting fact! Since 2008, city authorities have reconstructed the city center. One of the original projects is Inverdan, in which the facades of modern buildings were decorated with images of traditional Dutch architecture.

Attractions

Of course, the most visited place in Zaandam is Peter’s house, where the Russian Tsar lived for 8 days. During this time, the monarch obtained permission to work in the shipyards of the then famous Dutch East India Company.

Good to know! The artist Claude Monet visited the Dutch city with pleasure. In a few months he created 25 paintings and a dozen sketches.

The house of Peter the Great in Zaandam is not the only attraction. There are 128 monuments of national significance and 83 of municipal significance. The list of attractions includes residential buildings, mill structures, churches, and monuments.

Zaanse Schans – mill village

The settlement of Zaanse Schans is located in the Netherlands, 17 km from the capital. Given the excellent transport links between settlements in Holland, getting from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans on your own is not difficult. There are several ways to do this.

By public transport.

By bus No. 391. Flights depart every quarter of an hour from the railway station in the capital. The route takes 40 minutes.
By train to Zaandijk station. The journey takes a little over 15 minutes, then you will have to walk another 15 minutes from the station.

By car. Just enter the address in the navigator: Schansend 7, Zaandam. Parking near the village is paid - for cars - 10 €, for buses - 18 € per day.

How to get from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schan by bicycle. This is a common way to get around in Holland, with bicycle paths in every locality and plenty of parking space for this type of transport.

During the high season - from April to October - Zaanse Schans is easily reached by bicycle taxi, which runs from Zaandijk station to the mill village. You can also call a taxi and get to your destination comfortably.

Note: 20 km from Amsterdam is located, not very popular among tourists, but there is something to see in it.

Welcome to the village of mills

Zaanse Schans is one of the most original and colorful attractions in Holland and all over the world. Here you can spend the whole day enjoying the atmosphere, history and culture of the country. The houses in the village date back to the 17th century. Be sure to visit the mills, several museums, and take part in a master class on creating unique wooden shoes - klomps.

Interesting to know! The main street is Kalverringdijk.

Mills

If you ask locals about the main attraction of Zaanse Schans, they will probably answer you - mills. These structures are built throughout the Netherlands. It is believed that Dutch designs are a Persian invention, but there is no evidence for this.

Interesting fact! According to some historians, the first mill structures in Holland appeared before the year 1000, but they were all water-powered. The first wind structure dates back to 1180.

The village has seven mills, which are located on the banks of the Schans River. Many of them, despite their historical value and landmark status, are still used for their intended purpose - wood is processed here, cocoa and spices are ground, and oil is produced.

Good to know! You can visit only one mill for free if you have a Zaanse Schans card with you; the cost of visiting others is 4-5 euros.

De Huisman

Open to the public for free, De Huisman's first mill structure was once owned by an Indian merchant and used to produce mustard. Inside the attraction there are millstones on which herbs and seeds are still ground, and a thematic film is shown to tourists. There is a souvenir shop here that sells aromatic mustard of its own production.

De Kat

The closest building to the village, De Kat, was used for the production of paints in the 16th century. Inside, guests are told in detail about the ancient process of creating flowers and grinding pigments. Today the mill's power is used to produce coal and oil. This attraction is the most colorful, since the millstones create a vibration that is transmitted to tourists. Here you can go up to the balcony and find yourself next to the blades.

Good to know! A complete list of mills is presented on the official Zaanse Schans website.

The Netherlands is an advanced country in Europe with a high standard of living, but the famous wooden shoes - klomps - are still relevant today, although they are presented mostly in the form of souvenirs and museum exhibits. In Zaanse Schans there is a small museum dedicated to wooden shoes, the history of which goes back to the Middle Ages.

Klomps appeared in France, but they gained the greatest popularity in the Netherlands. For humid climates and swampy areas, such shoes turned out to be indispensable. The shoes were made by hand, the patterns and decorations were thought out. The pattern on the shoes was used to determine which province a person lived in. In special shops you could buy clogs for any occasion in life - for playing football, ice skating, weddings, everyday use.

When you find yourself in Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands, be sure to visit the mini-museum of klomps. Master classes on making wooden landmarks are held here; everyone can take part and try their hand at making shoes. There is a shop at the museum; there is a huge number of colorful, multi-colored shoes on display; believe me, it will be very difficult to choose just one pair as a souvenir.

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House of Peter I

The attraction of Zaandam is a small wooden house located near the capital. Peter I lived here at the end of the 17th century. To preserve the structure, a brick casing was built around it.

