Zaanse Schans Windmills Tours
Imagine windmills spinning, cheese tasting like heaven, and watching a clog-maker turn wood into shoes—Zaanse Schans has it all! This open-air museum lets you walk through Dutch history, with stunning canals and cozy green houses all around. It’s like stepping back in time, but with better snacks!
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Short on time? This 3.5-hour tour covers windmills, local cheese, and Dutch village charm with comfy transport from the heart of Amsterdam.
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Follow your guide in English, Spanish, French, or German as you stroll through Zaanse Schans & admire its classic windmills and postcard-perfect charm.
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Watch craftspeople shape wood into clogs at a working workshop and learn how this traditional footwear became a national icon in the Netherlands.
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Take a peek inside a working cheese farm, see the process in action, and taste delicious varieties of Dutch cheese made on site.
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Select a longer 5-hour guided tour with more flexibility, bonus free time at key locations, and expert guidance in your preferred language.
More details
-
Short on time? This 3.5-hour tour covers windmills, local cheese, and Dutch village charm with comfy transport from the heart of Amsterdam.
-
Follow your guide in English, Spanish, French, or German as you stroll through Zaanse Schans & admire its classic windmills and postcard-perfect charm.
-
Watch craftspeople shape wood into clogs at a working workshop and learn how this traditional footwear became a national icon in the Netherlands.
-
Take a peek inside a working cheese farm, see the process in action, and taste delicious varieties of Dutch cheese made on site.
-
Select a longer 5-hour guided tour with more flexibility, bonus free time at key locations, and expert guidance in your preferred language.
10% off
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Go on a guided cultural journey to Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken, filled with windmills, wooden houses, and authentic Dutch experiences.
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Sit back and relax with round-trip coach transport from Amsterdam, complete with free Wi-Fi to stay connected or share scenic moments on the go.
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Select from English or Spanish guided tours, ensuring a more comfortable and informative cultural experience in the language you're most familiar with.
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Visit postcard-perfect windmills and experience the art of cheese-making firsthand—an interactive and flavorful glimpse into Dutch heritage and rural charm.
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Opt for an all-inclusive tour featuring a 30-min boat ride, a working windmill visit, a clog-making demo, and a Marker’s traditional house.
More details
-
Go on a guided cultural journey to Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken, filled with windmills, wooden houses, and authentic Dutch experiences.
-
Sit back and relax with round-trip coach transport from Amsterdam, complete with free Wi-Fi to stay connected or share scenic moments on the go.
-
Select from English or Spanish guided tours, ensuring a more comfortable and informative cultural experience in the language you're most familiar with.
-
Visit postcard-perfect windmills and experience the art of cheese-making firsthand—an interactive and flavorful glimpse into Dutch heritage and rural charm.
-
Opt for an all-inclusive tour featuring a 30-min boat ride, a working windmill visit, a clog-making demo, and a Marker’s traditional house.
-
Choose a departure time that works for you & enjoy round-trip luxury coach transportation, making your adventure simple & stress-free from start to finish.
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Love walking slow or fast? At Zaanse Schans, you’re free to explore at your own pace and enjoy the village just how you like it.
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Navigate Zaanse Schans confidently with a free map, digital walking app, and helpful tips from locals that add rich context to every stop.
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From spinning drills in the clog shop to bites of rich cheese, this Zaanse Schans trip brings hands-on Dutch traditions to life.
-
Upgrade to see more on a 3.5-hour English-guided Zaanse Schans tour, plus personalized commentary to gain more insights.
More details
-
Choose a departure time that works for you & enjoy round-trip luxury coach transportation, making your adventure simple & stress-free from start to finish.
-
Love walking slow or fast? At Zaanse Schans, you’re free to explore at your own pace and enjoy the village just how you like it.
-
Navigate Zaanse Schans confidently with a free map, digital walking app, and helpful tips from locals that add rich context to every stop.
-
From spinning drills in the clog shop to bites of rich cheese, this Zaanse Schans trip brings hands-on Dutch traditions to life.
-
Upgrade to see more on a 3.5-hour English-guided Zaanse Schans tour, plus personalized commentary to gain more insights.
25% off
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Take a half-day trip from Amsterdam with round-trip transport to explore Dutch windmills and fishing villages in Zaanse Schans and Volendam.
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Hop on a comfy single-deck bus & hear stories about the Zaan region in your chosen language, with guides available in English, French, German, or Spanish.
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Walk among windmills, watch clog artists at work, and sample cheeses made using old family recipes in the charming village of Zaanse Schans.
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Volendam offers history and charm, with church visits, lakeside walks, and the fascinating traditions of the town’s long-standing fishing industry.
More details
-
Take a half-day trip from Amsterdam with round-trip transport to explore Dutch windmills and fishing villages in Zaanse Schans and Volendam.
-
Hop on a comfy single-deck bus & hear stories about the Zaan region in your chosen language, with guides available in English, French, German, or Spanish.
-
Walk among windmills, watch clog artists at work, and sample cheeses made using old family recipes in the charming village of Zaanse Schans.
-
Volendam offers history and charm, with church visits, lakeside walks, and the fascinating traditions of the town’s long-standing fishing industry.
