Holiday apartment in Zaanstad: Zaanse Schans and industrial heritage

The Zaanse Schans is a heritage ensemble featuring wooden houses, windmills, barns and workshops that illustrates Holland in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Hembrugterrein offers a distinctly different character: monumental factory buildings, rugged nature and creative businesses come together here.

Culture

Zaanstad has an extensive range of protected cultural heritage. This includes World Heritage Sites as well as national, provincial and municipal monuments, archaeological monuments, protected village views and buildings that shape the character of their surroundings. The Zaans Museum offers an introduction to the history of the region. It opened at the Zaanse Schans in 1998 to preserve and protect the heritage of the Zaanstreek. As a cultural history museum, it presents the Zaanstreek as Western Europe’s oldest industrial area and as a historic centre of international trade and industry.

Even smaller historic houses preserve special details. The Czaar Peterhuisje is one of the oldest wooden houses in the Netherlands. Its memorabilia include a death mask of Tsar Peter, a bust of Anna Paulowna, and portraits of Tsar Peter and Catherine I. Visitors can contact the sales department of the Zaans Museum about group visits and guided tours of the Czaar Peterhuisje.

The picturesque village of Zaandijk is home to the Honig Breethuis, a former manufacturer’s house. The house offers tours of the historic residence and presents a reconstruction of the house as it was between 1826 and 1847. After the tour, visitors can enjoy tea or coffee in the Zaankamer while taking in the view of the Zaan and the garden.

Indulgence

Zaanstad also conveys its industrial history through food production. The Verkade Experience recreates an early 20th-century biscuit and chocolate factory; the original machines are still in operation. Attractions include games involving rolls from the factory and the opportunity to create your own chocolate packaging design.

Experiences

At the Zaanse Schans, visitors can watch a sawmill windmill in operation, observe a weaver at work and make chocolate themselves. The Molenmuseum features an interactive model depicting 1,100 windmills of the Zaanstreek. The museum is located directly on the Kalverringdijk and is easily accessible by bicycle or on foot.

For films and discussions, there is the De Fabriek cinema on the Zaan. It has three cinemas and offers introductions, post-screening discussions or panel discussions every month. The headquarters of the Museum of Humanity is located on the Hembrugterrein in Zaandam. The museum organises exhibitions, workshops and Happy Art projects. The Hembrug Museum complements this by telling the story of the arms and ammunition factory on the Hembrugterrein in Zaandam.

The former military industrial site Hembrugterrein is now open to visitors and offers museums, art, culture, dining and special events. The site can be reached by car, bicycle, community bus and the Hempont ferry.

Nature

The Heemtuin in Zaandam preserves a diverse native flora and fauna. Its grounds include winding paths, a pond, an apiary and an aquarium. A 6-kilometre hiking route leads from the Zaanse Schans to Haaldersbroek.

The water also reveals a historically characterised landscape: boating on the Zaan offers views of historic warehouses, factories and windmills along the banks. The city of Zaanstad refers visitors to Zaans.nl for activities, events and tips on cycling, boating, hiking, eating and drinking.

Getting around

The Zaanstreek has six railway stations; among them, Zaandam and Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans provide access to important visitor areas. A fast cycle route connects Amsterdam with Zaanstad in around 15 minutes.

Other places in this selection: Zaandam, Wormerveer, Zaanstad, Assendelft, Zaandijk, Koog Aan De Zaan, Westzaan.

To the overarching travel overview: North Holland.

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Blaricum.