About 15 kilometres north of the Canals of Amsterdam is the beautiful windmill village Zaanse Schans. It is a unique village in Holland, full of wooden houses, windmills and barns. You will experience Holland in the year 1850. The Zaanse Schans is an outlying area that is freely accessible. The village is home of many windmills, museums, shops and restaurants. It is one of the most popular villages in the Netherlands and a short distance from Amsterdam. Zaanse Schans is located in the Zaanstreek region.
Windmills & museums at the Zaanse Schans
The village of Zaanse Schans is famous for its traditional windmills. You can also go inside several windmills to take a look. There are also several museums in the village, which gives you a good impression of the old Holland when you visit the Zaanse Schans. Below we have listed the best attractions to visit in the village of Zaanse Schans.
World of Windmills Museum
World of Windmills is a new museum dedicated to the story of traditional windmills in the Netherlands. Through stories told by different people from the past, you will learn all about the mills and the people who worked with them. When you buy a ticket for the World of Windmills museum, you also get access to the windmills: Sawmill Het Jonge Schaap and Paintmill De Kat.
- Opening hours: Every day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entrance fee: Adults (18+) € 17.50 Children (4-17) € 12.50 (Windmills Museum is included in the Zaanse Schans Ticket.
- Reservation: Book your Zaanse Schans Ticket
Visit a windmill
There are many windmills in the Zaanse Schans. A number of them can also be visited. Apart from being beautiful to look at, the mills also played an important role in the history of the Netherlands. The following mills can be visited:
Windmill De Kat (Paintmill)
At paint mill De Kat you will discover how mills used to contribute to the production of paint. At this mill, you can also go upstairs and enjoy the magnificent view from the mill of the other windmills of the Zaanse Schans.
- Opening hours: Every day 9 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.
- Entrance fee: Adults (18+) € 17.50 Children (4-17) € 12.50 (Windmill de Kat is included in the Zaanse Schans Ticket.
Windmill Het Jonge Schaap (Sawmill)
Windmill Het Jonge Schaap
See the beautiful sawmill Het Jonge Schaap and see the power that mills have. The mill cuts logs with the free energy of the wind.
- Opening hours: Every day 9.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.
- Entrance fee: Adults (18+) € 17.50 Children (4-17) € 12.50 (Windmill Het Jonge Schaap is included in the Zaanse Schans Ticket.
Zaans Museum (including Chocolate & Biscuit Factory)
The Zaans Museum is a modern museum where you can experience the story of the Zaan region. The rise of industry in Holland and the role that the mills and the river Zaan played in this. The museum also has a section dedicated to the Verkade chocolate and biscuit factory.
- Opening hours: Every day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entrance fee: Adults (18+) € 17.50 Children (4-17) € 12.50 (Zaans Museum is included in the Zaanse Schans Ticket.
- Reservation: Book your Zaanse Schans ticket here
Cheese Farm & Factory Catharina Hoeve
Cheese farm Catharina Hoeve in the Zaanse Schans is a cheese museum and cheese shop in one. Learn everything about cheese making in the museum and taste the most delicious cheeses.
- Opening hours: October to March 9.00 – 17.00 April to September 9.00 – 18.00
- Entrance fee: Free
Clog Factory & Museum
In the clog museum you will learn more about the famous wooden shoes from Holland. You can also see live how these Dutch icons are made.
- Opening hours: October to March 9.00 – 17.00 April to September 9.00 – 18.00
- Entrance fee: Free
Weaver’s House
In the Weaver’s House on the Zaanse Schans, you will discover everything about the old Dutch craft of sail and mill cloth weaving. In the eighteenth century, two families lived in the house amidst five looms.
- Opening hours: Every day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entrance fee: Adults (18+) € 17.50 Children (4-17) € 12.50 (Zaans Museum is included in the Zaanse Schans Ticket.
De Kuiperij
On the Zaanse Schans you will find De Kuiperij. Here you can learn about the old craft of barrel cooperage.
- Opening hours: Every day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entrance fee: Adults (18+) € 17.50 Children (4-17) € 12.50 (Zaans Museum is included in the Zaanse Schans Ticket.
Opening hours Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is a real village and therefore open all year round. The various activities do of course have opening hours but are usually open all year round.
Prices and discounts for tickets & Zaanse Schans Card
If you just want to walk through the Zaanse Schans and enjoy the old Dutch village, then you don’t have to pay an entrance fee. Would you like to visit a museum, a windmill or another activity at the Zaanse schans? Then you will have to buy separate tickets at the venue’s. We recommend to buy the Zaanse Schans Card which includes the best attractions and gives you high discount. You also get a handy map with a lot of explanations about the buildings and windmills. There is also a handy app about the history of the Zaanse Schans.
Zaanse Schans Card
| Price | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | € 17.50 | Buy online |
| Kids (4-17) | € 12.50 | Buy online |
Directions to the Zaanse Schans
The Zaanse Schans is located just 30 minutes from the city center of Amsterdam. For directions to Zaanse Schans you can choose about the following options:
By Car
Are you coming by car? Use the address Schansend 7 in Zaandam in your navigation. There is a paid parking area.
By Public Transport
The Zaanse Schans is easily accessible by public transport.
Bus
Rnet bus 391 goes from Amsterdam CS station to the Zaanse Schans stop every 15 minutes. The journey takes forty minutes. You can use travel ticket of the Dutch Countryside Card.
In July and August, Rnet bus line 817 connects Zaanse Schans with Volendam/Edam. The bus also operates on the weekends of Ascension and Pentecost. You can use travel ticket of the Dutch Countryside Card.
Train
The nearest train station is Zaandijk – Zaanse Schans. This station can be reached by slow train from Amsterdam Central Station in 17 minutes. From here it is a 15-minute walk to the Zaanse Schans. You can use travel ticket of the Dutch Countryside Card.
Plan your journey by public transport via 9292.
Guided day trip to the Countryside from Amsterdam.
Hotels near Zaanse Schans?
In and around the Zaanse Schans, many (small-scale) hotels and B&Bs can be found. Check the current availability at our partner Booking.com
Booking.comVideo Zaanse Schans
Watch this great video to experience Zaanse Schans village at home.
FAQs De Zaanse Schans
You will walk through the Zaanse Schans Village in about 2 hours. If you also want to visit museums and/or windmills, a visit will take between 4 and 6 hours.
In the village of the Zaanse Schans there are 10 windmills, each with its own function. Many of the mills can be visited (for an entrance fee). In the windmills you will learn all about how the Dutch used to use the power of the windmills for various Dutch crafts.
Address Zaanse Schans
- Zaanse Schans
- Schansend 7
- 1509AW Zaandam
Dutch Countryside map
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