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Rising Star

Dutch Hollywood Windmill Village: Step into a Fairytale Movie Scene

Just outside Amsterdam lies a dreamy corner known as Zaanse Schans, often nicknamed the "Dutch Hollywood Windmill Village." This picturesque spot resembles a movie set and encapsulates the quintessential charm of the Netherlands: wooden clogs, cheese, windmills amidst green fields, and canals reflecting the sky and clouds. The Golden Era of Spinning Windmills Since the 16th century, this area became Europe's first "industrial zone" due to its abundance of windmills. Nearly a thousand windmills once operated here, sawing wood, pressing oil, grinding spices, and more. Today, a few still turn with the wind, including "De Kat," the world's last functioning dye mill. Climbing its creaky stairs and watching the massive blades slice through the sky feels like traveling back to the Netherlands' golden age. 🧀 Experience the Dutch Treasures 1. Wooden Clog Workshop: Watch craftsmen carve traditional clogs from poplar wood in an instant. Try on a pair of bright yellow "Klompen" and discover they're surprisingly comfortable! 2. Cheese Farm: The air is filled with a rich dairy aroma. Sample Gouda, smoked, and herb-flavored cheeses, and inevitably end up buying a stash (warning: suitcase overload!). 3. Chocolate Factory: The Dutch obsession with cocoa transforms here into silky, indulgent handmade chocolates. 📸 Postcard-Worthy Spots ✨ Windmills and Canals: Stand on the wooden bridge at the village entrance to capture five windmills and their reflections in the water. On sunny days, no filter is needed. ✨ Green Houses and Flower Fields: Stroll along the bike paths and stumble upon triangular-roofed farmhouses surrounded by tulips, as if stepping into a Dutch still-life painting. ‼️ Travel Tips - Transportation: Take a train from Amsterdam Central Station to Koog-Zaandijk station, then walk 15 minutes, or hop on bus 391 for direct access. - Secret Moment: Arrive before 9 AM to enjoy the windmill village without tourists. The morning mist creates a landscape akin to an oil painting. - Nearby Gems: Visit the neighboring town of Zaandam to see colorful Lego-like houses (new Instagram material alert!).

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Posted: Jul 29, 2025

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Zaanse Schans

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This time I came to Zandan, the focus was on Zaanse Schans, exclusive to the Dutch fairy tale feel check-in place! 😳 A beautiful and historical windmill village, about 15 kilometers from the center of Amsterdam, very convenient to take the train or bus a day. Just stepping here is like traveling back in time to the Dutch Industrial Revolution in the 17th century. 🌿Itinerary Highlights: + Witness more than a dozen traditional windmills in operation and feel the Dutch-style live version + Explore the ancient workshop: Cheese house, clog workshop can watch the production Live Show on the spot + No blind spots for photography: riverside, fields, colorful huts and lush windmills, take 100 beautiful photos in minutes + Half day / day to have fun, suitable for couples, families, hipsters right or not have a feel 📍Zanse Schans - Address: Zandan, Netherlands - Opening hours: Open all day year round (generally recommended to go in the morning, more crowded in the afternoon) 🖼 Photo Spot / Attraction Inventory Recommendation: 1. Green Windmill Complex Once you get down to the village you will see rows of colored windmills, and some include guided tours to get inside to see those historical machinery and how they worked (some require a ticket, averaging around €5). The most beautiful ones are those by the river. It's cool to take pictures/walk slowly along the river. 2. Klompenmakerij The little Western fairy tale must include clogs! There is a live demonstration of clog craft, and you can try to wear a pair of hip-hop Dutch clogs to take pictures, no charge but buy souvenirs at your own expense - very popular with children. 3. Cheese House (De Catherina Hoeve) Cheese lovers must go! There will not only be museum-style introductions, but also cheese tastings. The staff will introduce cheeses from different regions in the Netherlands. 4. Traditional Cottage & Craft Shop There are many souvenir shops, chocolate/vanilla/candy shops on the roadside, especially honey or chocolate shops, authentic and practical options. 5. Riverwalk Walk along the river and you will see windmills from different angles, avoiding the big road too much, the view by the river is super beautiful, occasionally there are ducks & sheep what, healing to crazy. 💡 Feelings & Practical Tips: 1. The Windmill Village is open year-round, so don’t be afraid to encounter the museum and other holiday closures, but the best time to avoid the crowds is before 9am or in the evening 2. It is recommended to bring a folding umbrella, the weather is sunny and suddenly rainy at the same time 3. Shoes to wear comfortable D, the road in the village is mostly stone slabs, walking a day will really be quite tiring 4. Entrance to the scenic spot is free, some windmills, workshop interior visit payment, remember to bring your own change (cash or card can) 5. Cheese tasting is not charged, but after trying not to buy no problem, no necessary pressure; clog workshop photography to wait, but the clerk is mostly very nice 6. You can buy train tickets or bus packages in advance on trip.com Dining recommendations: - Some cafes in the village offer local Dutch hot dogs, sandwiches, and muffins. Transportation Guide: From Amsterdam Central Train Station, it only takes about 17 minutes by train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans Station, and it takes less than 10 minutes to walk from the train. You can also consider taking a direct bus ride from Amsterdam, which is scenic along the way. #ZandanPhoto #Dutch WindmillVillage #Zansershans #WeekendTrip #AmsterdamAround

