If you want to see windmills in Amsterdam, this is the place to go. Beautiful scenery in the surrounding area around the windmills. Kind of a small village town. Some of the buildings are living quarters and some are shops such as cheese, clogs, and chocolate. We were able to go inside one of the working windmills and see how it all worked. There are small steep set of stairs, so be prepared. They're not high, but space it tight. Nice experience and worth taking a trip out to see the windmill read more

Zaanse Schans - Windmills - Parks Near Me - Zaandam, New Hampshire

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I would give this experience 6 stars if I could! It was only a few metro stops away from Amsterdam Centraal with a 10-minute walk. The whole day there could actually have been free, but I paid in advance online for extra experience, like going up to the balcony of the windmills! I was so amazed by how close I was with the blade! The clog "museum" was so cool with alternating English and Dutch demo every 10 minutes. The cheese zone was fascinating. The hot cocoa hut was a fun experience. Honestly, I felt like I was in a dream just by walking along the curvy paths. Can't say I'll be back soon, and the photos I took simply don't do justice to how beautiful this place is. Oh, I miss this place already! read more

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Had a great time walking around here for the day. Started the day by having Dutch pancakes at the restaurant then walked around looking at the windmills. Paid to go inside one of them just to get a better look. There were some steep ladders you have to climb to go up top and come back down. However it was insightful to see the interior part and how they work. There are many photo opportunities to take with the windmills, the lake with the homes, the wild ducks and at the shops. Check out the clog shop where you can see how they are made and even buy yourself a pair. We enjoyed walking through the cheese store because you can have samples however it was so busy and people were trying to cut the lines which was very aggravating and rude. It is very touristy and crowded. read more

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So GLAD we came to this lovely place to spend the afternoon yesterday! Walking in nature and seeing the windmills up close in the marshy lands was refreshing. We bought our Zaanse Schans card online and selected the day of visit, then showed the QR codes from email to a docent at the Time Museum to trade in for physical tickets to use for entry into the chocolate and biscuit factory, the weaver's house, inside a windmill (you can enter two if you choose), and receive a discount at the Restaurant de Kraal. I learned a lot about cheese making and enjoyed tasting different unusual cheeses such as lavender, black garlic, beer, and asparagus. I bought two cheese wheels to take back to a friend and a family member after finding out they are shelf safe for up to a month unopened! We got to try a Verlode biscuit at the Biscuit and chocolate factory museum, and learned that the Verlode factory used to make collectible trading cards of Dutch nature pictures that were so popular that he employed 30 people just to answer fan mail and send those people their requested specific cards. That's so cool that early business/industry took a personal interest in their constituents needs and was not just a moneymaking venture. I also enjoyed seeing goats and waterbirds of all types roaming freely in the marsh lands. We've barely seen any animal life in Amsterdam (maybe a total of 20 dogs over the past 4.5 days), so it was refreshing! It's well worth a trip to see how windmills work and to check out the various museums and to just take in the natural beauty! Highly recommend! read more

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Had to see the windmills. Happily surprised at what was there. You can climb one of them, watch the clogs being made in super fast time, and eat the best ice cream cone I've ever had in my life. Vanilla with that peanut sugar topping, get the topping! From Henry Wilig's happy cows (you can visit his cheese shop and farm which is a nearby side quest so yeah the cows be privileged) anyways, this was nice, I liked it. Super touristy and all that but I loved it. read more

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AMAZING PLACE! We came out and glad we did! There was a museum which showed us the various industries, presentations of art , biscuit making and more . The museum was highly educational. Windmills are beautiful as was the scenery . We loved the clog making demonstration. Go! 5 stars it's worth it! read more

