Holland : Part 9 - Day 6 : Zaanse Schans and Zaans Museum

Day 6 of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 6. 

20/7 Day 6: Zaans Museum -- Leave Holland -- Germany (sleep in a parking place) 

Must-Incur Costs

None

Optional Costs 

(1) Strawberry cream pancake (EUR11.20) and Apple cinnamon pancake (EUR9) = EUR20.20
(2) Entrance fee to Zaans Museum = EUR15 per person
(3) Parking in Zaans Museum = EUR7.50

The Story

200717 : Today, we checked out from the hotel by 11am and drove to Zaanse Schans and Zaans Museum. Zaans Museum is located next to Zaanse Schans. Initially, I thought Zaanse Schans = Zaans Museum. Turns out they are of 2 different places. You can read the definition from Wikipedia. Also read the reason why is Zaans era so famous.

The Zaans Museum locates next to the Zaanse Schans. The Zaanse Schans houses seven museums: The Weavers House, the Cooperage, the Jisper House, Zaan Time Museum, Albert Heijn Museumshop, Bakery Museum.

Zaans Museum is a museum in Zaandam, Netherlands, located at the Zaanse Schans. It opened in 1998 to preserve and protect the heritage of the Zaan area. In 2009, the museum was extended with the addition of the Verkade Experience. In 2016, the Zaans Museum opened three locations with living history at the Zaanse Schans: the Cooperage, the Jisper House, and the Weaver’s House. Another annex of the Zaans Museum is the Tsar Peter House in the centre of Zaandam.

The Zaans Museum is both physically connected with the Zaanse Schans and connected in terms of its exhibits. It sets itself the objective of offering extra depth to tourist visits to the Zaanse Schans by linking the archetypal image of 'Holland' with the factual history of the Zaan region. Source from Wikipedia.

During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, the Zaan district was dotted with windmills with a variety of functions and it is often considered to be one of the world's first industrialized areas. Joining an already considerable number of flour mills were, for example, from 1592 "wood mills" for sawing wood, from 1600 "hemp mills" for extracting fibers from flax and hemp, from 1601 oil mills for crushing oil-bearing seeds and "paint mills" producing dyes and paint, and shortly after paper mills for the production of paper. By the mid-17th century, approximately 900 windmills could be found along the river, some of them still preserved, particularly in the Zaanse Schans.

The Zaan district continues to be a heavily industrialized area with many factories, particularly around the city of Zaandam. A number of major Dutch companies, like Ahold and Verkade, were founded in the Zaan district. Source from Wikipedia.

We purchased the Zaanse Schans card because there are places we can go in for free for e.g. the Weaver House, Chocolate and Biscuit Factory. Parking is at EUR7.50 instead of the usual EUR10. We get to save EUR2 to go into any 1 windmill for free. We got a 10% discount at any of their eateries in Zaanse Schans. 

The first place we entered is the Zaanse Museum. This is where I read the history of Albert Heijn chainstore. How the chain of grocery stores started. It is very animative and informative inside the museum. 

Then, we went inside the Chocolate and Biscuit Factory which hired a lot of women. So, this place also illustrates how the factory hiring method changes over the years and the things that the women did during their free time. This is the Verkade Factory, by the way. The ladies who work inside are called the Verkade Girls. This brand is still being sold but the Verkade factory is no longer around. 

There were games inside the factory and we played for a short bit. It was pretty funny. I guess this is to entertain the kids.

Now, we proceed on to Zaanse Schans. Thankfully, we have a good weather and we can enjoy the walk. The clouds did appear later during the walk, but by then, we were almost done. It did not rain anyway.

Zaanse Schans is a neighbourhood of Zaandam, near Zaandijk in the Netherlands. It has a collection of well-preserved historic windmills and houses. From 1961 to 1974 old buildings from all over the Zaanstreek (nl) were relocated using lowboy trailers to the area. The Zaans Museum, established in 1994, is located in the Zaanse Schans.

The Zaanse Schans is one of the popular tourist attractions of the Netherlands and an anchor point of ERIH, the European Route of Industrial Heritage. Source from Wikipedia.

The first house we visited was the Weaver's House. It was the staff that called us as she saw us holding the Zaans Schans card and we get to go in for free. She explained on how weaving started. She also demonstrated on the weaving process. The cloth made for the weaving was either sold to ship captains to be used as the sail, or be used for the blades of the windmill. 

Next was a cheese shop which was free entry for all. I tried some free samples of cheese. 

Now, to find the windmill of choice to go in for free.

The Spice Mill was free entry to all but the mill was not working. Very smart of them. Instead, it was more of an informative place and there was a souvenir shop inside to sell various kinds of spices. 

We chose to go to the Colour Mill because it has a stairs which one can climbed up to go out to see the panoramic view of Zaanse Schans. The blades of the windmill were moving. It was a bit scary seeing it very up close, and personal. The mechanics of the windmill were operating when we went in, hence the reason why the blades are moving.

Panoramic view from the windmill.

A souvenir shops with some very expensive souvenirs.

And the clog workshop and its museum which is free entry for all. I think the guy who did the demonstration of how to make a clog shoe is one of the most photographed or videoed staff in Zanns Schans.

Finally, Holland Pancakes! I have been looking for this ever since I got to Holland. It is expensive too considering it is in Zaans Schans but we got a 10% discount which is better than nothing. It was very filling with such a big piece.

Now, we are going to head out of Holland.