If you’re wondering whether it is worth it to take a day trip to Zaanse Schans, the short answer is: YES.

In fact, it might be your chance to get to know the fascinating Dutch culture, learn a thing or two, taste delicious food and have an unforgettable day. We loved it so much that we visited it THREE times! (I can never get enough of peaceful windmills).

This small village is situated on the banks of the river Zaan; its canals are surrounded by colourful houses with lovely gardens. All this is accompanied by the presence of several working windmills (which you can even visit from the inside and climb to the top!).

What I loved most about this village was the feeling of being in another time: Zaanse Schans, with its picturesque canals, beautiful bridges and old traditional shops, seems to have stopped centuries ago.

It’s not hard to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam, and you have several options.

There are many tours departing from the capital to the Dutch village – this option is particularly good if you’re planning on visiting the museums too, as it would combine different activities for a cheap price. Check out this half-day tour from Amsterdam or this full-day tour which also includes a trip to Edam and Marken!

Another option is to get there by train or bus. Take the train from Amsterdam Centraal, direction Uitgeest, and stop at Zaandijk Zaanse Schans (about 7 for a return ticket). If you prefer the bus instead, take the number 391 from Amsterdam Centraal and stop right in front of the park (ticket for 90 minutes about 6.50).

If you wish to get there by car or campervan, it is a 20 minutes drive from Amsterdam. However, remember that the capital has a big Low Emission Zone! We went to Zaanse Schans with our van and managed to park for free only 5 minutes walking from the main attractions, but we didn’t drive from Amsterdam. That is totally up to you!

Zaanse Schans is obviously famous for its wooden windmills, most of which are still functional today. Just imagine that, in the area, there were once more than 1.000 windmills, essential for the Dutch economy!

It’s not surprise that one of the best things to do in the village is to visit the windmills from the inside and to climb up to the top! When we were there (July 2022), there were two main windmills that could be visited from the inside, and the price was €5 each. The unique experience is 100% worth it!

Most of them produce (still nowadays) paint pigments, peanut oil and flour. And you can also buy these things in the shops inside the mills! I personally bought and used the colours, (made crushing different minerals) and they were insanely vibrant.

Watching the windmills at work is really impressive, and climbing to the top to observe these giants closer it’s just mind-blowing.

In the village there are many interesting museums free to visit, like the clogs museum (where you can understand a bit of the village history and see how clogs are made) and the cheese farm, where you can also taste delicious cheese! All the cheese is packed for travelling, so feel free to bring some with you (we did!  🤤).

The museums and workshops will give you the chance to see how life was in Zaanse Schans before.

If you wish to know more about the Zaan region, then you should definitely visit the Zaans Museum. A visit to this museum is highly suggested as inside you will also find the Verkade Experience – showing the history of the chocolate and biscuit maker, with some original old machines!

The Zaans Museum also includes the Jisper House (a fisherman’s cottage), the Weaver’s House (where you can see a weaver at work) and the Tiemstra Cooperage (to admire how wooden barrels were made).

The shops are also all worth a visit (but I warn you: you’ll not resist the impulse of buying something). Walking past all the picturesque cottages will inevitably take you back in time, I can assure you!

Don’t miss a visit to the first original Albert Heijn shop (one of the most famous grocery stores in the Netherlands) – there is no entrance fee.

If you want to avoid the headache of getting there, and enjoy all the Dutch countryside has to offer, there are numerous combined tours that will make you explore several Dutch villages, creating the perfect day trip!

Have a look below:

Although Zaanse Schans is a very popular destinations, you do not need to book in advance unless you’re taking a tour. Many shops and museums are closed during the low season – however, it’s still worth a visit (you would probably also enjoy it more when there are less tourists!).

All the shops and museums are open every day from 9AM to 5PM, so make sure to visit between these hours. Plan at last 3 to 4 hours to visit everything without rushing. If you have the time, take a walk in Zaanse Schans also at sunset – we did it, and it was amazing. Although the shops will be closed, it’s the perfect time for a relaxed walk next to the windmills: at that time there are no people around, the view is majestic and everything is quiet and even more enjoyable!

Here is the last tip for you: if you’re planning on seeing a windmill from the inside and the museum, I highly suggest you buy this city card. This includes many museums, all the windmills and the workshops, and a discount for the parking, saving you tons of money!

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