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If you're ever in Amsterdam I highly recommend a visit to Zaanse Schans. It's a quick 20 minute train ride from Amsterdam Centraal, just 4 stops away. You can use Apple Pay to buy your tickets on the train. From the train station it's about a 20 minute walk to get to the town. You'll see beautiful windmills and lots of greenery. There's 6 windmills you can see and take pictures in front of. For a fee you can take a tour of the inside of one. A visit to the Catharina Hoeve cheese museum is a must! You'll go through the process of making cheese and end in the store with endless amounts of free cheese samples. They have the most unique flavors, such as coconut and cheese. My next stop was the clog museum, where you'll learn the history of clog shoes and end with a 5-8 minute demonstration of how one is made. There's a delicious ice cream stand as well. I recommend the vanilla in a come with the candied nuts! The Zaanse Schaan's museum is there as well, but I didn't have time to stop by. Plenty of picture spots are available. Perfect half day trip from Amsterdam for sure! read more

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We did the cheese & clog tour up to Zaanse Schans. The experience at Zaanse Schans was great! You get to walk on your own while exploring the windmills, shops, and snack areas. However, our experience at the cheese and clog shops was very rushed unfortunately, with only 30 minutes there before going to see the windmills. I would honestly not even recommend the cheese tour as the cheese is the same one in the store at the windmills, with the same tasting experience, just missing the knowledge of how it is made in the machines (which they explain for 5 minutes at the tour). I honestly think it would be best to take the bus up to Zaanse Schans and explore at your own pace and be able to stay for as long as you please, as you can still purchase clogs and cheese at the windmills. Otherwise, the experience was absolutely wonderful and I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Amsterdam to have a day out of the city! read more

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We visited the Wooden Shoe Workshop at Zaanse Schans, and it was a fun, eye-opening stop during my Netherlands trip. A beautiful place and charming open-air museum, it's surrounded by windmills along the Zaans River, with green marsh fields ,sheep, and historic homes creating a perfect postcard view of the old Dutch life. HISTORY : The windmills date back to the 1700s-1800s, when over 600 powered industries like oil pressing and sawing--thanks to the clever inventions like the crankshaft. HISTORY LESSON OVER.. Anyhoo...Strolling the paths felt magical, like time travel to traditional Holland. Unfortunately, the rude people surrounding the area made for a less than magical experience. The workshop demo was the highlight: a shoe cobbler shaped a wooden clog from poplar wood in minutes using hand tools. These sturdy shoes handled surrounding swampy land for centuries, now sold as colorful souvenirs. Free entry, but the shop's prices add up. Crowds can be busy, rude and some of the mills charge, but the mix of history, craft, and scenery makes it worth it. Solid spot for a quick cultural dive! Plus they have this big azz shoe in the front. read more

Zaanse Schans - Museum for wooden shoes - Parks Near Me - Zaandam, New Hampshire

Oh goodness was this place soo cute!!! It has everything quintessential Netherlands, clogs, cheese and windmills. No charge to enter, parking is very limited. We took a train and bus. The bus stop is right outside the entrance which is very convenient. read more

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Loved our morning visit to Zaanse Schans on a sunny summer day. Used the I Amsterdam Card for a transfer discount and entry into the museums and windmills. Zaanse Schans is famous for its collection of historic windmills and wooden houses. Two of the seven windmills are in their original location, but five others have been moved here for preservation. From the 1960s to 1970s, other wooden structures were moved here to create a protected village scene. It is so charming. The name Zaans Schans is derived from the Zaans River and the Dutch word Schans which means sconce as a protection against the Spanish troops during the Eighty Years' War for Dutch Independence. Nice to be able to go inside a couple of the windmills to see how they work. Fun to visit several of the restored houses and learn about life in the region. The cheese house offers fun photo ops and delicious samples. The clog house is filled with so many clogs as well as an oversized clog that just welcomes you to stand inside for a picture. The weavers house and cooperage are also interesting. To learn more about the region as well as the function of the windmills, visit the Zaans Museum. It is also on the I Amsterdam Card. So easy to see how masters like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh were inspired by the beauty of this reason to paint masterpieces. Even Peter the Great visited this region incognito to learn more about ship-making. If you want to see windmills near Amsterdam, this is a must see on a trip to The Netherlands. So beautiful. read more

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sooooo gorgeous! i wanna go back boooooo!! it's such a beautiful town and he windmills are so cool!! there are so many little shops around and it's really cool to explore! they had a clog store and there was a guy who made one as a demonstration, super cool!! there was also this delicious cheese museum/store! they had cheese samples and there were SO many good ones! really wish i bought some they were so good. read more

