Zaanse Schans

About the museum

The name recalls a schans (sconce), an earthwork fortification built on the Zaan in 1574 during the Eighty Years' War against Spanish troops. The present ensemble goes back to architect Jaap Schipper, who after World War II developed the plan to preserve endangered wooden houses, warehouses and mills of the Zaanstreek in one place, since across the region they were increasingly giving way to modern development.

From 1961 – the year the current foundation was established – numerous buildings were moved here over land and by water and reassembled; by the 1970s this had created a residential and working neighborhood typical of the Zaan around the middle of the 19th century. Further buildings were added later, including reconstructed mills.

The Zaanse Schans is not an enclosed museum site but an inhabited neighborhood: most of the houses are private homes. Visitors can tour several industrial mills that process paint pigments, oil, spices or timber, and visit craft workshops such as a cheese dairy, a clog maker, a pewter foundry and the Kuiperij (cooperage). There are also small museums, including the Molenmuseum, the Museum Zaanse Tijd on clockmaking, the Bakkerijmuseum, the Wevershuis and the historic Albert Heijn store, plus the Zaans Museum at the entrance. The area is managed by the Stichting De Zaanse Schans, which is also responsible for upkeep and marketing. With around 2.6 million visitors (2024), the Zaanse Schans is one of the most visited destinations in the Netherlands.

Highlights

• Row of working industrial mills on the Zaan, including De Kat (paint pigments) and Het Jonge Schaap (sawmill)
• Green Zaan-style wooden houses and warehouses, moved here from 1961 onward
• Crafts to watch: cheese dairy, clog maker, pewter foundry, Kuiperij (cooperage)
• Small museums such as the Molenmuseum, Museum Zaanse Tijd, Bakkerijmuseum and the historic Albert Heijn store
• Ticket Zaanse Schans with access to several museums, two mills and a digital audio tour

Founded

1961

Operated by

Stichting De Zaanse Schans

Director

Maarten van der Meer

Visitors per year

approx. 2,600,000 (2024)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The heritage village and outdoor areas are free to enter; only individual museums, mills and workshops charge admission. With the Museumkaart, free admission to the museums included in the Ticket Zaanse Schans, but not to the mills. The municipality of Zaanstad is planning an admission ticket for tourists (residents of Zaanstad and Wormerland would still enter free); the launch originally planned for April 2026 has been postponed by about a year. Public restrooms cost €1 (card payment only).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The historic site is only partly accessible for wheelchair users, but there are wheelchair-accessible bridges. Accessible restrooms in the De Bezem restroom building at the main entrance and in the Zaans Museum. The Het Jonge Schaap mill is fully wheelchair-accessible, De Bonte Hen at ground level; the Zaans Museum and Molenmuseum are accessible. Loan wheelchairs can be reserved through the Zaans Museum.

Kids & families

Family activities (a family tour) are offered mainly by the Zaans Museum at the entrance; bus 800/801 is free for children up to and including age 11.

Getting there & parking

GPS address: Schansend 7, Zaandam. Pedestrian ferry (Voetveer) across the Zaan and several public boat moorings (Havendienst Zaanstad). Park bicycles only in the designated bike racks.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available
• Lockers: not available

Restaurants and cafés including Pannenkoekenrestaurant De Kraai, Restaurant De Hoop op d’Swarte Walvis and the MuseumCafé in the Zaans Museum; numerous stores and souvenir shops. No luggage storage or lockers. Public restrooms at locations including the main entrance (De Bezem), Schipperplein and Kalverringdijk. Lost and found at the information center in the Zaans Museum.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Rentals through the individual businesses: Zaans Museum & Verkade Experience, Restaurant De Hoop op d’Swarte Walvis, Distilleerderij De Tweekoppige Phoenix, the Het Jonge Schaap mill and Pannenkoekenrestaurant De Kraai. Group packages for 10 or more people via sales@zaansmuseum.nl.

Plan your visit