Well worth the visit to explore some real Dutch heritage. We took the train ourselves from Amsterdam after buying the Zaans pass rather than booking a tour. It worked out cheaper and we weren’t time restricted. The location was great and it was really enjoyable to go back in time away from the city.

This is a lovely way to while away a few hours, there is a map as you enter with information about the site and a qr code to scan for detailed information as you walk around. We got the train from Zaandam, two stops away, follow the crowd as all are headed to the windmills. Lots of little shops selling chocolate, peanut butter, and various other souvenirs.

While visiting Amsterdam we wanted to see working windmills. We took the Sprinter Train from Amsterdam Central up to Zaanse Schanes and walked to the area - took about 35 minutes total. It's about 18 minute walk from the station to the area. The village area has a museum, shops and windmills. Take your time, buy the pass from the Musemum site that lets you in the museum and 2 windmills. Well worth the time and experience. The only bad thing is the weather is so brutal this time of year - one minute raining sideways and windy the next sunny so dress accordingly.

Buy the pass that gets you into the main museum, the biscuit and cholate factory, two windmills, the copper place, the weavers cottage and the time museum. Take your time, wrap up warm as it is spread out and when the wind blows you know it. Ask lots of questions the guides are very knowledgeable . Plenty of places to eat and shop . A nice day out. Easy to get to by train if you are mobile. Use your barcode on your ticket to use the toilet for free in the main museum .

Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood of Zaandam near Zaandijk, Netherlands. This place will take you back to the 18th century. Zaanse Schans is full of old wooden windmills and houses; Some of them were moved here for protection. The Dutch call their traditional wooden shoes klompen. Farmers wore them to move comfortably between crops, as most of the fields were at or near sea level and therefore frequently dealt with floods. It is now sold as souvenirs.

A visit to the Netherlands offers so many incredible opportunities to explore this gorgeous and historic country. No visit there would be complete without an experience like Zaanse Schans. This is essentially an open air museum, but much more diverse and well equipped than some such museums. There are multiple windmills, all fully restored in operation as they have been for centuries. Each windmill delivers a different function, producing various sustainable products. The educational value of these windmill demonstrations is outstanding. They also offer demonstrations of cheese making and wooden shoe production. There are several snack shops and some really high quality gift shops as well. If you want to experience authentic Dutch history and maybe collect a special souvenir, this is THE place!

After a long 4 years spent in one country, my wife and me finally got to travel. This destination, which she chose almost by chance, is magical. The weather was particularly good, got lucky, everything looked sensational and unforgettable.

A step back in time. Walking along a canal and seeing the old windmills. Very picturesque and pretty. often wet and rainy, so take appropriate clothing. You can go inside some of them, for a fee. There's a nice little cafe at the start, to warm up and get something tasty.

The village is quite good with traditional windmills. Very nice, well structured and green place. It is also possible to go inside the windmills. There are many shops which serve you hot chocolate. If you come to Amsterdam, it is easy to get there by a bus from Amsterdam Central Station. Strongly recommend!

Fabulous trip out. Easy to access on the train from Amsterdam Central then around 10 minutes walk from Zannse Schan Station. It was a lovely morning out, easily spent 3 hours or so here, without going into the windmills. Lots of shops and workhouses to look around and buy souvenirs from, places to eat and a museum. Really lovely to see windmills and can imagine it would be beautiful in spring and summer. Would definitely come back!