Zaanse Schans - an Historic Village and Working Windmills

 

The Mustard Mill at Zaanse Schans

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

We reached our destination of Zaanse Schans, a neighborhood north of Zaandam, by lunch time.  Similar to a skansen, it has historic windmills and green wooden houses that were relocated here to recreate the look of an 18th century village. 

It is a working village, with people living in all the houses.  Many craftspeople give demonstrations - weaving, cheese making, pewter casting and wooden clog carving.  A working farm and museum is also a part of the complex.

It was a windy day, and so fun to see all of the 17th and 18th century windmills actively twirling with their sails flying.

Each of these windmills was churning furiously in the brisk wind

The typical wooden houses in the area are green with white trim

Looking across the polder at the whirling windmills

From European Traveler:  "The first windmill along the Zaan River was erected in 1597. Through the centuries more than a thousand were built along the river and during the nineteenth century 400 windmills were operated simultaneously along the Zaan River.

Of the eight windmills at Zaanse Schans, six are classified as industrial windmills. They are:

• De Huisman (the homeowner) – a windmill used to grind mustard seeds
• De Gekroonde Poelenburg (Crowned Poelen Castle) – a windmill used to saw wood
• De Kat (the cat) – a windmill used to grind the elements used in manufacturing paint.
• De Zoeker (the seeker) – a windmill used to press oil out of seeds.
• De Bonte Hen (the speckled hen) – another oil windmill, and
• Het Jonge Schaap (the young sheep) – another wood-sawing windmill."

You can tour De Kat and Het Jonge Schaap - and they were actively making products today because of the steady, strong wind.

Demonstration farm and farmer's house

De Kat (the Cat) makes chalk from limestone for paint production

Homes and working craft shops

Spring!

An 18th century coffee shop - yes, you can buy delicious cups of coffee and chocolate here

Handmade soaps in this shop

We bought cute Miffy dolls (a traditional Dutch character) here for the grandgirls

A spice shop with a collection of antique forms for making gingerbread

We were ready for lunch after our windy 30 km bike ride.  Michael and I stopped here, at the Diga restaurant, to sit on the terrace and watch the windmills turn while we relaxed.

Diga restaurant, at the waterside by the main bridge

A tasty Caesar salad

Map illustrating the sites to visit at Zaanse Schans