Amsterdam Super Saver: Zaanse Schans Half-Day Trip and A'DAM Lookout

Begin your tour at the central meeting point at the foot of the A’DAM Lookout just across the water from Central Station in Amsterdam at 12pm. A comfortable, air-conditioned single-deck bus will take you to today’s destination in just 20 minutes.

The windmill village of Zaanse Schans is an open-air museum that houses a collection of working windmills, wooden houses, barns, and shops dating back to the 18th and 19th century. All of these buildings were brought here from 1961 onward bringing back to life this most prosperous period of the Zaan region.

In its golden age the Zaan Region developed into an industrial area on a scale never seen before with 600 active windmills: wooden factories powered by wind. In these small factories many tasks were being executed with the aid of wind energy: wood sawn by machine, grounding spices, oil for food and paint, flower, cocoa powder, and many other things.

The prosperity in the 18th and 19th century can be seen in the Zaanse Schans Windmill Village in several ways. Alongside windmills, barns, and other buildings, you will see beautiful houses that were originally built as homes to rich windmill owners and merchants. These houses have attractive facades and have been painted in traditional colors such as green, beige, and light blue.

Upon arrival in the village, your guide will take you on an orientation of the village. You will visit the clog museum annex, wooden shoemaker shop, and in the cheese farm you will get to taste Dutch farmer cheese. Then it is time to further explore the village on your own. Before you set off to discover the Zaanse Schans on your own, your guide will give you further information on Zaanse Schans and its unique character, teach you local history and culture, and give you insider’s tips about what to do and where to go.

Back in Amsterdam your guide will give you your premium ticket to the A'DAM Lookout. The A’DAM Lookout is an observation deck with an unrivaled panoramic view of Amsterdam. You’ll see the city’s historical center, its pulsating port, the unique Dutch polder landscape, and you’ll spot the famous canals which belong to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Complementing the experience is a state-of-the-art interactive exhibition about Amsterdam’s history and culture. A’DAM Lookout is located on top of the A’DAM Tower in Amsterdam North. This is where the trip concludes at 3pm.