Zaanse Schans is an open-air museum where the 18th and 19th centuries are brought back to life in The Netherlands. (U.S. Army photo by Rita Hoefnagels)

Zaanse Schans: An unforgettable experience in The Netherlands

SCHINNEN, The Netherlands -- Each year, many tourists visit Zaanse Schans in the Dutch province of North Holland. The open-air museum is actually a unique village where the 18th and 19th centuries are brought back to life.

Zaanse Schans is a part of the Zaan district located at the River Zaan across from Amsterdam. Centuries-long logs from as far as Scandinavia were taken to the many sawmills along the river and sawed into timber. The wood was used for buildings as well as for the fleet of the capital.

This and the production of all sorts of windmills, including oil mills, made this region the world’s first industrial area and the town of Zaandam, one of the largest timber ports in the world. Nearly all houses in the Zaan district were built from wood. There was also a thriving shipbuilding industry with sailcloth weaving mills, smithies and whale-oil refineries.

The district became well-known and attracted many visitors. The Russian Czar Peter the Great even spent time in Zaandam to learn about shipbuilding. He took this knowledge back to Saint Petersburg. Emperor Napoleon exclaimed that Zaandam was “Sans-Pareil” (equaled by none) when he visited.

The name Zaanse Schans goes back to the 16th century when during the Eighty Years’ War a schans (entrenchment) was located here as defense to enemy troops. Many Soldiers were killed here during the battle against the Spanish troops. The local people won. Since then, the word schans was associated with this village.

Many residents of the Zaan River district became concerned about their cultural heritage disappearing. They decided to build an open-air museum with historic Zaan-style wooden buildings such as old mills, merchants’ houses, warehouses and other buildings from the area.

Today, Zaanse Schans is a working and living museum where Old Dutch crafts like clog making, cheese-making and pewter casting provides a good display of The Netherlands’ rich history. Some houses still serve as homes to local residents. Others house a museum, restaurants and shops. Zaanse Schans is open daily between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., and there are no entrance fees. However, some mills and historic houses have a small entrance fee.

For more information about this open-air museum, visit HERE. 

Schinnen Trips and Tours is hosting a Dutch Day trip with a stop in Zaanse Schans on June 21. Cost is $49 per person. The deadline to register is June 14. To register, call +31(0)464-43-7560. For more information, visit HERE.

SHAPE Trips and Tours is hosting a trip to Zaanse Schans and Volendam on June 22. The bus will depart from SHAPE at 7 a.m. and Brussels from 8:10 a.m. Cost is €70 per person. For more information, call +32(0)65-44-3884 or email shapetripsandtours1@gmail.com.

Story by Rita Hoefnagels, USAG Benelux Public Affairs