Our most recommended things to do in Zaanse Schans

Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken Day Trip

1. Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken Day Trip

Enjoy the picturesque Dutch countryside on a day trip by comfortable bus. Encounter the famous windmills, and learn about Dutch traditional crafts.Take advantage of free WiFi on board the bus as you travel. Discover the unique village of Zaanse Schans. Stroll around at your leisure and admire the well-preserved historic windmills and houses. Explore the fishing village of Volendam, visit a cheese shop still making cheese using a traditional Dutch method, and join a demonstration about Volendam cheese. Enjoy lunch at a traditional fish restaurant at your own expense, before exploring more of Volendam. Select the all-inclusive tour option for more activities including a boat ride to Marken, a visit to an operating windmill, and a clog-making demonstration.

Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Bus Tour

2. Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken Bus Tour

Visit Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam, and Marken on a guided bus tour from Amsterdam. Admire the famous windmills of Zaanse Schans, attend a clog-making demonstration, and sample Edam and Gouda cheese. Depart Amsterdam by luxury bus on this exciting tour and head north of the city to see the historic windmills of Zaanse Schans on the banks of the river Zaan. Explore the traditional 17th-century houses and a collection of beautifully preserved windmills from the nation’s industrial heritage. Continue on to visit Edam, a beautiful town known worldwide for its cheese. Enjoy a cheese tasting and an exciting clog demonstration. Before the end of the day, go to Volendam and Marken, passing many authentic polders, the name given to land reclaimed from the sea. Wander down narrow streets, past colorful houses and visit the harbors full of fishing boats. You will have some free time to shop for souvenirs and sample the local fish specialties. Back in Amsterdam, you will be dropped off at the meeting point.

From Amsterdam: Guided Zaanse Schans & Cheese Tasting Tour

3. From Amsterdam: Guided Zaanse Schans & Cheese Tasting Tour

Join a guided bus tour from Amsterdam to visit the windmill village of Zaanse Schans, an open-air museum housing working windmills, wooden houses, barns, and shops dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy live commentary from your guide, a clog workshop, and a cheese-making demonstration. Meet your guide and driver at a central meeting point just across from Central Station in Amsterdam. Settle in for a comfortable, air-conditioned ride on a single deck bus that will take you to your destination in just 20 minutes. Upon arrival in the village, follow your guide for an orientation tour of the village. Visit the clog museum for a live wooden shoemaking workshop. Then, taste some Dutch farmer cheese on the cheese farm. Get a sense of what the village was like in the 18th and 19th centuries. Alongside windmills and barns, see houses that were originally built as homes for rich windmill owners and merchants. Admire their colorful facades painted in traditional hues of green, beige, and light blue. Finally, it is time to further explore the village on your own. Before you set off, take insider tips from your guide and learn about the region's local history and culture. At the end of the tour, hop back on the bus for your return journey to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam: Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans Windmills Day Tour

4. Amsterdam: Giethoorn and Zaanse Schans Windmills Day Tour

Experience an unforgettable adventure as you discover the enchanting beauty of Giethoorn and the iconic Zaanse Schans windmills. Immerse yourself in the peace and splendor of Giethoorn's picturesque waterways during a scenic canal cruise, where you can admire the charming thatched-roof farmhouses and elegant bridges that adorn this car-free village. In Zaanse Schans, witness the impressive windmills in action, paying tribute to the rich heritage of craftsmanship and innovation in the Netherlands. Throughout the tour, you'll be accompanied by a passionate local guide who shares captivating stories and insights about the history and culture of the region. Indulge your taste buds with a delicious stroopwafel, a typical Dutch treat, and stay hydrated with complimentary bottles of water. The tour provides live commentary on board, offering interesting facts and anecdotes as you travel in comfort. Immerse yourself in the charm of Giethoorn and the fascinating world of Zaanse Schans, creating lasting memories and developing a deep appreciation for the natural and cultural wonders of the Netherlands. Get ready to explore, experience, and enjoy the best of these iconic destinations.

From Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Edam, & Marken Full-Day Trip

5. From Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Edam, & Marken Full-Day Trip

Immerse yourself in the culture of the Netherlands on a tour through the jewels of the Dutch countryside. Visit a cheese producer, a clog factory, a fishing village, and see the iconic windmills. Start your tour at Amsterdam’s Central Station and head in the company of your guide to the first destination of the day, Zaanse Schans. Admire the typical Dutch windmills of the town, and learn about how they are still used today. Next, drive to the Waterland area to arrive at the second stop of the tour, Edam. Walk around some of the town’s most historical sites, including the town square where the famous cheese market used to take place. Then, head to Volendam to visit a local cheese producer, learn about the production of Edam and Gouda cheeses, and try a cheese tasting. Head towards a clog factory next to discover the secrets of this typical Dutch shoe. Finally, travel back in time to the 17th century as you wander through the fishermen’s houses in the Marken, and explore this quintessential fishing village.

Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans 3-Hour Small Group Tour

6. Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans 3-Hour Small Group Tour

Starting from Amsterdam, enjoy a comfortable drive to Zaanse Schans. There, hear your guide tell you about the sights and history of this unique, small village and region. Visit a wooden shoe workshop to see how the traditional wooden clogs are made. Also, enjoy a trip to a local cheese farm to learn how the Dutch Gouda cheeses are made. There, taste all kinds of delicious cheeses. After hearing about the magnificent windmills from your guide, enter one to see how these wind-powered industries operate. Get out on the balcony to experience the power of the wind yourself and to enjoy the lovely view of the countryside. After your guided tour at Zaanse Schans, head back to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam: 1, 2, 3, or 5-Day Go City All-Inclusive Pass

7. Amsterdam: 1, 2, 3, or 5-Day Go City All-Inclusive Pass

Enjoy unlimited access to Amsterdam's hottest attractions with a pass valid for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days. With Go City you pay nothing at the gate but get to save up to 50%* off at top Amsterdam attractions. Visit the Moco Museum (Bansky & more), discover world-famous collections of historic art at the Rijksmuseum, visit the brewing home of Heineken, and admire the city from the canals with a sightseeing cruise. Easily display your pass on your phone and use the included Go City app to help you plan your itinerary and make reservations when necessary. There is something for everyone with over 30 attractions and tours. Attractions/Activities included with your Amsterdam All-Inclusive Pass: • Heineken Experience (reservations required) • Moco Museum • A'DAM Lookout • Rijksmuseum (reservations required) • Houseboat Museum • This Is Holland (reservations required) • Rembrandts Amsterdam Experience • Tour de BonTon • Royal Experience - Royal Coster Diamonds (reservations required) • Madame Tussauds Amsterdam • The Amsterdam Dungeon • Amsterdam Canal Cruise • The Life of Anne Frank & Neighbourhood Tour • 1-hour pedal boat • MacBike bike rental • Diamond Museum Amsterdam • Amsterdam Pipe Museum • House of Bols cocktail experience • Amsterdam Tulip Museum • AMAZE Amsterdam – a new immersive experience by ID&T • Rembrandthius Experience • Ferry to Muiderslot Castle (April to October) • Muiderslot Castle • Keukenhof Tour (spring) • Keukenhof skip-the-line entry and coach transfers (seasonal/reservations required) • Zaanse Schans Tour (reservations required) • Volendam, Edam, and Windmills Tour (reservations required) • Rotterdam, Delft, and The Hague Tour (reservations required) • Day Trip to Antwerp from Amsterdam • From Amsterdam: Full Day trip to Paris • Day Trip to Bruges from Amsterdam • National Maritime Museum *Savings based on sample itineraries on the Go City website.

