Tour of Zaanse Schans
Netherlands best-kept Secret
There are lots of visitors to the Netherlands who dream of nothing but visiting the quiet countryside, far from all the hustle and bustle of the Amsterdam city life. These visitors flock the Zaanse Schans area of the Dutch town of Zaandam. If you wish to get an accurate impression of life in Holland in the 17th and 18th centuries, visit the Zaanse Schans. Everyone knows that Amsterdam is a beautiful place but Zaanse Schans is the best-kept secret I must tell you about. A little paradise really close to the city, Zaanse Schans is about 15 mins by train and around 30 mins by car from the city center.
The Zaanse Schans is an open-air museum and conservation area, on the east bank of the Zaan River, which is north of Zaandam in the Netherlands. With its green wooden houses, it displays the traditional architecture of the area and has several functioning windmills and craftsman’s workshops, which are open to visitors. The Zaanse Schans is also home to the Zaans Museum.
An idealized re-creation of a Dutch village from the late 19th century, Zaanse Schans remains one of the Netherlands’ most popular and most visited tourists attractions. And since it is quite large, it never feels crowded, even in the high (summer) season. It’s a UNESCO heritage for its beauty.
There is a lot to see and do. Stroll past the typical Dutch bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh bread, or take a look at the workshops where clogs are made. You shouldn’t miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry and the impressive array of windmills. We took a tour of the town and it started with a little walk through the houses up to the first windmill. Here a guide will show you how exactly a windmill works. The second stop, a cheese shop, is where you will learn how the Netherlander cheese was born. You will even get to taste, and of course, bring some home. The third windmill is the greedies’ homeland: you will learn all about Dutch chocolate, and create some delicious hot chocolate!
The last stop is the house of clogs! You will be shown how a clog is made from a single piece of wood. It's amazing and once the tour is finished, you can sit and see how beautiful this place is.
The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, barns, and workshops. Make a cycling or sailing trip, browse the shops or treat yourself at the pancake restaurant, but definitely, don't miss it!