The Zaanse Schans is a fully inhabited, open-air conservation area and museum located 9 miles north of Amsterdam. Original buildings vividly depict Dutch life in the 17th and 18th centuries. The authentic houses, the historic shipyard, the clog-making demonstrations and, above all, the windmills, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. De Zaan region is probably the world's first industrial site ever. Some 250 years ago, well over 800 windmills were cramped into this relatively small area. They performed a wide range of industrial duties. Of the five windmills, three are open to visitors. A boat tour on the river Zaan offers a particularly wonderful view of these mills.  

The open-air museum also features a wooden shoemaker, a pewter factory, bakery, cheese and dairy farm, and a century-old grocery store. The Zaanse Schans is open from Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that not all museums on the site are open during the winter months. Admission to Zaanse Schans is free. There is a small fee for the museums and mills. There are four direct trains per hour that take you from Amsterdam Central Station to the Koog-Zaandijk station in 17 minutes.  

The windmills

At Zaanse Schans you can see the following windmills:  

De gekroonde Poelenburg

One of the five remaining paltrok windmills in Holland. Unfortunately this sawmill is not open to the public.  

De Kat

This mineral mill is open to the public throughout the week. It produces a range of raw materials for the coloring and paint industry.  

De Zoeker and De Bonte Hen

These oil mills are both in working order. Both mills are open to the public at certain times.  

De Huisman

This small mustard mill is still in use. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public.  

De Hadel

This drainage mill was used to maintain the desired water level in the polder.  

Mills outside The Zaanse Schans

Just outside Zaanse Schans you will find windmills with captivating names, such as 'De Bleeke Dood' (The Bleak Death), 'De Ooievaar' (The Stork) and 'De Held Jozua' (The Hero Joshua). The nearby 'Schoolmeester' (Teacher) is the last remaining paper windmill in the world. For many centuries, paper produced in this region was considered the best quality paper in the world. Did you know that America's 'Declaration of Independence' was written on paper from De Zaan?