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This was a great recommendation by my local friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the half day we spent here. There are a lot of small museums and the village is beautiful. The train station is a 15 minute walk from here. read more

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This is my first time in Holland and first time visiting Zaanse Schans. They showed us how they make the wooden shoes. Wonderful visit! Beautiful shoes! 10/10 would definitely visit again! read more

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One of the only traditional windmills left in the Netherlands, Zaanse Schans is a nice half day trip to Amsterdam for the family. You could take the tour or train to get here, but I recommend the bus tour since you can learn more about the cheese making and the purpose of the windmills (turns out it's for grinding expensive, natural dyes). The tour take you through to the cheese process and traditional shoemaking process, which is nice to watch and has a lot of Dutch Culture explained if you're into that. There is an opportunity to get on top of one of the windmills for €5 euros if you want a view. If you want to go back to the 17th century Netherlands, this is more for you. Also, the ducks here will come right to you expecting food haha. read more

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Good place to visit outside of Amsterdam. You can see some windmills and living history type of traditional Dutch life. It's easy enough to get there from central station by train and then walk 20 minutes to get there. Note that there is no entrance like a theme park. You go to individual stands that each charge a fee of about 5 euros. The city cards have admissions included. I could have stayed longer I was there for about 3-4 hours. They have stores, a cheese shop and more. read more

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This was about a 30 minutes train ride from Amsterdam, perfect little half day trip to checkout the beautiful scenery. There are some shops about clogs, cheese farm, and windmills. Great way to spend a morning/afternoon outside the city. This area is a must do if you're around Amsterdam. read more

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We felt ZAANSE SCHANS was a little to touristy and gimmicky, but hey you are in Holland, you have to go see the windmills..lolol They have a nice cafeteria are the entrance, enjoy your stay. read more

Has visitors to Amsterdam, we really had a great time seeing this windmill Village. We went on a Sunday in August, so it was quite crowded. The walking paths around the windmills are narrow, so it was difficult at times with the crowds. We visited the wonderful cheese shop, the Dutch wooden shoe (clogs) making workshop, the weaving shop, and took a ferry ride to the Old Village across the river. It was lovely! The highlight for us was the ferry and the beautiful houses in the village. The only complaint we have is that we felt a bit cheated by the price to get in. There is a QR code to scan and purchase "entrance tickets", but actually you don't have to purchase entrance tickets. The 17.50 is for tickets to get into all of the different activities. If you don't want to do the extra activities like go up in the windmill, the weaver shop, and the museum, then you don't have to purchase an entrance fee. It is not clear, and so we purchased the entrance fee and still paid to get into the other activities. Even to use the toilet we laid 1 Euro each time. So we spent double the money. read more

My family and I visited here on a recent trip. We were staying in Amsterdam and took the bus from Central Station and it dropped us directly here. The bus took a little over an hour. We had the I Amsterdam card and that meant we didn't have to worry about the cost of anything while here. We were able to go into the museum, which was surprisingly interesting and well done. We learned all about industry in the area and my child really loved the end of the museum where you got to pretend you were working in a chocolate and biscuit factory. We then explored around the village and the windmills. Because we had the I Amsterdam card we were able to go up in some of the windmills which was cool. We were also big fans of the cheese shop. I could see how a person could easily spend all day here. We spent about four hours. I thought there might have been more options for lunch than there were. There was a grab and go snack place and one restaurant I saw that was open. We did get some snacks at the cheese shop and the chocolate shop. We also visited the wooden shoe store which was fun. Overall, it was a really nice visit. read more

Okay, so while this place was very cool I strongly recommend against going on a weekend if it can be avoided. This was like the Disneyland of the Netherlands, absolutely packed with tourists elbowing past each other to see clogs getting made. I had debated going Monday instead, and I think it probably would have been less crowded. The location is lovely, but it definitely feels like you're being herded around to some extent. I'm not sure if there are less popular windmill options to visit, but if there are, I would probably try those instead. read more

