Visit Amsterdam windmills
So, you’re in Amsterdam but you didn’t see any iconic Dutch windmills yet? There aren’t many windmills in Amsterdam besides the famous windmill brewery. Take a trip to the Zaanse Schans, the perfect day trip from Amsterdam where you can take a step back in time to see picturesque windmill after windmill in the Disneyland-like charming Zaanse Schans, and best of all these windmills are close to Amsterdam! And best of all, these are the famous windmills in Holland – the ones you’ve been hoping to see!
I lived in the Netherlands for eight years, and trust me, I’ve seen a lot of windmills in my day (if you want to read more about what my life was like, check out this post on what it is like to be an American in the Netherlands). The Zaanse Schans windmills are by far the most picturesque and are some of the best windmills in the Netherlands. Zaanse Schans is really an open air museum more than anything. You can pay to go in and tour some of the windmills, or you can just check out the windmills from the outside.
Yes, of course they make a great photo-op.
Located only 30-40 minutes outside of Amsterdam, the Zaanse Schans windmills are historic windmills on the River Zaan, in the city of Zaandam – the famous windmill town in the Netherlands. Sure it is a bit touristy, but its an unmissable part of Holland which is the perfect addition to your time in Amsterdam. Visiting is free, your only charge will be if you choose to tour a windmill.
Before reading, if you aren’t sure of the difference between Holland and the Netherlands yet, check this post!
Looking for more great things to do in the Netherlands? Check out these posts:
- How to see tulips in Holland
- 10 Amsterdam museums not to miss
- Amsterdam microbreweries all beer lovers need to visit
- How to spend a day in the Hague, Netherlands
- One day Rotterdam itinerary
- Explore the Dutch island of Texel
- Get dirty with wadlopen in the north of Holland
- What to do in Haarlem
Explore the windmills
You can explore about 10 of the windmills along the River Zaan, six of which are still in operation, each one creaking in the wind with ever turn of the sails. Get ready – this is the best place to see windmills in the Netherlands!
Still planning your trip to Amsterdam? Check out my two day Amsterdam itinerary
Windmills served an important role in Holland, with most of them used for pumping water behind dikes so the land could be used for farming. Didn’t you know, the west of the Netherlands is almost entirely land reclaimed from the sea? The mills at the Zaanse Schans village were used from everything from paint production to grinding spices. Windmills at Zaanse Schans are a great way to take a step back into the past to get a glimpse into how the Dutch used to live and get by.
If you’re looking to get more of a taste of how Dutchies used to live, check out the nearby fishing village of Marken.
Asking yourself, how do Dutch windmills work? Check out this post for all the answers!
Visit an original Albert Heijn
Any super market historians out there? No? K, I don’t think such a thing exists, but if you visit the Zaanse Schans you’ve got to see the original Albert Heijn. If you’ve spent any time in the Netherlands, chances are you’ve walked past one of the thousands of Albert Heijn grocery store chains, owned by the corporate Ahold. During your visit to the Zaanse Schans you can step inside the original Albert Heijn – and no, they won’t ask for your bonus kaart. Its cute, and it’ll make you appreciate Albert Heijn just a little bit more.
Read more: What to do in Amsterdam
Do a little shopping
If you’re looking for the best place to pick up your touristy souvenirs, this is the place to do it. But, if I can make one humble recommendation.. BUY MUSTARD. Yes, it may sound extreme. But this will be the best mustard you will ever eat. I promise. And it is made in De Huisman windmill at the Zaanse Schans. You’ll thank me later 😉
How to get to the Zaanse Schans
You can leave from Amsterdam on a windmill tour but if you’re anything like me, you probably want to take public transport so you have as much flexibility as possible to stroll around, tour windmills and snap pictures of the area.
How to go to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam:
By Bus:
Take the Rnet-bus 391 from Central Station which departs every 15 minutes and takes approximately 40 minutes to reach the Zaanse Schans.
By Train:
Alternatively, take the train from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaandijk – Zaanse Schans (17 minutes), then walk an additional 15 minutes to reach the Zaanse Schans. Check www.ns.nl for times and prices.
Pro tip
During the summer months, the Zaanse Schans can be flooded with tourists, so set out early in the day to miss the rush.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
There are countless great places to stay in Amsterdam. I usually always book with Booking.com because they offer free cancellation for most of their hotels!
What to pack for Amsterdam
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Have you visited the Zaanse Schans? Let me know what you thought in the comments below about your experience at the famous windmills in Amsterdam.
Gabby is a native (Northern) Californian who spent the majority of her 20’s living the expat life in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, exploring Europe and beyond. 27 countries later, she’s relocated back to her home base in California where she explores her passions for the travel and the outdoors.
52 Comments
Great post, wonderful pictures and so informative! My grandparents came to New Zealand from the Netherlands so I’m itching to see where my roots lie. I’ll add this to my list as well! Thanks for sharing
thanks! hope you visit soon!
