Zaandam is a Dutch city well known for its Zaanse Schans – a recreated village with iconic Dutch windmills and wooden houses. Located just north of Amsterdam, Zaandam, along with Zaanse Schans, is often considered as one of the best day trip destinations from Amsterdam.
I would recommend visiting Zaandam and Zaanse Schans in one day, as they are very close to each other and together offer plenty of things to see and do in a day. Take a train to Zaandam (less than 15 min ride from Amsterdam Central station), spend a couple of hours in the city center, then rent a bike and cycle to Zaanse Schans (20 min by bike from Zaandam).
Zaandam
If you arrive in Zaandam by train, start your walk from Stadhuisplein – a Town Hall Square surrounded by colourful wooden houses. Visit the tourist information center and its small souvenir shop, the Zaan Store, which offers local produce and gifts.
We really liked all the cute houses and quirky architecture at Stadhuisplein. One of the most remarkable of them is the building of the Inntel Hotel.
After Stadhuisplein, continue across the pedestrian bridge and head down towards Gedempte Gracht.
Gedempte Gracht is a lovely pedestrian and shopping street, with a mix of old and modern architecture, many shops and a few restaurants. The street follows the canal, which has several small bridges crossing it. There is even a waterfall beneath one of the pedestrian bridges near the Inntel Hotel.
When you arrive at the end of Gedempte Gracht (or technically, the beginning of the street based on the house numbers), you will find a fresh seafood kiosk – Vishandel de Boer. We recommend trying the traditional Dutch dish, ‘Haring’ – lightly brined herring sprinkled with chopped onions. (Read more about Dutch foods in 20 Foods to try in the Netherlands)
There is also a small playground with water features close the fish kiosk. If you are travelling with children, it could be a nice short stop for them to play while you enjoy Dutch herring.
De Dam Central Square
After Gedempte Gracht, walk to the central square – De Dam. It’s a nice spot to enjoy a drink and lunch at one of the local cafes or restaurants.
The name of the square, De Dam (‘The Dam’), originates from the actual dam on the Zaan River, which is located just outside the square. You can walk there to enjoy views of the river and residential houses across it.
Besides the cafes at De Dam, you will find Czar Peter Monument in the middle of the square. The monument, which dates back to 1909, commemorates the stay of Russian Czar (or Tsar) Peter in the city of Zaandam. Czar Peter visited Zaandam to learn about shipbuilding from Dutch masters. Hence, the statue shows Tsar Peter carving a ship.
The Czar Peter House
As mentioned earlier, Czar Peter I of Russia visited Zaandam in 1697 to learn about shipbuilding from Dutch masters. During his visit, he stayed in the house of blacksmith Gerrit Kist for seven days. This stay made the small wooden house famous.
You can visit The Czar Peter House for a small fee. The wooden house is now one of the oldest wooden houses in the Netherlands. However, it no longer stands under the open sky but is instead enclosed within a larger stone building.
Zaanse Schans
After visiting Zaandam, you can either take a train or ride a bike to Zaanse Schans. It will take you 20 to 25 minutes either way.
Zaanse Schans is a small Dutch village located outside the city of Zaandam, featuring typical 18th-19th century Dutch wooden houses, workshops, and windmills. The village was recreated in the late 20th century by relocating old wooden buildings from around the region to this place. Zaanse Schans is a very popular tourist destination, as it makes a perfect one day trip from Amsterdam.
Museums and windmills of Zaanse Schans
You can walk around the village and visit its workshops, cafes, and shops free of charge. However, to enter one of the many museums or windmills on the site, you will have to pay an entrance fee. Alternatively, you can purchase a Zaanse Schans Card, which includes access to some of the museums and windmills.
There are many windmills in Zaanse Schans, most of which are fully operational and open to visitors. There is a windmill for making oil, a wood sawing windmill, a windmill for milling flour and spices, and even a windmill for making paint. Some of the windmills are original structures, dating back as far as the 17th century. Others are replicas of old windmills but are still beautiful and authentically designed buildings.
There are several museums in Zaanse Schans, such as Albert Heijn Museum Shop, the Zaanse Time Museum, the Windmill Museum, and more.
Free workshops
We really enjoyed visiting the Clog Workshop and watching how clogs are made (entry to the workshop is free). Clogs, or Klompen in Dutch, are traditional Dutch shoes made from wood.
It was really interesting to watch a brief demonstration and hear about how Dutch klompen are traditionally made. There is a small exhibition of different types of clogs right in the shop. You can, of course, purchase a pair of wooden shoes as well.
There is a wide variety of styles and sizes in the store. If buying clogs for yourself or as a gift, remember they are meant to be worn on thick socks!
You can visit other workshops in the village, such as Weaver’s House, Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm, or even a Liqueur Distillery.
Alongside the museums and workshops, there are several shops in Zaanse Schans village where you can taste and buy cheese, souvenirs, and other Dutch products.
Lastly, visit the Zaans Museum – not only to learn the history of the Zaan region but also to enjoy its Verkade experience. Verkade is a Dutch chocolate and confectionery company based in Zaandam.
Alternatively, if you prefer hassle-free travel in a group, you can always join one of the bus tours to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam:
After visiting Zaandam and Zaanse Schans, why not go to other Dutch towns? Check our post on 10 Places to See in the Netherlands (beyond Amsterdam).
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I want to go here. Sadly the Netherlands is shut to Uk travellers and I already have cancelled a holiday there, These towns are so cool.
I had a few cancelled trips myself due to border closures :-/ But hopefully some time soon the Netherlands will open again and you will be able to visit it!
That is very cool. I like the houses stacked on houses and the little stream in between buildings. I wish they built like that more in America. Thanks for sharing.
~Michelle
Zaanse Schans sounds like a lovely place and the clog workshop sounds very interesting along with all the other things like the distillery cheese making visits. These are the sorts of little towns we would love
Those clogs are adorable! I must visit these towns!
I had only seen pictures of those places so far, so it is nice to get more background information. Enjoyed reading this post and lovely pictures, too.
When it comes to Holland, I’ve only been to Amsterdam. I wish to visit other cities too. Thank you for sharing some information about this small lovely town.
I love The Netherlands and have visited many time, but not to these places. They are so picturesque!
Lovely town! I live on a small touristy town so I know the feeling.
Oh these look amazing! I am planning to visit the Netherlands later this year, so this is giving me some inspiration on what to add aside from Amsterdam! Thanks for sharing x