Zaanse Schans: How to Take a Half-Day Trip From Amsterdam

A picture-perfect place with windmills, lush meadows, blooming yellow flowers, and mirror-like water. Zaanse Schans is an enigma and stirs up confusion about what it is. Is it a village? A tourist trap? A theme park? It looks too perfect to be real. Well, this quaint community is a must-visit place when in Amsterdam. It’s the prettiest place I saw on my trip 3-day trip to Amsterdam, and I recommend it to every traveler.

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What is Zaanse Schans?

De Zaanse Schans is a quaint village in the residential Zaandam district near Amsterdam. It’s a tourist attraction built in 1961 to replicate the living and working community in the Zaan district before the Industrial Revolution. Its main purpose is to preserve the windmills and shops from the district while providing an educational experience for those interested in Dutch history and culture.

History of Zaanse Schans

The Zaan district was located in northern Holland during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Zaan district then had 600 active windmills due to the Dutch Golden Age. The windmills helped produce everything you could think of—wood, paper, spices, dyes, cocoa powder, etc. As a result of flourishing trade, wealthy merchants built waterfront houses and used extra money to extend it or build gardens. Additionally, villagers built barns, farmhouses, and paths, and the blooming flora and fauna created picturesque scenery.

The World War aftermath threatened the Zaan district, where windmills deteriorated and production slowed. So, to preserve the history, the government relocated the eight surviving windmills from Zaan to Zaanse Schans. It took 15 years, starting in 1961. The area is dedicated to preserving Dutch industrial history through an open-air museum. Following the windmills came the warehouses, stores, and workshops that stood alongside the windmills. The windmills were restored to produce goods and have remained operational ever since. Even more impressive, there are actual people who live in the community! It’s a real, living district with producers creating goods like cocoa, cheese, and more.

What does Zaanse Schans mean in English?

The name Zaanse Schans comes from an earthen sconce (where Schans stands for sconce), a fortified defensive structure from the Eighty Years’ War against Spanish rule. In the 16th century, there were probably 13 of these types of sconce in the original Zaan district. Ironically, the largest sconce in the region sits across from the modern Zaanse Schans and was the only one unconquered by the Spanish. Therefore, the name Zaanse Schans is metaphorical: the location protects traditional Zaan industrial history.

What is Zaanse Schans best known for?

Zaanse Schans is best known for its picturesque windmills on the “River Zaan.” The Zaanse Schans windmills are lined up along the river and are a beautiful scene from afar. Just looking at them makes you feel like you’re transported back to the old days. The area is also known for its locally made goods; you can sample and purchase them in person. The windmills connect to various shops that make soap and sell antiques, sweets, souvenirs, and more. It is the perfect destination for purchasing souvenirs or just really well-made, locally crafted products. You can enjoy the neighborhood by walking or biking along the paths.

It’s one of the few places in the world where you can witness traditional working windmills.

How to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam?

The Rnet-bus 391 is the easiest way to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam. The Rnet-bus 391 runs from Amsterdam Central Station every fifteen minutes and takes forty minutes per trip. This is the most convenient option because it drops you right in front of the parking lot of Zaanse Schans. It’s a 3-5 minute walk to the front entrance. You can pay for all public transit in Amsterdam with OVPay (debit or credit card with tap), OV-Chipkaart, a city card, or a public transport pass.

You can also take the train from Amsterdam Central to the nearest local station, Zaandijk—Zanse Schans. It takes 17 minutes per trip, but the walk from the station to Zaanse Schans is 15 minutes.

You can also come by car. Input this address into your navigation system: Schansend 7 in Zaandam. Parking costs €11-15 per visit for cars, depending on the season, which you can check at the entry sign. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or Uber.

A ferry gets you to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam Central Station, which takes about 110 minutes. You can find more information on the ferry timetable and current rates here.

Things to do in Zaanse Schans

Amsterdam food: Stroopwafel — Bike around!

See the Zaans Schans windmills. Walk down the designated path alongside the river.
Enter the Zaans Schans windmills. You have to pay a €5.50 admission fee per windmill, but it’s a rare opportunity to see what it’s like inside! There is also a Zaanse Schans discount card, which includes entrance to multiple museums, mills, and discounted parking.
Stroll through the various shops in the neighborhood. Enjoy a freshly made stroopwafel, make and drink your own hot cocoa, taste some cheese, peruse soap, etc. After your visit, munch on some Dutch food back in Amsterdam.
Bike around the neighborhood. You can rent bikes on-site or from the local train station. There are two cycle routes available. You can also bring your own bikes to ride!
Take a boat tour. Every Saturday and Sunday, the Windmillhopper makes a boat trip along the windmills with a local guide. Tickets are €10.00 for adults and €7.00 for children. It departs every half hour and is 25 minutes long.
Visit the onsite Zaans Museum. The history of Zaans in one building! There are interactive displays about the food industry. A ticket costs €14.50.

How much time do you need in Zaanse Schans?

Depending on how in depth-of an experience you want, the average time you need in Zaanse Schans is 2-3 hours. If you see the windmills and walk around the shops, an hour is more than enough. The more attractions you want to do, the more time you’ll need. I took about an hour to visit, but I could have easily spent more time there if I had gone inside the windmills and museums. It was really picturesque, and I enjoyed walking around and enjoying the scenery. If I go back, I’d love to visit the Zaans Museum!

Is it worth going to Zaanse Schans?

Yes! This was the most picturesque place I visited near Amsterdam, and the weather was absolutely perfect the day I visited. It’s also one of the only places where you can see producing windmills up close. While it’s touristy, it’s still worth checking out. Don’t expect it to be a historical site with standing significance. Rather, Zaanse Schans is a recreation of what a thriving industrial district in Holland was like. Its purpose is to preserve tradition and history and is a connection to Dutch industrial roots. The best part is, is that getting here is really affordable! There is no entrance fee, and you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

In addition to visiting Zaans Schans, there are plenty of things to do on your trip to Amsterdam. You don’t want to miss these experiences!

Visit Zaanse Schans for a Half-Day Trip

Even if you aren’t into history, Zaanse Schans, Netherlands, is a beautiful area with tons to offer. The landscape differs from Amsterdam, and it feels like you’ve been transported back in time. It’s a great place to take family or a date and support windmill preservation efforts. Don’t miss the opportunity to see real working windmills with products you can try and buy. I’d visit for the scenery alone! Happy travels!