The Zaanse Schans is a special place close to Amsterdam and I can highly recommend visiting this area if you're visiting Amsterdam.
From the north part of the city, it's a 10-minute drive to here and you only have to pay for the parking space.
The reason this is a special place is that it is a protected preservation and conservation area for national monumental wooden buildings. In other words, it's a place where our culture is placed in a protected environment for everyone to enjoy. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. On a yearly basis, more than 2 million people from all over the world visit this place.
A place that didn't exist 60 years ago and was created to make space for new industries while preserving our culture.
In 1952 plans were made for the Zaanse Schans and by 1963 (after the demolition of a big factory complex to make space) the first wooden buildings and mills were taken out of storage, transported, and settled in the designated areas.
Efforts to preserve the Zaanse heritage date back to 1938 when people realized the vulnerability of these traditional wooden buildings that contain much of our history. It only took 28 years before ideas and plans materialised into what is now the Zaanse Schans.
Most of the wooden structures you will find at the Zaanse Schans are between 150 and 200 years old.
The house you see here for example dates back to 1870 and is one of 40 wooden structures (mainly houses). Amongst them, you will find a replica of the first Albert Heijn from 1887 and numerous historical windmills that have all been moved from the surrounding areas to this one location.
Zaanse Schans