The building was built at the beginning of the 17th century and 65 years later the Russian Tsar and 35 other volunteers who accompanied Peter on the trip settled in it. At that time, a blacksmith with whom the tsar worked at the shipyard in Arkhangelsk lived in the house. Due to the constant attention to his person, Peter I was forced to leave Zaandam and move to the capital, however, he came to the city more than once and always stayed in a small wooden house.

Practical information:

Address: Address: Krimp, 23.
Schedule:

from April to October - every day from 10-00 to 17-00;
from October to April - daily except Mondays - from 10-00 to 17-00.

It is important! There are two parking lots near the attraction.

Ticket prices:

adult – 3 €;
children (from 4 to 17 years old) – 2 €;
For children under 4 years of age admission is free.

You might be interested: if you are going to the south of the Netherlands, visit.

How to get to Zaandam from Amsterdam

The road from Amsterdam will not cause any difficulties. There are several ways to quickly and comfortably get from the capital of the Netherlands to Zaandam.

You can get there by Connexxion buses No. 92 and 94. Flights depart from the bus station, the journey lasts 30 minutes. The ticket costs 4.5 €.

3. By car

The distance between the capital of the Netherlands and Zaandam is only 17 km; you will have to spend only 25-30 minutes on the road. Moving from the center of Amsterdam, you will need to cross the IJ bridge and go to the northern area. From Amsterdam you need to take the A1 highway. There is a large traffic intersection near Zaandam; following the signs, you need to move to the left and enter Zaandam.

Prices on the page are for May 2018.

The sights of Zaandam will introduce you to the history, culture and traditions of the country. If you have one free day that you want to spend exciting and useful, don’t hesitate to go to Zaandam, Holland.

Zaanse Schans is located near Amsterdam. It can be easily reached by bus, train, car or bicycle.

Bus

Connexxion bus line 391 departs every fifteen minutes from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaanse Schans. The duration of the trip is forty minutes. For more information, visit www.bus391.nl.

Train

The closest railway station to Zaanse Schans is Zaandijk - Zaanse Schans. The journey to it from Amsterdam Central Station will take seventeen minutes. Then you will need to walk fifteen minutes to Zaanse Schans.

Plan your trip on public transport through the website.

You can also easily reach Zaanse Schans by bicycle. There is a bicycle path through the Zaanse Schans. Cycling on narrow passages between houses is not permitted for safety reasons. The spacious parking area provides ample parking for bicycles.

From 1 April to 1 October inclusive, you can take a bicycle taxi between Kooch-Zaandijk station and Zaanse Schans from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. Taxis are also available on call, also during the non-tourist season, and will take you to the mills, Zaandijk and Haaldersbroek. Tel. 06-2250 3234.

Zaanse Schans: travel with benefits

The Zaanse Schans Card allows you to save money while traveling around the Zaanse Schans. With it you can visit several museums and workshops, and get an attractive discount in shops, restaurants and hotels. The card is valid any day of the week.

Price:
Adults: 15.00 euros
Children (>4-7 years): 10.00 euros

Where is this card sold?
The Zaanse Schans map can be purchased at the Zaanse Museum Information Centre, at the Zaanse Tade, at the start of Kalferringdijk or in Weifershuis.

Cardholders are entitled to:
Free entry to the Zaan Museum
Free entry to Weifershuis
Free entry to the cooperage workshop
Free entry to the Zaanse Teid clock museum
Discount on river cruise (Windmill Cruises)
10% discount in souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels

Zaanse Schans: how to get there and what to see?

For a long time I avoided places that are included in the standard tourist program in Holland. But finally curiosity took over, and today we went to the Dutch village of Zaanse Schans. And I want to say that it’s a shame we didn’t do this earlier! I share my impressions and practical information on how to get to Zaanse Schans and what you can see there.

Update: in 2019, a Hop-on Hop-off bus operates on the route Zaandam - Zaanse Schans - Edam - Volendam - Monnickendam. Ticket price is 28 euros for adults and 15 euros for children. Buses run every 45 minutes. Great option to see the Dutch cheese factories, fishing village, wooden shoe factory and famous mills for one day.

Excursions to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam

You can also choose an organized trip to Zaanse Schans. Such tours can be combined with visits to other colorful cities in Holland. For example, for 5.5 hours and 55 euros per person you can go to Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken.

