Zaanse Schans

Netherlands

The Zaanse Schans is an open air conservation area and museum, on the bank of the Zaan River, north of Zaandam in the Netherlands. It displays the traditional architecture of the area (green wooden houses) and has several functioning windmills and craftsman's workshops, which are open to visitors. Located next to it is the regional museum, the Zaans Museum.

The access for the open air museum is free, the wooden houses are mainly normal living houses. Most of the windmills can be visited for a small fee.

  • Saw Mill De Gekroonde Poelenburg, Kalverringdijk 27. Every second Saturday 10:00-17:00.
  • Paint Mill De Kat, Kalverringdijk 29, +31 75 621-0477. 09:00-17:00 daily.
  • Oil Mill De Zoeker, Kalverringdijk 31, +31 75 628-7942. Su-F 9:30-16:30.
  • Oil Mill De Bonte Hen, Kalverringdijk 39, +31 75 621-7452. Sa 10:00-16:00.
  • Saw Mill Het Jonge Schaap, Kalverringdijk 31a, +31 75 640-1377. Apr-Sep M-Sa 09:30-16:30, Oct-Mar M-F 09:30-16:30. €3, children 6-12 €1.50.

Saw Mill De Gekroonde Poelenburg, Kalverringdijk 27. Every second Saturday 10:00-17:00.

Paint Mill De Kat, Kalverringdijk 29, +31 75 621-0477. 09:00-17:00 daily.

Oil Mill De Zoeker, Kalverringdijk 31, +31 75 628-7942. Su-F 9:30-16:30.

Oil Mill De Bonte Hen, Kalverringdijk 39, +31 75 621-7452. Sa 10:00-16:00.

Saw Mill Het Jonge Schaap, Kalverringdijk 31a, +31 75 640-1377. Apr-Sep M-Sa 09:30-16:30, Oct-Mar M-F 09:30-16:30. €3, children 6-12 €1.50.

  • Zaans Museum and Verkade Paviljoen, Schansend 7, +31 75 681-0000. 10:00-17:00 daily. €7.50, children €4.
  • Grocery Museum Albert Heijn, Kalverringdijk 5, +31 75 616-9619. Old coffee grinders, coffee storage boxes and commercial posters from the history of the most famous Dutch grocery store chain. Free.
  • Bakery Museum In De Gecroonde Duijvekater, Zeilenmakerspad 4, +31 75 617-3522. €1, children €0.50.
  • Museum of the Dutch Clock, Kalverringdijk 3, +31 75 617-9769. Apr-Oct Tu-S 11:00-17:00, Nov-Mar Su 11:00-17:00. €6, children €4.
  • Distillery Museum De Tweekoppige Phoenix, Kraaienest 3, +31 75 635-3111. 09:00-18:00 daily.

Zaans Museum and Verkade Paviljoen, Schansend 7, +31 75 681-0000. 10:00-17:00 daily. €7.50, children €4.

Grocery Museum Albert Heijn, Kalverringdijk 5, +31 75 616-9619. Old coffee grinders, coffee storage boxes and commercial posters from the history of the most famous Dutch grocery store chain. Free.

Bakery Museum In De Gecroonde Duijvekater, Zeilenmakerspad 4, +31 75 617-3522. €1, children €0.50.

Museum of the Dutch Clock, Kalverringdijk 3, +31 75 617-9769. Apr-Oct Tu-S 11:00-17:00, Nov-Mar Su 11:00-17:00. €6, children €4.

Distillery Museum De Tweekoppige Phoenix, Kraaienest 3, +31 75 635-3111. 09:00-18:00 daily.

  • Cheese Farm De Catharina Hoeve, Zeilenmakerspad 5, +31 75 621-5820. 08:00-16:00 daily. A very small demonstration of cheese making, but it is basically one room with a big cheese blender. You can also pet the goats that wander in the back yard. Free.
  • Wooden Shoe Workshop De Zaanse Schans, Kraaienest 4, +31 75 617-7121. A small and interesting collection of many types of both old, original clogs (for every day life and special occasions) and new artistic version of clogs. Every ten minutes or so there is a live demonstration of modern machinery clog making. Free.
  • Pewter Foundry De Tinkoepel, Kalverringdijk 1, +31 75 617-6204. Jan-Mar Sa-Su 11:00-16:00, Apr Sa-Su 10:00-17:00, May-Oct 10:00-17:00 daily, Nov-Dec 11:00-16:00 daily.
  • Craft Centre De Saense Lelie, Zeilenmakerspad 7, +31 75 635-4622. 08:30-18:00 daily.
  • The Coopery, Kalverringdijk 27, +31 75 681-0000. €2, free entry with Zaans Museum ticket.

Cheese Farm De Catharina Hoeve, Zeilenmakerspad 5, +31 75 621-5820. 08:00-16:00 daily. A very small demonstration of cheese making, but it is basically one room with a big cheese blender. You can also pet the goats that wander in the back yard. Free.