I laughed when I read the first line. After looking at the nice picture of the classic windmill I realised, as many times as I have been to the Netherlands I have never seen them. Now I know where they are . 🙂
haha I know, they can be easy to miss! definitely come visit again and be sure to see them this time!
I may need to add this place to my list. I’ve never even heard of it! Your pics capture the character of the area perfectly. I especially like the windmill and clogs pics. Thanks for sharing.
yeah, definitely add it to your list! its very cute!
Great article! I have been to Amsterdam a few times but never consider the Zaanse Schans, something for next time;)
hope you’ll visit next time!
Haha I should have done this! I was in Amsterdam and nope, didn’t see any windmills LOL. I secretly want to go just to try the mustard, I don’t like mustard but maybe I’ll love this one!
at least its a great reason to come back 😉
Absolutely gorgeous pictures. This post has come at the perfect time, some friends of mine are planning a trip to Amsterdam and were asking me about the good day trips from there. I have shared your link. Cheers x
thanks so much for sharing! hope it is useful to them
To be honest, Zaanse Schaans wasn’t really on my radar because I heard how touristy it was, so I was more set on seeing Kinderdijk. But after reading your post, I definitely wanna see it!
both are great actually! Kinderdijk is much further from Amsterdam, but is also really pretty!
Great post and pictures! I want to go on a day trip. I’ve been to Kinderdijk before , I just love Dutch mills!
The above pictures look totally amazing. Watching, iconic Dutch windmills is in my much-awaited bucket list. Thanks for sharing an amazing guide about the place Zaanse Schans.
glad you like it! hope you visit soon!
Amazing clicks… Had been to Amsterdam last year but missed this place…. Will surely try making it next time
I lived in Rotterdam for a year and never went to Zaanse Schans… Probably should have gone haha! I did visit a windmill somewhere else, though, it’s so fascinating how they work:) Thanks for sharing!
ah maybe you still have to visit another time… maybe you visited Kinderdijk?
I lived in Rotterdam for a year and never went to Zaanse Schans… Probably should have gone haha! I did visit a windmill somewhere else, though, it’s so fascinating how they work:) Thanks for sharing!
Wow! You just bring me back to Zaanse Schans with your story. I got the chance to visit Zaanse Schans early this year. And I must say, this is a must visit town when in Netherlands. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to visit the original Albert Heijn. ?
well then that’s a good reason to go back! glad you enjoyed my post 🙂
Looks like a fairy tale <3
Carmelatte
This is such a great post. I love off the beaten path trips. Looks like you had a great time. I’ll have to experience myself the next time I’m in Amsterdam and have time for a little excursion
This looks so lovely! I will have to check this out if I make it to Amsterdam 🙂
Great post, wonderful pictures and so informative! I am definitely keeping a bookmark of this in future when I visit there.
glad it is helpful for you!
It’s nice to do things outside of Amsterdam — great reco! And the pro tip re: getting there early is always helpful. Makes such a difference.
I didn’t get here on my last trip to Amsterdam but it’s definitely on my list now for my next trip. And the tip about crowds is great – it’s so much better to get up early to miss the crowds than be stuck with so many people.
hope you will visit next time!
Oooo this looks like something that’s right up my alley – open-air museums are the best! I’d love to see those windmills too!
yeah it is great! definitely plan a visit!
AMAZING post! Everything about Holland, in my opinion, is so lovely! This looks like a great day trip from Amsterdam. I’m planning on visiting Holland next spring and I’ll definitely be stopping here if I do. 🙂
it is mostly all lovely, except for the weather 😉 enjoy your trip to Amsterdam!
what a great post. I went to Holland last year and took a bunch of day trips to little towns like this.. it was my favorite part of the trip.
that’s great, it is so worth getting out of Amsterdam and so few people do… kudos to you for exploring!
This looks so charming! Your photos are gorgeous. I didn’t realize the purpose of the windmills was irrigation — I learned a lot from this post.
glad to read that! yep, windmills were crucial to the Dutch water management!
Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities to visit and I’m always looking for new things to do around the area as I have seen the city on a number of occasions. This is right up my alley. I love windmills and the charming Dutch towns you find outside of Amsterdam.
ah glad you like it! hope you will visit on your next trip to Amsterdam!
I wasn’t able to make this trip during my last visit to Amsterdam, but I definitely want to visit the next time I’m there. I’ve always been amazed by windmills
that means you must have to take a trip back 😉
This place is beyond cute and I’ve never even heard of it before! I would definitely love to visit somewhere like here from Amsterdam!
yeah it is pretty adorable! somehow I think a lot of people miss it in Amsterdam cause it is a bit outside of the city
Doing a bike tour through Dutch tulip fields and windmills is on my bucket list. It’s so gorgeous.
ah I hope you will make it here soon to do it! definitely come in spring around April to see the tulip fields!
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Zaanse Schans seems like an awesome place to explore, Gabby! Is one day enough to spend there?
one day is more than enough! you just need an afternoon… hope you will put it on your list!
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