Dive into Dutch history and learn more about how we used to live.
We could talk for hours about the history of the Zaans, but the stories are only truly brought to life when you can see them, hear them, taste them and move around in one of the museums on the Zaanse Schans. Learn how raw materials were processed, how products were made and how they used to be transported. Operate the chocolate wrapping machine or submerge yourself in the world of watchmaking at the Zaanse Time Museum. Buy Ticket Zaanse Schans to visit all participating museums.
Zaans Museum and Verkade Experience
The history of biscuits and chocolate is brought to life
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Adults | € 29.50 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Children (4-17 jaar) | € 20.00 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Groups - Adults | € 26.55 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Groups - Children (4-17 jaar) | € 18.00 |
Together, the Zaans Museum and the Verkade Experience make up the most delicious museum in the Netherlands! The collection is extremely diverse, presented in a highly modern way and includes utensils, clothing, paintings and factory materials from the food industry. You can press buttons on the interactive displays and try to pack as many biscuits or bonbons as you can in a fun computer game! The factory – where the authentic machines still operate to this very day – takes you back in time to the early 20th century. The history of biscuits and chocolate is brought to life in the place where the famous Verkade girls used to produce their tasty treats. In the Verkade Experience, you can also arrange children’s parties or tours. There is also room for workshops, lectures, meetings, business trips and tailor-made packages.
Windmill Museum
The new Windmill Museum is located at the Zaanse Schans.
Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
View the opening hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
View the opening hours Ticket Zaanse Schans - Adults € 29.50 Ticket Zaanse Schans - Children (4-17 jaar) € 20.00 Ticket Zaanse Schans - Groups - Adults € 26.55 Ticket Zaanse Schans - Groups - Children (4-17 jaar) € 18.00
Irrespective of when you start or end your visit to the Zaanse Schans with a visit to the mill museum, it is equally inspiring. The interactive exposition tentalizes, makes you wonder and challenges all the way down. It is all about trade, culture, and wealth. But also about hard labour, poverty, and social development. One of the gems is a huge, 11 meter-wide panoramic painting, showing all the windmills in the eastern part of Zaandam around 1800. And there is a dizzling interactive maquette, displaying 1,100 windmills in the Zaanstreek. Opinionated virtual guides travel with you throughout the museum and will comment and explain as you go.
The Zaanse Time Museum
Losing track of time won’t be possible at the Zaanse Time Museum.
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Adults | € 29.50 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Children (4-17 jaar) | € 20.00 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Groups - Adults | € 26.55 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Groups - Children (4-17 jaar) | € 18.00 |
As you enter the museum, you’ll be greeted by a multitude of ticking clocks and their chimes that strike on the hour. Nearly every one of the timepieces is in full working order, regardless of their age. The museum guides you through the history of Dutch timepieces and in doing so, the history of the Zaanse industry – from the 16th century bell tower to the modern electrical alternatives. Major exhibits include pendulum clocks from the time of the scientist Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695). Time is an integral and important factor in our modern lives. Behind its story is a hidden world of engineering, science, design, functionality and regional and social differences. The museum has a fascinating tale to tell and is situated in an attractive 17th-century weaver’s building that was originally located in Assendelft.
Heritage Chambres Kalverringdijk
Walk in and imagine yourself as a real merchant in the Zaanse merchant’s house from 1650.
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
View the opening hours |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
View the opening hours |
Kalverringdijk 17
1509 BT Zaandam
T: 075-681 0000
E: info@dezaanseschans.nl
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Adults | € 29,50 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Children (4-17 years) | € 20,00 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Groups - Adults | € 26,55 |
| Ticket Zaanse Schans - Groups - Children (4 -17 years) | € 18,00 |
Step inside the Noorderhuis Heritage Chambres Kalverringdijk and experience the life of a Zaanse merchant from the 17th century. This historic building, originally built around 1650, located at Kalverringdijk 17, has been enlarged and embellished over the centuries. Once the home of prosperous merchants such as Gerrit Jan Honig, it is now a National Monument with a period room being renovated for the first time in 60 years and brought back to its beautiful Empire style. The heritage-chambres will be temporarily closed from 2 September 2024 to 1 March 2025 due to renovation.