20% off
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This half-day trip covers Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken with windmill views, quaint harbors, and artisan shops—all in 6.5 hours.
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Includes English or Spanish guide, round-trip from Amsterdam by bus, and entrance to cheese and clog workshops in all four scenic Dutch villages.
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Watch the blades turn on centuries-old windmills at Zaanse, then taste fresh cheese and see traditional Dutch shoes being crafted at Volendam.
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Visit Edam’s town square, home to historic cheese market, followed by the exploration of Marken’s fishermen’s houses near the former Zuiderzee.
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Want a slower pace? Choose the extended 8-hours trip for extra time at each village, perfect for leisurely sightseeing and more in-depth experiences.
More details
-
This half-day trip covers Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken with windmill views, quaint harbors, and artisan shops—all in 6.5 hours.
-
Includes English or Spanish guide, round-trip from Amsterdam by bus, and entrance to cheese and clog workshops in all four scenic Dutch villages.
-
Watch the blades turn on centuries-old windmills at Zaanse, then taste fresh cheese and see traditional Dutch shoes being crafted at Volendam.
-
Visit Edam’s town square, home to historic cheese market, followed by the exploration of Marken’s fishermen’s houses near the former Zuiderzee.
-
Want a slower pace? Choose the extended 8-hours trip for extra time at each village, perfect for leisurely sightseeing and more in-depth experiences.
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Go on a full-day tour from Amsterdam to two Dutch villages: Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans, with round-trip transfers, a small group of 8, and an English-speaking guide.
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Discover Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum famous for its traditional windmills, green wooden houses, and authentic 18th/19th-century village charm.
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Enjoy a guided visit to a clogs and cheese factory, complete with cheese tasting and insights into Dutch craftsmanship.
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Cruise Giethoorn’s peaceful canals in a small, private, open-top electric boat—enjoy the scenery or even try steering the boat yourself.
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Experience the unique “Dutch Venice” lifestyle, where charming thatched-roof farmhouses and wooden bridges line car-free canals.
More details
-
Go on a full-day tour from Amsterdam to two Dutch villages: Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans, with round-trip transfers, a small group of 8, and an English-speaking guide.
-
Discover Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum famous for its traditional windmills, green wooden houses, and authentic 18th/19th-century village charm.
-
Enjoy a guided visit to a clogs and cheese factory, complete with cheese tasting and insights into Dutch craftsmanship.
-
Cruise Giethoorn’s peaceful canals in a small, private, open-top electric boat—enjoy the scenery or even try steering the boat yourself.
-
Experience the unique “Dutch Venice” lifestyle, where charming thatched-roof farmhouses and wooden bridges line car-free canals.
15% off
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Explore Amsterdam’s museums, landmarks & cruises at free or discounted rates and access unlimited public transport with the I Amsterdam city card.
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Save big at 70+ attractions, including popular sights like Rijksmuseum, the Heineken Experience, Madame Tussauds & more.
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Hit all the spots on your bucket list by riding seamlessly on the GVB public transport, including buses, trams, metros, and ferries.
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Enjoy a free canal cruise from numerous spots across the city or rent a bike for free and discover Amsterdam at your own pace.
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Choose between 24/48/72/96/120-hour passes, skip long ticketing queues with just one digital pass & upgrade to include audio guides.
More details
-
Explore Amsterdam’s museums, landmarks & cruises at free or discounted rates and access unlimited public transport with the I Amsterdam city card.
-
Save big at 70+ attractions, including popular sights like Rijksmuseum, the Heineken Experience, Madame Tussauds & more.
-
Hit all the spots on your bucket list by riding seamlessly on the GVB public transport, including buses, trams, metros, and ferries.
-
Enjoy a free canal cruise from numerous spots across the city or rent a bike for free and discover Amsterdam at your own pace.
-
Choose between 24/48/72/96/120-hour passes, skip long ticketing queues with just one digital pass & upgrade to include audio guides.
-
No struggling with translations—your Spanish-speaking guide makes Dutch history easy and fun, from windmills to wooden shoes!
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Perfect if you’re short on time! In three hours, you’ll see windmills, visit cheese and clog workshops, and be back in Amsterdam before you know it.
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Forget about planning transport. Round-trip transfers from Amsterdam make getting to Zaanse Schans easy!
-
Ever seen a shoe made from scratch? Watch skilled craftsmen turn wood into classic Dutch clogs using traditional techniques at this clog-making factory.
-
Say cheese! Visit a traditional farm, see how Dutch gouda is made, and taste delicious samples before grabbing a wedge to take home.
More details
-
No struggling with translations—your Spanish-speaking guide makes Dutch history easy and fun, from windmills to wooden shoes!
-
Perfect if you’re short on time! In three hours, you’ll see windmills, visit cheese and clog workshops, and be back in Amsterdam before you know it.
-
Forget about planning transport. Round-trip transfers from Amsterdam make getting to Zaanse Schans easy!
-
Ever seen a shoe made from scratch? Watch skilled craftsmen turn wood into classic Dutch clogs using traditional techniques at this clog-making factory.
