What comes to mind when you think of the Netherlands? You may think of the canals in Amsterdam or the rows of tulip fields pictured in postcards. Perhaps you are thinking of smoking weed and getting high which is totally legal here in the Netherlands. If you ask me, a trip to the Netherlands is not complete without visiting some traditional Dutch windmills.
One can easily find windmills all over the country but today I would like to share with you the beautiful collection of windmills at Zaanse Schans. Located close to Amsterdam, in the town of Zaandam, the area is home to a total of 10 windmills and some wonderful shops and museums. You could spend all day wandering around the quaint neighbourhood of Zaanse Schans.
Essential Information:
There are many transport options from Amsterdam. Bus 391 from Amsterdam Centraal will take you to Zaanse Schans in approximately 40 minutes. I recommend purchasing a day ticket for €11.50 as a single ticket is priced at €6.50. You could also use your OV-chipkaart to pay for the journey if you have one. There is no need to plan in advance as the bus comes every 15 minutes.
Taking the train is a little faster but involves more walking. Take the sprinter train from Amsterdam Centraal to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans. It is a 17 minute ride followed by a 17 minute walk to the windmills. The train is cheaper than the bus but it is a 1.5km walk to the windmills.
I would definitely consider biking to Zaanse Schans. It takes roughly around an hour to get there by bike. A 17km bike ride is not for everyone but I had an excellent time biking there with my friend, Erik. Biking around the Netherlands is ideal as there are special lanes just for cyclists.
It is absolutely free to enter Zaanse Schans but you do have to purchase individual tickets for the windmills. Each one is priced at €5 but do note that not all the windmills are open to public. There are also a few museums and attractions in the area as pictured above. With a Zaanse Schans Card, priced at €15, you can visit several museums for free and have access to certain discounts for activities.
Windmills:
De Huisman
The Houseman is the first windmill you see when entering Zaanse Schans, captured in the forefront of this picture. This spice mill has been located here in Zaanse Schans since 1951 and is still operational to this day, making delicious mustard. It is however not open to public.
De Gekroonde Poelenburg
The Crowned Poelenburg is the green windmill pictured on the far right in the picture. This saw mill has been in Zaanse Schans since 1963 and is one of two paltrok saw mills left in the area. However, this wind-powered saw mill is not open to public.
De Kat
The Cat is one of the few windmills remaining in the world which still make paint. This dye mill specialises in the manufacture of premium paints. Many museums desire the exceptional paint made here. It is open for visiting daily from 9:00 am till 4:30 pm with an entrance fee of €5.
De Zoeker
The Seeker is an oil mil which processes vegetable oil from different types of oil seeds such as linseed and rapeseed. It is usually open the entire week with the exception of Saturday but is currently closed until further notice due to the coronavirus.
Het Jonge Schaap
The Young Sheep was built in 2007 and is the newest of the windmills in Zaanse Schans. This saw mill is open to public from 9:00 am till 4:30 pm daily. The mill is still running thanks to the commissions earned from generous visitors.
De Os
De Os used to be an oil mill. It operated on wind-power till 1916 when its wings were removed. The hull remains and it is currently used as a warehouse.
Het Klaverblad
Ru Pos bought this piece of land on the Kalverringdijk in 1973 and built this saw mill himself between 2000 and 2005. This small saw mill is called a hollow post mill, the only one left in the region. The mill is privately owned by Ru Pos and his family. We were given a warm welcome and a brief introduction into its history while we were there.
De Bonte Hen
The Spotted Hen is another oil mill located right at then end of the Kalverringdijk. It was originally built in 1693 as a saw mill but has since undergone many restorations. It is currently closed due to the coronavirus.
There are two more mills in the area which I have not included in my list as they are not part of the Zaanse Schans neighbourhood. Regardless, they are still worth the visit if you get the chance.
De Ooievaar is an oil mill located just south at D. Sonoyweg 19, 1509 BR Zaandam. The Stork is not open to public. De Bleeke Dood is a flour mill in Zaandijk, just opposite Zaanse Schans, at Lagedijk 28, 1544 BG Zaandijk. The Pale Death is open only on request for group visits.
I hope you enjoyed my little write up about Zaanse Schans. There are many windmills littered all over the Netherlands but the collection of windmills at Zaanse Schans certainly is a spectacular sight. Be sure to catch them in person!
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