I did a tour of Zaanse Schans and was one of the highlights of my solo trip to Amsterdam. It is such a stunning picturesque village of wooden houses and working windmills and farmland. I enjoyed the demonstration of the clog making and the cheese farm and trying loads of different cheese. There is loads of photo opportunities to be had with clogs and windmills and even Miffy, such a fun relaxing place to wander and enjoy, i loved and I'm glad I managed to include it in my trip! read more

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The Netherlands, that's Tulips, Windmills, Amsterdam. Of course it's a lot more, but these are the things that always come to mind. It wasn't Tulip season when we've visited The Netherlands, so we decided to look at some windmills. There are countless windmills all over the country. But this place here has several in one place. In a nice location by the water. And with lots of other things to see. So it's really an interesting package. The entrance to the open-air park/museum is free. The Zaans Museum costs extra as do some other several smaller museums and shows. But also many of the arts & crafts shops and displays are free to visit. It's a nice and easy walk along the windmills. It's all flat and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. In the village I recommend to have a closer looks at the Wooden Shoe Workshop and the Cheese Farm (with a lot more cheese varieties than you'd think). And of course there's a souvenir shop as well, but other shops offer wonderful products and items as well. Feeling a bit hungry or thirsty? There's a Café on site. There are several cute bridges crossing the small canals in the village. And there are lots of photo op: Huge wooden shoes, the windmills from every possible angle, the farm animals, the bridges. You really need some time on your hands if you want to really enjoy and explore the area. We surely did. The windmills are fascinating and impressive. It's just a beautiful construction to look at. We really enjoyed our visit here. It's stunning that the open-air park is indeed free to visit. And dogs are allowed as well. We had a great day here. Loved it. read more

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The perfect getaway from the main city of Amsterdam to see a few working windmills! We came by ourselves and opted not to book a tour which we were grateful for because we went at our own pace and didn't feel like we were stuck on the tour's time frame. You could go up a couple of the windmills. We went on the first one which used to be a windmill for spices and colored powder used for dyes. It had a great view. There's also a cheese store with plenty of cheese tastings as well as some farm animals. On the other side of the row of windmills, there were some cute shops like a make your own hot chocolate store, an antique store, a souvenir store, and a clog store! It's definitely an Instagrammers paradise. It's a nice break from Amsterdam and a quick trip. Make sure to go early in the morning so you can avoid the large tour buses that tend to come in packs around 11 am! read more

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Would say this is a must visit place if you are in Amsterdam. Such a calm and lovely scenery, with plenty of farm animals, greenery, canals, tiny shops, and windmills. Only about 30-45 minutes from Amsterdam, it showcases some national heritage and specialty goods of Holland. I truly enjoyed the sights of the windmills and visiting the saw mill. Incredible engineering! read more

Zaanse Schans - Sheep - Parks Near Me - Zaandam, New Hampshire

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Amazing place to visit. Definitely recommend for tourists! The windmills were stunning and the cheese factory as well as the wooden shoes museum were both free! Additionally there were people selling fresh stroopewaffles that made my day! read more

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When visiting Amsterdam you have to take a trip to Zaanse Schans! It is a very quirky little town where they have antique windmills that are kept for cultural purposes. You can actually access one of them for a few euros to go inside and up to the windmill platform to take some great photos and see how it all worked back in the day. When I came I was lucky that it was a cool day and there were not a lot of tourist so we were able to walk around and see a lot and take some great pictures. There are also awesome little shops in the town that are very enjoyable. I especially liked the demonstration on how clogs are made today. I also sampled some amazing cheeses and bought a pack to bring back to the States with me. Overall it is a very chill place. You don't need to take a whole day out of your vacation to come here. We were able to have a very enjoyable time in a couple of hours and the train ride is painless and fast. So if you are tired and the hassle and bustle of Amsterdam, this is your place! read more

