Zaandam

Zaandam is a pitoresque village north west of Amsterdam.

The city of Zaandam is one of Amsterdams suburbs, located just on the other side of the river IJ. The city in itself is rather modern, but has two key historical attractions.

In the city itself you can find the Czaar Peter House. When Czaar Peter the Great visited the Netherlands to learn more about shipbuilding and watermanagement, he lived in this small wooden workmanshouse for a while. Zaandam at the time had many shipdocks where he learned how to build ships, the base for his Baltic fleet. Peter the Great also founded St. Petersburg, whose waterhousehold is based on that of Amsterdam.

The original house is still there, but is now indoors, covered by a 19th century brick building. This was done by Anna Paulowna, one of the Czaars decendents, who married into the Dutch Royal family, to protect the fragile wooden construction.

To visit the Czaar Peter House, take a train from Amsterdam Central station to Zaandam (10 min.). From the station it is about 10-15 min. to walk there (ask for directions at the station). Take a train in the direction of either one of the following destinations; Alkmaar, Den Helder, Enkhuizen or Hoorn (make sure it will stop at Zaandam).

The second attraction is the Zaanse Schans.

This small village is actually a collection of wooden houses and windmills from the whole Zaan (a river) region. When these houses where threatend due to post war city development it was decided to move them to this one location, giving the impression of a Zaan village of times past by.

Among its attractions are; a wood mill, a mustard mill, a paint mill, a (traditional)cheese factory, a wooden shoe museum/workshop, a bakery, a candystore, a grocery store, a clock museum, a tin factory, a pancake restaurant and a top end restaurant.

Many of the houses in the village are museums or shops, but people also live here, so take care not to step into someone's private garden. The village is free to visit, but most museums ask a fee. The village can become rather touristy in the summer, but is your quickest trip to see some windmills and (small scale) polders, or just to have a walk.

To visit the Zaanse Schans, take a train from Amsterdam Central Station in the direction of Alkmaar/Den Helder. Make sure it stops at Koog Zaandijk. This is the 4th stop and will take about 15 min. From the station it is about 15 min. to walk there. There are signposts to the village. Basically you get of the train and go downstairs, take a left in the tunnel. When coming up the stairs, keep going straith ahead for about 5 min. At the end of this street, take a left and turn directly to your right over the bridge, you will see the windmills across the river on your left hand.