The Windmills of Amsterdam
Zaanse Schans village, with a tasting of local produce
This tour is a dive into the rural, 17th-century past of the Netherlands. Zaanse Schans is a magnificent village that once stood for the country’s industrial might, powered by the wind; today it is a charming and popular place where history and craftsmanship meet.
Over these 4 hours you will immerse yourself in the history of Amsterdam and the Netherlands: you will see windmills still at work and the typical 17th-century wooden houses, visit real craft workshops such as the cheese farm and the clog workshop, and watch live demonstrations of how these products are made. There are tastings of cheese and other local produce, such as biscuits and chocolate, and you will see inside a real 17th-century windmill. Guided visits inside the windmills are not included, but you can buy a ticket and visit on your own at the end of the tour.
We meet at Amsterdam Central Station and travel to Zaanse Schans by train, a ride of about 15 minutes, to keep the tour as sustainable as possible.
At the end of the visit you can travel back to Amsterdam with the guide, or stay on to explore the places you liked best and return on your own.
- From €27 per personAn indication: the calendar quotes the exact price for your date.
- 4 hoursFrom the meeting point to the ending point, stops included.
- Italian, English, and FrenchYou choose the guide’s language when you book.
- Cancel or change up to 24 hours before the startIf your plans change: the full terms come with your booking confirmation.
Itinerary
- Zaanse Schans village
- Het Indische WelvarenAn old mill for spices and mustard.
- De Gecroonde DuyvekaterA traditional Dutch bakery, now a museum.
- Catharina HoeveA picturesque local cheese farm, known for its Gouda.
- Zaanse Schans clog workshopA craft workshop where wooden clogs are made by hand.
Included
- A guide who speaks the language you choose
- Pictures that bring the guide’s explanations to life
- An outside visit to the windmills and wooden houses
- Visits inside the craft workshops
- A live demonstration of wooden clog making
- A tasting of cheeses and other local produce
Not included
- Return train tickets
- Drinks
- Visits inside the windmills (can be booked separately)
Where the walk starts and ends
- Meeting pointAmsterdam Central Station, main entranceStationsplein 10, 1012 AB Amsterdam
- Ending pointAmsterdam Central StationStationsplein 10, 1012 AB Amsterdam
How to get there
We travel from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans (Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station) by train. The train ticket is not included in the price. Travelling by train in the Netherlands is easy: you need no ticket, just a credit or debit card for each passenger, tapped in and out at the gates. If you have no card, a return ticket to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans is easy to buy at the station. The return journey costs €8.40 in all.
How to recognise it
Your guide waits in front of the main entrance of Amsterdam Central Station, next to the Loetje restaurant, holding a black umbrella printed with our logo.
Suitable for children
Yes
Practical information
Group size
No maximum group size.
What to bring
Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start. Punctuality matters on this tour: if you are late and miss the group’s departure, it can be hard to catch up once the visit has begun, and there is no refund. There are no breaks along the way, so we suggest a bathroom stop and a drink before you arrive. The tour includes about 1 hour 15 minutes of walking, some 5 km in all: wear comfortable shoes and bring waterproof clothes or an umbrella.
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible.