The 18th and 19th centuries come to life at the Zaanse Schans

You shouldn’t only read about the heritage of the Zaan district, you have to experience it! This is what architect Jaap Schipper must have been thinking when he came up with the plan for the Zaanse Schans in 1946. Starting from 1961, several buildings were transported to the area by road and water. The Zaanse Schans, with its windmills, museums, nature and culture has become a popular attraction where you can experience up close the industrial history of the Netherlands.

Timeline: what’s the history of the Zaanse Schans?

The mid-19th century saw the start of the industrial revolution in the Zaan district. What you see today on the Zaanse Schans is how a living and working community in the Zaan district looked back then: farmsteads, paths, wooden houses, warehouses and windmills, ditches and fields. Read here about the evolution of this special spot in the Zaan district:

Would you like to admire the unique sites of the Zaanse Schans up close?