-
Say cheese! Visit a traditional farm, see how Dutch gouda is made, and taste delicious samples before grabbing a wedge to take home.
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- Situated on the banks of the Zaan River, Zaanse Schans is a bucolic Dutch village that is so well preserved that it has become an open-air museum. Dotted with working windmills and historical houses from the 17th, 18th and 19th century, Zaanse Schans is a scenic treat to Netherland’s industrial and domestic past.Once home to over 600 active windmills and factories, this idyllic town currently boasts a variety of unique activities including a bakery museum, clog museum and workshop and local cheese farm among many other places. Just a 20-minute drive away from Amsterdam, this Dutch jewel makes for an intriguing day trip that every tourist and local should take at least once.
Before embarking on trip to the Zaanse Schans Windmills,here's all you need to know.
- Location: Zaandijk
Suggested Duration: 2-4 Hours
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or early afternoon
Zaanse Schans Windmills Tickets: €34.50
Closest Subway: Koog Aan De Zaan station
- In its heyday, the Zaan region was an industrial superpower with hundreds of active windmills that produced a variety of products ranging from paper to linseed oil. Some of the remaining windmills are now open to the public and some of Zaanse Schans' characteristic wooden houses are converted into museums, gift shops or workshops.Giving you a glimpse into the glorious years of Netherland during the 17th and 18th centuries, these well preserved mills and houses serves as an open window into the past or shall we say serve as an open museum. In addition to the beautiful windmills and houses, you can observe the traditional art of making Dutch special cheese and clogs, taste the unique liqueurs and experience Albert Heijn’s first store, among other things during your visit here.
- Sensory Delight - From eye-appealing windmills to heart-pleasing rustic houses, from nostalgic memorabilias to delightful souvenirs, from nose-pleasing bakery smells to tongue pleasing cheese, Zaanse Schans offer all this and a lot more.
- Iconic windmills - Windmills have had been an integral part of Dutch culture and around eight windmills here are still in operation. Visitors can visit a few and observe the gears turning from wind power, understand the ingeniousness and importance of these structures as they witness its working and nuances.
- Preserved history - A major portion of the historic buildings were moved to Zaanse Schans between 1961 and 1974 in order to preserve them from urban expansions, converting the area into an open air museum.
- Approachability - Located just north of Amsterdam, a half a day or a full day trip to Zaanse Schans is perfectly feasible for both tourists and locals.
- Economical - Most attractions in Zaanse Schans, including museum tour and workshops are free of cost, giving you the freedom to stick to your budget while exploring this quaint village.
- First and foremost your transit from Amsterdam is bound to be a short, sweet and scenic journey. As you reach Zaanse Schans, prep yourselves to be wowed away from the places’ sheer beauty and magnificence.Depending upon the season and day you visit, head towards the windmills to see how it is still used in grinding oil, flour and spices. After your fill of the Zaanse Schans Windmill Village, take a stroll towards the village’s characteristic green wooden houses.Here on, you can proceed towards your chosen activity; take a lesson in cheese making, taste it and buy it. See the clog museum, bakery museum, Museumwinkel Albert Heijn; witness the process of Tin casting, liquor distillation. Explore the local arts and artists, shop for souvenirs.Don’t forget to look back and take it all in before you leave as such an amalgamation of scenic beauty and historical importance is exclusive to Zaanse Schans.
- As of 2019, only 6 windmills are open to the public. Here's a little about each windmill.
- De Huisman (1756): This mill used to be a mustard mill but now makes other spices too.
- De Gekroonde Poelenburg (1869): This is a sawmill and you can see logs being cut into lumber here.
- De Kat (1664): This is a paint mill which grinds wood and pigment to create vibrant colors and other ingredients for artists and restorers in the region.It is one of two mills (along with De Bonte Hen) that were originally built in the premises.
- De Zoeker (1672): This is an oil mill producing peanut oil.
- Het Jonge Schaap ( 2007): This saw mill was recently restored and looks much newer than the rest of the mills around. This windmill saws lumber into planks.
- De Bonte Hen (1693): This one is also an oil producing flaxseed oil. It works to lift huge beams of wood which drop repeatedly to press the oil out of the seeds.
- Clothing Advice : As aforementioned, Zaanse Schans is located at the banks Zaan River, due to which the weather tends to windy. Do pack some warm clothes such as a jacket, shawl or scarf to gear up against the winds.
- Check Timing and Prices in advance : While Zaanse Schans is open all day long and is free to roam around, some sites do require an entry ticket and have a certain time restrictions. Check opening hours and pricing on the official website, beforehand.
- Don't miss out on the Private Gouses and Gardens : There are still a few houses in Zaanse Schans that are used as private residences, so, do not wander around in any garden or house without checking.
- Opt for an Organised Tour : Zaanse Schans is filled with things to do and see, a professional guide could not just help you guide the space better, but will be able to provide you some interesting trivia about each site.
- Get the Zaanse Schans Card : A great way to inexpensively enjoy the Zaanse Schans, the pass gives you free access to most ticketed sites and avail attractive discounts in souvenir and museum shops, restaurants and windmill cruises.
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