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Europe, Netherlands, Short Breaks
The perfect day trip to the Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands
25
Sep
Sep
The perfect day trip to the Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands
How to get to the Zaanse Schans?
The Zaanse Schans is only 20 minutes from Amsterdam by car and can therefore be perfectly combined with an amazing city trip.
It takes about 2.5 hours by car from Ghent in Belgium. The domain of the Zaanse Schans has a large parking lot where you can park the whole day for a fee.
You can also easily reach the Zaanse Schans by public transport. From the train station in Amsterdam you can take both the train and bus to the Zaanse Schans. The train stops at Zaandijk – Zaanse Schans station, then you have to walk another fifteen minutes to the domain. With the bus you stop at the Zaanse Schans.
When is the best time to visit the Zaanse Schans?
Where to stay in or near the Zaanse Schans?
Would you like to spend the night at the Zaanse Schans and wake up with a beautiful view over the windmills, then you should definitely staty at Heerlijck Slaapen op de Zaanse Schans. Near the Zaanse Schans you will find some exquisite addresses such as Boutique hotel NO.43, B&B Boterton and the Inntel Hotels Zaandam.
If you want to combine a visit to the Zaanse Schans with a city trip in the bustling capital of the Netherlands. Then choose an authentic stay in Amsterdam at Hotel Estheréa, Hotel Dwars or The Hoxton, Amsterdam.
Some facts about the Zaanse Schans
The Zaanse Schans is a residential working area that dates all the way back to1850. It’s known amongs tourists for its Dutch traditional heritage such as the windmills, the wooden houses, local product workshops, …
When you first see the domain, it is as if time has stopped. The area looks a bit like an open-air museum, but that is certainly not the case. People still live and work there. Even the traditional houses are still inhabited, so it isn’t strictly for tourism. Every mill, workshop or museum that you can visit on the domain has its own story.
The Zaanse Schans annually attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Some years the number of visitors increases even to over a million!
A funny fact is that in sixties and seventies many traditional wooden buildings, including a few windmills, were brought to the Zaanse Schans from the nearby area to be restored?
Visiting de Zaanse Schans
When I arrived at the Zaanse Schans. I was immediately fascinated by the whole experience. But then again I am a history freak and I love visiting this kind of things.
The Zaanse Schans is famous for its windmills, but there is a lot more to it. Such as authentic workplaces, museums, a nice shop and delicious eateries. So you can easily spend a whole day there.
Wander through the village and walk past the bakery museum while enjoying the smell of freshly made cake. Admire the beautiful traditional colored wooden houses. Take a look inside the warehouse where clogs are made. Don’t miss out on the cheese factory and tin foundry. Make a long stroll alongside the impressive windmills. Stop by the local shops and cafés to buy a little souvenir or taste local specialties.
If the weather is good, have an outside picnic in this beautiful dutch, rural scenery. Not enough? You can even make a boat trip to the other side of town. There are so many options to make this visit into an unforgettable day trip at the Zaanse Schans.
Other things to do in and near the Zaanse Schans
The domain of the Zaanse Schans is so extensive that you can certainly spend a full day there. If you want to indulge even more into the history of some Dutch delicacies besides the authentic windmills and authentic workshops, be sure to visit the Zaanse Schans museum and Verkade experience.
If you want to admire the Zaanse Schans from a different perspective, opt for one of the many boat trips. Enjoy a wonderful windmill cruise with interesting information about their role in history or visit the windmills with the windmill hopper. Take the pedestrian ferry to Zaandijk and discover the village that overlooks the Zaanse Schans. Or retreat in the countryside and sail with the cow boat through the surrounding meadows.
For nature lovers, there are also some hiking trails and you can also rent bicycles to explore the domain and the surrounding landscape.
If you still have time, don’t forget to admire the Inntel Hotels Zaandam.
If you prefer to visit the Zaanse Schans with an organized tour, be sure to check out the Getyourguide offers below. They have great day trips to the Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam. Perfect for experiencing the authentic countryside of the Netherlands in addition to most beautiful spots in Amsterdam.
Important tips when visiting the Zaanse Schans
- There is a parking lot at the domain of the Zaanse schans. This is paying. The Zaanse Schans is also perfectly accessible by public transport from Amsterdam.
- The Zaanse schans is a perfect destinaton for a day trip with children. It is not only fun and cosy, but also very educational.
Thank you for reading!
Yours truly,
Sarah
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I can’t picture a place that fits the image in my mind of Dutch countryside more than this one. Beautiful pics!
Haha, I know it’s so typical! But that’s why I liked it so much. Thank you Agnes!
I love windmills so I would definitely love visiting this place. Can’t wait.
I hope you can visit it soon! 🙂
This looks like a great excursion! I’d love to add a trip to Europe to my 2021 list fingers crossed that that can happen 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Oh, I hope we can travel soon!!!
I loved visiting the Zaanse Schans through your post, your pictures are so stunning! I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t visited the Zaanse Schans yet despite being Dutch. I should definitely put it on my list 🙂
Hahaha Yvette, shame on you!!! No, just joking. I just loved it because it was everything that is typical Dutch in one place. A great day trip from Belgium though.
Stropwafels are my favourites too.
mmmm! They are sooooo good!
Was lucky enough to visit this place earlier this year before everything closed down. Really reminded me of that trip. Thank you for sharing!
It’s weird to see everything closed. I hope this will end soon.
wow!!! What a picturesque and adorable place. I would love to visit it and stay a couple days next time I go to Amsterdam. I just love the Dutch countryside.
I hope you do. It’s such a great place to visit.