Perfect Day Trip from Amsterdam: How to get to Zaanse Schans
One of my favorite activities while traveling, is taking day trips. Day trips are quick escapes that allow you to experience a completely different place without the hassle of planning an entirely new trip. Zaanse Schans is less than 20 minutes from Amsterdam, yet it feels like a world away. This charming Dutch village is a living museum of Netherland’s past, with picturesque windmills, traditional wooden houses, and artisan workshops. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to get to Zaanse Schans and the best things to see and do for the perfect day trip.
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Where is Zaanse Schans?
Zaanse Schans is a charming, open-air museum that brings 18th- and 19th-century Dutch life to life. Located just 15 kilometers north of Amsterdam, this historic village offers a glimpse into the Netherlands’ rich heritage. Here, you’ll find iconic windmills, traditional wooden houses, artisan workshops, and museums that showcase how the Zaan district once thrived as a bustling hub of industry and craftsmanship.
How to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam
By Train
The easiest way to reach Zaanse Schans is by train. Take a direct train from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans (15-20 minutes). From there, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the village.
Trains run frequently, and tickets cost around €4-5 one way.
By Bus
Take Bus 800 or 801 from Amsterdam Centraal Station. Buses leave every 15 minutes. This journey takes a little over 20 minutes, dropping you off right at Zaanse Schans.
By Car
If you prefer to drive, the drive takes about 20-30 minutes, and there’s paid parking available near the entrance.
It is so easy to get to Zaanse Schans by public transportation, we opted to take the train.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN ZAANSE SCHANS
1. Visit the iconic windmills
No trip to Zaanse Schans is complete without admiring its famous windmills, which played a crucial role in the Netherlands’ industrial past. While the village itself is open all year round, a handful of windmills remain, and only a few of these are are open to the public, of which only two are still operating. Most of the windmills are only open to visitors April through October. Windmills you can visit include:
- De Kat – The only remaining windmill in the world that still produces paint pigments.
- Het Jonge Schaap – A reconstructed sawmill that showcases traditional Dutch woodworking techniques.
- De Zoeker – An oil mill – open only on Saturdays June, July, August.
- De Huisman – spice warehouse
- De Bonte Hen – An active oil mill that has survived lightning strikes.
For a small fee, you can enter these windmills and watch the intricate machinery in action. Tickets can be purchased on site, or you can get the Ticket Zaanse Schans for €29.50 which includes the open mills as well as several other activities below.
2. Cheese Tasting at Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm
One thing you can’t miss when visiting the Netherlands, is cheese. Visit Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm to sample and learn about traditional Dutch cheeses.
Entry is FREE.
The cheese makers, dressed in traditional costumes, will show demonstrations of every step of cheese production, and you can sample all different types of cheese made. You’ll find yourself at the shop inside, where you can purchase all the delicious cheeses you’ve just tried.
3. Watch Wooden Clogs Being Made
At the Clog Workshop, you can see craftsmen making the world famous Dutch wooden shoes from a block of wood and a chisel.
Entry to the workshop and museum are FREE.
4. Experience the workshops
In addition to the cheese shop, clog making workshop and chocolate factory, there are the following workshops where you can observe handicrafts being made.
- Tiemstra Coopery – barrel making
- The Weaver’s House – sails for boats and windmills
- Blik op Cacao – make your own Dutch chocolate
- Liqueur distillery de Tweekoppige Phoenix – liqueurs distillery
- The Tinkoepel pewter foundry – one of the last pewter foundries in the Netherlands
5. Visit the Museums
There are several museums to choose from when visiting Zaanse Schans. I don’t think you have to see all of them, but choose one or two that interests you the most. Check this page for open dates and hours as all of them vary. Some of the more notable ones include:
- Zaans Museum and Verkade Experience – history of biscuits and chocolate
- Windmill Museum
- The Zaanse Time Museum (clock museum)
- Bakery Museum de Gecroonde Duyvekater
- Jisper House – fisherman’s cottage
How much time to spend at Zaanse Schans?
I would recommend at least two hours to explore the area – walking or biking. If you plan on visiting one (or few) of the windmills, museums or a workshop, plan for 3-4 hours.
Self guided tours vs organized tours
Zaanse Schans can definitely be explored on your own easily. Their website provides an interactive map that includes all the sites to see, including the windmills, museums and workshops.
However, if you enjoy a live guide taking you around and explaining things on a guided tour, this tour that includes bus transportation from and to Amsterdam, cheese tasting, and clog making workshop is highly rated.
Getting to and exploring Zaanse Schans is easy to do on your own. However, if you want to add a few more day trip stops to the day, check out these tours that include other popular day trips such as Edam, Volendam, Marken, Giethoorn or Keukenhof from Amsterdam.
Final Thoughts: Is Zaanse Schans Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! Visiting Zaanse Schans was one of the highlights of my Amsterdam trip. In just a few short hours you can experience traditional Dutch culture, admire windmills, taste cheese, and watch wooden clogs being made. Not to mention, the scenery especially if you visit on a sunny day, is incredibly picturesque. Make sure to add Zaanse Schans to your Amsterdam itinerary for a truly unforgettable experience!
USE MY CHECKLIST TO PLAN YOUR TRIP!
- Flights
- Search for the best flights on Skyscanner to get to your destination
- Search for the best flights on Skyscanner to get to your destination
- Hotels
- I use Booking.com for most accommodations
- For Asia, I prefer Agoda as they have the most competitive prices. I also compare prices on Klook (you can use my code MINYWANDER for a discount so see if that’s a better deal)
- For vacation rentals, especially for larger families, consider VRBO
- Transportation
- Trains & Ferries – book on Omio
- Rental Cars – I usually book on DiscoverCars
- For reliable airport pickups, use Welcome Pickups
- For Asia I use Klook (code MINYWANDER for a discount) – Japan trains for example
- Activities & Tours
- GetYourGuide and Viator are my go to’s.
- For Asia, I prefer Klook as there are more options – use code MINYWANDER
- E-sim
- Stay connected with Airalo E-sims.
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