Wooden Shoe Workshop De Zaanse Schans, Kraaienest 4, +31 75 617-7121. A small and interesting collection of many types of both old, original clogs (for every day life and special occasions) and new artistic version of clogs. Every ten minutes or so there is a live demonstration of modern machinery clog making. Free.

Pewter Foundry De Tinkoepel, Kalverringdijk 1, +31 75 617-6204. Jan-Mar Sa-Su 11:00-16:00, Apr Sa-Su 10:00-17:00, May-Oct 10:00-17:00 daily, Nov-Dec 11:00-16:00 daily.

Craft Centre De Saense Lelie, Zeilenmakerspad 7, +31 75 635-4622. 08:30-18:00 daily.

The Coopery, Kalverringdijk 27, +31 75 681-0000. €2, free entry with Zaans Museum ticket.

Zaandijk is the community lying between the railway line and the bridge to Zaanse Schans. The street Lagedijk, running by the windmill De Bleeke Dood, is mostly lined with attractive Dutch houses between Boschjesstraat at the south end and the canal Zaandijker Sluisloot at the north end.

  • De Bleeke Dood, Lagedijk 28 (at the bridge to Zaanse Schans, +31 75 628 5602. Friday 09.30 - 16.30. This windmill, named De Bleeke Dood (the pale dead), was built in 1656 and operated until 1931. In 2000, the mill was restored to operational condition, and grinds corn every Friday. It has a store selling its products.

De Bleeke Dood, Lagedijk 28 (at the bridge to Zaanse Schans, +31 75 628 5602. Friday 09.30 - 16.30. This windmill, named De Bleeke Dood (the pale dead), was built in 1656 and operated until 1931. In 2000, the mill was restored to operational condition, and grinds corn every Friday. It has a store selling its products.

Zaan houses

There are many gift shops selling much of the same touristy things. However there is a clog workshop with a store selling many designs and sizes. The cheesemaking workshop too has a shop selling a variety of cheeses.

The bakery In den Gecroonde Duyvekater sells typical sweet bread and self-made candies. The grocery store of Albert Heijn gives you an idea how the first grocery around 1900 was set up. This was the first store of Albert Heijn, which is the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands. They sell some tourist-oriented products of Albert Heijn.

  • Hip aan 't Glop, Kalverringdijk 21, +31 75 670-1290. Apr-Oct 10:00-17:00 daily, Nov-Mar Sa-Su 12:00-17:00. This building dates from the 19th century, but the porch is as old as from 1630. The building has functioned as a book shop annex library at the Rozengracht in Zaandam, but now is a design and gift shop with watches, bags, ceramics, jewellery and many other small products.

Hip aan 't Glop, Kalverringdijk 21, +31 75 670-1290. Apr-Oct 10:00-17:00 daily, Nov-Mar Sa-Su 12:00-17:00. This building dates from the 19th century, but the porch is as old as from 1630. The building has functioned as a book shop annex library at the Rozengracht in Zaandam, but now is a design and gift shop with watches, bags, ceramics, jewellery and many other small products.

There is also a smaller cafe, a fried food snack bar and many gift shops. Not to mention the cheese available on site.

  • De Hoop op d'Swarte Walvis, Kalverringdijk 15, +31 75 616-5629. 11:00-22:00 daily. €40.
  • De Kraai, Kraaienpad 1, +31 75 615-6403. Mar-Oct 09:00-18:00 daily, Nov-Dec, Feb 10:00-17:00 daily, Jan closed. This is an excellent pancake house in an authentic former granary. Their specialty are Dutch pancakes, but they also have a range of cakes, salads, soups, snacks, and drinks.

De Hoop op d'Swarte Walvis, Kalverringdijk 15, +31 75 616-5629. 11:00-22:00 daily. €40.

De Kraai, Kraaienpad 1, +31 75 615-6403. Mar-Oct 09:00-18:00 daily, Nov-Dec, Feb 10:00-17:00 daily, Jan closed. This is an excellent pancake house in an authentic former granary. Their specialty are Dutch pancakes, but they also have a range of cakes, salads, soups, snacks, and drinks.

  • Museum Cafe, Schansend 7 (at the Zaans Museum, +31 75 681-0000. 10:00-17:00 daily. Before or after heading out for the windmills you can have a cup of coffee or tea at the Museum Cafe. There is a beautiful view of the Kalverpolder and the lined-up windmills at the banks of the Zaan River.
  • Brouwerij Hoop, Lagedijk 71, 1544 BC Zaandijk, +31 75 207 7000.

Museum Cafe, Schansend 7 (at the Zaans Museum, +31 75 681-0000. 10:00-17:00 daily. Before or after heading out for the windmills you can have a cup of coffee or tea at the Museum Cafe. There is a beautiful view of the Kalverpolder and the lined-up windmills at the banks of the Zaan River.

Brouwerij Hoop, Lagedijk 71, 1544 BC Zaandijk, +31 75 207 7000.

There are many other interesting villages in Zaanstreek-Waterland, including Broek in Waterland, Edam, Marken, Monnickendam, and Volendam.