If you come to Holland during work, pay attention to day excursions to Keukenhof + Zaanse Schans (79 euros) and Keukenhof + Volendam + Marken + Zaanse Schans (99 euros).

In my opinion, these are excellent options, especially if you don’t have much time to travel around Holland on your own.

Although, of course, the colorful green houses quickly make it clear that we were not mistaken and ended up exactly where we planned.

Here I am not clutching my heart with joy, but trying to hold back my hair flying in all directions :)

The village of Zaanse Schans has about 30 houses, most of which are open to tourists (you can even stay in one of the houses on this street - B&B Heerlijck Slaapen is located there). And in the far left house in the photo there is a museum of the first Albert Heijn store in Holland.

It is quite small inside, like most museums in this village. Although it’s difficult to even call them museums - rather, they are small shops where you can learn about ancient Dutch crafts and buy something unusual as a souvenir.

We had a great day in Zaanse Schans! Did you like it? Share this link with your friends!

Questions? Ask! And stay in touch!

The village of Zaanse Schans in the suburbs of Amsterdam is a real pastoral picture in reality. Here ancient mills quietly rustle with their blades, the aroma of fresh bread is in the air, wooden shoes are made in the workshop, and the most delicious Dutch cheese is prepared next door. All local houses are painted green, which makes them even more similar to charming picture landscapes.

Village of Zaanse Schans in Amsterdam

The village of Zaanse Schans in Amsterdam is a classic Dutch village from the past, which today is an open-air museum, despite the fact that people still live and work here. By the way, not all the buildings in this village have survived for a long time - some exhibits from the past and the century before last had to be restored according to diagrams and drawings that were fortunate enough to be discovered. In addition to the famous windmills in the Zaanse Schans Village in Amsterdam, this place is also famous for its amazing shoes, cut to size by local craftsmen. Here you can order shoes for walking, work and for holidays. All shoes are made only by hand without mechanical devices. The same applies to cheese making. In this village, one kilogram of cheese uses about 10 liters of excellent milk, and the special pride of the Zaanse Schans Village in Amsterdam is the old cheese, aged on the farm for more than a year. For cheese lovers, local cheese shops will seem like a real paradise - they sell cheeses with a variety of fillings - with paprika, garlic, cumin, cloves, etc.

Helpful information

Location: The village of Zaanse Schans in Amsterdam is just a 20-minute drive from the city's Central Station. You can get here by train to the Koog Zaandisch station, paying about 3.20 euros (about 150 rubles). You can also get there by bus number 91, which departs from Amsterdam Central Station every half hour and stops near the main museum of the village
Opening hours: The village of Zaanse Schans in Amsterdam is open to tourists all year round from 09-00 in the morning until 17-00 in the evening without breaks or weekends
Price: Visiting the Zaanse Schans Village in Amsterdam is free for all categories of citizens, however, in order to explore the museums and craft centers, you will need to purchase separate tickets. The price for these tickets ranges from 3 to 10 euros (about 140 - 463 rubles) per person. It will be most convenient to purchase a single village card - Zaanse Schans Card, which will give you the opportunity to visit the clock museum, the main museum and the bakery. This card for adults will cost 10 euros (about 463 rubles), and for children from 4 to 17 years old - 6 (about 278 rubles).

Mills, wooden shoes and Dutch cheeses in one place! At the Zaanse Schans open-air museum you can see windmills in action and learn about life in Holland in the 17th and 18th centuries. How to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam, about houses, museums and workshops in a distinctive village in the North of Holland.

Zaanse Schans

Village-museum Zaanse Schans arose in 1961 thanks to the talented architect Jaap Schipper, who set out to preserve the cultural heritage of the Zaanstad region. At the end of the 16th century, Holland learned to harness the power of the wind, and since then more than 10,000 windmills have been built on its territory, 600 of which operated in Zaanstad. 6 mills and 35 houses were moved to the open-air museum. Now Zaanse Schans is one of the most visited places in the Netherlands (1 million tourists per year).

How to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam

From Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans 20 km. You can travel through them by bus or train.

Bus 391 to Zaanse Schans departs every 15 minutes from the bus station at Amsterdam Central Station. Travel time is 40 minutes.

Trains from Amsterdam arrive at the Zaandijk - Zaanse Schans station. It is profitable to buy a return ticket immediately. The train takes 17 minutes.

We had the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket, which allowed us to move around the region an unlimited number of times for 2 days, so we went there by bus and back by train. This option is convenient if you want to walk the entire territory of Zaanse Schans and not come back, and also look at different landscapes from the window. The main entrance to the open-air museum is located at the bus stop. The train station is located on the other side of the river, a 15-minute walk. From April 1 to October 1, a bicycle taxi runs between the station and the museum.

