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Windmills · Zaandam, Holanda Setentrional
Zaanse Schans
Neighbourhood of wooden houses and industrial windmills on the banks of the Zaan, assembled from 1961 with buildings brought from across the region; access to the streets is free.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Zaanse Schans
The Zaanse Schans is a neighbourhood of Zaandam made up of historic wooden buildings brought from various points in the Zaan region. The idea arose after the Second World War to save the area's wooden heritage; from 1961 houses, warehouses and windmills were transported by road and water to the Kalverpolder, a polder (land below water level drained by dikes) on the east bank of the river. The name comes from a fort (schans) erected there in 1574 against the Spanish troops.
The Zaan region was one of the first industrial areas in Western Europe, with hundreds of windmills that sawed wood, ground spices and pigments and pressed seeds to produce oil. On the riverbank are some of those working mills, such as De Kat, which grinds pigments for paint; De Zoeker, an oil mill; De Huisman, a spice mill; and Het Jonge Schaap, a sawmill. Some are open to visitors.
Among the green houses there are workshops and small museums: a clog factory, a cheese dairy, a tin workshop and a bakery museum, as well as the Zaans Museum. The streets are freely accessible; museums and mills charge separate admission, and there is a combined ticket for several of them.
The houses are inhabited. The mills turn when there is wind and work, with no guaranteed schedule.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 2 to 4 hours, depending on the number of mills and museums visited.
Best time
Early in the morning, before the arrival of tour groups, and preferably on weekdays. July and August are the busiest months. The windmills often have reduced hours in winter; check before you go.
How to get there
NS train from Amsterdam Centraal to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans in about 20 minutes, then about a 15-minute walk, crossing the bridge over the Zaan. There are buses from Amsterdam Centraal to the entrance of the Zaanse Schans. Those driving pay daily parking, and space is limited.
Tip
If you plan to enter more than one mill or museum, compare the combined ticket with single-entry tickets. The houses are lived in: do not enter the gardens. The mills' stairs are steep.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Zaanse Schans
Do you have to pay to enter the Zaanse Schans?
Access to the neighbourhood's streets is free. Museums and windmills charge admission, and there is a combined ticket for several of them. Parking is also paid.
Which windmills can you visit inside?
Some windmills open to visitors, including De Kat, a paint mill, and Het Jonge Schaap, a sawmill. Check which ones are open on the day.
What is the nearest train station?
Zaandijk Zaanse Schans, about a 15-minute walk, on the other side of the river Zaan.
Do the windmills turn every day?
No guarantee. They turn when there is enough wind and work is taking place.