Amsterdam: Edam, Volendam, and Zaanse Schans Guided Tour

8. Amsterdam: Edam, Volendam, and Zaanse Schans Guided Tour

Leave Amsterdam for half a day on this guided tour of the rolling Dutch countryside. Sit back and travel comfortably in a coach to the rural village of Edam. Take a walk through the quaint streets of Edam. En route to Volendam, stop to visit an old cheese farm to see how authentic Dutch cheese is made. Indulge in trying some of these huge spheres of delicious cheese. Upon arrival in Volendam, follow your guide on a journey through the fishing village’s winding streets. Hear about how this bustling place was once the harbor for neighboring village Edam. Enjoy some free time to eat lunch. Next, move on to visit the windmill village of Zaanse Schans. Once used to ground spices, dyes, lumber, oil, cocoa powder, and many other items, the mills are still in use today. Some are now living museums where you can learn about the ins and outs of milling. Visit a wooden shoe factory and behold how traditional clogs are created using antique machines. Filled with newfound knowledge and a taste of the traditional Dutch ways of life, relax and reminisce about your trip while on the journey back to Amsterdam.

Zaandam: Zaanse Schans Card - Attractions & Museums Tickets

9. Zaandam: Zaanse Schans Card - Attractions & Museums Tickets

Go on the perfect Dutch trip from Amsterdam and head to Zaanse Schans that brings the 18th and 19th centuries back into the present-day Netherlands. Explore the wooden houses, barns, and workshops, and get even more value for money with this ticket. Visit the Weaver’s House, where two families lived with their five looms. See the Coopery, where you'll observe how barrels were made. Get free entrance to the Zaans Museum and to the Verkade Chocolate and Biscuit Factory and experience a real-life Willy Wonka event. Benefit from a free audio guide in 8 languages offered at the Zaans Museum.

Zaanse Schans Windmills 4-Hour Tour in Italian

10. Zaanse Schans Windmills 4-Hour Tour in Italian

Travel aboard a comfortable train to Zaanse Schans which is famous for its collection of historic windmills on this day trip from Amsterdam. Go to a wooden clog factory and savor a variety cheeses with a visit to a farm.  Depart Amsterdam from the Centraal Station and journey by train to the town of Zaanse Schans. Discover the typical green wooden houses used by the locals, along with small bridges that link the streets of the village.  Capture pictures of the windmills and escape the hustle and bustle of city living and experience a gentle pace of life in the Dutch lowlands. Learn more about the windmills that made the area of the Zaan River famous and rich in the 1700s.  Visit a factory where the traditional wooden clogs are still made, and learn how the famous Dutch cheese is produced with a visit to a local farm. Return to Amsterdam by train at the end of your tour. 

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What people are saying about Zaanse Schans

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 15,895 reviews

I had a wonderful experience, learned a lot both from the audio recordings and our guides. The motor coach was very large, double decker, comfortable. I didn’t expect it to be that large and packed with fellow tourists in mid-February. If I went by myself I’d probably spend more time in each place, I guess I felt slightly rushed. We covered a lot of ground in short period of time. Our guides were extremely kind, helpful and knowledgeable! Very funny, too! Our driver was also super professional and supportive of all our needs. I’m not sure I could take care of everyone the way they did! Many thanks to the entire team, they were brilliant. If I went again, I’d have an early lunch before the trip or be prepared with some healthy snacks until the 3-4 pm. meal.

Ester was a really good guide, lots of knowledge for the tour (also added her personal touch to the tour from facts of her own life as she was raised in a windmill herself which was really interesting) and she made the whole experience the highlight of our visit to Amsterdam. Highly recommended tour and Ester as a guide.

The day could not have been better! The guide, Eva, went above and beyond to keep her audience engaged. It was a beautiful sunny day, which helped, and I felt we saw everything we wanted to, and learnt so much at the same time.

A must do when in Amsterdam. Tony and Merriam were our great host. They are very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Evelyn is so knowledgeable and our tour driver is so helpful. Places are fantastic except for the rainy weather