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Zaanse Schans was a worthwhile expedition. It was actually the only place we visited in the Netherlands outside of Amsterdam. Train would have been a lot cheaper, but we decided to Uber. We were lazy, sick, and a bit hungover, and the Uber fee wasn't too outrageous split amongst the three of us. Being dropped off right where the attraction is was also pretty convenient. My friends and I spent roughly an hour and a half here walking past the famous windmills. We checked out a couple of the local shops and sampled some cheese, as well. We didn't spend too much time exploring this town, but we felt like we got a good glimpse into what it had to offer. I wouldn't hesitate to visit it again, but being our last day in Amsterdam, we were off to the next attraction. read more

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If you wish to get an accurate impression of life in Holland in the 17th and 18th centuries, visit the Zaanse Schans. I want to explain about two attractive points, windmills , authentic houses, of Zaanse Schans. Windmill. During the 17th century, more than 600 windmills were constructed in the area around the Zaanse Schans, creating the first industrial zone. The windmills were used, among others, to grind spices, produce paint, saw wood, and make oil. A number of these windmills still exist and can still be visited today. You can see how these wind-powered machines work, inside and out. Authentic houses. For example: a grocer's from the past, as they existed before the emergence of large supermarkets. In the Bakkerijmuseum (Bakery Museum), you can discover the old craft of baking, and the Honig Breethuis presents the home of a 19th-century merchant family. The Zaan house shows a collection of unique clocks, most of which still work. The house has a special collection of utensils, clothing and paintings from the area. You can also visit the Verkade Experience here, to find yourself in a 20th-century chocolate factory. The original machines there are still at work to produce the very best chocolate and cookies. I recommend the attractive place read more

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This excursion was one of my highlights during a recent trip to Amsterdam with the kiddos. We first had to arrive at the Amsterdam centraal station and catch a ferry to cross over to the meeting point adjacent to the famous A'Dam lookout. We got on the tour bus and took a 20 minutes Or perhaps 30 minutes ride to Zaanse Schans. The tour guide was bilingual as she spoke Spanish Dutch and English. We were first given a layout of the venue along with a verbal itinerary on how to cover the entire area. We first strolled along the pathways and saw all the windmills which were beautiful and their mechanism was just as amazing. We got some great pictures and an up close person look at all the windmills from inside. We then proceeded to go inside the cheese making factory and got a close demonstration of how the cheese is processed and made and all the preparations that come with it. Following the presentation we went to the gift shop where all the cheeses were stacked up on shelves ready to be sold. They truly tasted amazing with plenty of flavors. There were other souvenirs throughout the gift shop. We then went to the section where the wooden shoes were being prepared. We got a demonstration of the entire process of how to make a wooden shoe. It was amazing to see the different kinds types and qualities of these wooden shoes. There were plenty of choices available to purchase throughout the gift shop. Once the touring of the shoe factory was completed, we proceeded to go back to our meeting point to board our bus back to the station. I highly recommend all yelpers to visit this historical site. read more

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'Ello chaps! Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood in a rural area of Amsterdam, and a major tourist destination. Considered an open air museum, there is much to see and do at Zaanse Schans, best of which are the windmills. Visitors can walk inside some of the windmills and see them in action. On our tour we got to see a windmill saw wood - a practice that dates back many centuries and helped the Netherlands revolutionize ship building back in the day. You can also explore shops, see cheese making, and see how the traditional clogs are made. Zaanse Schans does NOT have an admission fee per se, and you can access the site on your own or through the many tour groups that stop here. Overall I give Zaanse Schans 4 stars out of 5. NOTE: Bathrooms are NOT free. They're one euro to use, available to be paid only by credit card. read more