You can take a sightseeing bus to Zaanse Schans. The tour from Amsterdam lasts 3 hours, includes a guide during the trip and a self-guided tour of the area.

Parking a car in Zaanse Schans costs €10.

The village of Zaanse Schans is open all year round and entry is free. Visiting mills and museums with entrance tickets, prices and opening hours on the website. The Zaanse Schans Card allows you to visit 1 mill, several museums and workshops, and get a discount on river trips, shops and restaurants. The Zaanse Schans Information Center is located inside the Zaanse Museum and is open every day from 10 to 17, except December 25 and January 1. The trip to Zaanse Schans usually takes half a day, but if the weather is good there is nothing stopping you from staying longer and spending the whole day in the countryside.

There are 6 mills in Zaanse Schans and all of them are operational. Once inside (ticket €4.5), you can watch the mechanisms at work and go upstairs. History of the mills on information boards outside. Each mill has its own name and purpose.

Mill De Kat "Cat"

De Huisman— mill for the production of spices and mustard. Free entry!
De Gekroonde Poelenburg- sawmill
De Kat"Cat" - paint mill
De Zoeker- oil mill
De Bonte Hen"Pockmarked Chicken" - oil mill
Het Jonge Schaap"Young Sheep" - sawmill

Museums

The museums of Zaanse Schans tell about the history of the region, the life and activities of the people who lived in it.

- a collection of works of art, models of ships and windmills, household items. The Verkade pavilion recreates the atmosphere of a chocolate bar
factory founded in 1886. Visitors can press buttons on interactive displays to bag cookies and chocolates.
Albert Heijn Museum Shop— Albert Heijn museum-shop. The history of the largest supermarket chain Albert Heijn began with a small grocery store. Inside the wooden building of the 19th century, the original furnishings and equipment have been preserved. You can do some shopping, drink coffee.
Bakery Museum de Gecroonde Duyvekater- a museum-bakery from 1658 with a real bread oven and a beautiful marble floor. Traditional Dutch baked goods and confectionery are sold here.
Zaanse Time Museum- The clock museum tells the history of Dutch clocks, from the 16th century bell tower to modern electronic models.
Windmill Museum— the windmill museum is located in Koog anan de Zaan across the bridge from Zaanse Schans on the way to the railway station. The museum exhibits models of mills, equipment, tools, paintings and construction drawings.

Homes and workshops

In essence, every house in Zaanse Schans is a museum. The wooden buildings of the Zaan area are characterized by long windows and low doors, and most houses are painted green. Many historic houses are occupied by people and are not accessible to the public, but can be viewed from the outside and photographed. The house at Kalverringdijk 17 is an exception, housing the Hotel Heerlijck Slaapen.

Zaanse Schans workshops demonstrate and sell their products. You can watch the production process and buy a typical Dutch souvenir.

- cheese factory. The farm Catharina Hoeve was located in 1750 in Oostzaan. In the modern workshop you can try and buy several types of delicious Dutch cheeses. Sheep and goats graze right on the village territory.
Clog workshop— workshop of klomps (traditional wooden shoes). The largest collection of clamps in the Netherlands with a demonstration of the manufacturing process. Original shoes that you can wear.
Tiemstra Coopery— the barrel workshop conducts master classes on the production of barrels from the company “SR Tiemstra & Sons”.
Zaans Gedaan, CacaoLab— in the chocolate making workshop you will learn about the process of its production from cocoa beans. Chocolate is made in a traditional way using 18th century technology.
De Tweekoppige Phoenix— history of the production of liqueurs at the Tweekoppige Phoenix distillery, tasting and sale.
De Tinkoepel- a pewter foundry, one of the last in the Netherlands. All products are cast by hand.

The area is clearly visible from the observation tower located next to the information center. It is designed as a bird watching area.
Scenic views of the mills also open from the water. The Saan river cruise lasts 45 minutes and includes an audio guide and narration from the captain.

After visiting the open-air museum, you can take a walk or bike ride to neighboring towns. Across the river from Zaanse Schans is Zandijk with its beautiful houses. In the city of Zaandam there is the House of Peter I, turned into a museum.

“One of a kind,” said Napoleon when he visited Zaanse Schans. History is silent about what he especially liked. The 250-year-old windmill park offers traditional Holland, idyllic scenery and fresh air.

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