When you think of the Netherlands, you think of windmills. These have been used for centuries by the Dutch to grind flower, build ships, and to pump water to drain the land. Safe to say, a visit to the Netherlands isn’t complete without seeing some windmills. Luckily, there are still over a 1000 historic windmills in the Netherlands. One of the most famous places to view historic windmills is Zaandam, a small town in the Netherlands. In this blog post we’ll take you along on our trip to Zaandam, showing you everything you can do around here!
Why you should visit Zaandam
Zaandam is a charming town near Amsterdam. The town itself is known for it’s charming architecture, but the primary attractions in Zaandam is the Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum featuring well-preserved windmills, traditional Dutch houses, and artisan workshops. While Zaandam is not too big, a visit to Zaandam definitely makes for a fun half-day trip! Besides, it takes only 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaandam, and a train ticket costs €3.10. Definitely worth a visit in our opinion.
Our experience in Zaandam (Town)
While we are both Dutch, I have to admit that I had never been to Zaandam before and Chris had only been once. The city is a popular destination for tourists, something we immediately noticed upon arrival but weren’t bothered by.
As you head into the town, you will be immediately greeted by the iconic Zaanse green and blue wooden houses. The main sight is the famous Intell hotel Zaandam which exterior consists entirely of almost seventy Zaanse houses stacked on top of each other.
We sat down at a small restaurant for some much needed lunch, and walked around the town for a bit. The town is not too big. There is one main street along the canal that is fun to walk through. There are small bridges that connect the two sides of the street.
Our experience at the Zaanseschans
After walking around for a bit, we returned to the station to take the train to the Zaanseschans. In only 5 minutes we arrived at our next destination. You can also take the bus, which takes 15 minutes.
As we arrived at the Zaanse Schans station, our first thought was: “Wow, this town smells like chocolate!” The delightful aroma in the air is thanks to the two chocolate and biscuit companies located in Zaandam. For a detour and deeper dive into this sweet history, head to the Zaans Museum for the Verkade Experience. Here, you’ll step into an early 20th-century chocolate and biscuit factory, where the original machines are still running.
However, the primary attraction in the Zaanseschans is visiting the historical windmills, traditional Dutch houses, and workshops where you can see artisans at work, such as clog makers and cheese producers. These are only a short walk from the station, and on your way, you can already spot the windmills in the distance.
We really enjoyed exploring the different windmills. Each windmill has it’s own story and unique use: some saw wood or grind spices, cocoa, oil and paint. For a small fee, you can enter the windmills. You can also hop op on a boat and enjoy the views from the water.
There are also several traditional workshops that make for a fun visit. Curious about how clogs—the iconic wooden shoes of the Netherlands—are made? Visit the Zaanse Schans Clog Workshop to learn all about the process and even try on a pair. Another must-see is the Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm, where you can watch the cheese-making process and sample a variety of delicious Dutch cheeses.