Zaanse Schans - Parks Near Me - Zaandam, New Hampshire

This was a highlight of our trip to Amsterdam and the Norwegian fjords. And it was the last attraction we saw between disembarking the Nieuw Statendam and arriving by bus at the Amsterdam International Airport for our flight back to the U.S. later that day. If our 3:00 p.m. departure had been one minute earlier we would not have been allowed to book this combination shore excursion and airport transfer. The place itself is lovely: a combination of canals leading from the Zaan River and verdant green soil on which cows, horses, goats, ducks, and a rooster roamed. Thirteen windmills dot these lands, along with a cheese demonstration area, a cobbler's shop, a chocolate shop, and a large cheese and gift shop. Bright blue skies contributed to an idyllic look. Zaanse Schans is also very educational. We saw how paint is ground from colored chalk inside De Kat, a paint windmill with parts dating back to 1782, which Diane climbed to the top from the inside of the mill on creaky wooden ladders. Then our small group learned how various types of Dutch cheese are made and packaged; and saw a live demonstration on the creation of a pair of wooden shoes. There was a lot of walking involved in exploring the grounds almost from end to end, but it was worth it--and good exercise to boot! We didn't buy any cheese, because I thought it would not be allowed to enter the U.S. That night I learned from a U.S. Customs official that packaged cheese from Holland would have been permitted. Oh well, it just gives me an excuse and one more reason to return soon to Amsterdam. read more

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Zaanse Schans is a great place to visit if you are in Amsterdam! I found this fun little place with 3 friends after paying over 40 euro per person, plus train fare, plus 8 euro for entrance fees. I'm going to help you skip the 40 euro part and have a great experience and tell you where you will get the best value! This trip took us 4 hours. You could do it in 2-3 and still see everything but we are slow and ate a lot of cheese! You start off at Amsterdam Central and take a train to Zaanse Schans station. It should be about 4-6 Euro each way. When you get off the train there is a coffee shop (actual coffee) on the platform. It's a small platform you can't miss it! Go in and ask him to point you the right way to the windmills! He's nice! Grab a coffee there too if you want! The walk took us 30 minutes. It was crazy windy and we were slow. You will pass a coco beab factory along the way that smells amazing and a cool looking country green windmill. You will walk across a bridge. It's a big one, not scary and you'll find you will see the windmills. The windmills are mixed in with little shops. We visited the kat windmill, chocolate shop, clog making, and cheese tasting. It's free to go in. The Kat windmill costs 5 euro to tour. If you opt not to tour it's free to look at from the outside. You climb ladder to get to the top. It's not horrible but if you have fears about ladders or leg issues be advised. The view is beautiful and you can see in the inside of how the mill works. The chocolate place was next on our tour. We did a 6 piece chocolate tasting. This must be booked ahead of time. You can not just show up and do a tasting, Fatima's card is in my photos. Email her or have your hotel or hostel Can and schedule for you the day before. Ruby was my favorite. Fatima is great at teaching you about all aspects of chocolate. She also sells chocolates for a charity to end slavery in the industry! Buy some! There is also a hot chocolate station if you want a beverage! Onto the cheese! I didn't think a person could ever have too much cheese until we got here! Lots to taste! All free. They sell chunks of cheese to take home. Just pick things safe for travel! They also have different dipping sauces next to each cheese! In case you were able to eat more there is also a snack bar! Next was our final stop at the clog workshop. There's a quick 5-10 minute presentation that restarts as soon as it ends. Informative and our clog maker was a handsome guy we enjoyed watching! You can then try on or buy actual clogs. There is also souvenir store with the clogs. I wish I had bought more of my gifts for home from here because they had great prices! Final tip, keep some spare change in your pocket! The bathrooms are super clean but cost .50 to get in by turnstile or you will find yourself heading back to the shops for coins. read more

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Our visit to Zaanse Schans was one of the absolute highlights of our trip. To me, it's the Disney World of the Netherlands. Picturesque landscape, beautiful homes, the renowned windmills, the smell of chocolate in the air, sweet farm animals, adorable shops, cheese everywhere, and some of the friendliest people I've ever met - what's not to love? If you're planning a trip to Amsterdam, I urge you to take the quick bus ride from Amsterdam Central Station (the 391, I believe) to Zaanse Schans. For 11.50€, you can get a round trip ticket to one of the most beautiful places I've ever laid my eyes on. Totally well worth it to me. The fact that you can get there in about 40 minutes while enjoying the views is another plus. We spent a couple of hours here but opted to skip the chocolate museum since we had to head back. We did treat ourselves to some fresh stroopwafels dipped in chocolate from one of the shops though. So delicious! read more

