"Zaanse Schans - One stop sight seeing " a Zaanse Schans Travel Page by Robin922

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If you want to see everything that comes to mind when you hear the word, “Holland”, Zaanse Schans is the place to be.

I’ve heard some people call it a tourist trap. I don’t feel that’s the case. It is a little remote, but for the person who is short on time, and wants to see all of the stereotype items, this little town fills the bill.

Say Cheese! If you enter from the parking lot, a person will take your picture. (which you may purchase later)

You can easily walk the entire place in a couple hours, however I would suggest a bit longer.
Being a historical area, all buildings are required to maintain their original 1700’s look. Small shops, offices and homes line the street that isn’t much wider than a car.

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One of the first things you will notice are the large windmills. A couple of these are working, and for a couple of euro one will even let you inside to see its workings.

If the weather is bad, like the cold winter day I was there, the shops offer a nice warm place to learn and enjoy some of the old crafts.

The shoe factory offers a free mini museum and live demonstrations, along with a store to buy your own wooden shoes. The mini museum alone is worth the trip. Walls covered with hundreds of years of wooden shoes, along with what part of the country they came from, and the purpose they served. Examples of wedding shoes, work boots, and even some that looked like leather open the doors to the history to how people lived.

The cheese shop, offers demonstrations too. While it was interesting, the amount of knowledge offered appeared a bit limited. They also sell cheese and cheese related items, but nothing that you can’t pickup anywhere else for much cheaper.

The Delft shop is full of items to buy! Some are local made others are import. The two are easy to tell apart, if it’s cheap it’s imported. Also the sales people will be more than happy to give you a basic education on Delft.

The restaurant, offers some great traditional pancakes along with other dishes. Most of all they address another little ‘Dutch quirk’ you pay for everything including the ladies room. There is a public toilet in the middle of Zaanse Schans, that will address the need… if you wish to drop a half euro coin in the slot. However I prefer tip dish, that lays just outside the restaurant ladies room’s door.

The other small shops may or may not be open. It would appear they are ‘fair weather’ shops, opening only when the people count is higher.

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Besides the windmills, buildings and shops, there are lots of other little things to enjoy. Many of the homes also have wonderful little flower gardens, larger areas have goats and sheep. A little cannel runs through the area with footbridges and a little windmill.

For families on vacation (holiday) Zaanse Schans offers a little something for every family member. Great place to let the little ones run off some of that excess energy.

For people with a disability, it appears to be pretty much accessible. Smaller shops could be a problem with a chair, but the main ones are accessible. For the visually impaired, it’s a perfect place since everything can be touched.