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[Netherlands] Enjoy the Dutch Windmill Village

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✅Netherlands 🇳🇱 📍Amsterdam, Giethoorn, Zaanse Schans 1. People in this city love cycling and are incredibly skilled. Streets and alleyways have dedicated lanes, so be mindful of oncoming traffic when crossing the street, especially in the large area in front of Central Station. Pedestrians, bicycles, and trams all have their own dedicated lanes, so be careful to avoid crossing the wrong way. 2. Traffic lights in Amsterdam go red incredibly quickly. I'm not the only one who feels this way. Plus, the rapid, click-click-click sound means that if you're standing in front of the light and trying to cross, you'll definitely not have enough time to cross. Many times, I've seen the light turn green and tried to follow it, but it was too late and I had to wait for the next one. 3. The canal cruises in Amsterdam are truly amazing, but remember to choose the ones without roofs. I made the mistake of choosing a roofed one on my first day, and it was incredibly difficult to take photos. The advantage was that it sheltered me from the rain, but it was difficult to capture photos. The next day, I decided to take another canal cruise, opting for a roofless one. The boats were about the size of small boats that could accommodate up to 20 people. The price seemed to be around 23-25 euros. It's very convenient to pay as you go, and there are many options. This type of cruise is perfect for taking beautiful photos. Because I was afraid of the heat, I chose to go at 7:45 pm, when the sun was shining but not too hot, which made for beautiful photos. The boat rides are all one-hour long, and I highly recommend it—after all, this is a city built around canals. 4. Amsterdam charges a city tax on accommodations. You pay it when you check in, and it's 12% of the price of your stay. The more expensive your stay, the higher the tax. Since I had already paid for my accommodation, I only had to pay the city tax upon check-in. I paid 30.50 euros (for a three-night stay). I thought it was so expensive, considering it was only around 6-7 euros a night in Switzerland. I even confirmed with the staff if it was the city tax, and they said yes! I later checked online and found that city taxes in this country are calculated using a percentage. So, consider the price of your accommodation accordingly. 5. Giethoorn was my most anticipated stop in the Netherlands. I'd heard so much about its beauty. I also joined a local tour that day, which included hotel pickup and drop-off. We visited Giethoorn in the morning and the windmill village in the afternoon. We had lunch at a restaurant at the entrance to Giethoorn. The tour guide said that transportation to this area is difficult unless you drive, so joining a day tour is the most convenient. 6. The weather wasn't great when we arrived in Giethoorn that morning. Our guide, who also served as the boat driver, spoke with the cooperating operator before we boarded the boat. It was a light rain at first, but it was still beautiful. We also had group members take over the boating. We had to seize the opportunity to take photos, especially with a beautiful background. Everyone helped each other take photos, and be careful not to drop your phone. The hydrangeas were in bloom in July, and they were absolutely stunning. This is seasonal, so after that, Giethoorn would be just like any other village. After all, the flowers are truly stunning. 7. Towards the end of the trip, the weather cleared up, and the whole experience was absolutely stunning. We left early to sail, so we didn't have to worry about traffic. If we had sailed closer to noon, the river would have been clogged with boats, but when the weather cleared, it became incredibly beautiful. Afterwards, we had time to hike around Giethoorn, take photos, buy souvenirs, eat ice cream, and keep taking photos. It was a perfect time. 8. We went to the windmill village in the afternoon. It was quite crowded, but the village felt quite rural and spacious, so taking photos wasn't too difficult and would have been a nice souvenir, but we didn't pay to go inside the windmills. You can walk around the area and buy souvenirs from many shops. We even saw wooden shoes being made and tried cheese—quite a diverse selection. 9. And then... I encountered a pickpocket in the windmill village!!!! 😟😟😟 This was my first time encountering a pickpocket in Europe. Since the local tour group that day included young people around my age, we naturally joined in, helping take photos and chatting happily along the way. So, walking across the small bridge in the windmill village, it had just rained, so it was a bit crowded. Initially, my heel got stepped on (because it was so crowded, I figured I'd wipe it off after returning). 10. I was chatting with the young man, and a few seconds later, I heard the zipper of my backpack being unzipped (a very distinct sound, a swish). I immediately turned around and swung my bag forward. I yelled at him, "What are you doing?" The man behind me (from my photo, he was a white man, younger, maybe around 30), started playing dumb and pretending to drop something and looking for it. I asked him why he was pulling on my bag, but he feigned confusion and kept pretending to drop something. So I quickly checked my bag. Nothing was stolen. I noticed it within a split second of being unzipped, and since I had a thin jacket on top, my more important belongings were at the bottom, practically out of reach. So everyone should always be mindful of their belongings. It's true that walking with friends and chatting happily is the easiest way to be targeted, while being alone is less likely to be targeted. It was a close call, and I was definitely more careful on subsequent trips. In short, everyone should always be mindful of their belongings. 11. I stayed near Amsterdam Zuid Station. I highly recommend staying here. It's very conveniently connected to Central Station, and accommodations are relatively affordable. Even if you need to go to the airport, you can transfer directly to the train, which is super convenient. I also bought a 72-hour ticket. You can use the app to buy it by scanning a QR code, but I bought the physical ticket at the station counter. I highly recommend using a contactless (like EasyCard) QR code at the counter, as I saw many people struggling to scan the QR code on the app. #Netherlands #Europe #TravelRecommendations #TravelPlanning

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