Albert Heijn Museum Shop
Walk into the birthplace of Holland’s most famous supermarket chain.
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| In november the museum shop is open from monday - sunday from 10:00 - 16:30u | |
| Closed on Christmas Day | |
The Albert Heijn chain of supermarkets originated as a small grocer’s shop. In 1887, the 21-year-old Albert Heijn took over the shop from his parents. In this old grocer’s, you can see the original furnishings and stock, which shows just how much shopping has changed in a little over a century. The museum shop is located in a listed building, a typical example of a simple local wooden construction from the 19th century. The property is actually composed of two separate buildings. The shop, to the front, originally stood on the Oostzijde in Zaandam. To the rear of the property is a house that originates from the Kerkbuurt in Westzaan.
Bakery Museum de Gecroonde Duyvekater
Try the traditional Zaanse Duivekater and other delicious cakes.
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| Monday | Open |
| Tuesday | Open |
| Wednesday | Open |
| Thursday | Open |
| Friday | Open |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
Zeilenmakerspad 4
1509 BZ Zaandam
T: (+31)6-5555 3443 / (+31)6-2412 3970
E: indegecroondeduyvekater@gmail.com
This intimate museum dates from 1658. The original bakery, with its authentic bread oven and beautiful marbled floor, is full of tempting goodies. The name of the museum comes from the Duivekater, a famous Zaanse sweet bread. You can, of course, taste the Duivekater in the bakery, along with other traditional Dutch baked products and confectioneries. The bakery was donated to the Zaanse Schans in 1970 by the Zaanse company Koninklijke Wessanen nv. It originally stood on Hazepad in Zaandijk.
Jisper House
Step inside a fisherman’s cottage and take a selfie in traditional local costume!
| Monday | closed |
| Tuesday | closed |
| Wednesday | closed |
| Thursday | closed |
| Friday | closed |
| Saturday | closed |
| Sunday | closed |
View the opening hours |
| Monday | closed |
| Tuesday | closed |
| Wednesday | closed |
| Thursday | closed |
| Friday | closed |
| Saturday | closed |
| Sunday | closed |
View the opening hours |
Step inside a fisherman’s cottage in the village of Jisp as it would have been around 1850 and take a selfie in traditional local costume! The small village of Jisp in the Netherlands’ Zaan region is well known for its traditional fishing history. Herring fishery and whaling were important sources of income for its inhabitants. You can experience the clothes first-hand by having your picture taken in a traditional Zaan regional costume, posing in front of the hearth or in the traditional box bed. The clothing at Jisper House is typical of clothing worn around 1850.
Honig Breethuis
Experience how the merchant family Honig lived anno 1830
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Open |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Open |
| Saturday | Open |
| Sunday | Open |
View the opening hours |
| Adults | € 7.50 |
| CJP, young adults from 12 jaar, 65+ | € 4.00 |
| Member Honig Breethuis and 1 introducé, Museumcard, child till 12 jaar | Free |
As you enter the museum, you’ll be greeted by a multitude of ticking clocks and their chimes that strike on the hour. Nearly every one of the timepieces is in full working order, regardless of their age. The museum guides you through the history of Dutch timepieces and in doing so, the history of the Netherlands itself – from the 16th century bell tower to the modern electrical alternatives. Major exhibits include pendulum clocks from the time of the scientist Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695). Time is an integral and important factor in our modern lives. Behind its story is a hidden world of engineering, science, design, functionality and regional and social differences. The museum has a fascinating tale to tell and is situated in an attractive 17th-century weaver’s building that was originally located in Assendelft.