Tania suggested going to Zaanse Schans as an escape from the typical things to do in downtown Amsterdam, and so, we took a day trip there on the last day of our travels in Amsterdam.
Zaanse Schans is a neighbourhood of Zaandam, which is about 11 km northeast of Amsterdam. The small town has a collection of well-preserved historical windmills and houses, and attracts a good number of tour groups there per day!
The place is small enough to walk around by foot, with pathways that would take you to all the little shops and museums that can be found in the area.
Cute little Dutch houses which look like this can be found:
As well as windmills:
My favourite was the man who gave demonstrations of how wooden clogs are made from a block of wood! (If I ever acquire this skill, think of all the money I can save on buying shoes!)
And of course, there were plenty of shops which sold clogs:
And places to take a photo in one!
For the roundtrip price of 6 euros to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam, it’s definitely a nice change, and a chance to get some fresh air after spending too much time inside a smokey coffee shop!
Hi there! I just discovered your blog and I just LOVE it. So great to read all of your stories.. I’m reading all of them right now. I live near Amsterdam and for me it’s just hilarious to see how foreigners experience Amsterdam, the legal weed and stuff, it is normal for us but when I read your posts I realized it is not. I hope you had a great time over here! Love xoxo
Hey! Thanks! 🙂 Glad you like it! Haha, yea I bet it must be funny for someone who’s a local. I remember when I was walking through the RLD, every once in awhile, there’d be a local who bikes across the road without a care in the world…while the tourists would be gawking at everything, haha.
I never toured up there but I was in need of the same kind of break while I was in Amsterdam. (but not for too long!)
Looks like you could float right back to Amsterdam in that shoe!
Haha I probably could! Someone should get started making some magical flying clogs!