Zaanse schans

The Zaan region has traditionally been situated around water. The many peat meadow areas with its thousands of ditches and ponds, the Zaan as the main waterway for commercial and pleasure boats and the Nauernasche vaart as the connecting water between the North Sea Canal and the Alkmaardermeer for pleasure boats. A number of traditional Old Dutch crafts can be admired at the Zaanse Schans. In the setting of wooden houses, barns and mills from previous centuries, you can see how various products such as clogs and cheese were made in the past.

The Zaanse Schans is a unique live/work neighborhood with several museums, mills, crafts, restaurants and a visitor center. It gives an excellent impression of what the Zaan region looked like in the 17th- and 18th centuries. Zaanse Schans is one of the top tourist locations in the Netherlands. For more information visit www.zaansemolen.nl

The Zaanse Schans is easily reached by boat from Amsterdam. The outward cruise takes about an hour and a half and can be combined well with a visit of about two hours to the public mill museum. After a delightful walk, your guests can sail back to Amsterdam while enjoying a drink.