The perfect day trip to the Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands

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

• 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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Would you like to plan an unforgettable trip? Then be sure to check out this useful overview of my personal travel tips!

Skyscanner is the place-to-be to book flights. This useful travel comparison website helps you find great deals for numerous destinations. Because I travel a lot, I often use airport parking. I already had good experiences with Parkos and Quickparking.

Booking accommodations is super easy through booking.com. Not only will you find plenty of stays and great deals, but by setting the filters you can quickly find an accommodation that meets all your needs.

When you're planning to rent a car during your trip, you should definitely opt for Sunny Cars. This transparent company collaborates with local car rental companies and ensures that all insurances ares already included when you book the car. So you don't have to worry about extra costs when picking up your car.

Are you looking for fun tours and unique travel experiences? Then head over to Getyourguide. Besides that, here you can also find some of the best deals for popular sights at your vacation destination.

Would you like to travel with public transport from one destination to another? Then 12togo is the place to be. Here you can easily find transfers in several countries.

Being a travel blogger I get a lot of questions about which photography equipment I use to photograph my travels.

I shoot with full-frame system camera: Nikon Z6II. I have a few lenses, but these 3 are my absolute favorites when traveling:

• All-round lens: NIKKOR Z 24-70 mm f/2.8. (I shoot almost everything with this. Are you just starting to shoot? Then I would recommend this lens)
• Wide-angle lens: NIKKOR Z 14-24 mm f/2.8. (Architecture, interior, landscapes,...)
• Zoom lens: Nikkor NIKKOR Z 70-200 mm f/2.8. (Wildlife,...)

A tripod is also important if you want to take pictures of yourself, or if you want to photograph with a low shutter speed (dark space, night photography, waterfall,...). I use one from Sirui. For videos to post on  my social media channels with I use my iPhone. When I travel alone I take my Joby GripTight GorillaPod PRO 2 with me. It's a small, useful tripod that I can attach to anything. Do you want to learn more about how to take the best vacation photos? Then take a look at my e-book where I share all my photography tips. Would you like to be able to edit your holiday photos quickly and beautifully? Then my Lightroom presets are an absolute must-have.

I wish you an unforgettable time on your next vacation!

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