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Such a cute town! If were to visit, I would recommend coming here early. Say, catch an 8:30 AM train from Amsterdam Centraal and arrive at around 8:50 AM. Take a 15-minute stroll around town and make your way to the touristy area. Give yourself about 2 - 3 hours or so here to walk around, take selfies with the windmills, and buy cheese from the shops. The town also has a website that gives unambiguous instructions (as most Netherlands websites do) on all thing touristy related. The bathroom (pretty clean) costs 1 euro (if I remember it correctly) and opens at 9 AM. read more

Zaanse Schans - Over the bridge - Parks Near Me - Zaandam, New Hampshire

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First of all.... I had no idea you could review a city on Yelp lol!! Anyways, out of all of the places we went to on our Euro-trip, THIS was the CUTEST little city and I am so glad we went. It was at first not really a place we had even heard of, but we ran into some friends in Amsterdam and they said they visited Zaanse Schans by a recommendation from a local uber driver. They said it was beautiful. They were so right! This place is EXACTLY what you imagine Holland would look like. They had beautiful fields of sheep and cows grazing. They also had ducks, swans and even horses. You can rent bikes and ride out to see more nature or just ride up and down the cute little streets. And of course the windmills were so beautiful on the water. You can go into the windmills and learn about them for about $5 per person which was cool. I highly recommend visiting this place if you are in Amsterdam. It is only about a 20 minute bus ride. It is touristy, but it is honestly so beautiful and I am SO glad we went! ***side note - the food options are not the best in terms of finding good veggie food, but you can still find things and the scenery is too amazing to pass up read more

If you've never seen a windmill at work and have half a day to spare this is a nice diversion from walking around Amsterdam. A 30 min express bus ride from Central station this scenic and quaint village is setup like an old Dutch town. Free admission to walk around and look at shops, a few euros to go inside specific windmills grinding flour, or chocolate, or to go up to the lookout posts. Worth a visit to get some nice photos. read more

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Yes, I get that this is a touristy thing to do, but how can you not want to come here and see windmills? It's the best part about Holland/The Netherlands. It's really pretty here with all of the windmills and not all of them are open to the public, but the ones that are open are 4 Euros to get in per person. We got to see one that cut wood on the inside. There are tons of shops for you to buy stuff and purchase cheese and see how cheese is made. Yes, I love cheese so they won me over just with that. There's lots of little pretty buildings and there's a lot of history and story behind this place. I ended up spending a lot of money on trinkets, gifts and of course cheese here. The best part is, it's a simple train ride away from Central Station and just in a matter of minutes, you're taken back to modern day Amsterdam. read more

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This was one of the highlights of our trip! The kids loved seeing a real working Windmill. It's about a 30 minute drive outside the city and the Public transportation makes a stop here also. It's more that a rogue of a windmill...petting zoo, Dutch clog museum and shop, several wind mills, chocolate factory. You could easily turn this stop into an entire afternoon. There's a small fee if you want to take a tour of any of the wind mills, which I highly recommend (especially if you are interested in sustainable living). Easily one of the top 10 kid/family attraction! read more

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People from all over the world flock to Zaanse Schans to do primarily one thing--experience some Dutch windmills, and they have many here. I have been to Kinderdjik where some sixteen original windmills are on display there. As I recall it was a very simple place, and because of our visit there in the early spring, there were not too many tourists there. I understand the most of the windmills of Zaanse Schans are not originally from here, but they are relocated here. This place is very commercialized. They have a museum, cheese farm, clog shop, Dutch waffle shop and several souvenir shops and café/restaurant. Proximity to Amsterdam (mere 16 km) makes it very attractive to the tourists to extend their legs here for a half-day tours. The parking lot opens at 8 am (10 euro for all-day parking--card payment only, no cash), and most of the attractions close around 5 pm, so plan your visit accordingly. It was very crowed with summer visitors when we visited here. Windmills were fine. There was a nice souvenir shop. You can sample some cheese, and delight yourself with some good ice cream. There was a public restroom with a woman collecting .50 euro per use. The line was long. If you happened to be in Amsterdam, and you'd like to see some windmills, this would be a good place to come. I prefer the more simple setting of Kinderdijk myself having been to both places now. read more

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